2021 Short Story Challenge Theme!

/ Katie

You guys, I have agonized over this. And I’ve gotten some really good suggestions. I’ve looked at quotes and poems, at nouns and verbs and adjectives, at artwork. I wanted to pick a theme for 2021 that feels accessible, not esoteric, and that will lend itself to lots of different stories from lots of different people with lots of different life experiences.

So, here it is, the theme for my 2021 Short Story Challenge:

Home. A place of comfort for some, a place of anxiety or fear for others. For many of us, a place we’ve seen plenty of in the last several months. A physical space, or a feeling, a certainty or a longing, a boon or a burden.

I feel like home has plenty of stories to tell. I hope you’ll join me in telling twelve this year. Let’s see where home takes us.

My story for January will be up next Friday, January 29th. (And then I’ll resume the regular Found Friday feature.) I…haven’t started writing it yet, but I’m excited to see what it will become.

And, if you want to write along and post a story for each month this year, I’m excited to see what you’ll create.

Let’s make 2021 a year for stories.

29 thoughts on “2021 Short Story Challenge Theme!”

    • Thank you! I’m really looking forward to the challenge this year. And it’s been awesome seeing that other people want to participate, too! I hope you do, even if not every month. I’m really looking forward to seeing what you write. 🙂

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  3. Great theme, Katie.
    You actually inspired me to write my first short story in years and as it happens it fits your theme. I had Connections on my mind so will see if I will change horses. It’s a great idea abd one a month is not overly demanding.

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    • Thank you! And I’m so glad to hear that! I love writing, but one of my favorite things about blogging is reading all the wonderful stories that people post.

      Connections was actually on my short list. 🙂 (It was not all that short a list.)

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      • I like the idea of bridges and connections! I was thinking of connection as a theme because I know so many people have struggled with feeling isolated and alone in the last year. I feel lucky to be able to connect here – reading stories and learning from other people has helped me immensely through the pandemic so far.

        I’m glad Home has you thinking! I’m really looking forward to writing about it myself, and I’m excited to hear that the challenge and the theme have resonated with so many people. 🙂 I can’t wait to see the stories.

        Liked by 1 person

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