Writers’ Asylum
(Picture by ark4n)
1 day, 5 challenges, 1,000 words each. Can you keep up?
Welcome to the Asylum: a day of writing challenges for writers!
This is a chance to try something outside your usual realm. Step outside of your comfort zone. Stretch into a new area. Do something just a little crazy, because it’s fun.
Each Asylum is created from scratch by Kess, one of our illustrious WordParents. The prompts include everything you need to do the challenge, including a bonus element with each one for those looking for an extra way to challenge themselves!
Here’s the story so far:
2013: the first Writers’ Asylum
6 challenges in 6 hours, in a day full of craziness. The challenges were across different genres, different subjects, different styles.
2014: Writers’ Asylum: Altered Perspectives
The Asylum narrowed its lens to focus on a single theme. There were 5 challenges across the day (with a break for lunch because the inmates got restless without sustenance last time), and each featured a different kind of point of view character.
2015: Writers’ Asylum: Colonising Minds
The Asylum shifted focus again: this time, the challenges move around a central story about a colony.
2016: Writers’ Asylum: Mental Battlefields.
This time, the Asylum focussed on the story of a single battle, within the scope of a wider war.
2017: Writers’ Asylum: Murder in Mind
We’re throwing a party in the Asylum, but it doesn’t go well for everyone.
2018: Writers’ Asylum: Mind and Spirit
There’s something supernatural going on! Each challenge has an extra bonus part for you to enjoy, too.
2019: Writers’ Asylum: Time out of Mind
Something is wonky in history, but will you have the time to fix it?
2020: Writers’ Asylum: Love in Mind
Every relationship has its ups and downs, these challenges take you on the ride.
2021: Writers’ Asylum: Superpowered
Where will super powers take you? Jump in and find out!
The next Asylum will open its doors in May 2022.
Here is the breakdown of the day:
| Time (Brisbane / AEST) | Stage |
|---|---|
| 11:00am | Opening address / Prologue |
| 11:10am – 12:10pm | Challenge #1 |
| 12:20pm – 1:20pm | Challenge #2 |
| 1:20pm – 2:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm – 3:00pm | Challenge #3 |
| 3:10pm – 4:10pm | Challenge #4 |
| 4:20pm – 5:20pm | Challenge #5 |
| 5:20pm | Closing address / Epilogue |
Join us:
- In person: in Brisbane at the Coffee Club at Milton. To find us, head to the back of the restaurant and look for the forest of laptops. That’s us!
- Online: the challenges will be going up on Kess’s writing blog on schedule and we will be broadcasting them live on the Discord server! Join us!
(The usual disclaimer: adult themes and subjects will be discussed, so this event will be unsuitable for children.)