⏳ Weekly Writing Contest | February 16: Resolve

Submit your entry by Friday, February 21, 5pm GMT / 12pm ET

Artwork by Emma Winterschladen

Welcome to the Weekly Writers' Hour Contest!

This week's challenge invites you to examine what it means to be resolute.

Prompt: Resolve

Explore the concept of resolve in a character, setting, or even an object. What does it mean to be steadfast in the face of uncertainty?

Unpublished pieces of 500 words or less in any genre are eligible.

Submissions are due by Friday, February 21st at 5pm GMT / 12pm ET.

Keep reading for more information on prizes and FAQs – plus an introduction to this week’s guest judges, authors

Bec Evans

&

Chris Smith

of

Breakthroughs & Blocks

.

Happy writing!
The Writers’ Hour Magazine Team

Meet Our Guest Judges:

Bec Evans

&

Chris Smith

Bec Evans and Chris Smith are the authors of Written and How to Have a Happy Hustle, books about turning creativity into a way of life. Their work embraces the messy, uncertain, and frustrating parts of creativity—the moments of doubt most try to avoid but that they see as essential. Through their writing, coaching, and Substack Breakthroughs & Blocks, they help creatives push past self-doubt and embrace the hard parts. With a mix of practical advice, research-backed insights, and storytelling, Bec and Chris don’t just talk theory—they’ve lived it. Their work is here to inspire, guide, and remind you that creativity is never a straight line.

✍️ Join Bec & Chris for a workshop on Building a Writing Routine:

• 🗓️ Thursday, February 27th at 6pm UK / 1pm ET / 10am PT

• 🎟️ Grab a ticket (LWS Silver & Gold Members: Free RSVP Here.)

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A Note from Our Editorial Team

This week, we invite you to explore what it means to be steadfast.

You might write about a character who refuses to back down, whether in a grand, defiant act or a small, private moment of perseverance. Maybe your setting itself evokes a sense of endurance—a house that has weathered generations or a landscape that bears the marks of time. Even an object can embody resolve, carrying the weight of history and strength.

Consider how resolve manifests—not just in bold actions but in quiet decisions, inner convictions, or the ability to hold steady when everything else wavers. Does your protagonist wrestle with doubt before finding their footing? Does resolve come naturally, or is it something they must fight for?

We can’t wait to see how you interpret this theme—whether through fiction, poetry, or personal reflection.

How to Submit:

• Submissions should be made through our online submission platform, Submittable, and formatted as a Word Doc.

• For more details, please read the full Contest Guidelines.

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The winning entries will receive:

First Prize:

• $65 USD (£50 GBP)

• Publication in Writers’ Hour Magazine

• 3-months of London Writers’ Salon Silver Membership (£79 value)

• Commemorative Writers’ Hour trophy mug

Second Prize:

• Publication in Writers’ Hour Magazine

• 1-month of London Writers’ Salon Silver Membership (£29 value)

Third Prize:

• Publication in Writers’ Hour Magazine

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FAQs:

• What genres can I write in?
  All genres - fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc - are welcome.

• Is there a word limit?
  Your piece must be 500 words or less. Pieces that exceed this will not be considered. There is no minimum word limit.

• Do I need to submit in a specific format?
  Please follow the instructions outlined in the Contest Guidelines.

• When is the deadline to submit?
  Submissions are due by Friday, February 21 at 5pm GMT / 12pm ET / 9am PT. Submissions received outside this window will not be considered.

• When will the winner be announced?
  The winner will be contacted via Submittable, and the winning entry will be published in Writers’ Hour Magazine by Saturday, March 7th.

• Can I submit a piece I’ve already published?
  Only previously unpublished pieces are eligible for this contest. (Published means anything that has already been made publicly available in print or online.)

• Is there a fee to submit?
  No, there is no fee to submit. However you must be subscribed to Writers’ Hour Magazine in order for your submission to be considered.

Congratulations to the winners of The Spark!

We are thrilled to share the contest results for the week of January 26. Writers were asked to explore a transformative moment between two people. Special thanks once again to our guest judge, Sareeta Domingo.

• First Place: Marriage by Nicki Walker

• Second Place: Somewhere Between by

  Ali Abazeed

• Third Place: letters of complaint and apology by Brontë Turner

Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who participated. It’s a pleasure to share these pieces with you, and we can’t wait to see what you create this week.

PS - Write with us

Come work on your submission at Writers' Hour—our daily silent writing sprints—where writers from around the world come together to work on their projects. It’s the perfect environment to focus, share space with other writers, and make progress on your contest entry.