To support our young and emerging writers, we want to create a Creative Frenzy of writing prompts, craft books, and inspiration.
We’ll maintain all of our writing prompt posts here, as well as open-access teaching materials for poetry, creative writing, ekphrasis, sharks, and conservation.
In the future, we’ll also maintain our own published books here: books on writing craft, writing prompt journals, and writing goal planners—not to mention our recommendations of other craft books and essays on writing.
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Keeping a Journal: How Journaling Can Be a Voyage to Self Discovery
by Melinda Torr
A Voyage to Self-Discovery Journalling can be cathartic. It allows you to wordlessly express yourself, relieve pent-up emotions, and discover your true feelings. Having a journal can be really life-enhancing. Whether you are at a crossroads in life, trying to make a...
Congratulations to Han Kang for Winning the Nobel Prize in Literature!
Happy Friday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We're very excited to share that the results are in for the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, and the winner is none other than the incredible Human Acts author, Han Kang. The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2024 is awarded...
Chicken Run Gone Wrong! A Story of Levity, Ruffled Feathers, & Incidental Exercise
by Melinda Torr
Before we get started, just try to tell us that you can't hear this picture. In light of all the troubling news around the world, we wanted to take a moment to bring a little levity and humor to your day today. This piece written by Melinda Torr will be relatable to...
Lit Shark’s Response to NaNoWriMo (& What We’re Doing Instead)
Happy First of October, readers, writers, and shark fans! Many of you following us are familiar with National Novel Writing Month (often referred to as NaNoWriMo), the organization that promoted the concept of writing an entire novel (first draft) during the month of...
Lit Pup! Come ‘Meet a Marine Biologist’ with Elmo & HiHo Kids!
Happy Thursday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We previously had the pleasure of sharing with you the latest collaboration between Sesame Workshop (the home of Sesame Street) and HiHo Kids in their "Kids Meet" series on YouTube, starting with their episode, "Kids...
Celebrate With Us: Sandra Noel’s ‘Into The Under’
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We're always so excited to see members of our Lit Shark community succeed, especially when they have a book coming out, so we could not be more pleased to share the news that Sandra Noel has just published her poetry...
Celebrate Juneteenth with 19 Lit Shark Picks for June 19th
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans, and Happy Juneteenth! On June 19, 1865, more than two years after Abraham Lincoln manumitted all enslaved people in the Confederate states, Union Army general Gordon Granger announced the news of freedom to enslaved...
Celebrate Carol Lynn Stevenson Grellas’ Latest Book With Us: ‘A Shared and Sacred Space’
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We're always so excited to see members of our Lit Shark community succeed, especially when they have a book come out, so we could not be more pleased to share the news that Carol Lynn Stevenson Grellas has just...
How To Become A Shark: A Writing Prompt for All Ages
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! Welcome to Writing Prompt Wednesday and a belated Lit Pup Tuesday! To honor both occasions, I've provided a writing prompt today that a writer of any age can use! Keep reading for some suggestions for how to use this...
Motivation Monday: Wear Your Art on Your Sleeve
Happy Monday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We hope you had a wonderful weekend! We've all heard the idiom about someone "wearing their heart on their sleeve," and for this Motivation Monday, I wanted to talk about the importance of being vulnerable, at least...
Writing Prompt Wednesday: Start with Something Small!
Happy Writing Prompt Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We're so excited to get back to this series and hope you are, too. In case you missed it, we hosted our first Lit Pup Tuesday yesterday, including writing prompts for children and teen writers. All...
Welcome to Lit Pup Tuesday! Here Are Some Sea-tastic Prompts!
Happy Tuesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! And a special hello to our Lit Pup Community! As we get settled back into a regular content schedule, you might notice that Lit Shark is now going to be posting themed posts each day, including "Lit Pup Tuesdays," which...
HiHo Kids & Sesame Workshop Start Young in ‘Elmo & Kids Meet a Beekeeper’
Happy Tuesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! As we're getting back in the swing of regular posting, you'll begin to notice that each day of the workweek has its own "theme" here at Lit Shark, including today's very first Lit Pup Tuesday, geared toward children and...
Anne Hathaway Fulfills the Boy Band Fantasy of Our Dreams in ‘The Idea of You’
Happy World Book Day, readers, writers, and shark fans! To celebrate, we're sharing a fun book that will be available to watch early this May. Our Editor-in-Chief was invited to attend an early viewing event of the film adaptation of Robinne Lee's 2017 romantic...
Pelumi Nubi, First Black Woman to Trek from London to Lagos, Says to Step into the Unknown
Happy Monday, readers, writers, and shark fans! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and have been enjoying this February that's just swimming right on by! I've always enjoyed Motivation Monday posts, but my favorite ones are stories that show us something being put...
An Update to the UK XL Bully Ban & A Special Edition of Lit Shark Magazine
Happy Tuesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! I hope you're having a wonderful start of your week. I have a bit of a rough update for you today relating to the XL Bully Ban in the UK and Wales (find our previous post about this here), but I also have a unique,...
‘Rabbit Hole’ Author Kate Brody’s Creative Comparisons Almost Ruined Her Novel’s Success
Happy Tuesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! For this week's Tuesday Tip, we want to talk about something that seems to be plaguing everyone more than ever, whether they're in the creative space or not: the pain of comparing ourselves to other people and what we...
Cait Corrain’s Author Career Ends Before It Begins After Despicable Review-Bombing Campaign
Hi readers, writers, and shark fans! As you know, Lit Shark is here to celebrate literature and conservation and also to share news and updates about both of those subjects. Unfortunately, not all news is good news. The Book Community on X (Twitter) and TikTok has...
The Game of 2,000 Words & Other Tips from R.L. Stine
Happy Tuesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We love Motivation Mondays and Tuesday Tips around here, so today, we thought we'd share an interesting series of tips from Goosebumps YA horror author R.L. Stine. We recently sat in on an interview between some of the...
Out Now: The Inspirational ‘Dear Starving Artist, Get Something to Eat’ by Actor Ransford Doherty & Screenwriter Angie J. Sanders
Unless they go in totally delusional, most creatives know that their journey to success may not be the smoothest or easiest journey they’ve been on. Actors and writers are referred to as “starving artists” by those critical of working creatives for a reason. ...
Creative Highlight: “Listing”
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! In response to our "We're Making a List" writing prompt, Julie A. Dickson wrote this wonderful poem, "Listing," which also went on to appear in Issue 1 of Lit Shark Magazine. Here is Julie's poem, recreated as a...
Let’s Talk About Shark Dogs & The UK XL Bully Ban
UPDATE: We've shared a new post with an update on the XL Bully Ban, as well as a submission opportunity to work with Lit Shark and to support XL Bully Dogs, their families, and the animal rescues who are advocating for them. You can find that post here. We hope you...
Wednesday Writing Prompts & NEW NOTEBOOKS AVAILABLE
Happy Friday, readers, writers, and shark fans! Ugg, I have to be real with you: This post should have come out on Wednesday. But I have been SO sick this week and I feel like barely squeaking by, so the writing prompt came out on social media on Thursday instead of...
We’re Screaming: New Stephen King Short Story Collection & ‘Cujo’ Sequel: ‘You Like It Darker’
Happy Tuesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We're so excited---screaming, in fact---to share that Stephen King has announced his next book: a short story anthology entitled You Like It Darker, which includes a sequel to his 1981 novel, Cujo. The sequel is called...
Save Teahupo’o Reef: Olympics 2024 to Break the Wave
Did you know that coral reefs absorb up to 97% of the energy of the waves that reach the shoreline? At Teahupo'o Reef in Tahiti, that is a massive amount of energy generated every winter by the south swells that hit their islands. Coral reefs act as a natural buffer...
Lit Pup Writers! R.L. Stine & Dictionary.com Want Your Haunted House Stories
Good morning, readers, writers, and shark fans! McKenzie here (Editor-in-Chief at Lit Shark). I received the coolest opportunity this morning for my Lit Pup writers, and I wanted to share this with our Lit Shark community right away. Lit Pup writers, I hope you'll...
Nature’s Reality Check: ‘Blackfish,’ Sea World, & How Entertainment Comes at a Price
“The stars of amusement park shows around the world, have long died before their time.” –National Geographic I heard some chatter on X (Twitter) recently, where folks were commiserating about whether the natural world was mad at us, considering some of the...
Something to Aspire To: Green Living in the Appalachians
by Katie Hudson
The Appalachian Mountains are some of the oldest in the entire world, with a rich history, diverse plant life, and people dedicated to keeping the land beautiful for generations to come. I have had the privilege the past two years to live in this region of East...
Let’s Sink Our Teeth into Some Submissions: Writing Prompt Wednesday
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! I have a little secret: I know you have a project that you've been putting off. Maybe you've put off finishing it, or polishing it, or simply sending it off for consideration. No matter what your situation, though,...
Our First Paid Opportunity: Lit Shark’s Poem of the Month
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! In place of Writing Prompt Wednesday this week, we want to share a new opportunity with you: our first paid opportunity! Starting with the rest of September 2023, Lit Shark Magazine will host a monthly Poem of the...
Will Your Book Be At the Next Launch? – Lit Shark’s Friday Feed
Happy Friday, readers, writers, and shark fans! I hope you had a fantastic week! We're excitedly working our way through Issue 2 of Lit Shark Magazine: The SHARK WEEK Edition and can't wait to share that with you. BUT, we have a lot more to share, too. Read on for...
With Any Luck, A Phase of Orange: Writing Prompt Wednesday
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! It's that time of week again! We're here for another Writing Prompt Wednesday! Each Wednesday, we will share a writing prompt THEME instead of just one solo prompt. There will still be prompts included, but like our...
Motivation Monday: The Struggle of the Multi-Passionate Person & Knowing Where to Focus Your Creative Energy
If you’re anything like me, when the creative idea strikes, you get lost in it for hours and hours, flowing within this world you’re creating, in the project you’re bringing to life. It’s the closest thing to magic, perhaps, feeling that electrical charge of...
Yes, Harrison Ford, It HAD To Be Snakes: The Importance of All-Animal Advocacy
Whether they fly in the air or swim far down in the deep, have soul-searching eyes or giant teeth---we all have a favorite animal (or a few), and our reasons for loving them tend to be very personal. We may not think about it very often, but our favorite animal we...
Something to Aspire To: Sustainability in Greek Waters
by Katie Hudson
One of the most popular destinations for travelers and vacationers is the Greek Islands, nestled in paradise on the Mediterranean Sea. With more than ten million tourists flocking to the mainland and islands each year, one would expect dirty and poorly cared for...
Wednesday Writing Prompt: Following Cheryl Strayed
Happy "Wednesday," readers, writers, and shark fans! (We know it's Thursday, but this was supposed to post yesterday and for some reason... it didn't... so we're going to chalk it up to being Wednesday!) With the Shortlist for the James Cropper Wainwright Prize for...
10 New Books to Celebrate National Book Lovers’ Day!
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! And Happy National Book Lovers' Day! August 9 of each year is a celebration for everyone who loves books---books in general, reading books, collecting books, watching movies based on books... Basically, take August 9...
The Sound of Nature’s Largest Violin: Gordon Hempton, Natural Soundscapes, & The Future of Coral Reefs
I slowly make my way down a worn path through Western Maryland, breathing in the clear air and enjoying the alarmingly warm weather in February. My friends and I have gathered as we do every year for a long weekend spent in a faux-rustic cabin. The days extend into...
SHARK WEEK is Out & Writing Prompts Are In (Plus, a Deadline Extension)!
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! And happy AUGUST! Can you believe a whole new month is here already? And that SHARK WEEK is already done for this year? And that we're extending our deadline for Issue 2: The Shark Week Edition to August 9th instead...
Writing Prompt: National Poetry Month Daily Write-In!
Happy Wednesday, writers and shark fans! I hope your week is everything you’ve hoped for. In the meantime, it’s Writing Prompt Wednesday! AND National Poetry Month! For the month of April, to celebrate National Poetry Month, we're going to share a series of words that...
Motivation Monday: Doing Less Will Actually Help You Create More. Here’s How.
Happy Tuesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! For Inspirational Tuesday, we wanted to address something that creatives face more often than they might care to admit: focusing more on their work than their art or working themselves to the bone to create their art....
Writing Prompt: The Missing Piece
Happy Wednesday, writers and shark fans! I hope your week is everything you’ve hoped for. In the meantime, it’s Writing Prompt Wednesday! Every Wednesday going forward, we will share a writing prompt, as well as the Editor-in-Chief’s (EIC’s) response to the prompt and...
Motivation Monday: The 10 Best Ways to Reignite Your Creativity
Happy Monday, readers, writers, and shark fans! For Motivation Monday, we wanted to address something that every creative experiences, no matter where they are in their career or hobby life: writer's block, burnout, or what feels like a diffused creative spark. This...
Our 2023 Resolutions: Read More, Laugh More, Submit More
Happy Wednesday, all! It's been an inspiring day, and we've taken big steps today, including officially announcing that our community is live, opening the doors for submissions for our first issue, and making progress on our social media channels. Whether you're...
Romance Author Susan Meachen Came Back from the Dead, Shocking the Book Community
Content Warning: Mentions of suicide, mental health, and faking death Romance Author Susan Meachen is Back from the Dead---And No, This Isn't the Plot of a Daytime Television Show. Creative individuals, including those in the writing community, are not...
Creative Highlight: “Luminous Descent”
Welcome to our Creative Highlight of the week! This week, we are featuring this painting, "Luminous Descent" by Ascending-Storm on DeviantArt. In the future, we will select short writing submissions and artwork that have been submitted to Lit Shark Magazine and Lit...
Writing Prompt: We’re Making a List
Happy Writing Prompt Friday, everyone! We have one more for today: turning a list into a poem.
Writing Prompt: On a Personal Level
Happy Friday, writers and shark fans! I hope your week is everything you’ve hoped for. In the meantime, it’s Writing Prompt Friday! Every Friday, we will share a writing prompt, as well as the Editor-in-Chief’s (EIC’s) response to the prompt and some of her thoughts...
Writing Prompt: A Sleeping Octopus
Happy Friday, writers and shark fans! Every Friday, LIT SHARK will share a writing prompt you can use to submit work, due the following Monday, for a creative feature on the site! Happy Writing! #writingprompt #writinginspiration #litshark #litpup #shivercollective #amwriting #submissions #submit #slushpile #literarymagazine #litmag