Twitter has many uses and there is something there for almost any interest. It’s a great way to communicate and connect with people with like-minded interests all around the world. I personally have many interests, and I follow a wide variety of people on twitter. I follow people who post such content as history, fun facts, LGBTQI+, and current affairs.
However, the largest group of people I follow on twitter are other writers and it is through them that I discovered twitter writing events. For those who don’t know, twitter writing events are hashtag games wherein the host posts a theme and participants write a tweet-length microfic revolving around, or inspired by, that theme.
There are many writing events on twitter, covering a variety of genres, so writers are bound to be able to find at least one they are interested in. I have participated in a fair few since discovering their existence, though by no means all of them — there are simply far too many for that. The exact number I participate in varies depending on time constraints, but I do have some definite favourites.
Anyway, without further ado, here are my top ten twitter writing events, listed from ten to one:
Number 10
vss365
#vss365 is a daily writing event. I am only a recent participant but, from what I can gather, it seems that each month is hosted by a different person. The themes are generally a single word and can be quite interesting to write.
Her #tail twitched rapidly. “How dare you?” she hissed. “Mating cannot be forced. It is /always/ the females choice!”
“I’m sorry! I know I was wrong, but the past cannot be redone.”
“The past cannot be changed, but it can be punished. I am taking this before the Council.”#vss365— 💚 Rachel McElhinney 💚 (@RachelUndefined) 23 June 2018
Number 9
horrorprompt
#horrorprompt is a weekly horror themed event that I enjoy writing. As a horror fan, I love to read what other people write as well. There are some truly wonderful stories arising from these prompts. This event is hosted by @horrorprompt.
Every day the same
Draw back curtains
Open windows
Welcome fresh air
Chase away the dark
Check vitals
Adjust drip
Change sheets
Never look
Never talk
Never notice
Grey hair
Frail body
Feeble mind
Hide the monster within#horrorprompt— 💚 Rachel McElhinney 💚 (@RachelUndefined) 14 June 2018
Number 8
microprompt
#microprompt is a daily writing prompt consisting of a single syllable word. It is one of the writing events I try not to miss too often. This event is hosted by @microprompt.
He stood, attempting to brush away the ashes.
“Look what you’ve done,” he snapped. “She wanted to be scattered in a park, not a bloody bus stop!”#microprompt 842— 💚 Rachel McElhinney 💚 (@RachelUndefined) 22 May 2018
Number 7
SockItTueMe
#SockItTueMe is a weekly event, taking place on Tuesdays. This is another event I enjoy participating in. This event is hosted by @SockItTueMe.
“Yeah,” he said, one hand tangling in her soft, red hair while the other slipped beneath her shirt. “I’ll bet you /like/ it rough, doncha baby? I’ll bet you’ve just bin beggin’ for a /real/ man.”
“Fuck you!” she spat, defiantly.
“Oh, don’t worry baby, I will.”#SockItTueMe— 💚 Rachel McElhinney 💚 (@RachelUndefined) 22 May 2018
Number 6
TrickyTues
#TrickyTues is a weekly event, taking place on Tuesdays. The prompt is generally a slightly more difficult word, and the definition is generally provided. This is one of the more enjoyable writing events because it is a little more challenging. This event is hosted by @Ida_Richens.
The boy lay sobbing in a puddle of his own piss, his vacuous smile now a bloody, broken mess. Jonathan threw his dagger at the wall in disgust, turning to address the boy’s father.
“Find her,” he growled. “Find her quickly or you will be next.”#TrickyTues— 💚 Rachel McElhinney 💚 (@RachelUndefined) 22 May 2018
Number 5
SciFiFri
#SciFiFri is a weekly event, with an optional scifi related theme posted on Fridays. Writing SciFi is enjoyable because it’s an opportunity for your imagination to go wild. This event is hosted by @SciFriPrompt.
Sienna’s ears twitched in agitation.
“They’re arguing again.” he whispered.
Joseph drew him onto his lap, wings creating a comforting cocoon of warmth. “It’ll be alright. You just hide in here with me. I’ll not let them harm you.”#SciFiFri— 💚 Rachel McElhinney 💚 (@RachelUndefined) 22 June 2018
Number 4
SlapDashSat
#SlapDashSat is a weekly event, posted on Saturdays. This is one of my favourites because it is a chance to let my hair down and write what I please. Any topic, any format, original lines or an excerpt from your WIP — pretty much anything goes. This event is hosted by @SlapDashSat.
The woman was tiny, shrivelled as old leather, white whisps floating about her head. Her steps were slow, careful, controlled, each movement a calculated agony. She had gaps in her yellowed teeth, but her mind was strong and her tongue cut deeper than any blade.#SlapDashSat
— 💚 Rachel McElhinney 💚 (@RachelUndefined) 23 June 2018
Number 3
FeelLines
#FeelLines is a weekly event, posted on Thursdays. Each week’s prompt is an emotion, and participants are encouraged to ‘show, don’t tell’. This is excellent practice for any ongoing projects you may have in the works. This event is hosted by @scyian.
All his life Darion had striven to impress the hard man his father had become. Hearing him voice his approval at last should not cause his back to straighten, his hands to relax at his sides, his eyes to shine with joy. It shouldn’t, but God help him, it did.#FeelLines Pride
— 💚 Rachel McElhinney 💚 (@RachelUndefined) 14 June 2018
Number 2
badwordsat
#badwordsat is a weekly event, posted on Saturdays. It is very freeing to write without worrying about censuring your language, so this is another of my favourites. This event is hosted by @WillieHandler.
“You’re a right bastard, you know that?”
He snorted. “That’s rich, coming from you.”
“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m not a fucking idiot, Charlie.” he said. “I know all about Dan. And Simon. And Jamie-Lee. And all the rest.”
His eyes widened. “How long?”#badwordsat— 💚 Rachel McElhinney 💚 (@RachelUndefined) 16 June 2018
Number 1
WhoNeedsAHero
#WhoNeedsAHero is a weekly writing event, posted on Fridays. This is my absolute favourite writing event on twitter. In this event, it’s all about the villain. Antagonists are just so much more fun to write than protagonists, making this number one on my list of twitter writing events. This event is hosted by @dwlandsborough.
TRIGGER WARNING: CHILD ABUSE
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Jacob pulled the boy closer, moaning slightly when his shirt rode up, revealing an enticing glimpse of smooth, pale flesh.
“You have sinned, my child.” he whispered huskily. “But I can grant you absolution.”#WhoNeedsAHero— 💚 Rachel McElhinney 💚 (@RachelUndefined) 15 June 2018
If you are interested in trying your hand at a twitter writing event, but have no idea where to find them, I feel that Mica Scotti Kole’s list is a great place to start. It’s where I found most of those I write in. These events are great practice and lots of fun, so I encourage you to give them a try.
Categories: Top Tens
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