Around March-April 2020, when social distancing and border lockdowns were enforced for the first time in Australia, the Australian Writers’ Centre encouraged writers to share how they felt about COVID-19 in 19 words – no more, no less. More than a year later (due to falling behind with my writing projects), I’ve finally written my own 19-word micro story about
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction—March 2021 short story competition was as follows: Each story had to include the pictured setting (above) at some point. Each story had to include the following “MAR-” words: MARKET, MARBLE, MARVELLOUS, MARSHMALLOW. Each story’s final sentence had to contain dialogue – i.e. someone speaking. *** Personal Call I managed to hobble my way into
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction—February 2021 short story competition was as follows: Each story had to be set in a SCHOOL. Each story had to begin with the word THREE. Each story had to include the adjectives: MAGNETIC, UNCOUTH, SUSPICIOUS, FLOWERY *** New Girl Three. Three years I’m going to be stuck at this school, the Haywood Academy for
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction—January 2021 short story competition was as follows: Your story has to begin at sunrise. Your story has to use the words SIGNATURE, PATIENT, BICYCLE. (Longer variations permitted.) Your story has to include a character who has to make a CHOICE. *** Resolutions The New Year started for me with the sun rising, the
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction—December 2020 short story competition was as follows: Your story has to include a GIFT of some kind. Your story’s first sentence has to contain only THREE WORDS. Your story has to include the following words: PALM, MATCH and ROSE. *** Gifts “It’s from me!” I forced a gracious smile on my face after
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction—November 2020 short story competition was as follows: Your story has to take place at a HOTEL. Your story has to include a PHOTOGRAPH. Your story has to include the following ‘blue’ inspired words: COLLAR, GLOOMY, POLICE, RHYTHM, SAPPHIRE. *** A Night Alone Ron showed up to the hotel with one suitcase in his
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction—October 2020 short story competition was as follows: Your story has to include someone/something being caught. Your story has to include the words: OBJECT, WOUND, BAND, ELABORATE (ed/s variations included). Your story’s final two words have to be THE MOON. *** Mission Briefing It was decided that I would be the human test subject
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction—September 2020 short story competition was as follows: Your story should be inspired by the picture above. Your story’s first word must begin with SHO. Your story must include the following words: SCORE, SLICE, SPRINKLE, STAMP and SWITCH (plural and past-tense variations allowed). *** Please note, this short story is not meant to trivialise
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction—July 2020 short story competition was as follows: Your story must take place at either a WEDDING or a FUNERAL. Your story must include something being cut. Your story must include the words “UNDER”, “OVER” and “BETWEEN.” *** My Best Friends’ Wedding Day Today is the wedding day of Aaron and Erin – the
Read moreThe brief of the AWC Furious Fiction—August 2020 short story competition was as follows: Your story must contain HUMOUR/COMEDY (see below). Your story must include the following five words: DIZZY, EXOTIC, LUMPY, TINY, TWISTED. Your story must include a sandwich. Wait – what does “contain humour/comedy mean?” Your story must simply use humour as a main driving force (think amusing
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Loveday Writing 