Writing Prompts for the September Year of the Ox Writing Contest

Aloha, writers.  This month again we have no word limit.  Enter as many times as you like.  Ignore all prompts if you wish.

From “Spirit Rocks,” by Jim Harstad

The bad luck cycle has been stopped in its tracks.

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From “How It’s Hanging,” by Lanning Lee

Comedy is the hardest thing to write.

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From “Encounters,” by Joy Gold

One time, the biggest roach I ever saw
Got stuck in my hair . . .

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From “What Not to Buy for Lunch (for your parents),” by Doreen Beyer

Mom didn’t like its color.
Dad said it tasted funny.
I couldn’t judge.

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From “Diacritical is critical,” by Misty Sanico

ʻokina and kahakō

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From “A Maze,” by Lanning Lee

It’s good for a local island boy to see life from somewhere else once in a while.

* * * * *

Okay, everybody, remember prompts are suggestions only.  Use them as springboards, or forget about them completely.

Okay, 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.