Flash Fiction Challenge: Time and Tide

beach play 1980s photo by K.S. Brooks
beach play 1980s
photo by K.S. Brooks

That kid in the picture is my little brother, Andy. In 1987, he got carried away by an undertow at this very beach. The authorities never recovered his body.

I took this picture of him yesterday, when he walked up out of the water as if nothing had happened.

In 250 words or less, write a story incorporating the elements in the picture and/or the written prompt above. The 250 word limit will be strictly enforced.

Please keep language and subject matter to a PG-13 level.

Use the comment section below to submit your entry. Entries will be accepted until Tuesday at 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

On Wednesday afternoon, we will open voting to the public with an online poll for the best writing entry accompanying the photo. Voting will be open until 5:00 PM Thursday.

On Friday afternoon, the winner will be recognized as we post the winning entry along with the picture as a feature. Then, at year end, the winners will be featured in an anthology like this one. Best of luck to you all in your writing!

Entries only in the comment section. Other comments will be deleted. See HERE for additional information and terms.

Who Cooked Up the Best Flash Fiction Entry?

burgers and dogsIt’s time to grill our readers to find out who they thought submitted the tastiest story in this week’s flash fiction challenge.

Remember, the winning entries will all be included in the next edition of the IU Flash Fiction Anthology.

Check out this week’s entries here. Make your decision, then use those share buttons at the bottom of the post to spread the word.

Voting polls close Thursday at 5 PM Pacific time.

Whose flash fiction story has the awesome sauce this week?

  • DW Davis (33%, 15 Votes)
  • Frank Lilly (17%, 8 Votes)
  • Yvonne Hertzberger (17%, 8 Votes)
  • Jon Jefferson (11%, 5 Votes)
  • Lois Nelsen Lewandowski (7%, 3 Votes)
  • Dick C Waters (4%, 2 Votes)
  • Mary Ellen Courtney (4%, 2 Votes)
  • John Kenny (4%, 2 Votes)
  • Melissa Bowersock (2%, 1 Votes)
  • Tena Carr (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Mark Morris (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Robert Middleton (0%, 0 Votes)
  • J.Y.Frimpong (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Morgan Winters (0%, 0 Votes)
  • JR Barker (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 46

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NOTE: Entrants whose submissions exceed the 250 word limit are eliminated from the poll. ONE VOTE PER PERSON, please. Duplicate votes will be deleted. The results displayed above are unofficial until verified by administration.

Flash Fiction Challenge: The Barbecue of the Damned

burgers and dogs
burgers and dogs
by K.S. Brooks

They say the best memories don’t come from the vacations or family get-togethers where everything goes off without a hitch. I think there is something to that.

We had just gotten settled into our new home and decided to throw a barbecue to get to know our new neighbors.

It is safe to say it did not go as we had hoped, but it certainly was memorable. In the pantheon of our family stories, we refer to it as the barbecue of the damned.

In 250 words or less, tell us a story incorporating the elements in the picture. The 250 word limit will be strictly enforced.

Please keep language and subject matter to a PG-13 level.

Use the comment section below to submit your entry. Entries will be accepted until Tuesday at 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

On Wednesday afternoon, we will open voting to the public with an online poll for the best writing entry accompanying the photo. Voting will be open until 5:00 PM Thursday.

On Friday afternoon, the winner will be recognized as we post the winning entry along with the picture as a feature. Then, at year end, the winners will be featured in an anthology like this one. Best of luck to you all in your writing!

Entries only in the comment section. Other comments will be deleted. See HERE for additional information and terms.

The Ghosts Want You to Vote for the Flash Fiction Winner!

Vote2The Ghosts of Northgate want you to vote for your favorite story in this week’s flash fiction challenge.

Remember, the winning entries will all be included in the next edition of the IU Flash Fiction Anthology.

Check out this week’s entries here. Make your decision, then use those share buttons at the bottom of the post to spread the word.

Voting polls close Thursday at 5 PM Pacific time.

Which ghostly story was your favorite?

  • Victoria (41%, 36 Votes)
  • Sara Stark (31%, 27 Votes)
  • AL Kaplan (11%, 10 Votes)
  • Yvonne Hertzberger (6%, 5 Votes)
  • Jon Jefferson (5%, 4 Votes)
  • Lois Nelsen Lewandowski (5%, 4 Votes)
  • Mary Ellen Courtney (1%, 1 Votes)

Total Voters: 87

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NOTE: Entrants whose submissions exceed the 250 word limit are eliminated from the poll. ONE VOTE PER PERSON, please. Duplicate votes will be deleted. The results displayed above are unofficial until verified by administration.