The brief of the AWC Furious Fiction – August 2026 short story competition was as follows: Your story had to take place during an EXTREME/UNUSUAL WEATHER EVENT. Your story had to include something being lifted. Your story had to include the words: ZERO, ZIGZAG, and ZOOM (longer variations accepted). *** Fleeing “The State Emergency Service (SES) has issued an immediate
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction – July 2026 short story competition was as follows: Your story had to take place in a MUSEUM or ART GALLERY. Your story had to include something being spilled. Your story had to include the words: DREAM, PLANT, and REPEAT (longer variations accepted). *** Monsters on Display Hopefully this museum will be healing
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction – June 2026 short story competition was as follows: Each story had to take place on a BRIDGE. A character in the story had to have too much/many of something. Each story had to include the words CATCH, MEASURE, WARM (longer variations were allowed) *** Let it Rain If I get rid of
Read moreEarlier 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 competition judges pick 15
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction – March 2026 short story competition was as follows: Your story must take place in a PETROL/GAS STATION. Your story must feature a camera. You must include the following adjectives: JAGGED, LOUD, MYSTERIOUS somewhere in your story. *** Additional Service I should have never set up my car mechanical business at the petrol
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction – April 2026 short story competition was as follows: Your story must take place UNDERGROUND. Your story’s first and last sentences had to be questions. Your story had to include the following words: FOUR, SHARP, TAIL, YAWN (longer variations were allowed) *** The Sandman’s Factory Tour Are you enjoying the tour of my
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction – February 2026 short story competition was as follows: Each story’s theme had to be ‘EIGHT’ Each story had to include two characters meeting for the first time. Each story had to include the following words: DISCOVER, NOTICE, SHEET *** An Important Service Some people view my job as a medical examiner as
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction – January 2026 short story competition was as follows: Each story had to take place at a LUXURY RESORT. Each story had to include a character overhearing something. Each story had to include the words BOOK, PINK, PUZZLE. *** The Front Desk I’m the gatekeeper of fun at the Sapphire Ocean Resort. I’m
Read moreLast year, I entered the NYC Midnight Scary Story Challenge, an international creative writing competition that challenges participants to write original scary stories using three prompts: a scare, a character, and an action. Each participant has 48 hours to write a scary story under 400 words. The judges select the top 10 writers from each group in the first round
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction – September 2024 short story competition was as follows: Writers had to use the image above in ANY way as inspiration to tell their story. What writers wrote was up to them – but participants were told to imagine that if their story were ever to be printed somewhere, THIS image would make
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