Author: Carrie Zylka

Theme: Christmas Tree Driving through the country one night, you spot a lone Christmas tree trimmed and lit, but you

Theme: Sibling Rivalry Requirements: none Word Count: 1,200  

Theme: Prison The story must be in the theme of ‘prison’ (real or figurative). Requirements: two main characters: a man

Theme: Unforgettable The story can be anything relating to the tag line. “Why they say Men are from Mars” Requirements:

Theme: Ouroboros It doesn’t have to be a dragon or a snake specifically, it can be a worm or a

Theme: Refugee The main protagonist has to be fleeing something or someone or some place – searching for safety. Whether

Theme: Two Different Personalities Required Elements: There must be two characters One character must be an extrovert One character must

Theme: Stalker Required Elements: must be from the perspective of the one being stalked, unwanted attention/advances etc. or must be

Theme: Guilty Secrets Required Elements: none A Note from Ken F: I like the idea that the most unexpected and

Theme: First or last line – “I don’t know… why would they do that?” Required Elements: an orange Word Count:

Theme: Image Writing Prompt “The Woman in the Photograph” Many writers draw their inspiration from art or images. There are

Theme: Noir noun a genre of crime film or fiction characterized by cynicism, fatalism, and moral ambiguity. Classic noir features

Theme: Silence Required Elements: none Word Count: 1,200

Theme: Pushing Boundaries Pushing the boundaries of the protagonists comfort zone. Required Elements: none Word Count: 1,200 A note from

Theme: 20th Class Reunion Story must start with “The interrogation room door opened …” Word Count: 1,200 Requirements: Must be

Theme: It’s a Zoom Thanksgiving Requirements: It’s Thanksgiving 2020 (Or Christmas for those who don’t celebrate Thanksgiving), the usual get

Theme: Murder! Mwah, ha, ha. Story must contain the following phrase, “That’s when I knew I had to kill…” but

Last Line: Your story must end with the line, “I’ll have that cup of coffee now, Tina.” But it can

Prompt: You enter an old curiosity shop/thrift store/blackmarket. You can only choose one object. What is its story? Word Count:

Prompt: We are living in trying times, and sometimes facing our fears can help us deal with them more effectively. So,

Prompt: Use it any way you like, as a phrase, a theme, a title, a philosophy, a plan or an

Theme: Lost in Translation Story must contain a phrase (word, sentence etc.) in a foreign language and its translation. But

Theme: Calm Requirements: The word “Calm” must appear in your story at least once. Word Count: 1,200

Theme: New Beginnings It doesn’t have to have anything to do with the new year/decade necessarily. Word Count: 1,200

Theme: Choose Your Adventure The story must include a skull, a map, and a casualty.   Word Count: 1,200

Theme: Write a story about a detective and the various troubles he comes across when investigating a serious case. Story

Theme: You have 1 week to live, and you can do anything you want before the end…Anything! Story Requirements: None

Theme: Travelling Through the Night You can use any mode of transportation you like, it’s the journey that matters. Story

Theme: Taming the Wild Animal Story has to show an encounter with some kind of “wild” animal in or near

Theme: “The Eavesdropper” You or another character overhears a conversation where it is believed something horrible is going to happen.

Theme: The Story Takes Place on a Train You must use ONE of these 3 scenarios in your story. There’s

Theme: Jail. Must include these three sentences somewhere in the story: “Well this is a nice change of scenery.” “It’s

Theme: The Goodbye Letter Your story should be a goodbye letter written from one character to another. It can be

Theme: New Year’s Eve Stories must take place on New Year’s Eve, the rest is up to you. Story Requirements: Glitter

Theme: Twins The wrong twin goes on to win the highest reward and accolades at the expense, sweat, and toil of

Theme: Loss. It can be loss of something precious to you in your life, person, object, position in society or

Theme: A Branch. Any kind at all: tree, creek, service, etc. Required Elements: Must contain the following stand-alone sentence somewhere

Theme: The Refugee. Any context. Required Elements: a choice. Word Count: 1,200

Theme: Pet peeve(s); noun; informal Something that a person finds especially annoying. Personal vexation Word Count: 1,200

The theme for this contest is Quarantine. Use it however you like, but someone, or something, must have been, is, or will be in quarantine. The word count: 1,200.