Here! (http://community.livejournal.com/totheside/405.html) It's basically a copypasta of prompt lists from a couple fic challenge communities I want to/have participated in and a list of tarot cards I tacked onto the end.
There's also this idea I had (omgsomeonestopmeee)where you could offer up five different kinds of prompts. Like, one or two that are just one word, one or two that are questions being asked of the character, and one or two that could be RL situations to put your character in. Then the player can choose whichever two of the above to write for, or just do their own sample if it doesn't go with any of the prompts. But, you know, my brain just likes to over-complicate simple things so this should all probably be ignored. XD
As for the word limits, I think 100-150 is good per-prompt. But, with the option of doing a promptless writing sample, maybe keep it so that you need more than one? Like, there will still be two writing samples, but you've got the option of writing both from prompts, one from a prompt and one original, or both original. That way you can see the character being apped in two different ways but don't put more stress (read: words) on writing something original.
If y'all just keep the one sample, though, 100-200 words maybe?
no subject
There's also this idea I had (omgsomeonestopmeee)where you could offer up five different kinds of prompts. Like, one or two that are just one word, one or two that are questions being asked of the character, and one or two that could be RL situations to put your character in. Then the player can choose whichever two of the above to write for, or just do their own sample if it doesn't go with any of the prompts. But, you know, my brain just likes to over-complicate simple things so this should all probably be ignored. XD
As for the word limits, I think 100-150 is good per-prompt. But, with the option of doing a promptless writing sample, maybe keep it so that you need more than one? Like, there will still be two writing samples, but you've got the option of writing both from prompts, one from a prompt and one original, or both original. That way you can see the character being apped in two different ways but don't put more stress (read: words) on writing something original.
If y'all just keep the one sample, though, 100-200 words maybe?