The Challenge:
Write a story using the following rules:
Must be exactly 6-words, 50-words, or 100-words in length OR between 101 - 500 words. Title is never counted towards word count.
Any genre is allowed but if a Trigger Warning is needed, please indicate so behind the title. (Ex. TITLE [TW])
Share your story in the comments or Substack Notes. Remember to TAG
for a chance to be featured in future posts.
DIGITAL ISSUE OPPORTUNITY
If we receive submissions from at least 5 different people, then one of them will be selected to appear in the next issue. I haven’t decided yet if the chosen story will be based on judging against the others or random or community votes. And, to make things more pressing, this offer is only open to stories submitted in the next 72hrs! For consideration in the next issue you must use the below template in the comments section (stories shared in Substack Notes will not be considered):
SUBMISSION TEMPLATE:
Word Length:
Story Title: [doesn’t count towards word count]
Story:
OPPORTUNITY CLOSES: Friday, November 1st at 9pm EST
[This is only for those who wish the opportunity for their story to appear in a digital issue. Otherwise, please contribute a micro fiction story anytime.]
Good luck!
Bonus Challenges:
For those of you who like to push yourselves beyond what you already know you are capable of…
Write a story using ALL of the unique story lengths: 6-words, 50-words, and 100-words.
Write a STACKed STORY. This is a story that starts as 6-words then is a continuation story at 50-words, then has a conclusion of 100-words.
Word length: 100 words
Story title: Beyond the Frame
Story:
The artist saw his little girl balanced against a backdrop of darkling sky, on the open window’s sill – at the edge of in and out, up and down. A long way down.
He breathed the cold air flowing in. He mustn’t startle her.
‘What are you doing?’
She faced the stars. ‘Catching the fairy dust in my cup.’
The stars blinked.
‘Ah.’ He shivered.
He coaxed her back. Tomorrow, he’d draw her, with the window framing deep night.
Even the universe has an edge, he thought. Who is looking through its frame? Can I catch that mystery in my cup?
Word length: 156 words stacked story
Story Title: When You Wish Upon a Star
Story:
A galaxy VERY far far away.
Carly liked to sit on the windowsill and look out at the night sky. For some reason it drove her older brother crazy. “You’re always staring out the stupid window. I know you say you don’t like sci-fi. But I always catch you gazing at the stars and the moon.”
Carly took a long breath and turned to face her brother. “I do hate sci-fi. I’m looking out and up at my future. Past what we are stuck with here today. I’m looking at a day when a girl, any girl, especially one who looks like me, can be and do anything she wants.”
She watched him standing there dumbly in his Star-Lord tee shirt. “You look out there and see stupid robots and space blasters. Some cartoon battle. I see a real fight. For hope. Change. Opportunity.”
“Ha,” her brother sneered, “I thought you said you don’t like sci-fi.”