NFFD 2021: Prompt #9

 

The Inscription

This prompt was sent to us by J F King in response to Prompt #24 in the NFFD 2020 Write-In, which challenged writers to come up with their own prompt.  We thought it was highly appropriate for our anniversary year, so here it is!

*

Look at an inscription on a memorial bench, e.g., ‘...Who spent many happy hours enjoying this view…’.

 

Who placed the plaque? Why? Is it really true? Would you re-word the plaque?

 

 

Write a flash that addresses some (or all) of these questions.

*

If you’re submitting this to us, make sure to note that this is a response to Prompt 9: The Inscription.

You can submit responses until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 27 June 2021 for a chance to be published here at The Write-In.  (And yes, there will be opportunities to submit your own prompts this year as well.  Check back around midnight on Saturday, 26 June for details!)

NFFD 2021: Prompt #8

 Landmarks

National Flash Fiction Day's fourth anthology, Landmarks, was published in 2015.

For this prompt, take an expression or idiom and write a flash in which you interpret it literally.  Landmarks are literally marks on land. Jawbreakers break jaws.  If it's raining cats and dogs, the animal services need to get involved.  Feel free to delve into the magical or the ridiculous if you so desire.

*

If you’re submitting this to us, make sure to note that this is a response to Prompt 8: Landmarks.

You can submit responses until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 27 June 2021 for a chance to be published here at The Write-In.

*

Past National Flash Fiction Day anthologies are available at the NFFD Bookshop.

 

NFFD 2021: Prompt #7

Double Up

Yeah, we're excited about our tenth anniversary.  So excited that our next prompt involves two tens!

Write a 10-word flash with a 10-word title (so 20 words in all).

 *

If you’re submitting this to us, make sure to note that this is a response to Prompt 7: Double Up. 

You can submit responses until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 27 June 2021 for a chance to be published here at The Write-In. 

 

NFFD 2021: Prompt #6

Eating Words

Eating My Words was National Flash Fiction Day's third anthology, published in 2014.  For this prompt, we're embracing its title....

Write a flash in which the things the characters don't say are much more important than what they do say.

*

If you’re submitting this to us, make sure to note that this is a response to Prompt 6: Eating Words.

You can submit responses until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 27 June 2021 for a chance to be published here at The Write-In.

*

Past National Flash Fiction Day anthologies are available at the NFFD Bookshop.

 

NFFD 2021: Prompt #5

 

Allsorts

What's better than one writing prompt?  That's right, three writing prompts!  These prompts were sent to us in response to Prompt #24 of the NFFD 2020 Write-In, which challenged writers to come up with their own writing prompt. 

 

#1 Life Sentence (by J F King)

Your lead character consults a coach who speaks only in aphorisms (or are they clichés?), e.g., ‘You only come this way once, go for it, pulling punches…’

Is this irritating or helpful in addressing the situation presented?

 

#2 Litotes (by J F King) 

 

Create a day in conversation from a character who (over) uses litotes in their speech pattern, e.g., ‘I shan’t be sorry', 'it is not without merit', 'the day was not unenjoyable...’

 

Does the day change? Does the speech pattern change?

 

#3 Animal Dreams (by Cath Barton) 

When your cat or dog is sleeping, you see them twitching, having a dream. Write their dream.

Feely Sleeping by Cath Barton

*

If you’re submitting this to us, make sure to note that this is a response to Prompt 5: Allsorts. (Let us know which of the three you choose as well!)

You can submit responses until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 27 June 2021 for a chance to be published here at The Write-In.  (And yes, there will be opportunities to submit your own prompts this year as well.  Check back around midnight on Saturday, 26 June for details!)

*

Photo of Allsorts by David Edgar via Wikimedia Commons. 

Photo of Feely Sleeping by Cath Barton.

NFFD 2021: Prompt #4

 

Scraps

Scraps was the second National Flash Fiction Day anthology, published in 2013.  In a nod to this past title, have a rummage through your home and find some scraps of paper.  These can be old grocery lists, scribbled notes, food packaging in the recycling bin, or any old, unwanted paper that has already served its purpose.

Write a flash incorporating text from at least three different scraps that you find.

*

If you’re submitting this to us, make sure to note that this is a response to Prompt 4: Scraps.

You can submit responses until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 27 June 2021 for a chance to be published here at The Write-In.

*

Past National Flash Fiction Day anthologies are available at the NFFD Bookshop.

NFFD 2021: Prompt #3

 

Bathroom

This prompt was sent to us by Linda Irish in response to Prompt #24 in the NFFD 2020 Write-In, which challenged writers to come up with their own prompt. 

*

Write a story set in an unfamiliar bathroom, or where a bathroom features. Why is your character here? 

For an additional challenge, write from the POV of the room.

*

If you’re submitting this to us, make sure to note that this is a response to Prompt 3: Bathroom.

You can submit responses until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 27 June 2021 for a chance to be published here at The Write-In.  (And yes, there will be opportunities to submit your own prompts this year as well.  Check back around midnight on Saturday, 26 June for details!)

*

Artwork by Linda Irish.

NFFD 2021: Prompt #2

 

Jawbreakers

Jawbreakers was the first National Flash Fiction Day anthology, published in 2012.

For this prompt, embrace the jawbreaker structure and write flash that involves at least one story within a story.  

If you'd like an extra challenge, embed multiple stories within stories, but keep your piece under 300 words.

*

If you’re submitting this to us, make sure to note that this is a response to Prompt 2: Jawbreakers.

You can submit responses until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 27 June 2021 for a chance to be published here at The Write-In.

*

Past National Flash Fiction Day anthologies are available at the NFFD Bookshop.

NFFD 2021: Prompt #1

 Tenth Anniversary

It's National Flash Fiction Day's tenth anniversary, and also ten years since the first Write-In.  For this prompt, we're going back to our roots and directing you to one of our earliest prompt posts. 

Have a look at this post from 2012 which offers a whopping 200 prompts.  Instead of picking one prompt though, your challenge this year is to write a flash incorporating ten prompts from the list!

*

Want an extra challenge?  Pick a random place to start in the list and then either choose a run of ten consecutive prompts or find your collection of ten prompts by picking every tenth prompt. 

*

If you’re submitting this to us, make sure to note that this is a response to Prompt 1: Tenth Anniversary.

You can submit responses until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 27 June 2021 for a chance to be published here at The Write-In.

 *

Photo credit: 'Anniversary' by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images

NFFD 2021: Prompt #0

 

  And so it begins...

Happy National Flash Fiction Day 2021 and the tenth anniversary of NFFD UK!  We've got a long 24 hours of prompts ahead of us, so let's dive right in with a writing prompt.  

The very first Write-In published 117 stories in its inaugural event, so your first challenge today is to write a flash with 117 words and 10 paragraphs.

If you want an extra thematic challenge, make your flash about beginnings....

*

If you’re submitting this to us, make sure to note that this is a response to Prompt 0: And so it begins....

You can submit responses until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 27 June 2021 for a chance to be published here at The Write-In.

*

Image by karmasprenger from Pixabay.