Welcome to Week Three! Can you believe we’re at the halfway mark for the challenge?
You all did so well with your stories last week! There were so many interesting and unique ways you interpreted the prompt. It’s now the third week, so it’s time to do it again! Will your story have aliens? Zombies? Maybe it’ll have a dragon in it! Whatever you decide, we can’t wait to see what you come up with.
So, without further ado, here’s your next prompt!
Week Three Prompt – The Starting Sentence Prompt
Write a story that starts with the
following sentence: So this is what drowning feels like.
Wait…what’s a “Starting Sentence” prompt?
A sentence prompt is a prompt that uses a particular sentence. It doesn’t matter where your story takes place, who’s in it, or what’s said. The only thing that matters is that your story must start with this sentence: So this is what drowning feels like.
Before you start writing, we have some important rules for you to follow.
Writing Rules
1. Please keep the content of the stories you post to a PG rating. Please avoid real curse words. Violence/fighting should be limited and purposeful. Please do not include any spice.
2. Your story must be 1,000 words or less, and must contain the prompt to be counted for the challenge. You’re not required to post it in order to “win” the challenge, but if you want it to count for your team, your story must be posted by Sunday at 11:59 PM ET, and you must include your team name.
Remember to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and post your story as an “answer” to this question, not a “comment”. 🙂 You’re all doing such a great job! I’m so proud of all the stories you’ve posted.
Happy Writing!
Will you notice if someone is like 1-25 words over the 1000 word limit (asking for a friend hahaha)
what if i accidently posted my story as a comment last week lol? does it still count?
Hey Izzy and Ava,
If you accidentally post your story as a comment instead of an answer, you should get an email to alert you! It will still count for points for your team, but no one will be able to vote for it.
And, to answer your question for your friend 😉 As far as word count, for your story to count for the challenge, it does need to be 1,000 words or under. Great questions!
Tean A (Herbert)
In the Crushing
So, this is what drowning feels like. And it’s not water in my lungs purged beneath a surface where I can’t find purchase to get out. No, honestly it may be worse. The endless pressure from the world around me coaxing me to pick a path. Pick the right path. Decide right now at only seventeen what career I want for the rest of my life. How on this beautiful chaotic earth am I supposed to know what I want? I barely know myself at this point. And never mind what you want to do or be, how about where you want to go after high school? What college? Do you stay close to home? Do I go across the country? Will my parents have an opinion? If I stay close to home, do I want to dorm to get the full experience? Most people my age doesn’t worry about the next question, but I do. How will I pay for college? Loans? Do my parents have any money? Am I eligible for scholarships? Grants? I sigh slamming the laptop shut pushing it away from me as I slam my back against the chair in the library. I throw my head back and close my eyes willing the weight of the endless questions to go away. They don’t. My mind seems to be on an endless loop of consuming questions, concerns, and quite frankly options. Apparently being top in my class gets harder than it already was. I studied my butt off and worked extra hard all through high school to be valedictorian. Something my parents instilled in me. I prided myself on being the best. For their sake, to make them proud. But at what cost? My sanity. I have spent so much time studying and taking extra classes I have no idea who I am when my nose is not in a book learning. So, yea, drowning. Drowning in the weight of disappointing my parents. Drowning in options for college. Drowning in questions. Drowning in life.
I leave the library and drive home. My parents are still at work. I grab the mail on my way into the house and cringe at the two very clear acceptance letters I received in the mail today. I walk inside placing my parents’ mail on the island in the kitchen and storm up to my room. I toss the newest letters into the pile consisting of the other ten I have gotten over the last month. On my guidance counselor’s advice, I applied everywhere I knew I would be accepted. I am mentally cursing her for it now. I wrote fifteen essays, all different for each college. But while I wrote all the different letters, they asked the same question. “Why do you see “insert college name here” college as your first choice?”. I lay down on my bed shoes even still on and curl up under my blanket shadowing myself from the outside world. Blanketing all distractions. It is then I hear the voice of peace. Voice of reason speak to me.
“My child, you hide from me. You forget I can guide you better than the world.”
I do not answer the voice but I can feel the throat clogging emotions rising up. The voice continues.
“My child, you forget to pray to me. You have forgotten me.”
“No!” I say loudly through a sob. “I just…I don’t know what I thought.”
I guess I had forgotten I could lean on God.
“I’m sorry…” I whisper.
“My child, you are forgiven. Now let’s begin.”
At God’s words I feel a renewing in my spirit and a will to get out of bed. All of a sudden, a song begins in my head “New Wine” by Hillsong. And for the first time all year I feel purchase beneath my feet.
Definitely how many seniors are probably feeling right now.
Great job. <3
I feel this. The endless stream of questions at the start is a whirlwind, and a perfect picture of many people’s mental state. The reminder to lean on God often gets lost in the noise, but stories like this bring it back to the front of people’s mind. Thank you, and great job!
Dude the 15 different college essays is so real!! XD
Such an encouraging story. As a high school senior (who’s actually very very similar to your narrator) I feel the drowning too. Thanks for reminding me Who’s really in control. <3
I felt this. Definitely much more relatable. I’m glad you shared this because it’s these stories that make me snap out of my head and realize I am not alone. God is so good that even in the struggle, He forgives and renews!
Reading this really takes me back to senior year of high school… I don’t miss the constant pressure of it all. Great job capturing the feelings and essence of what it feels like, along the reminder that God wants our time, too, in those stressful times!
A great story. As a senior I feel just like that person. But I also forgot who I can and am supposed to lean on. Thank you for the reminder.
relatable, more so than you know, clear, concise-good job!
Thank you for this 🫶
thank you all for the kind feedback! I am kinda blown away by it. Thank you <3
Wait so if we like accidentally post our stories as a comment here, will it count or be ignored?