FYI I posted this 243 days ago - 27 days before the deadline.
All good quality writing is hard.
I think constraints help. Look at the number and variety of fixed formats that exist in poetry.
Back in about 2005 I think, I first heard of 50 word mini - sagas being used as part of an entrance exam at a British university, Oxbridge I think. I have used it and found it to be a very effective vehicle for teaching students about the many different ways to write "well". Always, imho - try and embrace the difficulties. My entry was cobbled together entirely from the haikus I have been writing on my dog walks over the last 5-6 years. Clearly - they were unimpressed!