In partnership with
Hello writer,
The end of January always feels like a threshold.
Not a clean ending.
Not a fresh beginning either.
Just that quiet space where unfinished sentences sit beside new ideas, both asking for attention.
Instead of forcing a big goal or a perfect plan, let’s do something smaller and truer today: write where you already are.
Here are a few prompts to meet you there.
Writing Prompt 1
Write about something you almost did this month but didn’t.
Don’t explain why.
Just describe the moment where the decision paused.
Writing Prompt 2
Begin with the line:
“I didn’t know it then, but this was the beginning.”
Let the story surprise you.
Writing Prompt 3
Write a short piece (100–300 words) where nothing “important” happens, but something quietly changes.
No pressure to publish.
No pressure to be clever.
Just write it honestly.
And before you go, a reminder from someone who understood doubt very well.
“Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open.”
– Natalie Goldberg
You don’t need to be ready.
You don’t need to feel confident.
You just need to be willing.
If you write something this week, even a paragraph, that counts.
📅 Deadlines Around Late January – Early February 2026
The Louisville Review – A long-running national literary magazine (since 1976), publishing short fiction, hybrid prose, poetry, and creative work with no submission fee; open January 24–29 for both longer (1,500+ words) and short/flash fiction.
Short Story, Long – A paying magazine that focuses on short stories and narrative prose (2,000–8,000 words). Submissions close January 31 (as listed on the main opportunity page).
The Paris Review – One of the most prestigious literary journals, accepting prose and poetry via Submittable during specific windows (including early February); they publish a mix of established and emerging voices, max ~40 pages for prose.
Peruse Lit – A contemporary literary journal publishing fiction, poetry, and essays with a focus on craft and voice; submissions typically close around February 1.
Electric Literature – A popular online magazine and nonprofit that champions innovative fiction and flash; submission window usually runs through February 1 for open reading periods.
The Sandy River Review – A literary journal sponsored by the University of Maine at Farmington that publishes fiction (including flash), poetry, and creative nonfiction in an annual print issue plus ongoing online content.
If you want, I can turn this into a Google Sheets checklist with deadlines + submission links + word count ranges so you can plan your month’s schedule!
BuildWriting
For poets, storytellers, and writers who keep showing up
PS : The Micro-Friction Writing Challenge is underway. For now, I’m letting the work speak quietly. A full update will come at the end of the month, once the challenge is complete.
AD Break
Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.
AD Break