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Writing Challenge: Starting Over

by Michael Pick on January 14, 2013
pick

For some of us, blogging is personal. Others are trying to educate or entertain; many more are hybrids. Yet we’re all storytellers. Creative Writing Challenges help you to push your writing boundaries, show off your blogging chops, and, hopefully, spark more post ideas.

To participate, tag your post with DPchallenge or leave a link to it in the comments. (It would also be great if you could link to this post to encourage people to take part – the more the merrier!)  Your post should be specifically written in response to this challenge. We’ll keep an eye on the tag and highlight some of our favorite posts on Freshly Pressed on Friday.

Making a new start is never as simple as it seems on paper. It’s easy to talk about losing a few pounds or giving up the job you hate to weave animal-shaped baskets on a tropical island, but less so to make it happen, and keep at it.

In this week’s writing challenge, we’re asking you to write a short piece of creative writing (fiction/poetry/prose poetry/freeform mindjazz/whatever floats your boat) on the theme of Starting Over.

Drop Starting Over on your page and see where it takes you. Or, if you need a bit more to go on, here are some more ideas to play with broken down into a handful of genres/approaches:

Poetry/Prose Poetry

  • Winter’s end
  • A new stage of life
  • Moving on, up, down or sideways
  • Picking at a scab
  • Cherry blossoms in flight

Free Writing

  • New Year resolutions: aftermath
  • Where I’ve been, where I’m going, how they clash
  • Overcoming it all
  • You can never go home again

Horror

  • Sometimes things don’t stay dead
  • You can’t escape the things you’ve done
  • House of echoes
  • Consumed by the past

Science Fiction

  • Hard reset
  • Temporal disruption
  • Dissolving identity
  • Regime shift

Romance

  • Back, out of the blue
  • Swept away
  • Discovering a new me
  • Life after impossible love

Fantasy

  • A New reign
  • Burnt village
  • After the quest
  • Dark omen

LitFic

  • You can never go home again
  • Regret and remembrance
  • Road trip
  • The spiral down

Crime/Noir

  • Old identity unearthed
  • Revenger’s tragedy
  • Aftermath of a heist
  • The imperfect murder

As always, show us what you’ve got in the comments, or tag your post with DPchallenge.

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319 Comments
  1. hey miss #

    Starting over with an eraser:
    http://heymissstoriesfromprison.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/dp-writing-challenge-starting-over/

    January 15, 2013
  2. cocoayo #

    http://yolanda0118.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/cant-go-back/ ‎

    I decided to do it from the angle of a woman looking to start over fresh, but her irresistible ex make her realize that doing that isn’t going be as easy as she thought.

    January 16, 2013
  3. cocoayo #

    I finally got it right.
    http://yolanda0118.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/irresistible/

    January 16, 2013
  4. Read Stuff With Me! #

    http://sentimentofexpressions.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/let-me-shine/

    January 16, 2013
  5. Kemi #

    Here goes:
    http://thetaskmistress.me/2013/01/16/starting-over-unhealthy-detour-ahead/

    January 16, 2013
  6. pinklightsabre #

    Thanks for the challenge!
    http://pinklightsabre.com/2013/01/16/dreams-and-despair/
    Best, Bill

    January 16, 2013
  7. The Rambling Philosopher #

    Mine is a short piece of creative writing entitled, “Winged Memories”

    I’ve been gone for awhile so this is my first post after almost 2 months? And my first for 2013. Here goes! :D

    http://theramblingphilosopher.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/dp-weekly-writing-challenge-starting-over-winged-memories/

    January 16, 2013
  8. samiaidrees #

    http://ayimas.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/starting-over/

    January 16, 2013
  9. bluerosegirl08 #

    http://bluerosegirl08.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/day-230-follow-the-yellow-brick-road-or-home-leaving-and-coming-back/ my 2 cents

    January 16, 2013
  10. Grace @ Cultural Life #

    Here’s my offering: http://culturallife.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/weekly-writing-challenge-starting-over

    It’s a short piece of creative writing, set in Mexico. I need more practice at creative writing because my story doesn’t really go anywhere. But I enjoyed working with the imagery of the migrating butterflies. And practice makes perfect, so they say. :)

    January 16, 2013
  11. Lily Rose #

    http://lilyrose1212.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/writing-challenge-starting-over-the-surpise/

    January 16, 2013
  12. Words We Women Write #

    All you need is love.
    ~John Lennon
    http://wordswewomenwrite.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/weekly-writing-challenge-starting-over/

    January 16, 2013
  13. angieinspired #

    Enjoy the view from my shower!
    http://angieinspired.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/tmi-in-the-shower/

    January 16, 2013
  14. Rotten Ray #

    It can’t be done:
    http://irvent.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/weekly-writing-challenge-starting-over/

    January 16, 2013
  15. angieinspired #

    how do i get my piece in the trackbacks & pingbacks list?

    January 16, 2013
    • michelle w. #

      Just leave a link to this post in yours!

      January 18, 2013
  16. dukeloath #

    http://dukeloath.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/moulting/

    I appreciate the rule stipulating: ‘Your post should be specifically written in response to this challenge.’ I wrote this piece a day before the DP challenge in response to an almost identical prompt, and would have written the very same words 24 hours later for the DP challenge, so I hope an exception can be made on this occasion (please!).

    January 16, 2013
  17. Stiletto Momma #

    This challenge actually came at a great time for me. I walked into work Monday to find that my boss had been fired and a major corporate reorganization was in the works! What else could I do but erase my whiteboard and get ready to start over… http://stilettomomma.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/wiping-the-whiteboard-clean/

    January 16, 2013
  18. jrwritesthings #

    A great, contemplative challenge that led me to the realization I, as a writer, spend virtually every day ‘starting over.’

    http://jrwritesthings.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/starting-over/

    January 16, 2013
  19. nirupamaprv #

    My own effort at this week’s challenge:
    https://nirupamaprv.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/starting-over/

    January 16, 2013
  20. Karen #

    Awesome prompt! Thank you for the blessing! I had a beautiful cry to work after reading the prompt:

    http://sistersofchrist.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/burnt-bridges/

    January 16, 2013
  21. Kami Tilby #

    I was thinking I needed to work on some fiction anyway. Thanks for the challenge.
    http://kamisbeautifulmorning.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/starting-over-a-little-piece-of-fiction/

    January 16, 2013
  22. juliamonroe #

    Thank you for your Daily Post. It is helpful and interesting. Here is my Starting Over post: http://allsparkledup.com/2013/01/17/the-bell-tree-and-how-i-came-to-terms-with-all-the-metal-in-me/

    January 17, 2013
  23. Sidewayscrayon #

    One week old and I’ve got ‘bubbles’ – http://sidewayscrayon.com/2013/01/16/one-week-old-and-ive-got-bubbles/

    January 17, 2013
  24. Sidewayscrayon #

    Am I allowed two? Whose writing tangible letters these days? ME!
    http://sidewayscrayon.com/2013/01/15/writing-letters-the-old-fashioned-way/

    January 17, 2013
  25. Paper_Wizard #

    Finished! Can I go outside and play in the snow now?
    http://redzeppelinblog.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/after-the-quest-unquiet-ground/

    January 17, 2013
  26. Colline #

    My response to this week’s challenge: http://collinesblog.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/starting-over/

    January 17, 2013
  27. Laura Mavis Martin #

    It’s VERY short fiction:
    http://lauramavismartin.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/starting-over/

    January 17, 2013
  28. ljdaluz #

    My submission for this week: http://ljdaluz.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/bells/
    It’s a short fictional piece.

    January 17, 2013
  29. justanotherwakeupcall #

    here’s my response – a short poetry to “start over” again
    http://justanotherwakeupcall.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/starting-over-again/

    January 17, 2013
  30. yumnaidrees #

    http://amateurxpress.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/a-new-beginning/

    January 17, 2013
  31. Ashlee Lucas #

    http://ashleeblucas.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/situational-suicide/

    January 17, 2013
  32. Courtney Bell #

    Thank you for the challenge! Moving with the mystery, here is my post offering titled Starting Over – My Unknown Life. http://myasibelle.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/starting-over-my-unknown-life/?preview=true&preview_id=839&preview_nonce=25ac97daf1

    January 17, 2013
  33. Monica Lee #

    Love this! How about a memoir-science fiction smash-up written in honor of my brother, who passed away 14 years ago? http://minnesotatransplant.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/are-you-telling-me-that-you-built-a-time-machine-out-of-a-life-boat/

    January 17, 2013
  34. Jeni #

    “At least once a day I remember my husband. Always at one o’clock.” http://joyandwoe.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/ten-seconds-of-silence/

    January 17, 2013
  35. Holly Ulrich #

    I’ve done it over and over. Here’s the story of my very first time. Hope you enjoy my story: http://hollysislandlife.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/writing-challenge-starting-over/

    January 17, 2013
  36. Iris #

    Hello, Lovelies! Firstly, your prompt gave me A LOT of ideas to last a few months! So, I combined two of them and present to you a story. Hope you like it.

    Here’s the link: http://wp.me/p12ny0-2R

    By the way, you are doing an amazing job, folks.

    Love and respect, XOXOXO

    January 17, 2013
  37. littlemscurious #

    there we go :) enjoy
    http://wisforwriting.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/writing-challenge-starting-over/

    January 17, 2013
  38. imagesoflakecounty #

    This is my first attempt at a Writing Challenge, and I thought my photo was appropriate! Thanks!
    http://imagesoflakecounty.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/starting-over/

    January 17, 2013
  39. Janice D #

    here it is: my fictional story on writing…fiction. :)
    http://writingthegirl.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/beginning-again-or-the-daily-post-weekly-writing-challenge-starting-over/

    January 17, 2013
  40. Samantha #

    Starting over is completely appropriate for this January. I wrote about it here:
    http://donewithcollege.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/daily-post-challenge-starting-over/

    I love the weekly writing challenges, so much. Thanks for keeping them going!

    January 17, 2013
  41. Peggy Tee #

    Here’s mine – bit of a departure from the normal content on my blog, but I hope I managed to make it work: http://takingtotheopenroad.com/2013/01/17/starting-over-in-a-new-home/

    January 17, 2013
  42. So Here's Us.... life on the raggedy edge. #

    Feeling brave these days, for my Writing Challenge: Starting Over, I posted both a picture of myself and a poem. The first half explains, the second half is my creative writing. It’s both scary and exhilirating trying something new.

    http://soheresus.com/2013/01/17/starting-over/

    January 17, 2013
  43. Holly Ulrich #

    http://hollysislandlife.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/writing-challenge-starting-over/

    January 18, 2013
  44. kristinarenae #

    http://kristinarenae.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/starting-over/

    January 18, 2013
  45. Crysta Icore #

    A conversation about starting to write again after some negative feedback between my Writer’s voice and Inner Self. http://barefairy.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/the-voices/

    January 18, 2013
  46. awakenthewayside #

    Love this idea!

    January 18, 2013
  47. bethanymclellan #

    better late than never ;) poem in honor of a sweet friend about to graduate and move to a new city: http://bethanymclellan.com/2013/01/18/for-emily-poetry-blog/

    January 19, 2013
  48. purpleperceptions #

    I just started my blog three days ago, and this seems like a great way to get things going. Here goes! =)

    http://calliopeslyre.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/winter-and-the-wilderness/

    January 19, 2013
  49. thoughtchannel #

    I just started my blog this month, so hopefully it gets the ball rolling!
    http://thoughtchannel.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/starting-over/

    January 19, 2013
  50. The Nameless One #

    Here is mine:
    http://adityaviyer.com/2013/01/19/what-will-i-be-remembered-for/

    January 19, 2013
  51. Zen Archeress #

    http://allroadsleadtoroam.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/writing-challenge-starting-over/

    January 19, 2013
  52. CharmedByAbstraction #

    http://charmedbyabstraction.blogspot.com/2013/01/starting-over.html

    January 20, 2013
  53. ladylebz #

    Here’s my post about starting over with my mother.. Things I Wish My Mother Could Have Taught Me -> http://ladylebz.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/things-i-wish-my-mother-could-have-taught-me/

    January 20, 2013
  54. noemihatesyou #

    http://whatbeautifuldisaster.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/rewrites/

    January 20, 2013
  55. heart on the map #

    Thanks for the nudge.
    http://heartonthemap.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/writing-challenge-starting-over/

    January 21, 2013
  56. KateyKins #

    http://katesrepublic.com/2013/01/21/starting-over/

    Here we go. My first time!

    January 21, 2013
  57. lingeringvisions #

    http://lingeringvisions.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/weekly-writing-challenge-starting-over/

    January 21, 2013
  58. icanseealight #

    Better late than never!
    http://icanseealight.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/writing-challenge-starting-over/

    January 21, 2013
  59. puresketch #

    I also got one, what about this http://puresketch.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/musings-this-week/

    January 22, 2013
  60. midnightphoenix #

    Thought I’d give it a go:

    http://literaryleftovers.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/hello-my-name-is/

    January 23, 2013
  61. eMoTuRtLeT84 #

    A little sharing on my take and share of starting over:
    http://emoturtlet.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1053&action=edit

    January 24, 2013
« Older Comments

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

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