Struggling to keep your publishing community engaged? Community Challenges are your solution. Spark creativity and connection with easy, ready-to-use challenge prompts that get everyone involved.
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Community Challenges leverage the power of shared goals and friendly competition, proven methods for increasing member participation. When members see others engaging in a fun or educational task, they are more likely to join in themselves, reducing hesitation and boosting overall activity.
In the publishing industry, such challenges tap into members' love for storytelling, editing, and literary exploration. This approach turns passive members into active contributors, helping them bond over common interests and celebrate small achievements together. Recognition and rewards, even if simple, amplify motivation and keep the momentum strong.
Flash Fiction Challenge: Write a story in exactly 50 words. Share yours below.
💡 Example: "Flash Fiction Challenge: Write a story in exactly 50 words. Share yours below."
Cover Redesign: Pick a favorite book and create a new cover for it. Post your design.
💡 Example: "Cover Redesign: Pick a favorite book and create a new cover for it. Post your design."
Quote Hunt: Find a powerful quote from a book you love. Post it here.
💡 Example: "Quote Hunt: Find a powerful quote from a book you love. Post it here."
Weekly Writing Prompt: Use the word 'mystery' in a short poem.
💡 Example: "Weekly Writing Prompt: Use the word 'mystery' in a short poem."
Reading Bingo: Mark off one square by reading a new genre this week.
💡 Example: "Reading Bingo: Mark off one square by reading a new genre this week."
Book Stack Photo: Share a photo of your current to-read pile.
💡 Example: "Book Stack Photo: Share a photo of your current to-read pile."
Editing Sprint: Set a timer for 20 minutes and edit as much as you can. How did it go?
💡 Example: "Editing Sprint: Set a timer for 20 minutes and edit as much as you can. How did it go?"
First Line Challenge: Write a compelling first line for a story.
💡 Example: "First Line Challenge: Write a compelling first line for a story."
Bookish Scavenger Hunt: Find a book with a blue cover and share the title.
💡 Example: "Bookish Scavenger Hunt: Find a book with a blue cover and share the title."
Genre Swap: Read outside your comfort zone and share your thoughts.
💡 Example: "Genre Swap: Read outside your comfort zone and share your thoughts."
Write a book blurb for a non-existent story using only three sentences.
💡 Example: "Write a book blurb for a non-existent story using only three sentences."
Favorite Character Showdown: Who is your all-time favorite book character?
💡 Example: "Favorite Character Showdown: Who is your all-time favorite book character?"
Book Dedication: Invent a dedication for your next book.
💡 Example: "Book Dedication: Invent a dedication for your next book."
Review Remix: Rewrite a classic book review in haiku form.
💡 Example: "Review Remix: Rewrite a classic book review in haiku form."
Cover Reveal Guess: Share a blurred cover and let others guess the book.
💡 Example: "Cover Reveal Guess: Share a blurred cover and let others guess the book."
Title Swap: Combine two book titles to make a funny new one.
💡 Example: "Title Swap: Combine two book titles to make a funny new one."
Write a story based on the last sentence of the last book you read.
💡 Example: "Write a story based on the last sentence of the last book you read."
Book Playlist: Create a playlist for your favorite novel.
💡 Example: "Book Playlist: Create a playlist for your favorite novel."
Reading Location: Share a photo of your cozy reading spot.
💡 Example: "Reading Location: Share a photo of your cozy reading spot."
Unpopular Opinion: Share a book you did not like and why.
💡 Example: "Unpopular Opinion: Share a book you did not like and why."
Write a thank you note to your favorite author.
💡 Example: "Write a thank you note to your favorite author."
Literary Costume: Describe or share a photo of a book-inspired costume.
💡 Example: "Literary Costume: Describe or share a photo of a book-inspired costume."
Blind Date with a Book: Recommend a book without naming it.
💡 Example: "Blind Date with a Book: Recommend a book without naming it."
Speed Reading Challenge: How many pages can you read in 15 minutes?
💡 Example: "Speed Reading Challenge: How many pages can you read in 15 minutes?"
Book Emoji Game: Describe a book title using only emojis.
💡 Example: "Book Emoji Game: Describe a book title using only emojis."
Rewrite History: Change one event in a famous novel. What changes?
💡 Example: "Rewrite History: Change one event in a famous novel. What changes?"
Book vs. Movie: Which adaptation got it right? Share your pick.
💡 Example: "Book vs. Movie: Which adaptation got it right? Share your pick."
Favorite Opening Line: Share the first line of a book that grabbed you.
💡 Example: "Favorite Opening Line: Share the first line of a book that grabbed you."
Speed Edit: Find a typo in your work and fix it in 5 minutes.
💡 Example: "Speed Edit: Find a typo in your work and fix it in 5 minutes."
Book Soundtrack: If your current read had a theme song, what would it be?
💡 Example: "Book Soundtrack: If your current read had a theme song, what would it be?"
Write a micro-memoir about your reading journey in 100 words.
💡 Example: "Write a micro-memoir about your reading journey in 100 words."
Book Spine Poetry: Stack books to create a poem from their titles.
💡 Example: "Book Spine Poetry: Stack books to create a poem from their titles."
Describe your work-in-progress using only three words.
💡 Example: "Describe your work-in-progress using only three words."
Buddy Read: Pair up with another member and read the same book this week.
💡 Example: "Buddy Read: Pair up with another member and read the same book this week."
Book Club Icebreaker: Share your favorite reading snack.
💡 Example: "Book Club Icebreaker: Share your favorite reading snack."
Write a letter from the villain's perspective.
💡 Example: "Write a letter from the villain's perspective."
Favorite Childhood Book: What book sparked your love of reading?
💡 Example: "Favorite Childhood Book: What book sparked your love of reading?"
Review in GIFs: Summarize your latest read using only GIFs.
💡 Example: "Review in GIFs: Summarize your latest read using only GIFs."
Pass the Pen: Add one sentence to our group story. Continue from the last comment.
💡 Example: "Pass the Pen: Add one sentence to our group story. Continue from the last comment."
Share your best writing tip for staying motivated.
💡 Example: "Share your best writing tip for staying motivated."
Book Haul: What new books did you get this month? Show us your haul.
💡 Example: "Book Haul: What new books did you get this month? Show us your haul."
Plot Twist Challenge: Write a plot twist for a well-known fairy tale.
💡 Example: "Plot Twist Challenge: Write a plot twist for a well-known fairy tale."
Choose a challenge template that fits your community's interests and current events. Announce it with clear instructions, set a deadline, and highlight any rewards or recognition. Encourage members to share their progress or results in comments or dedicated threads. Feature standout contributions and celebrate participation to keep engagement high.
These templates work across all platforms. Adapt challenge lengths and visuals to suit the platform's format. Use pinned posts or stories for visibility. Leverage hashtags or threads for easy tracking and sharing.
Match the challenge to your members' interests and skill levels. Rotate between writing, reading, and creative prompts to keep things fresh.
Weekly or biweekly works well for most communities. Adjust frequency based on engagement and feedback.
Highlight contributions, offer small rewards, and personally invite quieter members to join. Make challenges simple and rewarding.
No, recognition, features, or badges can be just as motivating as tangible prizes. Mix both to appeal to different members.
Offer clear, simple instructions and encourage all types of contributions. Celebrate effort and creativity, not just perfection.
Yes, these templates are designed for all platforms. Adjust formatting or visuals as needed for your chosen space.
Ask for feedback, try new challenge types, and highlight positive examples. Change up rewards or try team-based challenges for variety.