5 popular blog writing challenges to try in 2026

Staring at a blank page can feel like hitting a wall. You know you need to publish consistently to get your blog growing, but keeping that fire lit is easier said than done. One week you're overflowing with ideas, and the next, you're just stuck.

This is where blog writing challenges can be a significant help. Think of them as a structured workout for your writing muscles. They provide the framework and deadlines you need to build a solid habit, push your creative boundaries, and produce a steady stream of content.

In this article, we’ll walk through five popular challenges that can help you get excited about writing again and build authority in your niche. And while these challenges are all about your own dedication, you don't have to do all the heavy lifting alone. Tools like the eesel AI blog writer can generate a solid first draft in minutes, letting you focus on strategy instead of the daily grind.

What are blog writing challenges?

So, what exactly are blog writing challenges? Simply put, they're structured exercises meant to get you writing regularly over a set period. The main goal is to build a habit, explore new topics, sharpen your skills, and often, connect with a community of other writers.

These challenges come in all shapes and sizes. Some require a daily commitment, like posting every day for a month, which is fantastic for building momentum. Others are more relaxed, with weekly prompts that give you a bit more space to think and create.

No matter the format, the point is to get you over that initial hurdle of the blank page. When you commit to a challenge, you’re making a promise to yourself to produce content regularly. And consistency is one of the most important parts of growing an audience and improving your SEO. You’re not just writing for today; you’re building a library of content that will work for you long after the challenge ends.

How we chose the blog writing challenges for this list

We didn't just pull these challenges out of a hat. We picked them with a few things in mind, so you can find something that fits your schedule and what you're trying to achieve.

• Flexibility: Life happens. We looked for challenges that you can adapt to your own needs. Whether you can write daily or just once a week, there's an option here for you.
• Skill Development: This isn't just about writing more; it's about writing better. These challenges are designed to help you improve, whether that means building consistency, sparking new ideas, or learning to solve creative problems.
• Community Aspect: Writing can feel a bit lonely sometimes. We chose challenges that give you a chance to connect with other writers, share feedback, and feel like you're part of a team.
• Accessibility: You don't need a big budget to join in. All the challenges on our list are free to start whenever you're ready, though some might offer paid extras if you're interested.

A quick comparison of popular blog writing challenges

To give you a clearer picture, here's a quick breakdown of the challenges we'll be covering, highlighting their key features to help you decide which one might be the best fit for your goals.

How the eesel AI blog writer can support writing challenges

Taking on a writing challenge is exciting, but it can also be a fast track to burnout. Juggling topic research, writing, editing, and finding images every day can turn a fun project into a chore. You start cutting corners on quality just to meet the deadline.

That's where a tool like the eesel AI blog writer can be a significant help. It’s not about replacing you; it’s about handling the tedious parts. We used it to grow our own blog traffic from 70k to over 750k impressions in just three months, so we know it can handle the workload.

It can take a keyword and generate a full, publish-ready post with images, infographics, and even relevant Reddit quotes or YouTube videos. The AI does the background research, so you don't have to. It's like having an assistant that does 80% of the prep work, leaving you to focus on the final 20%: adding your own insights and hitting 'publish'.

5 popular blog writing challenges to try in 2026

Ready to jump in? Here are five of the best challenges out there, picked to help you build good writing habits and get your creative energy flowing.

1. The 30-day blogging challenge

Description: This is the classic bootcamp for bloggers. The goal is simple: publish one new blog post every day for 30 days. It’s intense, for sure, but it’s designed to build an incredibly strong writing habit and seriously expand your content library. To make it work, most people recommend creating a pre-planned content calendar so you aren't trying to come up with ideas on the fly each morning.

• Pros and Cons: The biggest pro is the powerful habit you'll form. By the end of the month, writing will feel much more natural. You'll also have a ton of new content, which is great for SEO. The main con? Burnout is a real danger. The daily pressure can be draining, and it's easy to let quality slide if you're not careful.
• Pricing:
  • Free (this is a self-directed challenge).

2. Themed monthly challenges (e.g., flufftober, angstober)

Description: If you're looking for more of a community feel, themed monthly challenges are a great option. They're popular on sites like Tumblr and Reddit and are organized around a specific theme (like "fluff" or "angst" for creative writers). Organizers release a list of daily prompts, and everyone creates content based on them, sharing it with a common hashtag.

<quote text="January: Genuary (https://www.tumblr.com/genuary-fic-event), Whumpuary (https://www.tumblr.com/whumpuary), Snowflake Challenge (snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/), VoiceTeam Mystery Box (archive.transformativeworks.org/collections/Voiceteam)

February: Femslash February (www.tumblr.com/femslashfeb), Febuwhump (www.tumblr.com/febuwhump), Fluffbruary (www.tumblr.com/fluffbruary), Feveruary (www.tumblr.com/feveruary)

March: Monster March (www.tumblr.com/borealwrites/763135144977661952/wow-year-three), March of Pain (www.tumblr.com/marchofpain)

April: Whumpril (www.tumblr.com/whumpril) Angstpril (www.tumblr.com/chaos-company)

May: The Merry Whump of May (www.tumblr.com/themerrywhumpofmay), MerMay (archiveofourown.org/tags/MerMay/works) VoiceTeam (writing/podfic event)

June: June of Doom (www.tumblr.com/juneofdoom), any Pride challenge/event

July: Whumperless Whump Event (www.tumblr.com/seth-whumps/751006375375765504/i-made-a-whump-event-get-ready-for-july-folks?source=share), Whumpmas in July (www.tumblr.com/whumpmasinjuly), Sunshine Challenge (sunshine-challenge.dreamwidth.org/)

August: AU-gust (www.tumblr.com/augustwritingchallenge), AuguSnippets (www.tumblr.com/augusnippets), Acegust

September: Sicktember (www.tumblr.com/sicktember), Soultember (www.tumblr.com/soulmateseptember), Sapphic September (sapphic-september.tumblr.com/)

October: Flufftober (www.tumblr.com/flufftober), Whumptober (www.tumblr.com/whumptober), Angstober (www.tumblr.com/angstober), Fictober (www.tumblr.com/fictober-event)

November: Comfy-vember (www.tumblr.com/comfy-vember), Fanovember (www.tumblr.com/fanovember)

December: Fluffcember (www.tumblr.com/fluff-cember 12 Days of Christmas), (www.tumblr.com/12daysofchristmas), Whumpcember (whumpcember.tumblr.com/)" sourceIcon="https://www.iconpacks.net/icons/2/free-reddit-logo-icon-2436-thumb.png" sourceName="Reddit" sourceLink="https://www.reddit.com/r/FanFiction/comments/1hvnhkm/comment/m5w0ars/">

• Pros and Cons: The community is a huge plus. You get instant feedback, encouragement, and a built-in audience. The daily prompts are also a fantastic cure for writer's block. On the other hand, the themes can be very specific and might not always fit with your business blog's strategy.
• Pricing:
  • Free.

3. Reedsy's weekly prompt contest

Description: Not quite ready for a 30-day marathon? Reedsy's weekly contest is more like a sprint. Every week, they release five themed prompts, and you have seven days to submit a short story between 1,000 and 3,000 words. It's a low-pressure way to get creative. According to Reedsy's official FAQ, it's open to writers of all skill levels.

• Pros and Cons: This is a great way to push through writer's block without the daily grind. Plus, the chance to win a cash prize is a pretty good motivator. The main drawback is its focus on creative fiction, so it might not directly produce content for a business blog, but it's excellent for sharpening your storytelling skills.
• Pricing:
  • Free to post a story to your profile.
  • $5 entry fee to be eligible for the $250 weekly prize.

4. Constrained writing challenges

Description: This one is for writers who really want to stretch their creative muscles. A constrained writing challenge is an exercise where you intentionally limit yourself to force new ways of thinking. A famous example is a "lipogram," where you write something without using a common letter (like 'e'). You could also try writing a post using only questions or crafting a piece where every sentence has exactly ten words.

• Pros and Cons: This is an incredible tool for breaking out of writing ruts and getting better with language. It forces you to find creative solutions. However, it's not very practical for producing your day-to-day blog content. It's more of a personal training exercise than a content strategy.
• Pricing:
  • Free.

5. The collaborative writing challenge

Description: Writing doesn't have to be a solo activity. This challenge involves teaming up with another writer (or a few) to co-author content. You can split up the research, take turns writing sections, or assign different articles to each person. It turns the normally solitary act of writing into a team effort.

• Pros and Cons: The biggest advantage here is sharing the workload. You can produce higher-quality content faster by combining your skills and viewpoints. The main hurdle is coordination. Finding a reliable partner, agreeing on a consistent voice, and managing deadlines can be tough if you're not on the same page.
• Pricing:
  • Free.

Visual learners might find it helpful to see how others approach these challenges. The video below offers a great overview of how to use writing challenges to sharpen your skills and improve quickly, providing practical tips you can apply right away.

This video explains how to use blog writing challenges to improve writing skills.

How to get the most out of your blog writing challenges

Jumping into a challenge without a plan is a good way to burn out fast. Here are a few tips to help you stay on track and actually have some fun with it.

• Plan Your Topics: Don't wait until the morning of to decide on a topic. Before you start, brainstorm a list of topics. For a 30-day challenge, having 15-20 ideas ready to go will save you from that daily panic.
• Set Realistic Goals: You don't need to write a 3,000-word masterpiece every day. A well-written 600-word post is much more valuable than a long, rushed one. Focus on being consistent, not on hitting some arbitrary word count.
• Focus on the Habit, Not Perfection: The main goal here is to build a routine. Some of your posts will be great, and some will just be okay. That's fine. Don't let the fear of imperfection stop you from hitting "publish."
• Use Tools to Streamline Your Workflow: Let technology handle the boring stuff. An automated blog writer can generate a solid first draft with images and research already included. This frees you up to focus on what really matters: adding your personal touch and promoting your content.

Turn blog writing challenges into a sustainable content engine

Writing challenges are a great way to sharpen your skills, but the goal isn't to leave you feeling completely drained. The key is using them to build a content habit that works for you long-term, one that consistently creates high-quality, SEO-optimized articles.

The right tools can bridge the gap between your goals and your daily reality. The eesel AI blog writer is designed to help maintain post quality during high-volume periods, like a daily challenge, by streamlining the workflow.

Ready to take on your next writing challenge without the stress? Generate your first blog post for free and see the difference for yourself.