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 – 89 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 – 61 stories

Stories

“Cellar Door” by Joseph Cillo Jr

Submitted to Contest #230

“Cellar door, most mellifluous syllables, the ironic appellation for the barrier behind which lay that murdered soul amidst the casks of unsampled Amontillado, murdered not for revenge, but by apathy and neglect, the soulless heart yet beating, yearning to love, forsaken, forlorn, rotting in the damp of her tomb—wilt thou not open with creaks yet more sonorous than thy sweet name, cellar door?”I raised an eyebrow and glanced up to meet the eyes of my client, a Professor Smythe of the English Department of the State University. “Why, yes...

Read story

“Om Namo Narayani” by Stephanie Canaway

Submitted to Contest #230

“Om Namo Narayani” The words hit me with an intensity from behind. Their awareness and familiarity swept through me as a wave of goosebump like energy enveloped me as I felt a part of me remembering and responding to these unfamiliar words. I whipped around to find their source. An old man dressed in an orange cotton wrap contrasting his well-worn sandals against the maroon and gold thread embroidery at the base, took me by surprise. His cragged face wore the burdens of a harsh life, yet his eyes were hopeful as his smile wide...

Read story

“The Telescope” by Livia Owens

Submitted to Contest #230

"You can make me bleed all you want. But I'll never scream for you." Chloe Stone heard her lover’s wife scream this bizarre declaration at him within days of moving into a rental house on a dead-end street. It was after midnight when the wife’s bleating awakened Chloe. She witnessed the wife stumble out the front door and stand in front of the floodlight illuminating the circle driveway. The wife clutched a half-filled wine glass and a burning cigarette in one hand. She was wearing a knee-length red nightgown and white fluffy slippers. Chl...

Read story

“Eight Hours” by Kevan Valk

Submitted to Contest #230

"The Greeks stole everything!" He nearly tears the paper filter as he unfolds it and starts precisely measuring the grounds."Yes, you told me. They stole your art, your culture, your food.""Aşkım..." His finger waves at me and he clicks his tongue.The pot sizzles into place."You’re resisting, aren't you?" I tease him. "You can continue your rant.""You just want to hear me curse.""Maybe.""Belki." He repeats, amused. “Always, 'maybe' with you.”"I promise, I will never call it a gyro again. It is a döner.""Thank you, Bebeğim." He bends close, b...

Read story

“Parking Lot” by Karla Rivera

Submitted to Contest #230

A low rumble aches in my stomach, my head starts to throb. The pangs of hunger are interrupting my thoughts. As my foot slowly comes off the break, the red light flashing in my face indicates that I have to press down again after having just released. It’s dark out but the crimson light’s brightness stings my eyes. An ant’s pace. Traffic is moving so slowly that I try everything to keep my mind occupied. It’s a parking lot. Rumble in my abdomen again. Drops of rain plop on my windshield and the wiper comes every five seconds to push them awa...

Read story

“You Won't See Me” by A.J. Williams

Submitted to Contest #230

I notice emptiness in her gaze—devoid of love, sorrow for our losses, or joy. In my memory, Angie mentions her discontent, and I urge Angie to roll over, I start focusing on the present. My wife regards me, unimpressed. Beyond her, snow falls gently. Small white flakes dance in the cold wind, adrift like us, yet destined for a place we may not desire. I exhale, taking a seat beside her, aware of the cause of her unhappiness, though she remains uninformed. "Quit drifting into deep thoughts. You always do this, gazing into the distance as if ...

Read story

“Where is Mrs. Clink ” by Nina Darling

Submitted to Contest #230

“Where is Mrs. Clink?” Rutherford Clink looked up from his steaming mug of coffee and saw the mail carrier at the door. The old mail carrier had wrinkles lining his weathered face, much like Rutherford. Rutherford had been sitting on the porch enjoying the birds. His wife, Fiona, had put out hummingbird feeders and the birds just flocked to their front yard. He replied, “At the market.” He handed the letters across the porch railing and smiled, “She usually likes to give me a corn muffin on Mondays.” “Oh,” He nodded, “I think she’s made a ba...

Read story

“Immune to Fear” by A Kathryn Vaughn

Submitted to Contest #230

“It appears I’m being deported for the summer,” Ella told Nina. “Or should I consider it exiled?” “I would love to spend the summer in New York City, but I’m stuck here playing nanny, nurse, chef, and housekeeper to Dr. Markam’s family,” said Nina. “No worries, Nina. I rather prefer the company of strangers,” Ella said staring out her bedroom window down at Michael’s garage. How could he have left like he did? Vanished without any indication of his plans. Ella thought they connected that day. For the past year, Michael and Ella sh...

Read story

“Converse in Crimson” by Yara Haya

Submitted to Contest #230

Rain generously falls onto the concrete ground while I exit the car. I put my arms over my head to shield myself from the rain, but it turns out to be useless. They drop down my arms and onto my Converse shoes. “Why does it always rain on my birthday?” I grumble. “Well, rain symbolizes growth, you know? You’re growing, makes sense.” Mia says while grabbing the umbrella from the trunk.“Since when have you been a know-it-all?” I roll my eyes.“I’m older than you, so I’m smarter, but since it's your birthday, I won’t push it in your fa...

Read story

“Back to Square One” by Olivia McGowan

Submitted to Contest #230

Maren was already awake when her mother called her down for breakfast. At 6:24, exactly like every other day, she heard her mother’s voice ring out from downstairs, summoning her.“Coming,” Maren yelled back. She said that last morning too. Not that anyone noticed.Pulling on clothes, in the usual shades of grey, she made her way down the stairs. Maren wrinkled her nose. She was sick of pancakes. Every morning, for nearly a year, she’d had pancakes.Her mom, Talulah, made her way over to Maren’s side. “Your hair looks like a bird's ne...

Read story

“Hard to Hear” by Edward Roberts

Submitted to Contest #230

After a weekend away with the girls, my body tingled with anticipation to be home with my boyfriend, Matt. However, the joy of arriving home was dampened by the exhaustion of a three-hour drive and the presence of another car in my driveway. Apparently, my boyfriend’s twin, Michael, extended his two-day visit with his brother. More accurately, Matt spent the weekend babysitting his trouble-prone twin, protecting Michael from himself. Each change of season brought a new drama from which Michael needed extricating. If he wasn’t being hunted by...

Read story

“Potted Lillies” by George Lies

Submitted to Contest #230

Potted Lillies “Potted lilies” is what Tommy Flanagan heard from his beau Monica as she pulled back from him in her quiet sort of way. She stared at the front window logo of Rustic Garden shop, and then pushed open the door. “I’ll be a moment.” Enjoying a cool June in Pittsburgh, away from summer’s humidity, they strolled Walnut Street through the chic Shady Side neighborhood, home to brand name shops like Green Leaf Vegan, Mud House Coffee, and Victoria’s Secret. He plopped himself on an outside bench. While he&nb...

Read story

“Fragments of the Journal of Eteri Sibrdzne” by Anthony Mansueto

Submitted to Contest #230

2027.10.04 Morning Preparation I dreamt last night that I was deep in a birch forest of the sort one finds in the North of Russia --vast, endless even. But there were also trees of other sorts which did not belong there: walnuts and cherry and apricot, like we have in the mountains outside Tblisi, and also data palms. Now this forest, being a dream forest, was also a library, and I was its caretaker. I moved freely through the forest, sometimes along foot paths and sometimes along canals, paddling a small canoe or kayak, but mostly I jus...

Read story

“2023 Gots ‘n’ Gaves.” by Charlie Fisher

Submitted to Contest #230

Veteran of 17 family Christmas get-togethers since first becoming a burden on the university system, Alan Blaneford, lecturer in IT, hobby designer of crossword-solving software tools and sometime walking magazine contributor, completes the annual accounting of gifts given and gifts received. It’s another ruse to pass the time during the four days together with the extended family – it feels like many more – of what might be the very last Christmas of this sort, given the condition of both parents. It’s both a rolling evaluation, and a start...

Read story

“A Sip of Wine ” by Jennifer Glen

Submitted to Contest #230

Always keep your eye on him. Begin with him in mind. Always keep your focus on him. And should his eye start to wander, do something to spice it up. And for God's sake, don't gain weight. My grandmother’s advice swam around in my head. The same way the blood-red liquid sloshed as I spun it around and around in my thin-stemmed glass. It sloshes, but in a circular motion. The wine looks orderly almost, as it moves in tandem with the circular motion of the glass. But only I knew the truth– the wine wasn...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

360

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 ⭢