What is Story Chat Digest?
Story Chat Digest is more than a writing challenge. It is a unique and proven online program that encourages interaction between authors and readers. It’s part writers group, part beta readers, part fun fiction, and pure enjoyment.
This year, we have openings for 18 original, previously unpublished short stories, 3 articles with writing tips, 2 posts with puzzles and/or art entries, and an unlimited number of poems.
Introducing Puzzle and Art Day
Do you love to do puzzles? April 22nd and August 19th are Puzzle and Art Days at Story Chat Digest. This is a new option for this year’s Story Chat calendar.
I particularly enjoy crossword and jigsaw puzzles online to keep my brain sharp and to be able to work without dropping pieces on the floor or scribbling out words that don’t work. Do you have another kind of puzzle that you enjoy and could make?
Word teasers work too! Here’s a simple mental math puzzle, I wrote when I taught fourth grade.
If there were 15 curlers stuck in your hair,
And you tied them by threes with some bows that you wear,
How many ribbons would hang from your locks?
Plus how many more to weave one in each sock?
Sign Ups Start now!
Email me at alwayswrite01@gmail.com to send in your entry
Art Submission Guidelines
- There is no theme. Art must be acceptable to a general audience. No erotica or gore.
- Your entry can be a photo of a drawing or painting, sculpture, comic strip, or other art medium.
- Artwork must be your work. You may submit up to three photos per Story Chat post.
- Artwork should be unpublished and unsold either on a website or in print. Once it is published on Story Chat Digest, you can share your art on your blog or in a book. The copyright remains with you.
- Photos as art may be digitally processed using Photoshop, Lightroom, or other photo processing tools. If this is done, explain what you did in a short paragraph. Cell Pic Sunday by John Steiner has some good examples of the alterations you can make using processing software and explanations. For Story Chat, the alterations must include more effort and knowledge than pushing a button to add a filter or change to black and white, although that might be part of the process.
Sample Photo as Art – rock of ages
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Psalm 18:2 New Living Translation
I picked this image because it is a beautiful place, and if you look at it with your imagination, you might see art in the picture. I see Jesus (or a figure with a cloak on) reaching out his hand, standing in the cleft of the rock. I also saw the shadow of an old person with his or her head bent, looking at a smiling figure.
Puzzle Submission Guidelines
- For Story Chat Digest, the puzzle can’t contain a watermark from a company, but you may have a copyright notation on your work.
- Jigsaw puzzles must be made using only your photos or drawings.
- Include a link to the answers.
Crossword Puzzle Instructions
Sample crossword Puzzle
This puzzle uses words from the quotation and words suggested by the photo, Rock of Ages. When I cut and pasted it from Google Docs, the black parts were not copied, so I had to take a screenshot and crop it. I included the link to the Google Doc to work the puzzle. Rock of Ages Puzzle
| ACROSS | DOWN |
| 1 STRONGHOLD FOR DEFENSE | 1 SHAPE OR STRUCTURE OF ROCKS |
| 2 GREAT RESPECT, FEAR | 2 IGNEOUS FOR ONE |
| 3 KEEP SAFE | 3 AUTHORITY OR CONTROL OVER |
| 4 LARGE ROCK | 4 BELIEF IN STRENGTH OR RELIABILITY |
| 5 MOTHER _______ | 5 PROVIDES PROTECTION AS IN ARMOR |
| 6 PROTECTION, SECURITY | 6 ROCK OFTEN USED FOR COUNTERTOPS |
| 7 SUPREME RULER | 7 OAK FOR ONE |
| 8 CUMULUS FOR ONE | 8 DEN OR HIDING PLACE |
| 9 SHELTER FROM PURSUIT | |
| 10 TUMBLE AS FROM A HIGH PLACE | |
| 11 MAKE A MISTAKE | |
| 12 CREATIVITY AS IN PAINTING | |
| 13 SUPREME CREATOR |
This video explains how to create the puzzle in Google Docs, which I did as an example, but the steps would work with Word or other word-processing programs that can create tables. Excel or Google Sheets also work to make crossword puzzles. You may have a better way to create them. This puzzle does not show you if you fill in the incorrect letters or get the word correct.
Jigsaw Puzzle Sample
I had included a link to Canva because they have a jigsaw-making template. It is very complicated. If it is too hard for me to figure out, that takes the fun out of it, and Story Chat is meant to be fun. Instead, I included a link to the website where I play digital jigsaw puzzles. I created one for you from the picture above. Click to play Rock of Ages Jigsaw Puzzle.
Story Chat Vol. II
cLICK TO READ IT ON KINDLE OR ORDER IT IN PAPERBACK HERE.
The SC page is now published with submission guidelines, but you can pick your dates for short stories now by emailing me at alwayswrite01@gmail.com or leaving a comment on this post.
Lots of love and hugs! Happy blogging! xxxxx
Marsha Ingrao Always Write 
31 responses to “Art and Puzzle Submission Guidelines for Story Chat Digest”
Very interesting addition to the story chat.
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I hope so!
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👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼
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That’s such an interesting expansion of story chat’s offering. I look forward to seeing what you end up with. Thanks for the fun, Marsha.
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It’s a stretch for me, but all of this depends on authors’ willingness to share. So it’s always been a stretch, really!
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Lol. I love your stretches!
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Thank you! I do too. I would never have met you otherwise! Even blogging was a stretch. Who knows when you first start if anyone will read what you write. Like who cared in the beginning? And now we have made lifetime friends all over the world. How magical is that? 🙂 xxx
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Pretty magical. And hopeful for the future too.
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Yes!!! I’m planning to come in May to see my brother. I hope we can meet up.
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That would be wonderful!
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Yay, I think so!
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This should be fun. I’m looking forward to this
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I saw Jesus in the rock formation! The scripture was perfect. Thank you!
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Thanks, Nancy! 🙂 xxx
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Vince has marvelous ideas, Marsha! And that rock photo is amazing.
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Thanks, Miriam. He’s a keeper, for sure! 🙂 xxx
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The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Psalm 18:2 New Living Translation.
Very nice written quote & message.
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Thank you, Raj. 🙂
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Hi Marsha, this indeed very interesting. Iam interested. I like puzzle game. I play jigsaw game. It’s fun play. You have good Idea, Always you share New Idea. Lol you have good week my dear friend, Marsha. How you ? ☺️
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Thanks, Raj. This was my husband’s idea. We are both doing well. You have a great week, too, Raj. 🙂 xxx
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Love the photo, Marsha – and the Scripture to go with it. Really beautiful.
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Thanks, Maddie. It seemed to fit. Did you see the figure in the rock?
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I did! I spotted it right away from your description.
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I’m sure you’ll have some great entries, Marsha. You never stop coming up with new ideas. I’m far too lazy to create online puzzles but it’ll be interesting to see what comes up xx
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Thanks, Jo. It will be interesting, This is Vince’s brainstorm. He wanted it to be similar to Reader’s Digest. The jigsaw puzzles are easy to create because they are just pressing a button. I didn’t want to stress anyone out about it. It’s fun to play your own photos or drawings. I included the link to turn your pictures into digital puzzles. You might enjoy doing that just for your own enjoyment if you ever sit down! LOL You have some fabulous photos.
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I did wonder whose idea it was. Well done that man! You never know, I might surprise myself, but right now I’m struggling to organise the rest of my year. Before it gets away from me! Sending hugs xx
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Wow, organizing a whole year. I’m lucky to get through a week! LOL Have a wonderful week, my dear friend. xxx
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Hi Marsha, this sounds very interesting. I look forward to seeing what people submit for this challenge.
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I’m glad you like it. Who knows what will transpire. Poetry Day has done very well. Top notch poems generate wonderful conversations.
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Yes, I agree 🥰
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🙂 xxxxx
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