Creative Nonfiction in The Ink Well Prompt #48
Welcome to The Ink Well's weekly creative nonfiction contest!
In this post, we'll announce the winners from last week's contest and provide the prompt for the coming week.
Before You Write Your Creative Nonfiction Post...
We ask that you read our Creative Nonfiction Tips post to learn about the creative nonfiction genre and review our guidelines.
Important notes:
- Creative nonfiction stories are based on your real-life experiences.
- We are looking for real short stories! Not advice columns, reports on crime or corruption in your city, observations on nature, recipes, religion, politics, or any other nonfiction content. Just real-life short stories.
- Ideal story length is between 750 and 1500 words, but your story must be at least 350 words, at a minimum to be curated.
- Please focus on quality content. Read and edit for errors! Use a grammar checker before you post your story.
- We expect everyone who posts in The Ink Well to read and comment on at least two other stories for each one published.
- Do not post stories featuring physical abuse, graphic violence, erotica or NSFW content.
Last Week's Creative Nonfiction Winners
Thank you to all who participated in last week's prompt Needle
Last week's participants
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Honorable Mentions of the Week
 | The Karma of the Needles
With some uneasiness, I discover the needles embedded in my arms and, the thin transparent hoses connected to them, extend to the containers that drain their fluids into my body. A clear, transparent liquid makes it through my right arm, and on the left side, another bag, but with a dark red liquid, traces its way to the bed where I am. This one caused me a lot of fear, as I followed its path right up to where the adhesive tapes held the needle in place inside me. |
 | Wads of paper
On a normal exam day, I'd be the one hyping up others and building their spirits. I'd be the one exaggerating their academic accomplishments and painting a smile on their faces but on this day, I just wanted to take my seat. |
 | (Not) A Fan Of Needles
After that, I was allowed to visit whenever I wanted. Hence, I was seated cross legged on the top bunk out of two bunk beds in Daisy’s room. Daisy was lying face down on the top of the other one and our other cousin, Nena, was on the lower bunk underneath, sitting with her back resting against the wall. I can’t remember the details of what we were talking about only that I got mad at something Nena did and hurriedly got down from the bunk to teach her a lesson. |
 | The Genesis
It was then that I remembered that my friend had recently started crocheting professionally. We made ourselves comfortable and I was carefully watching her. She brought out all the things she needed to work; crocheting hook, yarn needle, yarns, tapes, etc. I didn't expect to get so captivated by tools. Before now, I had only heard about crocheting in movies, but there I was, awestruck. |
Third Place: Wins 2 Hive
Our third place winner is
Piconaiguata
Source Own
But that was the least we did. The remaining stretch we did at a galloping pace, barely stopping to rest. This was because from Urquijo, the path was flatter, it was the Fila Maestra trail, which ran along the coastal range. In the distance, the shadow of the Amphitheatre could be seen, a geological formation that often reminded me of a castle.
Second Place: Wins 3 Hive
Our second place winner is
A Thread of Compassion
As the pupils sat at their desks with their books closed and pens resting on top, I engaged them in the lesson using metaphors and analogies to simplify the complex math problems. "Imagine this equation as a puzzle," I encouraged, my voice calming. "We will unravel it like threading a needle, one careful stitch at a time. Each step is important."
First Place: Wins 5 Hive
Our first place winner is
The needles of time
From that moment on, I only took off my watch to take a bath or for any activity that might damage it. I no longer needed to go out into the courtyard to check the time on the church clock.
Time passed and technology brought cell phones that tell time digitally. I kept this clock. I still have it, I only use it when I go to a reception, as it has a very important value to me.
This Week's Prompt #48:
Start
There are many ways that you could use the word or concept "start":
- A fresh start : The first step of a project that heralds a change of direction in your career choice or in your life in general.
- Starting over: Perhaps you moved to a new city and found that you had to apply yourself to rebuild what you had lost.
- Start to finish: Maybe a friend, family member, or event inspired you to complete a daunting task.
- False start: You might've started on an ill-considered trajectory in life, but due to an event or advice received from a friend, you changed your course in time so that it failed to damage your options.
Tell us about it! And remember to integrate storytelling elements like characters, scene setting, dialogue and action to bring your story to life!
Have fun and good luck! We look forward to reading your stories.
Contest Rules
- You have 6 days to write your story from the date of this prompt post. Be sure to check the deadline countdown.
- Write a real-life story with the creative elements of fiction, like characters, dialogue, scene setting and a story conflict.
- Post your story in The Ink Well Community.
- Please use the tags #creativenonfiction and #inkwellprompt on these posts. Other possible tags: #writing #inkwellprompt #nonfiction
- Stories must be written in English. If you've translated the post, it's best to add the original version below the translation. Do not write mixed language paragraphs.
- Read and comment on at least two stories in the community. Add a link to your story as a comment on this post.
And be sure to remember to join The Ink Well community!
Prizes
Prizes are only for stories written for this week's prompt
- First place : 5 Hive
- Second place : 3 Hive.
- Third place : 2 Hive.
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