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.
NaNoWriMo Reset: Day 8: The Lows & Highs
Happy Friday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We're officially eight days into our NaNoWriMo Reset. How is it going? Are you having fun? Are you enjoying what you're writing and how it's coming together? You're probably feeling pretty tired after getting through the...
NaNoWriMo Reset: Day 7: Answer When Inspiration Knocks
Happy Thursday, readers, writers, and shark fans! And welcome to the end of week one of our NaNoWriMo Reset! Today's all about letting inspiration come to you through any form and at any time that it wants to come to you. We shouldn't be totally dependent on The Muse,...
NaNoWriMo Reset: Day 6: Behind Already? Us, Too! Let’s Catch Up.
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! And happy what should be Day 6 of our NaNoWriMo Reset! We have a little confession to make: we fell off of our OWN plan this weekend. Between family visiting, the holiday season ramping up, and decorating for...
NaNoWriMo Reset: Day 1: Know Your Story’s Why
Happy Friday, readers, writers, and shark fans! And happy December 1st! For those of you who are participating, you know what else today is: It's Day 1 of the NaNoWriMo Reset! Where Do We Begin? Whether you're just getting started or you're picking up a project...
How Did NaNoWriMo Go? Here’s What We’re Doing Next.
Happy Thursday, readers, writers, and shark fans! And happy last day of November 2023! Can you believe that we're here already?! I sure can't. You know what else I can't believe? It's technically the last day of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Did you sign...
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...
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
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...
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...
Something to Aspire To: Sustainability in Greek Waters
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...
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...
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