Every November is National Novel Writing Month. Each year, the NaNoWriMo nonprofit organization hosts an international novel-writing challenge to promote creative writing. Once again, the UT Libraries and the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center joined in the fun by hosting our own short story contest.
Twenty-three students dropped by our five-hour “write-in” on the evening of November 8. Tutors from the Writing Center were on hand to provide guidance and support. At the kick-off event, contestants were given a choice of three writing prompts and challenged to let their imaginations soar. They were given one week to complete and submit a short story. We received 22 submissions inspired by our prompts:
Prompt #1: Write about a god desperately trying to get their chosen hero to follow the path they set out for them.
Prompt #2: Your character has just realized the app they’ve been developing has become self-aware. How do they react?
Prompt #3: Every year, one person is sent to the moon. This year, though you hid in terror, it is your turn to enter the rocket.
