CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: “INCARCERATED” WRITING PROMPTS
Community Inspirational Stories Below
Brought to you by: KVI Network Creations, Krafty Page Chronicles & C.A.P.S. (Cultures of Art, Poetry & Stories).
Purpose
This creative writing exercise is designed to empower voices often silenced—those navigating incarceration, mental battles, or the lingering weight of past trauma. It encourages emotional intelligence, personal reflection, and freedom through self-expression. This contest aims to inspire incarcerated individuals, returning citizens, and those who’ve ever felt mentally confined to reclaim their power through storytelling.
Theme
Not all prisons have walls. Many live behind invisible bars—trapped by fear, guilt, grief, or silence. Whether you’re locked away physically or mentally, your words can be a key. Speak your truth. Break free.
Rules
- Word Count: 50–100 words
- Submit: Upload entries via this Google Form
- Provide: Name/Alias, Date
- Provide: Area, State, and Location
- Deadline: May 15, 2025
- Choose Prompt(s): From the list below
- Originals Only.
- No AI (Artificial Intelligence)
- Copyright: ©️ Protected by Author
- Optional: Author/Bio Photo
Prompts to Choose From
- The Walls Speak
If these walls could talk, what would they say? Write from the point of view of a wall, a shadow, or an object that has witnessed it all. - Chains That Can’t Hold Me
Define personal freedom. Share a moment when your mind refused to be caged—even if your body was. This could be a poem, short story, or letter to your past/future self. - The Man/Woman in the Mirror
You catch your reflection and feel seen. Who is staring back? What battles has this person survived? Tell your raw, honest story.
Invitation
Open to all who have felt bound—physically, emotionally, or mentally. Let your voice rise. Let your words set you free.
Questions?
Contact our Help Desk
Submit Here: Click to Upload Your Submission
Stay Connected | Stay Updated
Spread the word. The walls may be silent, but your story doesn’t have to be.
Read Comments Below 👇 for current updates about this event.
For Those Inquiring About Prizes—
While the heart of this submission call was never about competition, we’re honored to recognize and celebrate your voices with a set of meaningful literary gifts, generously contributed by fellow authors:
Prize Categories:
1st Place: “It’s My Business, Mind Your Own” and “Dark Haze—The Island (2nd Ed.)” by TC Neville Senior (Nelly Vee)
2nd Place: “The Mind of a Poet” by Kevin Grant
3rd Place: “Be Inspired” by Linette Rabsatt
These eBooks, all available on Amazon Kindle, will be delivered free of charge directly to the winners’ inboxes as a token of appreciation for their powerful, creative contributions.
Now, to the heart of this prompt…
“Incarcerated” was never just about a prize. It was born from a deeper place—a desire to build a living archive of real stories, raw truths, and redemptive voices. It’s for those who’ve been silenced by circumstances—whether by prison walls, emotional chains, or life’s trials.
This theme is deeply personal. It was inspired by the voices of incarcerated individuals I know, and by my daughter’s current journey to reclaim her courage and voice. This prompt is a bridge—for her and others—to speak, to heal, and to inspire.
Your submissions are not just entries.
They are testimonies of resilience, reflections of courage, and echoes of hope.
Thank you for being a part of something greater than a contest.
The top three entries with the highest cumulative star ratings will also be officially spotlighted as the “Best Inspirational Stories of 2025.”
Story Column Entries
Denise A. Kelley
Poet, Published author, coach, empowerment speaker, Child of GOD!
CHAINS THAT HOLD ME
I won’t be bound
GOD has made me free.
Refuse to let the enemy whisper in my ear,
tempting me to eat from the forbidden tree.
Ohhh okay, Satan,
so same tricks, same game – different day,
REpackage the box,
Get new people to play.
See, I was chained to sin
held tight by material things in life.
When my massa satan said “Jump”,
I responded, “How high?”
But today is my Emancipation Proclamation
No longer filled with envy
shackled with fetters,
making me bitter not better.
Today is my Emancipation Proclamation,
satan I am FREE
your chains are broken,
You can no longer hold me!© Denise A. Kelley/Author
TikTok: @deniseakelley
4/16/25
Virginia, USA
Instagram: @msdkelley
Linette Rabsatt
Virgin Islands poet Linette Rabsatt, writing since 1996, features in Be Inspired, magazines, and blogs.
BOUND
in an insane strategy
they took me away from me
dulling all my senses
shuttering my lips
leaving me bound
unsettled and broken
I held the key
to freedom
but was too locked
away within my mind
that I couldn’t escape
the physical or psychological chains
on my
eyes
ears
mouth
hands
feet and
mind© Linette Rabsatt
4/18/25
Tortola, BVI
Me in the Mirror
I am pleased with what I see in the mirror
Although I may not be up to your standards
But not to worry
I’m not caught in a ballad
Cause I’m about living my life
Within reason
Without treason
And with a little seasoning
To match the season of the year
Every day is about doing one’s best
Despite the tests
And despite the lack of rest
Be like the orange zest
Not the best on its own
But when blended with other ingredients
Becomes a culinary fest
So don’t let anyone make you feel
Like you’re less than what
God blessed you to be
You don’t have to agree
With the naysayers
Because your circle should be
The ones who love you
With a love that’s true
So enjoy the image in the mirror
Love yourself and live life with vigor!© Linette Rabsatt
4/18/25
Tortola, BVI
Nelly Vee
CEO | Founder | Poet & Master Story Artist
THE WALLS SPEAK
I ain’t just a wall—
I’m the keeper of truth.
I’ve soaked in pain,
caught prayers that never got answered,
held the silence after the screams.
Every crack got a story.
They think I’m just concrete—
but I’ve seen it all.
And if I talk…
I’m tellin’ it raw.© By Nelly Vee
4/18/25
West Warwick, RI. USA
Chains That Can’t Hold Me
They locked the door, but they couldn’t lock my mind.
I sat in that cold cell, but I was writing symphonies in my head—mapping out dreams they thought I’d lost.
Each day, I rose with a plan, not bitterness.
I whispered affirmations between the noise, reminding myself: You’re not your sentence.
Even in silence, I was loud—building freedom inside, brick by brick.
I forgave those who forgot me and loved the parts of me I once feared.
No bars could box in my rebirth.
I may have been bound, but I was never broken.
© By Nelly Vee
4/20/25
West Warwick, RI. USA
Dr . Napoleon Abad Torres III
Poet, spiritual scribe, orchard keeper, devoted, inspired daily by faith.
“Incarcerated”
The biggest prison is my heart
When love’s incarcerated it can’t depart
Your heart’s the prisoner in it
Your guard is my heartbeat
Your heart can’t leave when it’s my prisoner
In my heart it will be my inmate forever
You’re not a criminal but my lover
As your guard my spirit will always be there
Your heart’s a prisoner that’s to my heart will be forever incarcerated
Its escape I’m always agitated
To your heart pardon will be granted
If you and me get married
We will be incarcerated in love forever
Prisoners of passionate union together
Your heart will be incarcerated with chain
In my prison heart’s cell your heart will eternally remain
Written: 04/23/2025
Author: Dr. Napoleon Abad Torres III
Country: Philippines 🇵🇭
Prompt: Incarcerated
Format: Quatrains
Entry #: n1312
© 2025
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Author
Nelly Vee
Nelly Vee, Founder & CEO of KVI Network Creations, author, poet, and graduate with a Bachelor of Theology and a BS in Leadership & Organizational Management.
Judging & Spotlight Recognition
The public will serve as the official judges for the “Incarcerated” Writing Contest. Each submission will be evaluated using a best out of 5 stars rating system, based on five key criteria:
Originality – Uniqueness and creativity of the piece
Emotional Impact – How deeply it moves or inspires
Relevance to Theme – Connection to incarceration (mental, emotional, or physical)
Clarity & Structure – Readability and organization
Depth of Message – Strength and meaning behind the words
Each category will be scored from 1 to 5 stars, with a maximum total of 25 stars per submission.
Important Dates
Submission Deadline: May 15, 2025
Public Voting Period: May 16–25, 2025
Winners Announced: June 30, 2025
The top three entries with the highest cumulative star ratings will be officially spotlighted as the “Best Inspirational Stories of 2025.”
Following the contest, submissions will remain open as part of an ongoing inspirational column—offering a platform for healing, reflection, and freedom through creative expression.