I’ve always wanted to make a writing challenge. And I don’t mean a writing tag exactly or a simple single prompt one. No, I wanted to make one with a point system and levels to make you feel like you’re really accomplishing something as you advance through the levels.
And so I invented The Writer’s Game…
Composed of 13 levels, this would be the ultimate writer’s challenge. Every single level has its own theme to inspire participants to write. One doesn’t have to complete every challenge, but they should complete at least the amount of points required to advance to the next level and theme.
An over view of the levels can be seen below…
Level 1 ~ Identity
This level is about getting started. You write a little bit about yourself and get yourself prepped for this journey ahead of you! This level focuses primarily on you and the things your love, in an exercise of self-exploration.
Level 2 ~ Beginnings
This level consists mostly of short, writing warm ups. You’ll write some flash fiction and short pieces. This level is kind of like stretching before you run a marathon.
Level 3 ~ Beauty
This level calls you to create something nature or beauty oriented. This level focuses a lot on poetry, short muse pieces, and haikus.
Level 4 ~ Whimsy
In this level, you’ll write a few fairytales and focus on stories that talk about knights, wizards, witches, and magic. This level is all about the fantastical and whimsical.
Level 5 ~ History
This level is a little more broad than the others. Here you will be challenged to write your own myth, war story, and tales of heroism throughout history. Think writing styled like an Epic (though albeit a little shorter).
Level 6 ~ Mystery
This level, writers will write short mysteries and thrillers in an attempt to intrigue their readers.
Level 7 ~ Inspired
This level is a little more vague than the previous few. Writer’s will be asked to write stories based off of things that inspire them. This can range from paintings, songs, or movies.
Level 8 ~ Intangible
This is another tricky challenge as in this level, writer’s are tasked with writing about the intangible. This can range from colors, to ideas, to senses other than sight, ethics and so forth. This level hopes to encourage writers to think outside the box.
Level 9 ~ Companionship
Level 9 covers topics of companionship of all kind. The obvious prompt has to do with romantic love but writer’s will also be prompted to write pieces covering familial love between family members, love between friends, and the love that exists between humans and their pet.
Level 10 ~ The Future
Level 10 encourages writer’s to try their hand at sci-fi and time travel fiction in this level. They will be prompted to reimagine the world, its technology, and society in this challenge.
Level 11 ~ Power
This level is another more broad category. In this challenge, writer’s will be tasked with writing stories about people with extraordinary gifts, war, and the topic of power.
Level 12 ~ Everyday
This level prompts writer’s to find beauty in the everyday. They will be encouraged to explore the slice of life genre as well as attempt to writer a few stories that take place in mundane locations such as school.
Level 13 ~ Endings
In this level, as the final one, is much more somber in tone. Writer’s will be challenged to cover tricky topics such as death, childhood, and endings in their short stories or prose.
And these are all the levels! For easy access to these challenges I have created a new tab under Writing titled Writing Challenges. Beneath that option one will find the Writer’s Game tab where one can find all the levels as I updated them. I will also link level 1herewhen I post it.
This personality type was a lot of fun to study and think up prompts for as the typically ENTP is nearly the exact opposite of my natural personality (INFJ). But due to this, this has made reading up on the MBTI personality all the more fun and challenging as I try to shift my perspective of the world and relate to the personality type as I type up a few prompts. I associate this personality type with chessboards, magnifying glasses, and a sort of antique/steampunk-y aesthetic. Such associations will be reflected in the prompts below!
★Debatable
You’re a lonely college student who accidentally got locked into one of the old campus buildings. As you search for the exit, you find a secret room with two speaker stands. At one, you see another student. They explain to you that this was the old debate room which has been hidden away for unknown reasons. They come here to clear their head and “debate” things with themselves and they are delighted that you have found the secret room, as now they finally have someone to actually debate with.
★The Extra Hour
You’re a normal person with a normal life. You never saw yourself as unique really. Just a regular person among many. With the exception of one “gift”. Every night, after 12:00AM, the clock switches to 13:00AM for you and time freezes as you are gifted by the universe, an extra hour to do whatever you wish.
★Library Whispers
You open a library book to find a note with some sort of code. Bored and curios, you crack it. To find it leads you to the title of yet another book. Over time, you find yourself caught up in a library-wide puzzle that involves secret codes. passageways, and many other twisted secrets.
★Life Imitates Art
You get a new job at a museum filled to the brim with Greek style, stone and marble statues. But you notice something odd after only a few days of working there. But they can’t exactly walk around. But, after asking one a question, you find that they can indeed talk. What do you ask them?
★Light Keeper
You live out your days as the keeper of a light house, shining your beacon into the stormy seas to guide ships to the shore. But it seems your light has attracted something else besides a ship- a dragon.
★Corpus Delicti
You are a Homicide Detective. And you are very good at your job I might add. This might be in part due to the fact you are, unbeknownst to your team, are necromancer. But, after animating a human skull to come to life and ask the poor fellow who did him in, you are dismayed to find that the poor chap cannot remember.
It’s been a long week. I’ve been sick for the last few days, all while trying for my finals and, much to my dismay, I found my lovely beta fish dead in his tank (RIP Bernard). It’s just been a rough past couple of days and my poor dead fish seemed to be the physical manifestation of it. So, in a moment of sadness, I wrote a little poem for my fish who kept me company during my freshman year and first half of my sophomore year. You’ll be surprised what can inspire poetry. I find it’s often the little things. So, without further ado, enjoy my homage.
Blue scales and bubbles The gentle hum of the filter You were a quiet, honest presence In a world of noise and worry.
I looked forward to those moments When I’d sprinkle your food inside And you’d come out And share a meal with me For that is how connection is made
I had a suspicion that I was going soft When I bought you plants and pebbles To decorate your home. But I wanted you to be happy Because that is my nature As it was yours to you bump against the glass when I came home every day. I told myself it was your way of say hi.
I knew I had gone soft When I found your body plastered against the filter, And your beautiful scales sucked away.
And when I settled for sleep And looked to my right, I wasn’t greeted with the flick of a tail, Or the healing hum of the tank.
Just an empty container of pebble and rock With no soul inside. I cried more than I thought I would For something so small But so beautiful.
Just a fun little challenge that I remember from my old writer forum days. It’s a challenge where you spell out your name and list lovely global cities that start with each letter and describe your thoughts concerning each one. It’s more of a fun game and blog writing exercise than anything. I was going to do a writing prompts post but, alas, a little germ decided to make me its home for the weekend where then my immune system proceeded to convince me that I was dying. What I’m trying to say is I’m sick. The week of finals too. And that is why you’re getting a short but sweet blog post this week that is more akin to a bullet journal entry than anything. Feel free to do the same sort of thing on your own blog! It is quite a lot of fun (especially if you have a long name).
So! Let’s start with my name.
Brooke. With an e. We do not forget the e around here. So let’s see what cities I can find in my name!
B – Beijing, China
Ahhhh yes. The lovely city of Beijing. One of the oldest cities in the world come to find out, with its history being traced back up to 3,000 years ago, which is insane to me. I’ve only lived for about 20 years now, and it feels like an eternity.
Apparently this place, as beautiful as it is, has undergone quite the identity crisis (though haven’t we all? Don’t lie, 2021 was a rough ride, don’t even lie), having been named various other titles before finally settling on the name of Beijing. Examples include: Jicheng (‘City of Ji’), Yanjing (Capital of Yan’), Nanjing (‘Southern Capital’), Zhongdu (‘Central Capital’), Dadu (‘Great Capital’), Beiping (‘Central Peace’) and so forth.
R – Rome, Italy
Rome! The city of the coolest ruins that I could ever dream of seeing. And good heavens, the ARCHITECTURE. I COULD GUSH ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE ALL DAY. And maybe I will in another post. But that is for another day when I have more than one brain cell available to do the leg work. No, instead I choose to entertain you with tasty little fun facts. And since Rome is generally a pretty popular city, I’m going to try and dredge up some of the oddest (but interesting) facts about Rome.
For example, did you know they have a pasta museum??? Yeah, didn’t think so.
And that women who lived in Rome during ancient times used to actually dye their hair with goat fat and beech wood ashes? Yeah, if they wanted to be a blonde or a red head, they didn’t have to wait for L’Oréal to be invented.
Also, cats are allowed to roam there by law. Like it’s literally decreed that these cats are cool with the government to just be chillin’ on the ruins. And I love this thought. Aaaand now I desire an animated Disney movie about the cats of Rome. Surely the cats are up to SOMETHING.
O – Osaka, Japan
The more I look up pictures of this place, the more I want to go here. Fun fact, I’ve just always wanted to go to Japan. I know that’s a very basic location to have on your traveling bucket list, but there’s a reason it’s such a popular getaway. The place is gorgeous, especially during the spring.
Osaka is known for a lot of things, one of the most prominent being its food. So, you’ve already got me there. I’m ready. Brb, packing my bags.
O – Oslo, Norway
Yet another gorgeous place I wish to visit once I’m a millionaire authoress with a secret identity, an unquenchable thirst for travel and no husband (but maybe like, 2 cats in a cat carrier?). Norway is one of those places that I see pictures of, and I’m immediately mad I’m not there. Which is kind of funny considering I generally have an aversion to cold weather. But I think the immense beauty of this place makes up for that, not to mention I’ve vowed to see the Northern lines burn up the night sky at least once before I die. And this seems like the perfect place to fulfill such a wish.
K – Kahuku, Hawaii
Oh, yeah, I’ve seen Moana. And I am ready.
Wanna know a startling fact? I have never seen the ocean.
Yeaaaah, I know. Tragic really. But oh, I so want to see it. I want to go on a boat. Maybe see a dolphin. I’m not too picky honestly. I might even settle for a jellyfish or a trout or something. I just want a little bit of Hawaii. And considering its December right now, that urge has only grown.
E – Edinburgh
Yeah boooy, I saved the best for last. I am aware I have basically gushed over every location covered thus far, but I mean it when I say that this place is the one I desire to travel to the most out of all cities I have listed. For as long as I can remember, I just loved the thought of going Scotland. I loved Celtic music so much growing up. In fact, I think that’s one of the things that really sparked my interest in the place. That and my World History chapter on the Celts and how they’d run into battle naked and covered in blue paint. Something my 9 year old self never forgot.
I think its the thought of foggy cliffs and woods that drives me to it. And castles. I adore castles. The mix of nature, old things, and mystery is just pure magic to me.
And that concludes my wanderlust filled post. I’ll be honest, I haven’t been to any of these places. In fact, I purposefully chose cities outside the US because maybe its really the intrigue of the unknown that drives my desire to want to see these places. The deep need to tread previously un-treaded ground. I think that’s maybe because there’s a little explorer in us all. A kid that didn’t grow up and just wants to see that big world out there. ‘Cause there’s so much to it. And it’s just sitting there, waiting for us.
Wait… do I sense a befitting moment to quote J.R.R. Tolkien??
I think I do.
Ahem.
‘Cause you see it’s like this…the world isn’t in your books and maps.
And so continues my series of writing prompts based on the meyers briggs personality types. The ENFP personality type is also known as “The Campaigner” and is seen as a creative people person. They are also known as the “hero”. Due to this, I associate the personality with very bright, vivid colors and whimsical ideas or concepts. I associate them with Shakespeare, sunlight, and fantasy.
★Ferris Wheel of Time
You love fairs. You haven’t missed one for years. But maybe you should have missed this one? For after a few quick spins, you find yourself taken forward in time, far into the future. Tell me about your adventures with the ferris wheel of time.
★Fantacity
You live in a city where things don’t run on electricity or coal. No, your city runs on pure imagination. Tell me about this place.
★The Magic Stage
There is a magic stage you and your friends found in the woods. For kicks, you begin to act out a traditional Shakespearean play only to find yourselves teleported to the very setting of the play and each of your friends, a character.
★Prism
You know prisms? Bits of glass the separate light into the known colors of our color spectrum. From red to purple we see each sliver of color, different from the ones it lies next to. Quite extraordinary, no?
I’ll tell you what’ve even more extraordinary… an interdimensional prism.
Scientists have been working on it for quite some time. A prism that will separate the dimensions into cohesive shreds so we can find out about the worlds and dimension that lie beyond what we can see. We lie in the universe of white. Tell me about the blue, red, orange, yell, green, and purple dimensions that exist.
★The Hum
There is a deep hum that you hear. It seems to come from the universe itself. But, unfortunately, you’re the only one who can hear it yet you are completely determined to find out what it is.
★Imagine
You are an imaginary friend of a child who, surprisingly, doesn’t forget you as they grow older. You continue to stick by their side and talk to them, even as they reach college age. The imaginary friends are quite jealous of this however, and it causes quite a few problems.
★The Gene
There is only one born every thousandth generation. We all thought it would never happen. We all thought it was legend. But turns out, it is due to a very specific gene that only activates at the thousandth time it is passed on. Tell me what it is.
By the Brooke 