Writing Prompts (to Potentially Ignore) for the November Year of the Ox Bamboo Shoots Writing Contest

Hmmm, let try something new.  How about this.  Look around where you are right now and choose something to write about.  Just don’t write about Christmas yet, okay?  Hold back for now, just like the retailers do.

That’s right.  You get to choose your own topic.

All entries must be between 100 words minimum and 500 words maximum.

For instance, I’m looking around the room where my computer is, the one I’m sitting here typing on, and I see a blue Primo Aloha shirt hanging on the wall.  Why is there a blue Primo Aloha shirt hanging on the wall?  Because my mother always chooses the clothes I will wear the following day, and for Aloha Friday, she’s selected a blue Primo Aloha shirt, orange cargo shorts, and yellow with red polka-dot socks.  They’re all hanging on the wall.  Waiting for me to wake up.  Or at my age, waiting for me in case I do wake up.  Thanks, Mom.  Make sure to wake me up — if you can.  Mahalo for the love.

So I think wow, just like Lessa Griffith did in October when she mentioned Liberty House, I’m going to blow everybody’s mind by writing some kind of momentary flashback piece where I at least mention Primo Aloha shirts. What am I going to write about Primo Aloha shirts I have no idea right at this moment.  Maybe I’ll ask Darrell Lum for suggestions. (Actually, this is just an example.  I’m not a writer, so you won’t be seeing me write anything about Primo shirts.  I wouldn’t know how to write that — or anything else.)  I know, maybe I’ll ask Lanning Lee to write something having to do with Primo shirts.  He might like that idea.  Who knows?

Got, it right.  Between 100 and 500 words max.  You get to pick the topic based on something you see right around you as you sit down to write.  It’s almost like ignoring the prompts I suggest and coming up with your own : )

At the end of your piece, please tell us what object you picked.  That will add to the reading excitement : )

Okay, everybody, let’s write!

By participating in the Bamboo Shoots community, you agree to the following rules:

1. We reserve the right to remove content that promotes hate or gratuitous violence. Be respectful and courteous to others.
2. All contest challenge entries must be submitted by the designated
3. Enter as many times as you like using a trigger/prompt (this page).
4. Contest Challenge entries can be prose (including short stories, nonfiction essays, or whatever you write), poetry, or plays -- or any type of hybrid writing you dream up.
5. Every entry must have a title -- unless you choose to enter a haiku, in which case you can simply enter the word haiku in the title section.
6. All content/entries should be original work. You retain ownership of your entries; however, we may ask to use them elsewhere on the site or on social media to help promote Bamboo Ridge and/or the Bamboo Shoots online writing community.
7. Winners will be announced with all possible speed after the end of each month. Winners receive 10 Bamboo Bucks credit to spend in the BRP online bookstore. Bamboo Bucks have no monetary value outside of the online store.
8. Entries may also be selected for publication in the regular Bamboo Ridge Journal. If your piece is chosen, the editors will contact you via the email address on file.
9. Please note that you need not enter the contest challenge in order to post on Bamboo Shoots. You may post other writing if you choose. We welcome that here:  Click this link to go to Shoot da Breeze.