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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

“The Baby Bubble Bum Bot Infant Rocker Soother Feeder” by Honey Homecroft

Submitted to Contest #230

NEW! The Baby Bubble Bum Bot Infant Rocker Soother Feeder rocks, feeds, and soothes your infant who can't seem to get over his need for human contact. Perfect for getting a moment to yourself during a busy day. Product features: + Responsive soothing motion to mimic what it would be like if his mother bothered to pick him up. + Programmable bottle feeding function if you're not breastfeeding, which you really should be. + Library of songs and stories for infant brain development — you know how important that is, right? (Monthly subscrip...

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“The One Who Spilled His Blood” by Cedar Barkwood

Submitted to Contest #230

*Trigger warning, includes mental health, physical violence, alludes to self-harm*I held my knees to my chest; that numb horror was creeping over me again; with the shadowy images of his blood, a shudder coursed through me leaving chills in its wake. I can hear voices saying my name, trying to break through the haze that has made me freeze, and go blind to the world; I feel another shudder rip through my body as I think about him. His pale skin, the way his green eyes had met mine zealously. How he had sacrificed so much to be with me. How q...

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“Benni” by Jason Lefrois

Submitted to Contest #230

Clarence’s feet slid into his worn-out brown leather slippers before the old radio clock even blared to wake him up. Still spry in his older years he jumped up to start his day. Clarence’s face showed that of someone who has experienced much life and joy and had many stories and lessons to share. But no time for that, today is Christmas Eve. Which means one thing: get to the woodshop and build Benjamin, his grandson, the perfect rocking chair that he’s been asking for, just in time for Christmas. Taking his first sip of coffee as the lights ...

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“Lost Words” by Erika Darling

Submitted to Contest #230

I open my eyes and alarm starts to build as I take in my unfamiliar surroundings. I’m lying in a single bed with plain white sheets and a thin, white blanket. To my right is a phone, lamp, and two framed photos. One is a photo of me with a man I don’t recognize. I’m smiling at the camera, and he is smiling at me. The other is of a man and woman who look as though they are in their thirties. It’s unclear whether they are a couple or why I’d have a photo of them. There are no other photos or mementos in the room. It’s a tidy room with an ordin...

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“addiction” by Rudy Greene

Submitted to Contest #230

New year’s resolutions December 31 Find a new home (living in the back of my car doesn’t cut it) Stop taking drugs (I can’t afford them anymore) Find a new dealer (oops, I think I just contradicted myself) Maybe change my drug of choice (Fentanyl is just too damned expensive and dangerous) Make up with Zelda (but she won’t take me back unless I stop using) See more of my kids (but first Zelda has to reverse the court order) Get out of New York city (but I’ll need new dealers and never see my kids) Stop contradicting myself (I’ll be clearer w...

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“A Christmas Day Heist” by Scott Christenson

Submitted to Contest #230

“A grande whole milk latte and all the money in the cash register,” Bernie said to the cashier, while pointing the gun at the barista, “or the barista dies.”People usually value other people’s lives more than their own, or at least they should. The age twenties something cashier’s face was twitching. It was clear he had never been in a robbery before. Calgary is a safe city, or at least it was before the people from Toronto started showing up.“Is this for real? Are you actually robbing the store?” the cashier said.“Does this gun look real to...

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“The Fourth Wall” by Rose Winters

Submitted to Contest #230

"Vomit's Better with ketchup."Keelie threw a rubber knife at Will’s head. “You’re disgusting.”“I’m serious. Watch.” Will squirted ketchup into a jar of ‘pureed squash’ baby food. “Okay, Keelie, don’t swish it around, just hold it in your mouth. No swallowing.”“As if I would.” Keelie reached down her dress and adjusted the rolled-up socks in her bra, smacking her barely pubescent hot pink lips. “For the love of the craft. Bottom’s up.” She carefully poured the mix in her mouth, trying not to wince at the slimy texture, and nodded.Glancing aro...

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“The Trigger” by Brilee Theriot

Submitted to Contest #230

TW: Self Harm, Suicide, Death, Gore, Forced Insanity, Manipulation, Gun Shots. “The sounds of the hospital always seemed to put me on edge, the beeping, the yelling, the screaming, the blood… and the chains,” I spoke calmly. “The what?! There aren’t any chains in hospitals.” The voice said. I looked up at the ceiling and saw nobody, but I decided to answer anyway. “Yes there is, that’s what they used to restrain us. All of us.” “That’s not normal, are you sure that was a hospital?” “I mean that’s what they said.” They ...

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“To Do:” by Sachi Shah

Submitted to Contest #230

December 1st (Age 10):• Post my letter to Santa. I messed up one part and wanted to start again but Mum said it was fine - we don’t have time to do another one. I hope he doesn’t mind. • Write out cards for all my classmates. Mrs. Hamilton said she will let us use her special pens if we promise to put the lids back on. I always put the lid back on (did you hear that Santa?)• Get a present for Maddie. Dad said he will help me if I haven’t got enough pocket money. I think she will like that sparkly bracelet I saw in the shops the other we...

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“Return to Long Lake” by Avery Crescent

Submitted to Contest #230

As Kendall drove past Long Lake, she slowed to take in the view of the cloud-streaked sky and setting sun that cast an orange glow across the water’s placid surface. It had been twenty years since she'd left her hometown, only returning now for her uncle's funeral. Growing up near the lake, she'd loved the sunsets that cast a crimson hue across the sky and the wavering caws of the loons that echoed across the water. As she crossed the bridge that spanned the widest section of the lake, the opening notes of Train's "Drops of Jupiter" hummed...

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“Turn Back Time” by Lois Hibbert

Submitted to Contest #230

Equipment cart rolling into place. I know this sound. I understand the urgency behind the controlled voices of nurses and doctors working to save a life. I’m part of a team in this emergency room. But tonight I’m the patient and I’m terrified. A co-worker holds my hand for a few precious seconds. Part of me registers the pain. I know what the team needs to do. But memories are so much more painful, my mind replaying the last year, punishing myself over and over. I want the impossible: I want to turn back time. If I could turn back ...

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“Rapture Loaves” by Esa Manley

Submitted to Contest #230

Even aliens love to eat bread, as revealed by the rainbow-hued broadcast that eclipsed Earth’s skies with their massive mother-ships. The anticipation built from decades of sci-fi predictions crumbled when faced with the straightforward announcement. We were expecting vaporising photon rays from invading forces, slobbering tentacled terrors with razor-sharp claws and murderous intent. But no, instead they brought toast. Earth’s militaries were prepared for war, but our skies opened on interstellar friendliness alone. We eagerly poised our ca...

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“The Naughty List” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #230

Buy hammer [claw, not lump]Check car boot [crowbar, towel, wellies, petrol can]Fill petrol canNeed new gloves. [Fisting ones are best. Thick and single use.]Check chemical bottle, how much left?Santa sack for presents. [Forgot that last time]Get Santa costume out of wardrobe and lay out readySet alarm for 2.30am [Need to be there for 3am]Check out 22 Winchester Road at least two more times before Christmas EveMake sure they are dead before you set fire to the houseDON’T MAKE ANY MISTAKES THIS TIME!Trent didn’t give a shit about being on the ...

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“Starcrossed” by Angela W

Submitted to Contest #230

“The stars in their grief seek revenge.”Drina’s hollow voice stills my hand and I momentarily abandon the task of copying a particularly difficult rune. I glance around the unoccupied library to see if something around us could have sparked such a statement, but all I see is empty space and old books.“Hold that thought, Drina,” I say, dropping my gaze back to the parchment before me, “I’m almost finished with this ridiculous rune for Professor Miranda.”A few moments of silence pass, which is odd since Audrina Alderidge is never quiet for mor...

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“A Christmas Wish List” by Ty Warmbrodt

Submitted to Contest #230

Dear Santa, It’s me, Sarah Michelle Klein. I turned seven this year. I don’t know if I’ve been a good girl this year or not, Santa. I don’t do well in school. My grades are bad but I try as hard as I can. Daddy would yell at me every night and wouldn’t let me play with the other kids. I would do my homework until bedtime trying to get it right, just to get more bad grades. I also get into fights sometimes because the other kids are mean to me for not being as smart as them or for the clothes I wear. This makes daddy even madder. He spanks ...

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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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