Category: Writing Challenges
Challenges from the Bonanza Brand Forums.
Crosses to Bear (by VCLS)
Summary: Candy encounters an old friend from his army days, who turns out to be a wanted man on the run. Written for the 2026 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament.
Rating: T Word Count: 9,149
Custard-Filled Doughnuts (by VCLS)
Summary: Hop Sing’s custard-filled doughnuts were prized by all whenever he made them. Ben Cartwright’s sons did not feel the need to play fair when it came to obtaining such culinary delights, and the thief simply stole them.
Rating: T Word Count: 7,023
Unfortunate Goings-On (by Tavia42)
Summary: Joe and Hoss meant well. They always do. But somehow they find themselves falling into a series of misadventures, and getting out of one only lands them in another. This story is a compilation of 2025 Pinecone Challenges, which form an ongoing narrative – thank you to AC1830 for so many wonderful prompts!
Rating: G | Word Count: 6,042
A Percolator Conniption (by AC1830)
Summary: While the Cartwrights are away, Hop Sing plans a massive Spring cleaning. But his blissful time alone is soon interrupted by an unwanted visitor who brings an unexpected gift. Written for the 2025 4th Quarter Chaps and Spurs Challenge. The required words were percolate, earthquake, pipeline, surgeon, amendment.
Rating: G, Word Count: 2324
Mr. Adam and Them Boys (by DJK)
Summary: Adam loses a bet and must take Little Joe and four friends hunting in the high country. His fears of catastrophe come true in an unexpected way. This prequel was written for the Chaps and Spurs Quarter Four Challenge. The five mandated words were: percolate, earthquake, pipeline, surgeon, amendment. Rating: teen Word count: 7373
The Twelve Trees of Christmas (by Tavia42)
Summary: Joe and Hoss form Cartwright Brothers’ Christmas Trees, selling trees to familiar faces all over Virginia City.
Rating: G | Word Count: 4,133
Written for the 2025 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar
You Can Bet on It (by PatD in PA)
SUMMARY: With Christmas just around the corner, Little Joe Cartwright learns exactly how far his Yankee Granite Head of a big brother will go, just how much he will do, in order to keep him safe.
RATING: PG
WORD COUNT: 10,301
Written for the 2025 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar
Three Thousand Six Hundred Seconds (by Pat D in PA)
SUMMARY: A short piece written for the Michael Landon Birthday Literary Challenge 2025. (536 words, rating G/K)
Making Hay (by DJK)
Summary: Little Joe does not understand why Roy Coffee is keeping him in jail. This story was written for the Micheal Landon Birthday Challenge 2025. rating: rating: T/PG13 word count: 2306
It Was Just One Second (by AC1830)
Summary: How long does it take to change a life forever? Joe Cartwright finds out it only takes a second. Written for the 2025 Michael Landon’s Birthday Challenge – pick a period of time, from a second up to a year, that changed Joe Cartwright’s life forever.
Rating: T, Word Count: 1101
The Declaration (by Pat D in PA)
SUMMARY: An older brother mourns his believed failure in keeping a promise. Written for the 3rd Quarter 2025 Chaps and Spurs Writing Challenge.
RATING: K/G WORD COUNT: 1,335
Lessons in Trust (by AC1830)
Summary: Based on the episode The Grand Swing, young Jamie’s thoughts are explored as he faces the shock and responsibility of crashing a wagon and killing a horse. Written for the 2025 Chaps and Spurs Challenge.
Rated: G, Word Count: 2778
Saucy Sally Picks a Pocket (by CareBear)
Summary: Saucy Sally has a birthday wish that will take a fortune to fulfill. How does she solve this problem? By picking some pockets of course! Written in answer to the 2025 Brandaversary R-Rated Story challenge.
Rating: MA/R (language, sexual situations & descriptions)
Word Count: 13,039
Fireworks, Friends, and Innocent Prayers (by DJK)
Summary: Little Joe and friends managed to arrange “the grandest sight the town has ever seen”, and it only required a little deceit and disobeying. This prequel was written for the 3rd Quarter 2025 Chaps & Spurs Challenge.
Rating: Teen Word Count: 5822
The Weaker Sex (by Pat D in PA)
Summary: Marie Cartwright comes home from assisting a neighboring woman to find … Written for the 3rd Quarter Chaps and Spurs Challenge.
Rating: K/G
Word Count: 2,067
