Flash Fiction Challenge: Straight or Left

Lake Ponchetrain writing prompt photo copyright K. S. Brooks.
Lake Ponchetrain photo copyright K. S. Brooks. Do not use without attribution.

Tanya had been thinking about leaving for years: packing up what she could fit in her car and just driving away. Each time she got close, fear of the unknown had stopped her. The devil you know, and all that.

This time – this time he’d gone too far. The car was packed. She was on the outskirts of town. Tanya knew once she crossed that bridge, there was no turning back.

But the bridge was so long; she couldn’t see land on the other side. Fear paralyzed her. Drivers behind her began honking their horns. Tanya had to make up her mind: straight or left. And she had to choose quickly.

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.

Flash Fiction Challenge: To Die and Not to Die

doctors office  flash fiction prompt IMG_20150213
Doctors Office photo copyright K. S. Brooks. Do not use without attribution.

Death comes in a variety of ways. Sometimes it swoops from the blue and carries its victim away in the blink of an eye.

It was not like that for Barry. Death had nestled inside him – an incubus, coiling its black tendrils ever tighter around his vital organs. It sapped his strength, then his will.

It went on like that for a long time. Everyone expected Barry to die at any moment, but he just lingered at the gates of death. One day, Barry got tired of it and he just decided not to die after all…

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.

Use Short Fiction to Help Your Novel Writing

Typewriter - Once upon a timeI don’t know about other novel writers, but something happens to my brain between drafts. It’s tired, but it’s too revved up to stop. The state reminds me of my brief long-distance running career. After a major race, lying around “resting” was anything but restful. My body preferred short jogs for a few days, to recover and refresh for the next goal. So when I was going a little stir-crazy waiting to begin the second draft of one of my novels, a friend suggested I try writing a few short stories to keep myself out of trouble. I’ve always found the form intimidating—novel writing gives me the luxury to delve deep into characters and story, and many of my attempts earned me the same response from critique groups: “That sounds like the beginning of a novel.” Sigh. Also, when the subject comes up among writers, you always hear examples of such-and-such author who is better at one length than another. Continue reading “Use Short Fiction to Help Your Novel Writing”

The 2012 Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Anthology

Are you in it? The Indies Unlimited 2012 Flash Fiction Anthology is now available.

Not a part of this amazing collection of stories? Then hop to it and start entering in this year’s challenges. You have another 47 chances to win! We’re still accepting entries for this week’s prompt here.

The Indies Unlimited 2012 Flash Fiction Anthologywill be free through Kindle Select on February 14 to February 17 at Amazon.com and Amazon UK.