The Exquisite Prompt
The AdLit.org Exquisite Prompt challenge is an activity that gives K-12 students a chance each month (October through June) to flex their writing muscles with writing prompts — and win fabulous prizes! The prompts are inspired by the 18 authors and illustrators participating in the Exquisite Corpse Adventure.
About Exquisite Corpse
What's an "Exquisite Corpse?"
It's a kind of writing game, where one person begins a story, then passes it down through a chain of writers to continue the narrative.
Writer M.T. Anderson explains it all here > 
An exquisite corpse was originally a kind of art game that was invented by the Surrealists in the early 20th century, where chance and experimentation became important elements of the creative process.
What's "The Exquisite Corpse Adventure?"
It's a year-long serial adventure story that offers young readers an opportunity to get to know the hilarious side of a crew of award-winning, talented, and versatile authors and illustrators — sponsored by the Library of Congress and the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance.
Let M.T. Anderson fill you in more >
The Exquisite Corpse Adventure was first suggested by Mary Brigid Barrett, co-founder of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance, as a way to get kids involved in the sheer pleasure and and adventure of reading.
The Exquisite Corpse Adventure story begins here…
Our Exquisite Prompt challenge
In support of this rollicking story adventure game, Reading Rockets and AdLit.org offer students the chance to have some writing fun of their own with our Exquisite Prompt challenge.
Learn more about our Exquisite Prompt challenge:
The prompts
The prompts will be inspired by the author's Exquisite Corpse Adventure episode or the author's body of work. For example, Jon Scieszka (Knucklehead) might inspire a prompt for a song about, say, siblings in the bathroom. Katherine Paterson (Lyddie) could inspire a prompt to write a first-person story about overcoming hardship, or for older kids, child labor in the 19th century.
The prompts will be accompanied by author/illustrator biographies, bibliographies and interviews. Resources for educators from Reading Rockets and AdLit will include strategies for teaching writing and a writing basics toolkit. Depending on the prompt, educators and students will also be directed to appropriate Library of Congress resources and primary sources.
June prompts
 |
M.T. Anderson (Feed) |
 |
Linda Sue Park (A Single Shard) |
Entries must be received by June 30, 2010.
The winner's circle
Congratulations to all our talented writers — we're proud to publish your creative work here on our website. We'll be adding a new list of winners each month, so be sure to visit again.
The rules
The contest begins on October 1, 2009 and ends in June 2010. Two new prompts will be published each month, and students are encouraged to enter each month. There are four grade levels for entries:
- Level I: K-grade 2
- Level II: grades 3-5
- Level III: grades 6-8
- Level IV: grades 9-12
To be eligible for prizes, students will be asked to submit original writing of 350 words or less for each writing prompt. Illustrations may be submitted with entries. Students may only submit one entry per prompt but are encouraged to submit an entry for all 18 prompts. Complete official rules >
How to submit your entry:
E-mail preferred! Send entry to: info@AdLit.org
Subject line MUST include the name of the author or illustrator and level (I, II, III, or IV) and the e-mail must include contact information or the entry will not be accepted.If the submission includes handwritten work or artwork that is not easily scanned, you may mail your submission to:
WETA, AdLit
3939 Campbell Avenue
Arlington, VA 22206
All entries MUST include the name of the author or illustrator, level (I, II, III, or IV), and contact information or they will not be accepted.
The prizes
Prizes include being published on Reading Rockets and AdLit and receiving a selection of books, including titles autographed by the authors and illustrators. Winners are also are eligible for a classroom visit by one of the authors or illustrators via Skype! Thanks to Candlewick Press, Simon & Schuster, Reading Is Fundamental and the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance for providing prizes of books for our winning writers.
Prompt schedule
Month |
Authors |
Prompt Given | Deadline | Winner Announced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October |
|
10/1 |
10/31 |
11/20 |
| November | 11/1 |
11/30 |
12/21 |
|
| December |
|
12/1 |
12/31 |
1/21 |
| January |
|
1/1 |
2/1 |
2/22 |
| February |
|
2/1 |
3/1 |
3/22 |
| March |
|
3/1 |
3/31 |
4/21 |
| April |
|
4/1 |
4/30 |
5/21 |
| May |
|
5/1 |
5/31 |
6/21 |
| June | 6/1 |
6/30 |
7/21 |
