It's a mad, mad world.....or, at least, it could be. This month's writing prompts are all about dystopian fiction. Where the author asks questions such as, "Yes, but what if it got worse? What if people don't realize they are being used, oppressed, and watched? What if we really are just in a simulation?" The prompts for this month follow the different types of dystopian categories.

Orwellian/Huxleyan- A corrupt leader or regime oppresses those under them: think The Hunger Games.

Sample Prompt: A disease has ravaged the country, and a company has 

emerged with the "cure." However, you have to register with and supply your DNA to the company.

PhilDickian- Offers a false reality, threatens nonconformists, and keeps citizens under surveillance: think The Matrix.

Sample Prompt: AI discovers that humanity is the problem on Earth and     begins to "correct" it.

Kafkaesque- The government has taken over and completely controls the population by assigning them tasks that require no thought or stress, just serve the government. This is the assembly line mentality: think Divergent.

Sample Prompt: In order the reduce stress for the population, the 

government has decided to make your decisions for you. You simply have to follow orders and complete the job assigned. After all, the government wouldn't do anything to hurt its citizens, right?

*Submissions are open until the end of April*

"It's not easy being green." Write a story where the color green plays a prominent role. Is a character green with envy? Or, maybe, green is the clue to solve a mystery.

Lady Luck. Write a story about a character who has extremely good or bad luck. Perhaps a character with good luck meets a character with bad luck- do they cancel each other out? 

Did you ever kiss the blarny stone? It's not for the faint of heart. Write a story using inspiration from Irish/Celtic Mythology or famous Irish locations.

*Submissions are open until the end of March*

"Words, words, words." The prompts for this month all include using specific words in your story. Pick a prompt, get creative, and have fun with words!

Write a short story using the words: Asperity, Laquacious, and Aloof.

Write a one-act play using the words: Brouhaha, Cattywampus, Bamboozled, and Flabbergast.

Write a poem using the words: Metamorphosis, Somber, and Ineffable.

*Submissions are open until the end of February*

What would you do if you ran into your doppelgänger one day? Are they your long-lost twin? Or something more sinister?

It's New Year's Eve, the clock strikes 12:00. Happy New Year! But something seems different...not quite right...you look in the mirror and you're a different person!

What if you woke up one day as your younger self? Think 13 Going On 30.

*Submissions are open until the end of January*

It's the most wonderful time of the year...or is it? What if not all Christmas stories had a Hallmark end? What if the elves aren't there to make toys but cause mischief? What if the Yule log brings forth Pagan spirits when lit? One of your prompts for this month is to write a Christmas story with a darker twist. Feel free to incorporate the other sources of our current Christmas traditions such as gift giving (the Romans), caroling (pagans), Christmas tree (Romans/Germans), etc.

🎶Deck the halls and not your family, Fa la la la la, la la la la.🎶 The second prompt for December is to create your own version of common a Christmas song.

The year is coming to a close, and the Ghost of Christmas Past has come to make you confront your past mistakes. The third prompt for December is to write a story where your character is made to take account, not for their actions on past Christmases, but for their actions on every holiday (doesn't have to be a popular one) from the past year.

The Submissions are Open from December 2nd to December 16th.

💲If there are 20 or more entries, prizes will be awarded to the top three submissions. 1st Place- $25 Visa, 2nd Place- $15 Amazon, and 3rd Place- $10 Dunkin.💲

What if in Cinderella, the fairy godmother was actually the villain? What if Belle is actually a mad scientist who created the beast? Fractured fairy tales are all about the "what ifs" of established stories, often exploring a new angle to create something totally original. Write a story that uses an established fairy tale as its basis and make something new and original. This website can give you some ideas.

The Submissions are Open from November 1st to November 22nd.