Prompt Quest #1
A fun fantasy and science fiction writing adventure.
Welcome travelers! You’re about to embark on a quest, an adventure to mystical lands and undiscovered planets, or underwater enclaves and cities full of futuristic technologies. These places are inhabited by monstrous beasts or characters with mysterious motives who may also control weapons of wonder. All of this fantasy and science fiction originates from your imagination. The quest is yours to choose. This is Prompt Quest!
The Rules
The rules are simple. Two prompts are provided, one fantasy and the other science fiction. Choose your genre and write a short story over the next two weeks using that genre’s prompt. We’ll host a gathering to celebrate what’s been accomplished and to highlight your stories at the end of the two weeks. You can share them on The Pitch discussion thread at the end of the month as well.
(The Gathering discussion thread will take place on Wednesday, March 20, starting at 12am EST., and will run all day.)
The Prize
If you keep your short story under 2500 words and embed a link to this Prompt Quest post at the end, then you will be permitted to submit it to the next season of the Lunar Awards even though it’s published before the season’s start date. This is your reward for completing the quest, a valuable secret pass to enter through our hallowed gates with honor. I can’t wait to greet you!
The Prompts
Science Fiction
Write a science fiction short story that takes place on an off-world colony amidst an alien invasion. Your protagonist embraces the chaos, utilizing reckless tactics in order to escape certain death. The other option is to save the colonists by activating an experimental technology or an artifact. What option will your unpredictable shadow figure choose?
Level Up!
(Optional) The story should be written in first person perspective and your protagonist is fighting the good fight with a missing limb.
Fantasy
Write a fantasy short story that takes place inside a maze of cursed catacombs discovered within the planet’s core. They contain hidden treasures and beastly atrocities. Your protagonist is both an explorer and caregiver, torn between the call to adventure and parental duties. Locating treasure will provide for the family, but at what cost?
Level Up!
(Optional) The story should be written in third person limited omniscient perspective and your protagonist is accompanied by a child.
Safe travels on your quest!
If you have questions or suggestions, feel free to comment or send me a DM.
Just because I'm a bit new to this, and forgive me if I sound dumb here, if I understand your instructions correctly then what we do is write a story and post it to our own Substack but embed the link to this page, then post the link to the story in the Pitch comments? Or is it 'the gathering' discussion thread? Or is it this comments thread?
Any reassurance that I'm not a dumbass gratefully received.
There I was, minding my own business as I sweated it out in the gym, but the damn SF prompt I'd read an hour earlier just wouldn't leave my head. You're going to get a story now, Brian!