Struggling to keep your writing community active and inspired? Community challenges are a proven way to spark creativity, drive participation, and help members connect. Use these ready-made templates to launch fun, motivating writing challenges that will energize your group and encourage everyone to share their work.
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Community challenges work because they tap into our intrinsic motivation to create, learn, and be recognized. By framing writing as a playful or competitive activity, you lower the pressure and invite everyone, from beginners to pros, to join in. Challenges create a sense of shared purpose and camaraderie, making members more likely to participate and interact with each other.
When you offer clear, achievable tasks and celebrate participation, you help members overcome creative blocks and feel a sense of accomplishment. Challenges also provide regular opportunities for sharing, feedback, and recognition, all of which strengthen engagement and build a positive, active community culture.
Flash Fiction Friday - Write a story in exactly 100 words. Share it below!
💡 Example: "Flash Fiction Friday - Write a story in exactly 100 words. Share it below!"
Character Swap Challenge - Rewrite a famous scene with the characters swapped. Post your version!
💡 Example: "Character Swap Challenge - Rewrite a famous scene with the characters swapped. Post your version!"
One Word Prompt: Use 'whisper' in a short poem or story. Who can try?
💡 Example: "One Word Prompt: Use 'whisper' in a short poem or story. Who can try?"
Describe your morning as if you are in a mystery novel. Share your best line!
💡 Example: "Describe your morning as if you are in a mystery novel. Share your best line!"
Weekend Haiku Challenge - Write a haiku about coffee. Post yours below.
💡 Example: "Weekend Haiku Challenge - Write a haiku about coffee. Post yours below."
Write a story that starts with 'It was the last thing I expected.' Who is in?
💡 Example: "Write a story that starts with 'It was the last thing I expected.' Who is in?"
Edit-a-Sentence: Improve this sentence in 10 words or less - 'The cat sat on the mat.'
💡 Example: "Edit-a-Sentence: Improve this sentence in 10 words or less - 'The cat sat on the mat.'"
Share your favorite metaphor from your own writing.
💡 Example: "Share your favorite metaphor from your own writing."
Write a six-word story about hope.
💡 Example: "Write a six-word story about hope."
Dialogue Duel - Share two lines of dialogue that reveal a secret.
💡 Example: "Dialogue Duel - Share two lines of dialogue that reveal a secret."
Rewrite a cliché in your own words. Post your twist!
💡 Example: "Rewrite a cliché in your own words. Post your twist!"
Describe a place using only sound and smell.
💡 Example: "Describe a place using only sound and smell."
Invent a new word and give it a definition.
💡 Example: "Invent a new word and give it a definition."
Share the first sentence of your current work in progress.
💡 Example: "Share the first sentence of your current work in progress."
Create a character with just three adjectives. Who will try?
💡 Example: "Create a character with just three adjectives. Who will try?"
Write a micro-poem about the weather today.
💡 Example: "Write a micro-poem about the weather today."
Finish this sentence: 'If only I had remembered...'
💡 Example: "Finish this sentence: 'If only I had remembered...'"
Write a letter from one fictional character to another.
💡 Example: "Write a letter from one fictional character to another."
Summarize a classic novel in a single tweet.
💡 Example: "Summarize a classic novel in a single tweet."
Share a line you cut from your last draft.
💡 Example: "Share a line you cut from your last draft."
Write a scene using only questions.
💡 Example: "Write a scene using only questions."
Describe your main character's bedroom in three sentences.
💡 Example: "Describe your main character's bedroom in three sentences."
Use a random object on your desk as a story prompt.
💡 Example: "Use a random object on your desk as a story prompt."
Reverse a happy ending in a fairy tale. Share your twist!
💡 Example: "Reverse a happy ending in a fairy tale. Share your twist!"
Write a paragraph without using the letter e.
💡 Example: "Write a paragraph without using the letter e."
Share your top tip for beating writer's block.
💡 Example: "Share your top tip for beating writer's block."
Write a story that takes place in one minute of real time.
💡 Example: "Write a story that takes place in one minute of real time."
Describe rain without using the word 'rain' or 'wet.'
💡 Example: "Describe rain without using the word 'rain' or 'wet.'"
Write a dialogue where both characters are lying.
💡 Example: "Write a dialogue where both characters are lying."
Make a to-do list for your villain. Share it below.
💡 Example: "Make a to-do list for your villain. Share it below."
Write a love letter to your favorite setting.
💡 Example: "Write a love letter to your favorite setting."
Use only dialogue to reveal a plot twist.
💡 Example: "Use only dialogue to reveal a plot twist."
Describe a sunset in five unique words. Who is up for it?
💡 Example: "Describe a sunset in five unique words. Who is up for it?"
Share the best piece of writing advice you ever received.
💡 Example: "Share the best piece of writing advice you ever received."
Write a scene from an animal's point of view.
💡 Example: "Write a scene from an animal's point of view."
Describe a feeling without naming it. Can you do it?
💡 Example: "Describe a feeling without naming it. Can you do it?"
Write a short story inspired by your favorite song lyric.
💡 Example: "Write a short story inspired by your favorite song lyric."
Share a title for a book you want to write one day.
💡 Example: "Share a title for a book you want to write one day."
Turn the last text you received into a story prompt.
💡 Example: "Turn the last text you received into a story prompt."
Write a micro-story using only questions.
💡 Example: "Write a micro-story using only questions."
Pick a challenge template that fits your community's mood or goals and personalize it with your group's details. Announce the challenge with clear instructions, a specific time frame, and any rewards or recognition for participants. Pin or highlight the post to keep it visible, and encourage members to share their progress or results in the comments. Follow up with shoutouts or small prizes to keep the momentum going.
Since these templates work on all platforms, adapt them to your community's main channel. Use hashtags for visibility, pin posts in forums, or create event threads in chat apps. Adjust formatting for your platform's features, like polls or image sharing, to maximize engagement.
Weekly or biweekly is ideal, but adjust to your community's activity level. Consistency matters more than frequency.
Start with simple, low-pressure challenges and encourage sharing of drafts or ideas, not just finished work. Always recognize contributions.
Offer badges, public shoutouts, feedback, or small digital prizes. Recognition is often more motivating than material rewards.
Absolutely. Swap in relevant themes, prompts, or seasonal topics to keep challenges timely and engaging.
Use platform tools like reaction counts, comments, or hashtags. A simple leaderboard or shoutout post can also highlight active members.
Yes. Your participation sets the tone, models engagement, and helps build trust in the community.
Refresh your approach with new themes, offer occasional special prizes, and ask members for feedback on what excites them.