Flash Fiction Challenge: The Retreat

st felicien cougars 1998
st felicien cougars
Photo by K.S. Brooks

I hate these corporate retreats. I hate the happy talk and the way they pretend that what you have to say matters in the least.

Three freaking days with a bunch of people I have to work elbow-to-elbow with for eight hours a day the rest of the year anyway.

Most of all, I hate the forced group activities. This year, Doug, our glorious leader, insisted we all do a ten mile bike ride through the wilderness trail. As always, he was way ahead of the pack, even though the rangers told us to stick together. Doug should have listened…

In 250 words or less, write a story incorporating the elements in the picture and/or the written prompt above. The 250 word limit will be strictly enforced.

Please keep language and subject matter to a PG-13 level.

Use the comment section below to submit your entry. Entries will be accepted until Tuesday at 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

On Wednesday afternoon, we will open voting to the public with an online poll for the best writing entry accompanying the photo. Voting will be open until 5:00 PM Thursday.

On Friday afternoon, the winner will be recognized as we post the winning entry along with the picture as a feature. Then, at year end, the winners will be featured in an anthology like this one. Best of luck to you all in your writing!

Entries only in the comment section. Other comments will be deleted. See HERE for additional information and terms.

Time to choose this week’s flash fiction winner

Lightning sign
Flash Fiction Ahead…

It’s time once again for IU readers to select a winner  for this week’s flash fiction challenge.

Remember, the winning entries will all be included in the next edition of the IU Flash Fiction Anthology.

Check out this week’s entries here. Make your decision, then use those share buttons at the bottom of the post to spread the word.

Voting polls close Thursday at 5 PM Pacific time.

Which author do you think wrote the best flash fiction entry in this week's challenge?

  • AL Kaplan (41%, 13 Votes)
  • Lois Nelsen Lewandowski (22%, 7 Votes)
  • Jon Jefferson (16%, 5 Votes)
  • MatoSka (9%, 3 Votes)
  • Morgan Winters (9%, 3 Votes)
  • Mary Ellen Courtney (3%, 1 Votes)

Total Voters: 32

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NOTE: Entrants whose submissions exceed the 250 word limit are eliminated from the poll. ONE VOTE PER PERSON, please. Duplicate votes will be deleted. The results displayed above are unofficial until verified by administration.

Flash Fiction Challenge: In Hungry Pursuit

army dog 1980s
Army dog
Photo by K.S. Brooks

Rowdy and I are part of a wilderness search and rescue team. We’ve worked plane crashes and avalanche victim recovery. Sometimes all you find are bodies. Sometimes you find a toddler who wandered off from a campsite.

But it’s not all high drama. Every once in a while, you get a good laugh. I remember one case we worked where a pair of teenagers had run away from a remotely situated fat camp…

In 250 words or less, write a story incorporating the elements in the picture and/or the written prompt above. The 250 word limit will be strictly enforced.

Please keep language and subject matter to a PG-13 level.

Use the comment section below to submit your entry. Entries will be accepted until Tuesday at 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

On Wednesday afternoon, we will open voting to the public with an online poll for the best writing entry accompanying the photo. Voting will be open until 5:00 PM Thursday.

On Friday afternoon, the winner will be recognized as we post the winning entry along with the picture as a feature. Then, at year end, the winners will be featured in an anthology like this one. Best of luck to you all in your writing!

Entries only in the comment section. Other comments will be deleted. See HERE for additional information and terms.

Whose Flash Fiction Entry Is Your Favorite?

Pish ClockThe time is at hand. Which story was your fave in this week’s flash fiction challenge?

Remember, the winning entries will all be included in the next edition of the IU Flash Fiction Anthology.

Check out this week’s entries here. Make your decision, then use those share buttons at the bottom of the post to spread the word.

Voting polls close Thursday at 5 PM Pacific time.

Whose flash fiction story was your fave this week?

  • Christian A. Brown (53%, 66 Votes)
  • Dick C Waters (17%, 21 Votes)
  • Sara Stark (10%, 13 Votes)
  • David Dubrow (5%, 6 Votes)
  • Jon Jefferson (5%, 6 Votes)
  • MathoSkaCikala (3%, 4 Votes)
  • Lois Nelsen Lewandowski (3%, 4 Votes)
  • Mary Ellen Courtney (2%, 2 Votes)
  • AL Kaplan (2%, 2 Votes)
  • Ros Nazilli (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 124

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NOTE: Entrants whose submissions exceed the 250 word limit are eliminated from the poll. ONE VOTE PER PERSON, please. Duplicate votes will be deleted. The results displayed above are unofficial until verified by administration.