The Monthly Muse - Your monthly writing inspiration with fresh and seasonal themes

Issue 1
August 2024

Theme Machine

August Writing Bingo

Pick a row or a column, and write an exciting piece - could be poetry, a short story or even a novella!

bingo grid with writing prompts

Click on a cell to get started!

No competition, pure fun.

Each month, you can participate in a personal challenge to hone your writing skills and habits.

Sunrays divider

Creative Sparks

First Line Frenzy

Pick an opening line to kickstart your next story and set your plot in motion.

They said the house was haunted, but no one mentioned it was by my future self.

•  •  •

I found the key to the universe in my grandmother's cookie jar.

•  •  •

I always thought dying would be the end, not my beginning.

FAQ

Do I have to write a story?

Nope! Any literary work (fiction or non-fiction) works, provided it includes the prompts on your challenge! Depending on your available time you don’t need to work on a large project every month.

Can I only do one challenge?

Do you think we’d limit you to just one? Knock yourself out! If you want to write two, four, even ten… We don’t know when you’ll sleep, but go for it.

Do I have to use AI?

Not at all! Novelcrafter is a pure writing application at its heart (although we’re fond of the AI features we’ve added.) You can use as much or as little AI as you feel comfortable with. This is an exercise in creativity, so do whatever sparks that joy in you.

Is there anywhere that I can talk about/ask questions about the challenges? What if I want to share my story?

We’ve created a new Discord channel (#monthly-muse) for you to share your work and ask questions. We don’t ask to see your stories in order to participate, but please feel free to talk about your projects as much as you’d like.

What if I’m still not sure what to do?

Not to fret! We will be frequently going live during the month to work on this challenge in different formats, both using AI and without. We’ll answer your questions and help you out where we can. And don’t forget to check Discord!