What is the Start Strong Challenge?
This is a free challenge offered by AutoCrit. The goal is to challenge you to get out of your comfort zone and create a new story. There are guided prompts and some bonus challenges. It was a lot of fun to participate, and I highly recommend giving it a try!
Please follow along as I share how this challenge works and the story I submitted.
Steps in the Challenge
1/6/2026: Start Strong Writing Challenge Kickoff
- Held every January
- Gets creative juices flowing
- All genres accepted
- 100% free to participate
- You have free access to AutoCrit’s platform for the challenge
- Rules
- One complete story (a beginning, middle, and end)
- 1000 words EXACTLY
- Submit a 100-word (or fewer) blurb
- You retain the rights to your story, and only your blurb will be shared if you win
- Theme: Chaos & Misunderstanding
- Setting: Community Center
- Object: Bottle cap
- Verb: Vex
- There will be two bonus twists.
- These can give you extra points and tip you toward the win
- Important Dates
- January 6: Challenge Opens
- January 13: Bonus Twist #1 Announced
- January 20: Bonus Twist #2 Announced
- January 23: Submission Window OPENS
- January 25: Submission Window CLOSES
- January 27: Challenge Complete!
January 13: Bonus Twist #1 Announced
Bonus Twist #1 was that the bottle cap must be sentient. It must have its own mind, will, desires, and dreams. Using the twist is optional, but gives bonus points when determining the winner. The twists are to test our flexibility as authors.
I was immediately intrigued by this bonus and eager to include it in my story!
January 20: Bonus Twist #2 Announced
Bonus Twist #2 was that the story must be told from the point of view of the community center (the building).
This twist, although interesting, did not spark an immediate response in me, so I chose to use only twist #1.
January 23: Submission Video/Opens
A video walked us through all the steps required to properly submit our stories and be eligible to win. Our names could not be in the body of the story, to keep the judging blind. The 1000-word requirement is based on the AutoCrit writing platform’s number count. I have participated in other challenges with AutoCrit, and they explain the expectations very clearly and will work with you if you have problems. I haven’t requested assistance, but they make it very clear that it is offered.
January 27: Challenge Complete! Winners Announced
- There were more than 2500 submissions
- 100 made the long list (not shared with us)
- 41 made the short list (shared with us)
- 5 Finalists
- 1 Grand Finalist
I invite you to watch the Start Strong Finalist video to meet the people who run the event and hear the novel approaches the winners took with the prompt and bonuses!
Although I didn’t make the short list, I enjoyed hearing about the other stories and look forward to the next competition. I am proud of my story and how I worked to meet the challenge. I hope you enjoy reading my story (below).
My Submission
Let My Voice Be Heard
The wind whipped Sarena’s purple cape around her and pushed her through the doors of the Heartfelt Community Center. She straightened her shoulders and marched to the desk. “Where is the storytelling group meeting?” she asked, with a slight tremble.
“Down the hall to the right,” chirped the receptionist.
“Thank you,” Sarena said as she proceeded to the room.
Her steps slowed as she poked her head cautiously into the room.
Will these people be nice? Have I made a big mistake?
“Come in!” boomed a muscular man, dressed in full Viking attire. “Don’t be shy! We are all friends here!”
Heart pounding, she took a few steps into the room, seeing groups of people dressed as comic figures, dragons, pixies, and even trees. Creativity and energy buzzed through the room. This is exciting and, um, a bit terrifying.
A pixie gently placed her hand on Sarena’s forearm and drew her into the room.
“My name is Ella. We are thrilled to have you here! What is your name?”
“My name is Sarena. This is my first time here,” she whispered.
A gavel cracked on the podium, and the room became silent.
“Everyone, please take a seat! We have a new guest to meet tonight.”
Oh, no! I need to run! I can’t do this! I don’t know these people!
“Sarena, don’t worry, it will be fun!” Ella cheerfully proclaimed.
Sarena felt something brush against her side, but took a seat.
The session began with reading the minutes of the previous meeting, and Sarena’s mind drifted.
How do I get out of here?
She shifted in her seat and felt a bulge in her side pocket.
What could this be?
Her pocket held something heavy. She pulled out a glass bottle, which looked very old. The bottle cap was intricate, nothing like today’s cheap plastic caps.
What could this be?
“Open me!”
Where did that voice come from?
Nobody else seemed to hear it. She squinted at the bottle, and the voice came again, more insistently.
“OPEN ME!”
Sarena blinked.
Could the bottle cap have spoken to her?
She whispered, “Are you talking to me?”
“Yes! I want you to open me!” grumbled the bottle cap.
Sarena surreptitiously unscrewed the bottle cap, hoping nobody noticed.
Will they think I smuggled in an alcoholic drink? I’m not even old enough to drink!
Cautiously, she sniffed the contents of the bottle.
What is this? Is it poisonous?
“Drink up,” the bottle cap mumbled, “It is safe, I promise. You are nervous, and this potion will make your introduction easier!”
She slowly lifted the bottle to her lips, quickly drank the contents, and was relieved to find it wasn’t disgusting.
“Now, relax, close your eyes, and let your imagination run free,” the bottle cap advised.
She closed her eyes, breathed deeply, and felt a wave of calm flow over her. Her mind filled with colors and ideas that soothed and sparked joy.
From far away, she heard, “Now, Sarena will come forward, introduce herself, and tell a quick story to match today’s prompt.”
The Viking gestured her toward the podium.
Her feet responded, stumbling a bit at first, her mind unsure she wanted to go to the podium, but her stride smoothed out, and her confidence increased with every step.
She had a bright smile, a straight back, and positive arm gestures as she approached the podium.
“Introduce yourself,” commanded the Viking.
“My name is Sarena. I am fourteen years old and love to write and read fantasy.”
“Great!” boomed the Viking. “We all enjoy hearing new stories. Our new members are required to create a story based on the prompt we give, to show their creativity and style.”
“You’ve got this!” cheered the bottle cap.
“These are the rules: You must include all the words in the prompt, tell the story in 5 minutes or less, and speak without stopping, except for dramatic pauses. Do you understand?” asked the Viking.
“Yes. One question, do I get time to think about the story before the 5 minutes start counting down?”
“No. The clock will start after I give the prompt, and you must start speaking.”
Her newfound confidence plunged slightly, but she held her ground.
“You can do this!” cheered the bottle cap. “I’ve got you!”
“These are the words you must include in your story: Nucklelavee, Tshuchigumo, Bynyip, and Akkorokamui.”
Sarena’s face grew pale as the words were spoken.
I don’t know any of these words! I will faint while all these people sit watching me fail!
“I’ve got you!” insisted the bottle cap.
Sarena felt as if her body were no longer her own, and she began to speak.
She heard herself tell a story about a Nuckelavee, a skinless horse-demon from Orkney, calling a meeting with other mythical creatures. Three other creatures attended the meeting: a Tshuchigumo, a Bynyip, and an Akkorokamui.
Wow! These creatures are amazing! I am learning so much, and this story is great! My delivery is flawless, too!
Wait a minute! I don’t know these places, words, or have the skill to tell this story! The words are NOT mine! The bottle cap has taken over and is telling the story! I am vexed to say that while I am thrilled to be a part of such a fantastic story, I can’t take credit for it and don’t like being taken over by another… being?
Sarena fought back, but the words kept coming.
Give control of my body back to me! Now!
The timer kept ticking; the words kept flowing.
I wanted to be a confident storyteller, but I am a fraud!
Brrriiing! Brrriiing!
”Time is up!” boomed the Viking.
Sarena regained control of her body.
The audience erupted in cheers.
Do I bow? Take credit? Walk away? Do they know about the bottle cap?
“I am sorry, but those words, as eloquent as they were, did not come from me. This bottle cap…”
The room chanted, “Welcome to the club! You passed the test!”
—Blurb Below—
When a nervous fourteen-year-old is asked to perform at a community center storytelling event, Sarena must reclaim control of her voice from a sentient bottle cap to protect her integrity. Set entirely within the community center, the story explores chaos and misunderstanding as the magical bottle cap hijacks her performance, vexing Sarena with undeserved praise. Forced into a moral dilemma by the bottle cap’s antics, Sarena must decide between honesty and accepting credit for words that are not her own.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed my story! Consider being one of the participants next year or in any of the other AutoCrit challenges. Take the challenge and stretch your writing muscles!
