September – 40-Word Story Challenge

August 30, 2026

Scriptwriters Network

40th Anniversary Celebration

12 Months • 12 Ways We Give Back

As Scriptwriters Network celebrates 40 years of supporting writers, we’re giving back to the creative community with monthly opportunities to learn, grow, and strengthen your craft.

Each month throughout 2026 highlights a different aspect of storytelling while encouraging writers to build skills they can apply to every screenplay, television script, or story they create.

Everyone is welcome to participate.

September 40th Anniversary Giveaway

40-Word Story Challenge

40 Years. 40 Words. One Story.

Great stories don’t have to be long.

Sometimes, the most powerful stories are the ones that make every word count.

As part of our 40th Anniversary – 12 Months • 12 Ways We Give Back initiative, this month’s challenge invites writers to create a complete original story in exactly 40 words.

Whether your story makes us laugh, cry, wonder, or gasp, the challenge is simple: say something meaningful in only 40 words.

The Challenge

Participants are invited to write an original story using exactly 40 words.

Your story may be:

A dramatic moment
A comedy
A mystery
A romance
A thriller
A science-fiction story
A character-driven moment
A story with a surprise ending
Any other genre or style you choose

The story must have a beginning, middle, and/or ending that creates a complete storytelling experience within the 40-word limit.

Every word counts.

The Prompt

For this month’s challenge, writers may use the following prompt:

“The message arrived 40 years too late.”

You may interpret the prompt in any way you choose and write in any genre.

Prefer to create your own story?

That’s welcome, too.

Writers may either use the monthly prompt or create an original 40-word story based on their own idea.

Focus Areas

Writers are encouraged to concentrate on:

Strong storytelling
Originality and creativity
Character and emotion
Clear story direction
Effective word choice
A memorable ending

With only 40 words available, writers must make every word work.

What Makes a Strong 40-Word Story?

Successful entries often:

Establish a compelling situation quickly
Create a clear emotional or dramatic impact
Use specific and purposeful language
Give the reader enough information to understand the story
Create curiosity or surprise
Deliver a memorable final line

Remember…

You don’t need 40 pages to tell a story.

Sometimes, 40 words are enough to make us feel something.

Optional Creative Approaches

Writers looking for an additional creative challenge may choose one of the following:

The Twist
- End your story with an unexpected reveal.
The Emotional Moment
- Create a story designed to make the reader feel something deeply.
The Character
- Introduce a memorable character and reveal something significant about them in only 40 words.
The Beginning
- Write 40 words that feel like the opening of a much larger story.
The Ending
- Write 40 words that leave the reader wondering what happened next.

These approaches are optional and intended to inspire creativity. Writers may choose any style that best fits their story.

Who Can Participate

This challenge is open to all writers, regardless of experience.

Whether you’re writing your first story or have been writing for decades, the 40-Word Story Challenge is an opportunity to practice one of the most valuable skills in storytelling:

Making every word count.

How to Enter

Please submit your entry via email to:

info@scriptwritersnetwork.org

Subject Line:

September 40-Word Story Submission

Please include:

Your full name
Title of your story
Your 40-word story pasted directly into the body of your email
If using the monthly prompt, please indicate that you are responding to the prompt

Attachments will not be reviewed.

Submission Guidelines:

One submission per participant
Exactly 40 words
Original work only
Any genre or style
Prompt is optional
Please proofread your submission for spelling and grammar before sending

Entry Deadline

All submissions must be received between:

September 1 – September 30, 2026

Prizes

Winners will receive:

🎁** One-Year Scriptwriters Network Membership**

🎁** One-Hour Script Consultation with SWN President Melessa Y. Sargent**

🎁** Featured Writer Spotlight in the Scriptwriters Network Newsletter**

Only the winning entry will be considered for publication or featured in Scriptwriters Network promotional materials.

*In addition to the Grand Prize winner, selected Honorable Mentions may be featured on Scriptwriters Network social media and in the SWN newsletter.

Why This Matters

Writing with limitations can be one of the best ways to strengthen your storytelling.

A 40-word story forces writers to make deliberate choices about language, character, emotion, conflict, and story direction.

When every word matters, writers learn to make every word count.

Winner(s) & Featured Spotlight

Submissions will be reviewed after the close of the challenge.

The winner will be contacted and announced during the first week of October 2026.

Celebrating 40 Years of Writers Supporting Writers

Throughout 2026, Scriptwriters Network continues celebrating its 40th Anniversary with monthly challenges, educational opportunities, giveaways, and special events designed to support writers at every stage of their creative journey.

We invite you to join us as we celebrate four decades of storytelling, mentorship, and community.

Invite another writer to participate and celebrate 40 years of Scriptwriters Network together.