The Shiny Dime Challenge

A Shiny Dime is a specific and surprising idea. It's the singular focus of a piece of writing. And it's a concept that will help you capture attention in a crowded world.

Hey writers,

This week, you learned about the third and final type of Shiny Dime: stories. And now, it’s time to put it into practice. Here’s your writing prompt for the week: 

What is the biggest epiphany you've had lately?

A Shiny Dime story is an anecdote, allegory, or metaphor that perfectly encapsulates your Shiny Dime. Remember David Foster Wallace’s “This Is Water” speech? 

His Shiny Dime story: Two young fish live in water, but they have no idea what water is. 

His Shiny Dime message: “The value of a real education has almost nothing to do with knowledge, and everything to do with simple awareness.”

Stories are the most engaging way to compress and communicate an idea. They’re memorable and concrete, giving your audience something tangible they can easily grab onto and understand. 

The great thing about Shiny Dime stories? They are what you make them. Your Shiny Dime story can be:

• A reference to an actual person or event (like Morgan Housel’s Too Much, Too Fast, Too Soon)
• A reference to an existing fictional narrative (like Simba, Dorothy, or Alice in Wonderland — all characters who embody a message bigger than themselves)
• A personal story or anecdote (like that one time shopping at your local farmer’s market taught you a valuable lesson about human relationships)
• Or a parable/allegory that you make up to get your point across (like Wallace’s “This Is Water”).

Whatever you do, don’t overcomplicate things. Your goal is to identify a message you want to share, then share it in the form of a story. Have fun with it. Make it your own. And, as always, keep it compressed. You’ve got this. 

Don't forget that stories are just one type of Shiny Dime. When you tell a story, you're relaying your Shiny Dime - a specific and surprising idea - to the world. 

Good luck, and happy storytelling!

The Write of Passage Team 

Don't forget to post your writing in Circle. That way, others can read your work. And while you’re at it, like, comment, and leave feedback! Use the Circle community to connect with your peers and find inspiration.