Writing Challenges
© Jocelyn Li Langrand
Throughout the year, various writing challenges are available to spur you on. Prizes are given away during and after these challenges. Some of the events listed are free, and some have a fee.
Reading Challenges
All Year
Julie Hedlund's 12 x 12 . (Sign up in Jan. and Feb).
What: Join the world’s friendliest writing community and challenge yourself to write and revise 12 picture books in 12 months.
Who: Open to All
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Cost: Tiered Membership Levels. Registration opens in January.
Sub Six
What: a Facebook community that supports authors and illustrators to submit to agents and editors. The goal is to make six submissions of any kind in a year. Prizes and encouragement each month.
Today's Little Ditty - all about children's poetry, with writing tips, interviews, and monthly challenges based on poetry participation.
Monthly Twitter Writing Challenge - Join a community of writers on Twitter committed to writing 500 words a day. Use #DecWritingChallenge, #JanWritingChallenge, etc.
JANUARY
Julie Hedlund's 12 x 12 . (Sign up in Jan. and Feb).
What: Challenge yourself to write and revise 12 picture books in 12 months and join a great picture book writing community; monthly webinars, opportunities to get work critiqued, and gold-level members have monthly agent submission opportunities
Cost: Tiered Membership Levels. Registration opens January 14.
Storystorm (registration is open: sign up by Jan. 7)
What: Join picture book writers and come up with 30 new picture book ideas in the month of January. Get daily inspirational and educational posts and have the chance to win prizes.
FEBRUARY
Feb. 1-28 Nonfiction Fest
What: A month of inspiration, blog posts, writing prompts, and community for writers of nonfiction. Join the Facebook group NF Fest or subscribe to the website for updates.
MARCH
Mar. 1-10 Writer's Digest Character-Building Challenge What : 10 days of prompts to help build a character Mar. 1- 31 Chapter Book Challenge with Becky Fyfe
What: Write the first draft of your early reader, chapter book, MG, or YA novel in a month. Join a private FB group, get inspired by other authors & win prizes.
Mar. 1-31 Revise Your Novel in 31 Day s with Janice Hardy
What: Follow day by day on the website to get revision tips for your novel
Mar. 1-31 Reading for Research Month (ReFoReMo) with Carrie Charley Brown
What : A month of reading and researching mentor picture books. Join a private FB group, get inspirational posts, and win prizes. Registration for 2020 is now open .
APRIL
April 1-30 Camp NaNoWriMo
What: virtual writing retreat brought to you by the creators of NaNoWriMo where you set your own writing goals. Join cabins with other writers for motivation.
MAY
May 1 -7 National Picture Book Writing Week (NaPiBoWriWee) with Paula Yoo
What: Write 7 picture book manuscript drafts in one week. Get inspired by authors & win prizes.
May 11- June 22 Eenie Meeney Minie Mini Writing Challenge
What: Each Monday for seven weeks, post a 100-word story based on the writing prompt provided by Susanna Leonard Hill
JUNE
June 22-26 #KidlitZombieWeek
What: Picture book writers, revive your old, dead manuscripts. Twitter event.
NOVEMBER
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)
What : Write the first draft of your novel in one month.
