Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#230: In a Flash

I’ve been reading a lot of flash fiction recently. It’s a great format for close study, as its compression forces writers to question the function of every sentence.

Since there are many lessons to be learned from reading, writing, and thinking about flash fiction, I thought we could make it the focus of this week’s contest. To be clear, this contest accepts stories between 1,000 and 3,000 words, but this week, I’m inviting you to try and stay as close to the lower limit as you can. Our usual word count range is still the official guideline, and stories that are closer to 3,000 words will not be disqualified — but I hope that with flash stories in mind, you’ll feel inspired to be as economical with language as possible.

Not sure how to begin? Check out our best tips for writing flash fiction.

This week's prompts

Write a story framed by a single scene: something happens, a flashback or inner monologue intervenes, and then the story ends with the rest of the original scene.

Narrative – 90 stories

Write a story in which a character achieves a new level of clarity about how they’re really feeling.

Character – 57 stories

Start your story with someone uttering a very strange sentence.

Dialogue – 52 stories

Write a story that hides something from its reader until the very end.

Mystery – 101 stories

Write a story in the form of a list.

Narrative – 62 stories

Stories

“The Hero of this Story” by Diane Bogdan

Submitted to Contest #230

This story contains references to gun violence and child molestation. The Hero of This Story By Diane Bogdan Part 1 Paul Most people think that after a person is pronounced guilty in a court of law, that they are immediately put on a bus, usually white, with other convicts and driven to a prison to start their sentence. The prison is at the end of a road with vast fields on either side and tended to by men in orange jumpsuits. Actually, after you are declared guilty you are led to a holding cell to await transport back to the jail you ...

Read story

“Darkest Before the Dawn” by Maunikha Rasineni

Submitted to Contest #230

You open your eyes to darkness. But it wasn’t like any other darkness. No, it was as if every single tear, every single yell of frustration, and every single thought of evil could be woven into something, that’s what this darkness would be. A darkness made of something, with no hint of happiness laced into it. Running around, you look for a way out of this place when your hands hit something cold. A faint light from above turns on, enough to see only what is in front of you. Your eyes try to adjust to the sudden brightness, a...

Read story

“The Switch” by Sam B

Submitted to Contest #230

The clickety-clack of the iron wheels bumping over the rail joints would’ve echoed through the tunnel, but the thick smoke muffled everything–a cushioned fort defending against the breaking sound waves. The cab grew warmer, and George groaned, his face contorted for hard work. A glimpse of his pocketwatch dangling from his overalls, and, of course, he was on schedule. The train broke through into light once more, pulling carriage after carriage after carriage, plunging into a valley of perfectly straight trees. The bridge drew ever closer. H...

Read story

“Last Call” by Omar Scott

Submitted to Contest #230

Jackson had no idea of his fate when he strolled into Junior’s Bar just as the sun was setting. The first thing to greet him when he pushed through the salon style doors, was a cloud of smoke and ZZ Hill’s Down Home Blues playing on the juke box. It was a Thursday night and the crowd was sparse. The place was dimly lit and it had a musty odor, like the place hadn’t been aired out in a while. Jackson stood at the entrance and scan the bar with his cold dark eyes. Looking for any familiar faces. He didn’t recognize anyone, so he walked in. Gri...

Read story

“The Scar” by Todd Crickmer

Submitted to Contest #230

The Scar I had known Melanie for six months before ever asking her out. We both work for the same company, but in different departments and even in different buildings on the corporate campus. We met at a company picnic last summer, and I think there was an immediate, shall I say, interest on both of our parts. She was a shy girl, but sweet in many ways and something about her had always intrigued me. Our first two dates had been rather generic – out to dinner, a movie, and even a little light necking. But never anyt...

Read story

“It's the Being Unknown” by Krista Tritt

Submitted to Contest #230

“Do you know I could break beneath the weight of the goodness, love, I still carry for you? That I’d walk so far just to take the injury of finally knowing you. It ain’t the being alone… It ain’t the empty home, baby… You know I’m good on my own… Baby, you know it’s more the being unknown. And there are some people, love, who are better unknown.” Unknown / Nth by Hozier Step 1: Get off the floor. This floor. The only thing that feels solid, unshakable, and unmovable in the midst of this spiraling hole. Yes, get off of that. Step 2...

Read story

“Christmas list” by Rose Lind

Submitted to Contest #230

WarningSwearing.Possible trigger relating to domestic violence and toxic family issues1. Don't think about it!That was yesterday's list. Oh shit I'm thinking about it. Maybe number 1 should have been a little more positive - like - "Think about butterflies!" Scratch that-Number 1- Think about butterflies!2. Don't Phone!Yes, that's easy, I text. I'm glad I made that number 2. I feel like I have some success, but really- I always text! Tick that!3. Only smoke in the morning! That's a hard one. It's almost lunchtime. Can tick that, too!4. Don't...

Read story

“A letter of welcome (to whom it may concern)” by Eddie McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #230

We of the esteemed Society of Luxure and Beon (for the fabulously hedonistic and lavish) wish to congratulate you on your entry into our outermost circles. This is not a privilege that is given to just anybody and we hope that you can both understand and respect the gravity of this honour and act accordingly. Your enjoyment of the finer things in life have not gone unnoticed and we offer you a platform for which to delve into whatsoever pleasures you might wish to indulge. It is of vital importance that you heed the rules of th...

Read story

“The 15 Commandments” by Zoe C

Submitted to Contest #230

People are impossible to pin down, but lists are black and white, no grey areas. Soon I will break out of this prison, they don’t call me a mad genius for nothing. Well, sometimes they forget the term genius. They will learn. I, Lex Luthor, shall rule over Metropolis first and then the world. These are my commandments. God only had 10, I have 15! Thou shalt not wear thy underpants outside thy trousers. Why do some people feel a need to overshare in public? They are deviants and should be named and shamed. Are we dealing with ...

Read story

“Just Another Manic Monday” by Tyler Cook

Submitted to Contest #230

5:37 a.m.: Opened my eyes. 5:40 a.m.: Mentally created a list of things that need to get done during my waking hours. 5:45 a.m.: Started coffee maker. 5:46 a.m.: Stared into the abyss awaiting the completion of the caffeinated ambrosia that fuels me in my day to day life. 5:50 a.m.: Drank my coffee while playing on my phone absentmindedly. Playing games and scrolling through social media in silence as I prepare for “the awakening.” 6:07 a.m.: “The awakening” happened. There was a thud, slamming door, and pattering of footsteps down the ha...

Read story

“A Neuroscientist's Study Break at the Christmas table” by Liv Valen

Submitted to Contest #230

A Neuroscientist's Study Break at the Christmas tableDéjà vu – already seen: If you've ever participated in one big Christmas family gathering, you know them all. You know what's coming. The only change this year is that I'm preparing for my temporal lobe exam, and different déjà-categories have been on my mind for days now. I don't just dream about the exam items; apparently I even think with them.Déjà gôuté – already tasted: The cranberry sauce’s sourness constricting my saliva and its tanginess makes my taste buds do a double take, as if ...

Read story

“A Morning With ME” by Miriam Culy

Submitted to Contest #230

Wake up. Stretch out your ankles, try not to scream. Hide under the duvet, assess the pain. How would you rate the pain on a scale of 1 to 10? F*ck off, you can’t give pain a number. Take the painkillers you left on your bedside. The co-codamol not the paracetamol. Scroll through social media as you wait for it to take effect. It does not. Continue scrolling through social media. Realise you should have eaten before taking painkillers. Search bedside drawer for food, eat the half-squashed oat bar hidden there. Scroll through more social medi...

Read story

“Sammy’s Mixtape” by Paul Leonard

Submitted to Contest #230

Subject: Your 13th Birthday Mixtape! Scheduled to send: 00.01 Saturday 30 December, 2023 *** Happy birthday, Sammy! 13! A teenager! So, it’s another one of my birthday emails. I hope you don’t mind them. I wish I could be there with you, but this is the best I can do. I can (just) remember what it felt like to be 13. It can be tough. Confusing. But it can (and should) also be the best time. A time to make friends. To try new things. Try it all! Give everything a go! Have fun! You’ll be an adult with a job, a credit card, a mortgage and b...

Read story

“Survival In Cat Sitting” by Cheryl Kemp

Submitted to Contest #230

10:00 a.m.: I arrive for my pet sitting gig and I can feel the cats are wary and stand-offish. I’m sure I can remedy that but I begin by reading the multi-colored mosaic of sticky notes left all over the kitchen counter. Everything is efficiently labeled, then I see it- the notebook. As I scan the many detailed pages of instructions I can only marvel over how these animals have trained their human. I will not be dictated to by a pack of felines! 5:00 p.m.: It’s time to dish up dinner. I must use new, clean bowls with each feeding and I can’...

Read story

“A MOST MEMORABLE CHRISTMAS” by Julia Corliss

Submitted to Contest #230

Every December 25th Christmas arrives Bringing surprises and Unexpected happenings While magic reigns Supreme. With Love As fuel, It all begins The night before Christmas When families Practice Their traditions: Caroling Stocking hanging And more. With faith that Gifts will appear Under the tree On Christmas morn Carolers sing Jingle bells ring. Sometimes snow falls Sometimes not. Calls of Happy-Merry Christmas fill the air Kisses are shared Under the mistletoe And it doesn’t stop there. Santa’s sleigh Is loaded And down chimneys he go...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

362

Contest entries

108

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 29, 2023 EST

Won by Ethan Zimmerman 🏆

Title: The Lop-it-off-a-me List

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢