Flash Fiction Challenge: Portal

New Hampshire Stream writing prompt photo copyright K. S. Brooks
New Hampshire Stream photo copyright K. S. Brooks. Do not use without attribution.

Whatever the things were that had been coming to McAllister’s farm and eating his chickens had been coming down this creek bed.

The little creek, if that’s what you could call it, had not been here a year ago. It formed after the quake. McAllister thought it had been the result of the quake. Now he suspected the quake had been a mere side effect of whatever had happened.

Those things – whatever they were – were not of this world; not of this time, anyway. It was as if some sort of portal had opened up. Now something was getting through from the other side.

From the shadows ahead, he could hear them, scurrying and trilling. Gooseflesh formed on his arms. McAllister took the safety off and stepped forward…

Welcome to the Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. In 250 words or less, write a story incorporating the elements in the picture and the written prompt above. Do not include the prompt in your entry. 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. No political or religious entries, please.

On Tuesday night, judges will select the strongest entries, and on Wednesday afternoon, we will open voting to the public with an online poll so they may choose the winner. Voting will be open until 5:00 PM Thursday.

On Saturday morning, 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. Please note the rule changes for 2015.

Flash Fiction Challenge: The Great Cookie Conflict

mr pish cookie monster copyright k.s. brooks. Do not use without attribution
Mr. Pish photo copyright K. S. Brooks. Do not use without attribution.

The toll of war is not always measured in the spilling of blood. There are struggles that embody something beyond nationalism and petty politics. They strike at the very foundation of civilization, the very meaning of life itself.

This war, however, began with a dispute over a snickerdoodle. Oh, if only there had been a pan of brownies instead. Brownies just make everything simpler.

The combatants were a very famous and well-loved little white terrier and an obscure mop-like character from a little-known children’s television show. One snickerdoodle – two mouths. Oh, the humanity!

Welcome to the Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. In 250 words or less, write a story incorporating the elements in the picture and the written prompt above. Do not include the prompt in your entry. 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. No political or religious entries, please.

On Tuesday night, judges will select the strongest entries, and on Wednesday afternoon, we will open voting to the public with an online poll so they may choose the winner. 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. Please note the rule changes for 2015.

Five59 Monthly Is Accepting Submissions

Five59 Monthly Magazine LogoFive59 Publishing seeks submissions for its monthly webmagazine, FIVE59 ONLINE, including short stories, poetry, and creative nonfiction/essays of any genre / topic. Short story length should be 1500-5000 words, but is flexible.

Deadline: The 20th of each month.

Entry fee: None.

Payment: Each author’s other work is promoted through links to the author’s website(s).

For more information, please visit their website.


Indies Unlimited is pleased to provide this contest/submissions information for the convenience of our readers.  We do not, however, endorse this or any contest/competition.  Entrants should always research a competition prior to entering.

Flash Fiction Challenge: The Rescue

mr pish columbia river april 2009 photo copyright K.S. Brooks do not use without attribution
Mr. Pish photo copyright K. S. Brooks. Do not use without attribution.

The little white blur of fury seemed to come out of nowhere. It took Stone by surprise. It just jumped out of the bushes, snarled around on his chest and face for a second and then ran off like a demon was chasing it.

But you can’t outrun a bullet, can you, little doggie? Stone leveled his gun at the dog, figuring he could hit it on the run, but the dog stopped and turned to face him.

Dangling from his mouth was the pin of a grenade – one of the grenades on Stone’s vest. By the time the men on the boat heard the explosion, the little white dog was already in the water. They had no idea what was coming. One down, four to go…

Welcome to the Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. In 250 words or less, write a story incorporating the elements in the picture and the written prompt above. Do not include the prompt in your entry. 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. No political or religious entries, please.

On Tuesday night, judges will select the strongest entries, and on Wednesday afternoon, we will open voting to the public with an online poll so they may choose the winner. 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. Please note the rule changes for 2015.