Welcome to the 12 Short Stories Writing Challenge and the 12 Poems Writing Challenge for 2020. We’re looking forward to another amazing year. This is the Deadlines For Writers portal on Writers Write.

Deadlines For Writers

Deadlines for Writers is the home of the 12 Short Stories and 12 Poems Writing Challenges. Our goal is to write 12 Short Stories in 12 months and/or 12 Poems in 12 months.

A prompt is published once a month. Four weeks later you submit your poem or short story. You submit one poem or story and comment on four poems or stories. We kick serious procrastination butt. Read more here.

Important Information:

1. We will be posting all the updates and prompts on this page, adding to it as the year progresses. (Please bookmark it.)
2. Please scroll down to see the prompts for the two challenges.
3. The short story challenge begins on 8 January 2019 and the poetry challenge begins on 15 January 2019.

DEADLINES:

1. Click here for a downloadable PDF of the 12 Short Stories deadlines for the year: 2020 Deadlines For Short Stories.
2. Click here for a downloadable PDF of the 12 Poems deadlines for the year: 2020 Deadlines For 12 Poems

GROUPS ON FACEBOOK:

1. 12 Short Stories
2. 12 Poems

Shorter challenges and classes are added throughout the year. If you sign up you will be added to the mailing list and receive updates.

Want to join our writing challenges? Sign up here.

PLEASE NOTE: Deadlines for Writers is a separate website. You need a login for www.deadlinesforwriters.com. Your login details will not work on Writers Write.

Please contact Mia regarding any queries for 12 Short Stories, 12 Poems and any other challenges. Email: write@12shortstories.com

Handy links:

1. How It Works
2. FAQs

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12 Short Stories

Post 1: A Whole New Decade Of Writing

8 January 2020

Welcome to the 12 Short Stories Writing Challenge for 2020. We’re looking forward to another year of amazing short stories. Beat procrastination and embrace the awesome power of deadlines.

Today marks the beginning of the 2020 challenge.

1. The goal is to write 12 short stories in 12 months.
2. I post a prompt once a month, the deadline is usually 4 weeks later.
3. The word counts vary each month.
4. You post one story and comment on four other stories.
5. It is a great learning experience.

Please go to www.deadlinesforwriters.com to sign up.

Please read this post: Tips and Tricks | How does the website work?

Please remember: This is not a competition. It’s about discipline, productivity and learning. Not all my stories will be great, but they will, at least, be written.

Added bonus: Not only will you write 12 short stories in 2020, the word counts have been calculated to add up to 15 000 words exactly. That sounds productive.

Please join the Facebook group: 12 Short Stories. It is the easiest place to stay up to date.

Here is the first prompt for 2020:

I have also created a list of the deadlines for you to note in your calendars. You can complete the list as the prompts are published. Click here for a downloadable PDF of the deadlines for the year: 2020 Deadlines For Short Stories

Please read and follow the submission guidelines.

NOTE:

1. Some competition rules state that stories must be ‘previously unpublished’. Each site has different definitions of published. Make sure to check before you post.
2. Copyright remains with you.
3. You publish on the site at your own risk.

Let’s write 12 Short Stories in 12 months.

Happiness
Mia

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Post 2: Short Story Prompt 2

29 January 2020

We are so excited to share Prompt 2 with you. Coalition wasn’t an easy prompt, but the stories posted were amazing. Let’s hope For Hire is a little easier.

Here is the second short story prompt for 2020:

Prompt: For Hire
Deadline: 26 February 2020
Word count: 1000 words exactly

Please do not post before the deadline. Please the How it Works, the FAQs and Tips and Tricks.

If you have any questions please mail: write@12shortstories.com

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Post 3: Short Story Prompt 3

27 February 2020

Did it get lost in translation? We hope not. Enjoy prompt 3. This is our longest story of the year, it is also the month when many writers quit. Don’t be quitter. You can do this.

Here is the third short story prompt for 2020:

Prompt: Translation
Deadline: 25 March 2020
Word count: 2500 words exactly

Please do not post before the deadline. Please the How it Works, the FAQs and Tips and Tricks.

If you have any questions please mail: write@12shortstories.com

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Post 4: Short Story Prompt 4

26 March 2020

Phew, after the long short stories we wrote in March this shorty will be a relief. Enjoy Prompt 4.

Here is the fourth short story prompt for 2020:

Prompt: Agenda
Deadline: 22 April 2020
Word count: 750 words exactly

Please do not post before the deadline. Please the How it Works, the FAQs and Tips and Tricks.

If you have any questions please mail: write@12shortstories.com

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Post 5: Short Story Prompt 5

22 April 2020

It’s May already. This year is galloping ahead. Are you keeping up? We hope so.

Here is the fifth short story prompt for 2020:

Prompt: Stale
Deadline: 20 May 2020
Word count: 1200 word exactly

Please do not post before the deadline. Please the How it Works, the FAQs and Tips and Tricks.

If you have any questions please mail: write@12shortstories.com

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Post 6: Short Story Prompt 6

21 May 2020

Halfway! Well done, Writer. Did you think you would make it this far? We are so proud. Keep going, only six more to go.

Here is the sixth short story prompt for 2020:

Prompt: It didn’t work
Deadline: 17 June 2020
Word count: 1800 words exactly

Please do not post before the deadline. Please the How it Works, the FAQs and Tips and Tricks.

If you have any questions please mail: write@12shortstories.com

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Please follow the remaining story prompts for 2020 on DeadlinesForWriters.com

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12 Poems

Post 1: Can You Write 12 Poems In 12 Months?

15 January 2020

In January 2019 we launched our Poetry Challenge and it was a huge success. We hope you’ll join us for this year. You may be a first-time scribbler of words or a poet laureate, but everyone can benefit from a deadline and some feedback, right?

How will it work:

There will be a deadline every 4 weeks. You post your poem on the site and read and comment on four other poems. The goal is to have 12 poems at the end of 12 months.

The prompts will vary. A lot. Sometimes there will be more restrictions and sometimes none.

One poem per person.

Please remember: This is not a competition. It’s about discipline, productivity and learning. Not all our poems will be great, but they will, at least be written.

How to participate:

1. Sign up on the www.deadlinesforwriters.com Website.
2. If you are already participating in the short story challenge you will need to add the Poetry Level.
3. Click on Account/Show All Levels/Add Level 4
4. Write and submit your poem on the day of the deadline.
5. Comment on four other poems.

Please join the Facebook group: 12 Poems. It is the easiest place to stay up to date.

Here is the first poetry prompt for 2020:

Please read and follow the submission guidelines.

I have also created a list of the deadlines for you to note in your calendars. You can complete the list as the prompts are published. Click here for a downloadable PDF of the deadlines for the year: 2020 Deadlines For 12 Poems

NOTE:

1. Some competition rules state that poems must be ‘previously unpublished’. Each site has different definitions of published. Make sure to check before you post.
2. Copyright remains with you.
3. You publish on the site at your own risk.

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Post 2: Poetry Prompt 2

5 February 2020

Boom! Here is prompt number 2. Sound is a wonderful tool and creates beautiful poetry. Explore sounds with your poem.

Here is the second poetry prompt for 2020:

Prompt: Onomatopoeia
Deadline: 4 March 2020

Please do not post before the deadline. Please the How it Works, the FAQs and Tips and Tricks

If you have any questions please mail: write@12shortstories.com

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Post 3: Poetry Prompt 3

4 March 2020

Mother, matriarch, momma, mumsy. What does the word or the person mean to you?

Here is the third poetry prompt for 2020:

Prompt: Mother
Deadline: 1 April 2020

Please do not post before the deadline. Please the How it Works, the FAQs and Tips and Tricks

If you have any questions please mail: write@12shortstories.com

 

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Post 4: Poetry Prompt 4

2 April 2020

This is the first prompt of the year that asks for a specific format. Good luck and have with it.

Here is the fourth poetry prompt for 2020:

Prompt: Villanelle
Deadline: 29 April 2020

Please do not post before the deadline. Please the How it Works, the FAQs and Tips and Tricks

If you have any questions please mail: write@12shortstories.com

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Post 5: Poetry Prompt 5

29 April 2020

It’s May already and we’re still enjoying your poems. Thank you for sharing them.

Here is the fifth poetry prompt for 2020:

Prompt: Taken
Deadline: 27 May 2020

Please do not post before the deadline. Please the How it Works, the FAQs and Tips and Tricks

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Post 6: Poetry Prompt 6

27 May 2020

Blank canvas, blank page, drawing a blank? What will you choose for Prompt 6.

Here is the sixth poetry prompt for 2020:

Prompt: Blank
Deadline: 24 June 2020

Please do not post before the deadline. Please the How it Works, the FAQs and Tips and Tricks

If you have any questions please mail: write@12shortstories.com

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Please follow the remaining poetry prompts for 2020 on DeadlinesForWriters.com

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If you have any questions please mail: write@12shortstories.com

Top Tip: If you want to learn how to write a short story, sign up for our online course.

 by Mia Botha