Photography, Life, Sandi’s April Prompt
Life: April Prompt
April Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Life”
Only the ghosts of memories remain.
You probably see an overgrown vacant block. I see something different.
I see five-year-old Sandi running around and around the Lilly Pilly trees while my aunty (dressed in a white sheet) chased me.
I see eight-year-old Sandi marching about with a Gene Simmons doll tucked under one arm and a pocket full of Smurfs.
I see seventeen-year-old Sandi learning how to drive by moving the car up and down the driveway.
I see twenty-one-year-old Sandi hanging over the fence to chat up the hot guy next door.
I see twenty-five-year-old Sandi running about after her toddler.
I see thirty-year-old Sandi, the caregiving roles reversed, looking after her Gran.
I see a home filled with love, laughter, and life.
The April Challenge is “Life” brought to you by me — Sandi Parsons
The concept is to take a photo that somehow captures the meaning of “Life” in some way, whether it’s abstract or concrete, figurative or literal, physical or mental. The possibilities are endless — we’re looking for submissions with different perspectives, unusual stories, and brilliant photographs.
Please read about the Definition, Purpose & Rules of the “Life” Challenge below.
Possible Definitions of How to Use “Life” in Your Six Word Photo Story
- “Life” can refer to something emotional, mental, or physical. What does life or being alive mean to you? Where do you find joy in your life? What makes you feel alive?
- “Life” can refer to something alive or something lifelike. From animals to inanimate objects, everything is either living or nonliving. Have you got one of those (super-creepy) dolls that look exactly like a real baby? A taxidermy collection?
- “Life” can refer to something in nature, the universe, or the life cycle. All around us, animals and plants are teeming with life, and they all have a story to tell (or be told!).
- “Life” can refer to something spiritual. Are you searching for the meaning of life? (Apparently, the answer is 42. Although I’ve always thought the meaning of life was to reconcile our glowing opinion of ourselves with the appalling things others think about us.)
- “Life” is YOU and your perspective. It’s something that represents the meaning of “Life” in some way or form, from your individual viewpoint — that connects to your photo and story.
What’s your “life” story?
The Purpose of “Life”
- The “Life” Challenge is an intuitive self-challenge to explore what life means to you — whether internal, external, or both.
- The “Life” Challenge is an investigative challenge to observe and figure out what things in your life can capture the “life” through photography, contemplation, and six words.
- The “Life” Challenge is designed for YOU and your perspective.
Can you take a photo that represents “Life” and tell a story about it in six words?
“Life” Challenge Rules
Guidelines, Formatting & How to Submit
Note: These apply to ALL stories in this publication. I know it may seem like a lot, but once you’ve submitted your first story to our pub, it’s easy to duplicate the formatting style!
Note: This challenge will run from April 1 until NOON, Pacific Standard Time, April 30, 2023.
The Photo
- The photo must be taken by yourself (ORIGINAL & UNPUBLISHED elsewhere), and please include a photo credit.
- Only ONE PHOTO can be featured in your story, and it must be placed ABOVE the title and subtitle. Your photo must be the first thing our editors see when we review your submission.
- The only person that can be featured in the photo is YOURSELF. If you’re in the photo, it can be taken by someone else (please include the photo credit.) Photos of people other than yourself are NOT ALLOWED. See this article for legal reasons why.
The Title, Subtitle & Tags
- Title: Choose your own title.
- For your subtitle: Please use April Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Life” (like the subtitle used in this article.) Once you have written your subtitle, remember to highlight it and click on the small “T” to format it correctly.
- Please Tag your story using this tag: Monthly Challenge
The Six Word Photo Story
- The photo must be connected to your story and concept of “Life” in some way. The connection to “Life” should be made clear either in the photo, six word story, or (optional) backstory.
- All six word stories and optional backstories must also abide by Medium’s rules. Note: Any stories that the editors may view as disrespectful, inappropriate, or that fall into a grey area will be reviewed at the discretion of the editors and may be rejected.
- The story must be six words only. Once you write your six word story, highlight it and click on the small “T” to format the six words. This is so your six words stand out; it’s a formatting guideline unique to this publication.
- The 3 dots (like in this story) should appear directly below your six word story. If you don’t know how to do this, view the formatting guidelines.
The Backstory (OPTIONAL) & 2-Minute Maximum Read per story!
- IF you include a backstory, it can be 1–2 minutes.
- The 3 dots (like in this story) should appear directly below your backstory.
- The entire reading time of your story must be no longer than 2 minutes! This includes the photo, six word story, any tags, links, or promotion of yourself or other stories. It will be unread and rejected if your submission comes in as a 3-minute read or more.
How to Submit Your Story
- Submit unpublished drafts only. Previously published stories (self-published or published elsewhere) will be unread and rejected.
- To submit your unpublished draft: a) Click on the three dots at the top right corner of the screen b) Click “Add to publication” c) select “Six Word Photo Story Challenge” d) Click on “Select and continue.” e) Click “Submit.”
- WHAT NOT TO DO! When submitting your unpublished draft, DO NOT CLICK “Publish” first. If you click “Publish” first — your story will be automatically self-published to your own profile page, and we will NOT accept it if you then attempt to submit your self-published story to our publication.
“Life” is open for submissions from April 1 until NOON, April 30, 2023, PACIFIC STANDARD TIME.
If you have any questions about the rules or need further clarification about the Monthly Challenge, please leave a comment on this story. For formatting step-by-step instructions (these are unique to this publication), see Formatting Your Six Word Photo Story.
NOTE: Stories not formatted correctly, don’t follow rules, or that require edits will delay publication or may not be accepted. Formatting guidelines are unique to this publication. If you’d like to be added as a writer and submit to Six Word Photo Story Challenge publication, please read and follow the submission guidelines.
It’s time to explore the meaning of “Life”
Grab those cameras or dig into your archives — you may be empowered and surprised to see what you come up with. Embrace the power of “Life.”
Freestyle stories
You also have the option to write a six-word photo story featuring a photo and topic of your choosing — as long as the photo and story are connected in some way. The story doesn’t need to be related to the monthly challenge prompt. For your subtitle: Please use your own subtitle followed by the word: Freestyle, OR use Six Word Photo Story: Freestyle. Please tag your story using this tag: Freestyle.
Submissions are always open for Freestyle stories.
— Village hugs, from the editorial team, Sandi Parsons, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, , and Mary Chang Story Writer — creator & editor of SWPSC. If you don’t want to miss any future Six Word Photo Story Challenges, please follow us, this publication, and subscribe to our stories by hitting the “green envelope” button next to our profiles.
About the Writer
Sandi Parsons lives and breathes stories as a reader, writer, and storyteller. She lives with her favorite husband and two problem puppies. She believes the meaning of life is to reconcile the appalling things other people think about you with your glowing opinion of yourself.
