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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

“Missing her. ” by Sammy Courtney

Submitted to Contest #230

Another cold morning. Another rude awakening by the sunlight. My house is full of windows, and on a sunny day like this, the rooms are filled with radiant sun; the opposite of how I’m feeling. Empty. Oh! What a terrible day it is. I don’t even know the last time I’ve ever been this sad. I can’t even bring myself to get out of bed. Not since she left me. I will just lay here, hoping my love will come back to me. I haven’t left the house in days? Weeks? Months? I’m not even sure anymore. It’s also been that long since I’ve seen anyone. I...

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“The Delicious Fortunes of Master Waffles.” by Jodie Rawle

Submitted to Contest #230

“Welcome! Welcome, Master Waffles. My name is Esmeralda the Great. Let's read your fortune shall we?’ A small figure appeared in the dark doorway wearing a lime green turban covered in gold star stickers. Her hands jangled with oversized bangles, as she led the portly ginger boy from the quiet hallway into a room that smelled of play dough, cheap perfume and something else. Something delicious, he couldn’t quite place. The curtains had been yanked over the morning sun, casting an eerie green and blue hue across ...

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“Witness to the Wasteland” by Gary Phipps

Submitted to Contest #230

In the trenches of the Western Front, amidst a world torn asunder by war, Robin found himself an unlikely participant. The air, heavy with the stench of gunpowder and the dampness of the earth, spoke of the unending strife around him. From the onset of the conflict, Robin had been there, witnessing the serene fields devolve into a maze of mud, violence and melancholy. His presence, often unnoticed by the others, became a silent testament to the resilience of life in the face of overwhelming chaos. Each dawn, Robin would stand watch, his ga...

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“Pick Your Poison” by Charleigh Knight

Submitted to Contest #230

The young boy jerked awake as a blood-curdling scream pierced through the air. He got out of his bed with pace, adrenaline rushing through his veins. Eyes wide with terror, he sprinted across the oak wood floors of the big bedroom and found himself in the living room, the location of the awful noise.“M-mom?” The boy’s words came out in a whimper. “MOM!”The boy’s mother lay there on the floor, gaping into blank space. Lifeless.~~~“How is he?”“Not responsive…he just shakes his head every time I ask him what he saw.”“Well, the poor kid’s in sho...

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“Stranger than Science Fiction” by Paul Grayson

Submitted to Contest #230

Mr. Jones could scarcely believe his eyes as his older colleague, a man who shouldn’t have been there, appeared before him in the dimly lit room. It could have been the strong drink in his hand, but he could that the man before him had no scars on his face, no broken bones and no limp in his gait as he strolled into the lounge. The time was half-past seven, and Mr. Jones was just finishing his Irish Coffee. Chris worked at a biogenetic laboratory that conducted animal testing and genetic based testing to discover ways to ma...

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“Adoption Day” by Danielle Azoulay

Submitted to Contest #230

Susie ignored the knock at her door at whatever ungodly time of morning it came.All she wanted to do was sleep, to drown out the sounds of the other kids crying and yelling down the hall.Of course, the knock was just courtesy; there was no privacy at the orphanage.She heard the door creak open. Light, eager footsteps danced over to the far corner of the room.“Good Morning, Susanna!”The hostile, white light marched in from the open window and instantly irritated her.“My name is Susie!” she growled, turning over to the other side of the b...

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“Summer Rain” by C.N. Jung

Submitted to Contest #230

It was cold. It was so terribly cold. The kind of biting chill that digs into skin like a hoard of terrible worms. Worms that burrow under flesh; stinging, burning, and twisting through bone and tissue alike. Water dribbled from the roof above me. It splashed against my head and popped against my nose. It wasn’t warm water, like raindrops in the summer. It was water moments away from hardening into dots of ice. The floor was a layer of smooth stone. The stone soaked up the miserable freeze of the atmosphere around it and shot it back up in...

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“Sunny Daze” by Meg Lagares

Submitted to Contest #230

Such excitement, such a treat, dreaming of sand under my feet. I’ve been looking ahead to my cruise so long, the time is near and nothing can go wrong. I will finish my day at the shop, maybe leave early. I can, I’m on top. Drive home soon, then pack my case, off to sleep, my bed to embrace. Lazy morning tomorrow to finish the essentials and off to the airport from my residential. Before too long my pre-plans began to disappear, I heard was a loud scream and I cautiously peered. Followed by crying sounds of a child, ‘Oh’, I prayed it has to ...

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“MY MOTHER HAS A LIST” by Terry Gartner

Submitted to Contest #230

I'm waiting in the kitchen, my Mother is making her daily list. Things she must do, people she must see. When she is done we will get into the car. It is loaded with things we might need for the trip downtown. Food, water, clothes, coats, gloves ,shoes. Even copies of the New Testament, while she is helping the homeless, she tells them about Jesus Christ and what He can do for them. Today is not a good day, it is is raining and we will get wet. We are wearing rain coats and rubber boots. My Mother and I often go downtown and do what we ca...

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“How to Be My Bestie ” by Kerri Harris

Submitted to Contest #230

1.) Text back quickly. Yeah it sucks that we’re all supposed to be available 24/7 now, and yes, mental health crises happen, but if you have a habit of leaving me on read for three weeks, it’s a hard pass from me. 2.) Do not repeat the same stories every time we hang out. Like yes, I’m sorry you had that roommate from hell in college, but I don’t need to hear about how she threatened you over moving her clothes out of the dryer after they’d sat for four days every time we meet up for coffee. 3.) Be at least a casual fan of Taylor Swift...

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“On Special” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #230

Horace. Horace! I’m talking to you. Turn that television down and pay attention. Here’s the list. Yes, you’re going to have to go grocery shopping on your own. I have reservations about entrusting you with this, but I’ve called everyone I can think of, and no one is available. Really, after all the little favors I have done for people over the years, it is very disappointing. A few people will not be on the Christmas card list next year, I can tell you. But we are almost out of certain staples and so I will have to send you.Yes, I know there...

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“The Decision” by Pamela Blair

Submitted to Contest #230

NOTE: This story contains sensitive content re: abortion. Chris plopped down onto her bed, stared up at the ceiling, and tried to barricade the thoughts flooding her brain. Three weeks after she'd visited Lansing for John’s birthday, she realized she was pregnant. I can’t have this baby. I don’t even know who the father is. It might be Winston’s or it might be John’s. I can’t be a single mother. I can’t quit my studies. I’m too young. It would crush my parents. The reasons for an abortion flew at her, each one stronger than the las...

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“Cherry Chapstick” by Harper Pechota

Submitted to Contest #230

My fingers are raw from trying to find the floorboard. I silently curse my fifteen-year-old self for not being smart enough to make some sort of indication on which floorboard I hid the box under. I finally am able to lift the jiggly one with the help of my car keys. I lift up the box, a wave of the past hits me with the force of running headfirst into a brick wall as I open it. “Are you even going to remember this box, Winnie?” Andrew laughs, kissing me on the cheek. “You know, if you keep calling me Winnie, I’m gonna have to ...

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“My Christmas Miracle” by Marc Rothstein

Submitted to Contest #230

My wife, Dianne, and I sat shivering in Knishes and Dishes, wondering why the heat was off. Every new customer brought a blast of December air through the deli door. We put our coats back on and waited for my daughter, Jamie, and five-year-old granddaughter, Emma, to join us for dinner—the only ones who could make it just two days before Christmas. Emma had picked the place for its chocolate chip pancakes. She was my princess, and her wish was my command. I was the Jewish-light dad. Thanksgiving was mine to enjoy with the kids. Christmas bel...

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“172,800 Seconds” by Cree Jarman

Submitted to Contest #230

My alarm is ringing beside me. But I'm content to lay and stare at the ceiling. I can feel my muscles twitch in a way that stems from immobility. My mattress is caved in from the constant weight of my broken body and the dark blue comforter on top of me is soaked in sweat from the extended amount of time I've spent laying without moving. I can hear my alarm increase in volume. I groan and throw the device to the floor, rolling back over to continue making shapes out of the popcorn tiles above me. Her laugh was like honey, her smile as...

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$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!

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