Monster Problems – July 2026
July 2026 Theme

Monster
Problems

Is there anything more frightening than the annual pitchfork convention?

Monster Problems illustration

Illustration by Stella Backman

Welcome to the first ever Whimsy!

The theme for our July contest is… Monster Problems.

Choose one of the five whims below, find your unique Object in the prompt email, and write a 300-word tale of whimsy that explores this month's theme. Feel free to interpret your prompts as creatively as you wish, but we encourage you to try and incorporate them in a meaningful way. It's a whole lot more fun and rewarding!

If you need some inspiration, each of the whims comes with four mood words to give you a sense of the creative territory. You don't need to include these words in your story - they're just there to get your imagination going.

And that, wonderful writers, is how we Whimsy:

  • Pick a whim
  • Pair it with your assigned object
  • Spin a yarn about the many problems faced by monster kind

Please note: the Monster Problems illustration and caption are not prompts.

Now it's time to follow your whim!

Choose your whim

Below are this month's five whims. You will confirm your chosen whim on the submission form when submitting.

Transformation Troubles
becoming · transformation · identity · uncertainty
The Village is Not Pleased
outsider · pitchforks · exclusion · belonging
The Cryptid Conundrum
misclassified · disbelieved · rumour · unseen
Absolutely Massive
oversized · disruptive · destructive · out-of-place
Single Monster Seeks...
longing · loneliness · connection · unlovable
Deadline: 7th July, 11:59pm (UTC)
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Submit your story →