In October 2025, I participated in my first writing challenge. I learned of Forest & Fawn’s Vampires and Werewolves Writing Challenge through social media. I thought it would be a good opportunity to get my creative writing juices flowing.
The writing challenge’s rules were simple:
- Write a fantasy short story based on vampires or werewolves within a set 10-day period
- Do not exceed 2,000 words
- Include the 3 writing prompts within your short story
Forest & Fawn’s writing challenges are made specifically for fantasy writers of all skill-levels and expertise. As a novice who has not written creatively since college, this criteria appealed to me. I regularly write technical pieces for work, but I wanted to remember what it is like to have fun with my writing. This challenge inspired me to dive into creative writing again.
The challenge also pushed me outside my comfort zone. I submitted a piece of writing to a group of strangers for judging. Every submission is promised at least one round of feedback. Judges choose the top 10 submissions and all winning stories are published on the Forest & Fawn website. There are also cash prizes for winners.
Story prompts for the vampire and werewolves challenge were open for interpretation. Each story must include either vampires or werewolves — or both. Writers have creative freedom in how they use the story prompts, but each had to be clearly recognizable in the story. Judges’ scores would reflect if the required elements were not easily identifiable.
The writing challenge’s story prompts:
- A cursed object
- A family recipe
- A character who signs a contract
A.I. is strictly prohibited in these writing challenges.
The challenge began October 17, 2025 with submissions due October 26th. Winners were announced on December 18, 2025.
Almost 1,100 writers participated in this writing challenge and submitted short stories. You can find the winning stories here.
Unfortunately, my submission did not make it further than Round One. I expected that outcome, though. I found writing a story of only 2,000 words extremely difficult. My first draft was over 3,000 words! So, this is an area I know to work on in future challenges.
My submission was also not much of a short story. I knew upon submitting that feedback received would comment on how my piece is more a snippet from a longer story — and they would be correct.
I still absolutely loved this writing challenge. I also really enjoy the piece I submitted, and may consider lengthening it.
Forest & Fawn is offering another writing challenge beginning in January 2026. This challenge will focus on all things holiday. Think solstice, traditions, holiday myths, and the like. I am already registered and have an idea in mind.
Now, I’m patiently waiting for January 9th to roll around so I can find out the challenge’s story prompts and begin writing!
Before I get ahead of myself, though, I would love to share my first challenge’s submission story with you. Due to it’s length, it can be found in another blog post.
Please find “A Con Begins” here.
Feedback provided to my short story can be found in the comment section, or located here. (This is more for my own records, but also happy to share another’s take on my short story.)
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