Writing Challenges

Get writing! Whether it’s poetry or a 10-word story, the challenges are aimed to inspire you to get creative. Share your work on any social media platform with #ILFWritingChallenge, or through our online submissions form, and we’ll select a few to share!

Click here to share your writing challenge entries with us.


Write a short story that includes five objects in your home beginning with the letter B.

See previous submissions here.

Write a poem inspired by the theme
‘A Quiet Spring’.

See previous submissions here and here.

Write a 10-line play inspired by the theme ‘The Hunt’.

See previous submissions here and here.

Describe a memory in no more than 100 words using the senses of smell, sound, touch & taste.

See previous submissions here.

Write a funny poem about something that makes you laugh during lockdown.

See previous submissions here and here.

Write a dramatic monologue with the title ‘The Street Party’.


See previous submissions here.

Write a haiku about a family.


See previous submissions here.

Write a sentence that summarises your favourite book, but don’t reveal the title!

See previous submissions here.

Write a letter to your younger self.


See previous submissions here.

Write a poem about the sea.


See previous submissions here.

Write a one scene play entitled ‘The Bookshop’.



Inspired by the reopening of hotels and campsites, write about a UK summer holiday memory.

See previous submissions here.

Write a conversation between two or more of your favourite characters. They don’t have to be from the same book!

Write a sonnet with the title ‘The Photo Album’.

See previous submissions here.

Write a one-scene play taking place in a kitchen.


Turn a novel into a newspaper headline.

Write a 200-word story entitled ‘The Forgotten Bag’.

Write a haiku on the theme ‘New Beginnings’.

Write a short story entitled ‘Migrations’.

Write a poem about the last person on Earth.

Write a one-scene play entitled ‘The Coming Storm’.

Write about your favourite autumnal memory.

Write a letter that tells a story.

Write a haiku about the first thing you see when you wake up.

Write a terrifying short story in 200 words.

Write a poem about fire.


Write a poem entitled ‘The Poppy’.

See previous submissions here.

Write a letter to your younger self or friend who has been bullied.

Write a short story from the perspective of an animal or your pet.

Write the opening scene to a winter horror movie.

Write about your favourite festive memory.

Write your own Christmas carol.


Write a letter to your future self in 2022 (don’t open it again until then!

Turn your favourite song into a short story.


Write a short story entitled ‘Cupid Quits’.


Drop your favourite female character into another famous literary world and write about her adventures.