Rogue Writers

July Short Story Contest
2024-07-31
Deadline is July 31st at 23:59 UTC.
Choose at least 2 of the following sources of inspiration:

1) Visual Prompt: “Under the Rug”, by Chris Van Allsburg
2) Caption Text Prompt: “Two weeks passed and it happened again.”
3) Modern Major General – (“They are competent at everything… except their actual job.”)

You may choose bits and pieces from each inspiration source.

Please review the contest rules and guidelines that are listed on the Contest Page.

Preptember
2024-09-01 - 2024-09-30
Together we’ll prepare to tackle a larger writing challenge or project. There will be workshops, themed discussions, and tips for writerly self-care and wellness.

Workshop: Puzzle Plots, with Jenai
2024-09-22 10:00 - 23:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Discord Stage Channel
Discover a low-pressure, flexible approach to planning and analyzing your story. Together we’ll have fun plotting, expanding, and transforming a popular classic children’s story. This system may help if you—

are a Planner; use it to outline your story.
are a Plantser; use it for casual planning and inspiration.
are a Pantser; use it after writing your first draft to detect plot holes, lost characters, and missing threads.
need a system that helps you when you’re stuck; each puzzle piece is a writing prompt!
want a system that you can implement in a single day; it’s fun and it’s fast!

Rogue's Amazing Word Rush (RAWR)
2024-10-01 - 2024-10-31
October kicks off our big writing challenge!
VIEW MORE INFORMATION HERE

Shifty McGee's Torch Relay
2024-10-18 23:00 - 2024-10-20 23:00 | Discord Torch Relay Channel
(Times shown are for the Pacific Time Zone.)
What is it? Writers carry the torch by trading turns writing/planning/creating in one hour legs, then passing the torch off to other writers. We will be passing the torch throughout the weekend. Can we carry the torch for 20 hours? The full 48 hours?
Where will it happen? In our dedicated RAWR Torch Relay channel on Discord.
McGee’s Torch Rules:

The torch bearer must write/create/plan for a full hour.
You may take restroom and snack breaks.
It’s an honor system, and we’re more concerned that you have fun!
Use a fire emoji/picture to pass off and accept the torch.
Both must post within five minutes of each other, or the torch drops.
If the torch is dropped, the entire marathon starts over.
There is no passing off the torch in the middle of an hour.
After each leg, post in the channel with an update of your progress.
(This may be your word count, pages written, planning, or other project progress)

McGee’s Torch Tips:

If you cannot pass the torch, you may choose to carry it for another hour.
It’s okay to carry the torch for multiple legs, including consecutive legs.
It helps to arrange for backup people when planning your leg of the relay.
Flexibility is key, Fun outweighs adhering to the original schedule.

Rogue's Character Costume Party
2024-10-25 - 2024-10-31 | Costume Showcase Channel
Begin planning now! During the last week of RAWR, we’re holding a Rogue Writers Character Costume Party!
Each writer will choose a character from their story and dress up like them! These can be a full, extravagant costumes, or simply a hat, shoes, or a pendant. You can make it silly, or take it seriously! However you approach it, this will be a fun and helpful way to connect with our characters and show them off to the world. You can share photos of your full costume, components, or even just share descriptions. It’s a fun character building event!
Where? On Discord in a Costume Showcase Channel.

Rogue's Amazing Word Rush (RAWR) - November
2024-11-01 - 2024-11-30
November kicks off the second leg of our big writing challenge!
VIEW MORE INFORMATION HERE

Shifty McGee's Torch Relay
2024-11-16 00:00 - 2024-11-17 23:59 | Discord Torch Relay Channel
(Times shown are for the Pacific Time Zone.)
VIEW INFO HERE

WORKSHOP: Stuck in a Scene — Breaking the Walls Down
2024-11-24 | Discord Voice Channel
Led by WalkingKatastrophe
Sometimes you’re in the zone and writing along and then boom, it comes to a halt in the middle of a scene. What do you do next? In this workshop we’ll break down the walls holding us back and get our scenes back on track!
11AM Pacific/7PM GMT

January Short Story Contest
2025-01-01 - 2025-01-31
DEADLINE: January 31st, 2025 at 23:59 UTC
Use at least 2 (TWO) of the following writing prompts in your story:

1) Visual Prompt: “The Indian-Pacific Railway, 1980”
(Photo from the National Archives of Australia: A6135, K9/6/80/20)
2) Text Prompt: “It has its own time zone?”
3) Trope: You Are Too Late

Fun Fact: Did you know that Australia’s Indian Pacific Railway’s trains, which travel between Kalgoorlie and Port Augusta, have their own time zone called Train Time?
Please review the Contest Page for rules and guidelines.

STOP the Nonsense! (A Rogue Writer's Micro-Story Contest)
2025-03-13 - 2025-03-17

Lady Emu's Spa
2025-03-15 - 2025-03-17
A weekend filled with relaxation, write-ins, hand exercises, visual journeys, and CAKE!

Introduction to the Creative Garden
2025-03-15 12:00 - 12:30 | Discord Voice Channel
Jenai will stream an audio recording of a guided visualization. Writers are taken on a journey to their creative gardens and meet their muses. This audio recording has closed captioning. Courtesy of Janelle Schneider (janelle-schneider.com).

And Inner Exploration of Perfectionism and Creativity
2025-03-16 12:00 - 12:30 | Discord Voice Channel
Jenai will stream an audio recording of a visualization that helps knock down your perfectionist barriers and awaken your muse. This is an audio recording with closed captioning. Courtesy of Janelle Schneider (janelle-schneider.com).

April Short Story Contest
2025-04-01 - 2025-04-30
DEADLINE: April 30th, 2025 at 23:59 UTC
Review the contest rules and guidelines on the Contest Page.
Use at least 2 (TWO) of the following writing prompts in your story:

Visual Prompt: “The Anomaly”
(Photo credit: Official Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. Lancaster & (Co.) Antelope Acres, Lake LA, Quartz Hill)
Text Prompt: “If you can read this…”
Trope: I Warned You

The Anomaly

July Short Story Contest
2025-07-01 - 2025-07-31
DEADLINE: July 31, 2025 at 23:59 UTC
Review the contest rules and guidelines on the Contest Page.
Use at least 2 (TWO) of the following writing prompts in your story:

Visual Prompt: “The November Meteors.”
(The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1881 – 1882)
Text Prompt: “Tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil.”
(William Shakespeare, Macbeth)
Element: Odd Friendship

“The November Meteors.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1881 – 1882

Monthly Writing Challenge : July 2025
2025-07-01 - 2025-07-31
CLICK HERE to join our July Leaderboard on TrackBear.

Monthly Writing Challenge : August 2025
2025-08-01 - 2025-08-31
CLICK HERE to join our August Leaderboard on TrackBear.

Monthly Writing Challenge : September 2025
2025-09-01 - 2025-09-30
CLICK HERE to join our September Leaderboard on TrackBear.
