#253: Slow Down
As the weather heats up, so do our calendars. After the long winter months of social hibernation and rained-off outings come the months of non-stop activity in the sun. Barbecues, beach days, and vacays await — and while all this fun is great, if you're anything like me, you may also find it a touchoverwhelming. Combine this frenzy of socialising with the 24/7 world we now live in, and the demands of work and family, and suddenly you're struggling to catch a moment's peace, even when you're supposed to be relaxing.
This week's prompts invite you to take a pause and reflect before we head into the busy summer season. Whether your characters are looking for an escape from their fast-paced lives, or just want to hold onto a particular moment in time, let's pump the breaks and slow down for a while.
This week's prompts
Set your story over the course of a few minutes; no flashbacks, no flashforwards.
Narrative – 94 stories
Start your story with a character canceling their plans.
Angst – 26 stories
Write a story that contains the line, "I wish we could stay here forever."
Dialogue – 89 stories
Write about a character who has the ability to pause the passage of time.
Fantasy – 71 stories
Stories
“Of Lights and Women.” by Ken Cartisano
Submitted to Contest #253
“I Only Have a Minute” by Beverly Goldberg
Submitted to Contest #253
“Stop and Smell the Roses” by Karen Hope
Submitted to Contest #253
“Traffic” by AnneMarie Miles
Submitted to Contest #253
“The River” by Brian Haddad
Submitted to Contest #253
“Boys During Wartime” by Jeremy Stevens
Submitted to Contest #253
“Street Meat” by VJ Hamilton
Submitted to Contest #253
“The academic - The artist ” by Lucia Wei
Submitted to Contest #253
“Three minutes” by Lope Espada
Submitted to Contest #253
“Stopwatch ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com
Submitted to Contest #253
“2:37 Last Thursday” by Mallory Jones
Submitted to Contest #253
“Heartbreak solutions” by Georgia Stawarz
Submitted to Contest #253
“Unspoken Rules” by Justin Marlowe
Submitted to Contest #253
“TRIUMPH” by David Holmes
Submitted to Contest #253
$250
Prize money
335
Contest entries
119
Stories
Ended on 23:59 - Jun 07, 2024 EST
Won by Maria Adamkiewicz 🏆
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!