Inspired Mixers Connect Creatives and Audiences!
Answering prompts published in my monthly Lift! newsletter, readers submit ideas that inspire responses from creatives.
When a reader's idea is selected as inspiration, the reader receives inspirational credit and a copy of a creative's response to the reader's idea.
As part of their participation, storytellers have the option of receiving editorial feedback from me, benefiting from my three decades of editing experience.
Mixer details and submission dates are announced in my monthly Lift! newsletter.
Examples of Inspired Mixers
Photo Mixers – Have you recently taken a photo you think is worth 1,000 words? Let’s see if I or a creative friend can find them, more or less. Readers submit photos, and creatives respond in their creative mediums.
Prompt Mixers – Responding to myself or other creatives calling for prompts, readers submit characters, settings, situations, or details, and creatives respond in their creative mediums.
Testimonials from Reader Participants
So fun to be a character in a story! J. Bea obviously not only loves writing. She loves her readers and is very interactive! If you're looking for something to brighten your day, this is the place for you!
- Sherry
The story based on my "Wedding Bloopers" prompts turned out very fun and cute! I just love what J. Bea is doing with these Inspired contests!
- Laura
I enjoyed offering a story premise and getting my idea featured in a short story. J. Bea goes above and beyond by providing a PDF of the story and acknowledging the winner in her newsletter. It’s a fun contest with a rewarding end.
- Sarah
Testimonials from Creative Participants
Participating in J. Bea's Inspired contest was full of surprises for me, including how satisfying it is to write short stories. Working with a prompt provided an intriguing challenge. I thoroughly enjoyed the helpful and instructive edits with J. Bea. Give it a try!
- Janet Joanou Weiner
My participation in J. Bea's Inspired contest was an exercise in craft! When I worked on the short story, I implemented skills I use in my WIP but with her readers' constraints. Actually, the constraints pushed my creative boundaries for the better. But the best benefit of this experience was working closely with J. Bea in the editing process. She is a proficient and gifted editor, so I gained wisdom on maximizing my story for full effect as well as insight on craft. And I valued how she ensured changes would be mine, reinforcing my agency as the author. I highly recommend that authors, especially those building their writing portfolio, participate in the Inspired contests.
- Sarah Soon
Short stories were never on my radar till J. Bea's newsletter popped up with its Inspired feature. Then suddenly I was, well, inspired! Deciding on a theme and working from someone else's prompts was a challenge and so much fun. J. Bea is a joy to work with and made me look good even before the story came out! The Inspired contest is one of the most original and enjoyable newsletter highlights out there. Give it a go!
- Susan Marie Graham
Working with J. Bea to create a meaningful story for her Inspired readers was a positive experience. She was so gracious in providing an opportunity for me to share my story and art. It was fun to include the prompts from her readers, and she helped fine-tune the story to make it shine with her exceptional editing skills. I enjoyed the whole process. J. Bea was a joy to work with.
-Tessa Burns
Creatives, would you like to be Inspired?
Are you a writer, artist, crafter, or musician seeking connections with a new and inspiring audience? I’d love to feature your creativity in a future Inspired mixer. Please use the Inspire Me survey to tell me more about yourself and your creative projects and why you’d like to join the Inspired fun!
The Inspired Journal
Descriptions of the creative responses inspired by Lift! readers appear in the Inspired Journal below. Except as shared by mixer participants, full access to creative responses go to Lift! readers only.
Guest Feature - Tammy Partlow
Can Elizabeth justifiably end another human's life before sunset? What choice does she have when her young daughter's life is on the line? Tammy Partlow explores a hard choice and the theme of justice in this Inspired novel prequel.
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Guest Feature - Tessa Burns
With "Through the Ashes," a story inspired by actual events and detailed by prompts from Lift! readers, writer and artist Tessa Burns invites readers into a firsthand experience of overwhelming loss, resilience, and recovery.
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Good Tidings - Selah Award Finalist
The Christmas Anthology of short stories with recipes by the Lady Lits was named 2024 Selah Award Finalist
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A Valentine Commercial
“Valentine’s!” Mom was using her outside voice in the store. “It’s all about commercialism!” Mikey leans into that estimation and brings the living, walking love of God into his family's living room.
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Guest Feature - Jolene Fellhauer
Coyote's idea is perfect! No one wants snow and the cold months, right? Drawing inspiration from reader prompts, unusual weather, and legend, Indigenous author Jolene Fellhauer invites readers of "Coyote and the Time Winter Was Late" to reconsider the blessings of the season.
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Guest Feature - Jennifer Elwood
In "Taste and See," featured author Jennifer Elwood invites readers to a Santa-themed wedding through the eyes of a caterer facing a power outage. Mixing in fun prompts from Lift! readers, Jennifer baked up a sweet story reminding us that we don't have to face challenges alone.
Continue reading*Navigational note: To see additional pages of the journal, click a page number, then scroll to the bottom of the page to see the Inspired features.