February: Mindful Word Choices

Our challenge for this months is about being mindful of our word choices. We're tackling common repetitive words – not to banish them completely, but to minimize their usage and discover new, vibrant ways to express ourselves. This is about expanding our vocabulary and refining our writing style.

For insights on how repetition can be powerful when used correctly, check out this article from Reedsy:
Repetition in Writing

Goal: Write 12,000 words this month.

  • Weekly Challenges:

    • Week 1: Minimize the use of "Was/Were.”

    • Week 2: Focus on reducing "Like/Likely."

    • Week 3: Limit "More/Many".

    • Week 4: Cut down on "Good/Great."

Week 1 Prompts - Overcoming Discrimination

Reflecting on the Past and Present

To honor Black History Month this week, we focus on Overcoming Discrimination and encourage careful word choices, particularly reducing the use of "Was/Were."

Prompt 1: Legacy of Resilience

Craft a narrative within your existing story or a new piece that portrays a character's journey of overcoming discrimination. This could be inspired by historical events in your book or the personal triumphs of the character.

How does this struggle and the eventual overcoming shape the character or influence the story's world?

Guidance: Use active voice to emphasize agency and resilience. This prompt encourages reflection on growth and the impact of personal history.

Prompt 2: A New Perspective

Write a short story inspired by a pivotal moment you experienced or learned about involving overcoming discrimination and imagining the event from an unconventional viewpoint (e.g., an inanimate object, a bystander, or a lesser-known historical figure).

Explore the themes of hope, change, and the fight for justice.

Week 2 Prompts - Love in the Air: Valentine's Day

Celebrating Connections

This week's theme celebrates love in all its forms, challenging writers to reduce the use of "Like/Likely."

Prompt 1: Unlikely Matches

  • Create a scenario where two characters from vastly different backgrounds find common ground or love in your current narrative or a new story.

  • How do their differences add depth to their relationship?

Prompt 2: The Love Letter

  • Compose a love letter from one character to another. This can be a new creation or fit into your existing story.

  • Capture the essence of their feelings without directly stating "I like you" or "It's likely that."

Guidance: Experiment with poetic language and metaphors to express affection and admiration, encouraging diverse expression.

Week 3 Prompts - A Misunderstanding

Navigating Complexity

This week, we explore the theme of misunderstandings, aiming to limit the use of "More/Many."

Prompt 1: The Miscommunication

  • Develop a plot twist in your story stemming from a misunderstanding between characters. How does this alter their relationships or the story's direction?

  • Guidance: Use this prompt to deepen character development and plot complexity, avoiding simplistic quantifications of emotions or actions.

Prompt 2: Comedy of Errors

  • Write a comedic short story where a series of misunderstandings lead to an unexpected outcome.

  • Focus on the cascading effect of a small misunderstanding, which can quickly escalate into a more significant situation.

  • Guidance: Encourage creativity in narrative structure and dialogue, minimizing the reliance on "more" and "many" to heighten the comedic effect.

Week 4 Prompts - Stuck in the Storm: Inclement Weather

Forced Reflection

In this final week, we face the challenge of being stuck because of inclement weather, with a focus on cutting down the use of "Good/Great."

Prompt 1: Snowed In

  • In your narrative or a new story, trap your character(s) in a setting due to severe weather (e.g., a snowstorm or hurricane).

  • How does this forced confinement bring about self-discovery or change in your character(s)?

Guidance: Utilize this scenario to delve into the internal landscapes of your characters, discovering subtle methods to portray their revelations without relying on the words "good" or "great."

Prompt 2: The Eye of the Storm

  • Create a tale where the storm outside mirrors the turmoil within a character or between characters.

  • Investigate how they find peace or resolution as the storm clears.

Guidance: This is a chance to weave external and internal narratives together, encouraging using vivid, sensory details to replace generic descriptors.