Category Archives: Stories

John Marsden Writing Topic #561

Write about the varied reactions of different people to an event, without telling us what the event is.** Mauerspecht (Wallpecker) Today was supposed to be peaceful, but I couldn’t help resorting to a little bit of violence. Days ago, I would have been shot for what I’d done, but now it didn’t matter. The guard lying on the ground just

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John Marsden Writing Topic #560

Describe a scene in which something enigmatic yet intense is happening. Don’t tell us what is happening.** Good Intentions When I agreed to this deal years ago, I had good intentions. I’d share my wisdom, provide gentle yet firm guidance, and save money. My good intentions flew out the window after twenty minutes. I was weak. I lost my cool,

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NYC Midnight 100-Word Microfiction Challenge 2024 (Round 2)

Earlier this year I entered the NYC Midnight 100-Word Microfiction Challenge, an international creative writing competition that challenges participants to write original 100-word stories by giving them a specific genre, action, and word assignment, in 24 hours. Every writer is placed in a specific group based on the genre, action, and word assignment they are given. The Challenge’s judges pick 15 writers

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NYC Midnight 100-Word Microfiction Challenge 2024 (Round 1)

Earlier this year I entered the NYC Midnight 100-Word Microfiction Challenge for the fourth time. NYC Midnight’s 100-Word Microfiction Challenge is an international creative writing competition that challenges participants to write original 100-word stories by giving them a specific genre, action, and word assignment, in 24 hours. Every writer is placed in a specific group based on the genre, action,

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Furious Fiction – June 2024

The brief of the AWC Furious Fiction – June 2024 short story competition was as follows: *** Teacher’s Pet I’ve been Cindy’s teacher since kindergarten. She’d always been such a good girl: polite, eager to please, conscientious, smart. But now she’s a teenager. She’s rebelling at the moment: talks back, smokes, hangs out with a bad crowd, and is sending

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John Marsden Writing Topic #547

Write a conversation which consists entirely of questions** Centre of Attention “Why did you have to steal my thunder, Maggie?!” “I didn’t steal your thunder at all, Esther! Why would you say that?” “Why would you choose my wedding day to announce your pregnancy and make my day all about you?!” “Why not? You’re my best friend, aren’t you happy

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Furious Fiction – April 2024

The brief of the AWC Furious Fiction – April 2024 short story competition was as follows: *** Centre of Attention “Why did you have to steal my thunder, Maggie?!” “I didn’t steal your thunder at all, Esther! Why would you say that?” “Why would you choose my wedding day to announce your pregnancy and make my day all about you?!”

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