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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

“Della and Dr. Davies” by Myranda Marie

Submitted to Contest #230

She should have been nervous, evaluating her first patient without supervision. It had been a long and laborious year, practicing under the tutelage of a mentor, working under a proverbial microscope. Considering her lack of experience, Doctor Lara Davies should have questioned why she was chosen to privately see this particular patient, hand-picked without any vetting or so much as a single reference. However, newly titled Dr. Davies never considered any notion other than accolades for her greatest achievement. Graduating third in her class...

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“Schooner Racing the Storm” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #230

The rain rumbled against the glass in the hospital room.The spare, small room smelled of disinfectant and dust. The crisp white sheets shone bright against the yellow curtains and peeling trim. Sara Ann saw the concerned look of an elderly nurse, tilting her head at her as the door closed. She took off her rain soaked jacket, and looking around found a hook behind the door to hang it on, before turning to finally acknowledge the figure on the bed.A pale gaunt man, hair thinning and gray, lay still, only his arms uncovered by the sh...

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“1898 - The Lighthouse Beacon and the Baby Owl ” by Kristi Gott

Submitted to Contest #230

Elsie watched her older brothers, Edward and Samuel, who were smiling while they held their spelling bee awards and stood at the front of the one-room schoolhouse. The pale winter sun came through the window and washed the room in a soft light.Heat came from the wood-burning warming stove, and the little wooden schoolhouse was cozy and toasty despite the December weather. The students could hear the rushing sound of the nearby creek flowing over the rocks. The air smelled salty from the sea, mixed with a fragrance of fir trees.Elsie smi...

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“Have You Seen Me?” by Sue Hunter

Submitted to Contest #230

CW: This story contains elements of child kidnapping. The following is a collection of missing children’s reports found on the back of milk cartons. All reports were being investigated by the Marble County Sheriff’s Office and the Penny Hill Police Department. Blanks indicate missing information that was illegible. [A picture of a young boy wearing a blue and white striped shirt. His teeth are crooked and yellowed. Brown hair is cut short. In the background of the picture are the torsos of two adults, their heads cropped off.] Thomas O...

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“Behind the Eight Ball” by Francis Groleau

Submitted to Contest #230

Daniel’s eyes were glued to the clock as he sat restlessly at his desk. Twelve minutes to 6PM. Twelve more minutes and he would be free to leave. He thought about sneaking out earlier, but he was already on his boss’ radar for other minor offenses, so he thought it best not to attract any more attention to himself. “Excited to go home?” one of his colleagues asked after noticing his fixation on the clock, “Got anything fun planned?” “No, I’m just tired so I’ll go home and relax”, Daniel lied. He knew that it would be impossible to rela...

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“Three Days on the Katy Trail” by David McCahan

Submitted to Contest #230

I could barely move. Every muscle in my body seized up, screamed at me to hold still. But lying there hurt just as much. And I only had two days to get home.I have never not wrecked riding a bicycle.My first attempts at riding without training wheels are embarrassingly preserved forever on Super 8 film, converted to tape, converted to digital and now uploaded to the internet by my surprisingly technically adept mother. It’s a series of me falling over on our driveway. She set it to the Benny Hill theme. Thanks for sharing that with the world...

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“Trials and Tribulations” by Jonathan Page

Submitted to Contest #230

The verdict must be unanimous, but we were down to twelve jurors, with one on his way out the door if a verdict wasn’t reached before the weekend. I did not want to see a mistrial. It had been a long two weeks. It was Friday. Everyone had enough. My face was directed at the jury, and I scanned their number with interest. It fell on me to make sure they arrived timely for the length of the trial, that they recessed for lunch at the appointed time, and returned at the appointed time. I alone ensured that they shuffled out during portions of th...

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“Tomorrow's Checklist” by N Martin

Submitted to Contest #230

Definitely sensitive content, themes of murder, stalking, mental health etc.1 - Target Selection:Identify target: Emily Thompson, 28, lives alone, works late nights.Emily Thompson, a fleeting stranger in a crowded coffee shop, etched herself into my consciousness like an unsuspecting muse. Her silhouette, slender and unassuming, beckoned me to delve deeper into the mystery of her existence. In the dim glow of the café, I observed her solitary habits, the way she sipped her latte, and the rhythmic tap of her fingers against the keyboard as sh...

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“How to Elicit an Unreasonable Reaction” by Morgan Aloia

Submitted to Contest #230

1) Birth the subject in a suburban town in east Texas, in a community that completely and totally denigrates queerness. Let's call this place Pearland, as an example.2) Really work hard to butch them up, because something is clearly amiss on that front.3) They will realize they are trans, but will not have any context for what to do about that and so they will:3a) Internalize prevalent narratives about the pitiful and perverted nature that trans people have inherent to their being.3b) Vacuum-seal themselves in the closet.3c) Learn to disasso...

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“The Alien Mandate” by Timothy Rennels

Submitted to Contest #230

The Alien Mandate President Trenton Walters woke to the insistent shoulder shaking of a Secret Service agent. He struggled to focus his eyes but knew immediately the gravity of the red light flashing over his bed. “Sir, we must go. There’s been a national security breach and the Chiefs of Staff are already gathering in the command bunker.” The President dressed rapidly, peppering the agent with questions. Frustrated at his lack of information he stormed towards the emergency elevator. In moments the two ...

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“Heart Murmurs” by Debra Snyder

Submitted to Contest #230

“So, no sharp pains, nothing unusual going on?” The stethoscope was cold, sliding across Charles’ back. He breathed deeply again, shaking his head. Dr. Singh moved back to the front of the exam table. “Everything looks good, Charles. Just give us a call if anything seems off.” Dr. Singh smiled, motioned toward the exam room door and continued to enter information to his tablet. Charles drove the eight miles back home along the familiar route, humming to himself. He kept his window open a crack to take in the refreshingly cool early ...

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“The Carlton Case” by Korinne H.

Submitted to Contest #230

There was nothing unusual about the Carlton family, but I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me begin this story with two initial facts. Number one, on the morning of July 19th, a murder was committed in the Carlton house. Number two, one of the Carltons did it.As I said, there was nothing unusual about the Carltons. Come to think of it, they were quite boring. Common run-of-the-mill folk. Quite simply… well, simple. They lived in the smack middle of Tennessee, in a small town called Honeytree. A population barely reaching 4,000. Mr. and Mrs. gr...

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“Loyal to the end” by Staff.David Moore

Submitted to Contest #230

Loyal To The End Oh man, he’s late! Oh man, he’s late! Dang it, where is he? Where can he be? Usually, he is home by now and we are sitting on the couch watching our favorite show. I know that I am sounding a little paranoid about it, but I have been cooped up in this house the entire day by myself and just about to go crazy if I don’t get some company soon. Why can’t every day be like Saturday or Sunday? We get to see each other the whole day and have the oppo...

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“The customer isn't always right” by Susy G

Submitted to Contest #230

“Ma’am, I understand that Mr Pickles is at the vet because he swallowed an unfortunately positioned rat pellet in your neighbour’s garden, but this doesn’t change the fact that I cannot process a refund for your air fryer if you don’t have a receipt.” “I don’t think you quite understand what I’m saying: how am I supposed to use the air fryer when Mr Pickles’ life hangs in the balance?” “Ma’am, I sympathise—” “Don’t ‘ma’am’ me, just give me the damn refund!” “Without a receipt, store policy doesn’t allow—” “But I bought it from here! Whe...

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“The List for a (Un)Happy Life” by Daniel James

Submitted to Contest #230

Trigger warnings: Drinking, implied violence, language The List for a (Un)Happy Life EVIDENCE PG. 1 December 10th - Reserve spot at that restaurant for our 4th anniversary - Call Nina’s parents for blessing. - New Year’s Resolutions? o We’ll be engaged finally. Maybe we can have a fall wedding. Nina has always loved the fall. It could be outdoors, She wo...

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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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