To our Americans, I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving yesterday! Hopefully the holiday helped refuel you for these final days of NoQu 2025.
💡 Prompt: The weather suddenly changes, and your character must face their inner self.
⏳ Dare: Grab something to drink and lock in. Take a sip after every paragraph for the next 45 minutes.
❓ Question: What frightens your character most about themselves?
🎧 Ambiance: Victorian City
So I accidentally skipped last week's Bulletin. I'll put both #7 and #8 here together. Perhaps take this as a double-dog-dare, and see if you can complete both bulletins in one day.
(Warning: Geata was very rude with the dare and the question for #8. Be sure to share your thoughts with us!)
Bulletin #7:
💡 Prompt: Use music to inspire your character to do something out of the ordinary.
⏳ Dare: Choose three songs that remind you of your project. For the first, write as fast as you can. For the second, include words from the song in what you write. For the third, write normally.
❓ Question: What makes your story sing— what makes you need to write it?
How did the dare go for you? Do you know how you'll use the prompt? What do you think about the question?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
💡 Prompt: Lead a character somewhere, even though they don't understand why.
⏳ Dare: Challenge yourself to carve out three 30-minute writing sessions in a single day.
❓ Question: In what ways are your characters disciplined? In what ways are they lacking discipline?
🎧 Ambiance: Sheep Farm
The superstitious may think the number thirteen unlucky, and tread carefully on the 13th of the month. But luck has nothing to do with today! Your progress is in your own hands. Seize the day - and your word count!
How did the dare go for you? Do you know how you'll use the prompt? What do you think about the question?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
💡 Prompt: Make a character laugh at something they shouldn't.
⏳ Dare: Write 15+20+30+45+65+90+120+155+195 words for 735 total when you're done
❓ Question: What is something you find funny in your project and why?
Cutting it close posting this one a half hour before midnight in EST. Sorry for the delay!
How did the dare go for you? Do you know how you'll use the prompt? What do you think about the question?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
💡 Prompt: Have your character see beauty in something they thought was dull at first.
⏳ Dare: Light a fire under yourself! Write for 5 five minute sessions back to back and see which one gets the most words.
❓ Question: What is something your character has learned to do well?
I just noticed that Bulletin #2 is the only one of these posts that has been tagged with the "Bulletin" topic. I'd love to be able to isolate the bulletins to catch up on them, if it's not too inconvenient to add the topic tag to the others!
The next Bulletin is up! Remember, you can find the full POV-styled story on our blog and Instagram (@noquoffical).
How did the dare go for you? Do you know how you'll use the prompt? What do you think about the question?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
💡 Prompt: Use light to inform the mood of a scene.
⏳ Dare: Turn your font white or hide the lines above where you’re writing for the next 5 minutes.
❓ Question: What is one way you could challenge your main character’s heart, ego, or assumptions?
I love today's Question. Too often I think writers (especially newer ones) can get stuck in the thought process of their POV character having the "right" perspective, but even if they are the "good guy" they're still human with faults. And showing those faults on-page makes them more relatable and believable.
Did you see the latest Bulletin yet? If not, you can find it here on our blog!
We also post the Bulletin on our Instagram (@noquoffical), so follow us there if you never want to miss a chapter!
And now, here's the summary of the prompt, dare, question, and ambience from today's bulletin.
Share your thoughts - and your answer to today's Question - in the comments below!
💡 Prompt: Have help come in the middle of an embarrassing situation.
⏳ Dare: Make it a point to do three short writing sessions with a friend or new writing buddy today. See who gets the most words!
Like seriously, "what ways do you hold yourself back from writing" ma'am what kind of question is that (I take extra offense given I am not writing at all this November and Do Not Want To Reflect on why).