Six + One Challenge Wrap-Up

Not about seven — It never is

Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash — I still see six in the picture above. So, yes. 6

Reveal the meaning here

“State your name.” “July.”

“Occupation?” “Ruining writers’ sleep schedules.”

“Did you encourage procrastination?” “I refuse to answer.”

“Did you also produce remarkable stories?” “…Perhaps.”

I watched July pull off six folders from its pocket. There were six incredible stories as evidence. That even though summer heat hit people like an unforgivable past, they still stopped and wrote despite the conditions that should have made them simply stare at the ceiling.

Evidence #1:

Pooja Rathore shared something remarkably aching in the places your society is familiar with. The invisible pain of the mother’s body that slowly fell apart to produce a tiny human called a son.

[embed]Six + one — A Writing Challenge The Son They Celebrated, The Mother They Never Sawmedium.com

Evidence #2:

Mr. ShubhamAgrawal certainly made our skin crawl with his eerie tale. But read long enough and see close enough, and you’ll find it’s not about the scary legend itself. The messages are far more important. A very worthy reading.

[embed]Six + One — A Writing Challenge The Night When Every Story Came Alive. (BL WC 12).medium.com

Evidence #3

Capt Vinod Bhardwaj had travelled around the globe as the sea and stars guided him. And eventually he found six paths that led him into oneness. Sir Vinod’s travels did not dilute his faith; they illuminated it.

[embed]*Six + One — A Writing Challenge *(The Six Horizons and the One Truth) medium.com

Evidence #4

Kalindi Singh shared a tale warm enough to melt our hearts. The story of a friendship that is not abandoned and forgotten, even though it was folded long in the past. What a humble and sweet story.

[embed]*Six + One – A Writing Challenge . *A journey back to the village, where destiny brews reunion over chai medium.com

Evidence #5

Rockstar Girl/Kaylee gave us a math equation only known by lovers. Numbers have different meanings to each person. Dates, months, and years – each has its mark in our hearts. They have special meaning only we could value and understand better than anyone else.

[embed]*Six + One — A Writing Challenge *Six and Still Yours ( BL WC 12 ) medium.com

Evidence #6 (published in Challenge and Chaos)

Special mention to Zeest Zulfiqar, who made us a shirt story. Maybe she saw the image in the writing challenge that needed to be covered up. Fun pieces of… Where on earth would she look for his brother’s lost shirt?

[embed]Six + One — A Writing Challenge A Shirt Story (BL WC 12)medium.com

The Winner is: Kalindi Singh

Her story gave us a moment to pause. I think some of us have experienced this. A moment when we'd been searching anywhere, but then fate brought us the unexpected answer.

• You spent years trying to reconnect with someone, only for them to randomly stand behind you in the supermarket checkout line,
• The love of your life was the friend you kept introducing to other people, or
• You searched antique shops for the perfect typewriter. A friend cleaning their attic offered you one for free,
• You kept asking, “When will I be happy?” until one ordinary Tuesday when you forgot to ask.

Every coincidence is a gentle reminder that we only play a small role in fate’s story. The point isn’t to stop looking, but to leave room for life to surprise you.

Congratulations to the winner, Ms Kalindi Singh. Your Six + One is the comforting breeze this unforgiving summer desperately needed.

Congratulations to all the participants. You gave evidence that, despite the AC in your room screaming for a raise and the fridge in your kitchen groaning for extra work this summer, you’re still writing. Still creating. Still solving the Six + One equation.

I looked back at July, closing the folders on the table.

“So, did you ruin writers’ sleep schedules?” “A little.”

“And did you make them procrastinate?” “I’d like my lawyer.”

“But did you also witness them creating stories anyway?” “…I suppose I did.”

Case closed.

See you in the next challenge. If fate has another absurd little game prepared for us, we’ll bring the evidence.

Have a great, funtastic summer, all!

Your editor, Meta Marvelia and Ally,

Signed off…

Writers, bring your chaos, your charm, and your half-baked drafts — ***Beyond Lines*** is ready for the beautiful mess. Let’s publish it!

[embed]Beyond Lines — Join Our Publication Where stories don’t need to be perfect, just real!!!!!.medium.com