Written for the: Prompt: Write a story involving a Road Trip without using the words road, highway, car or automobile. You have 500 words to complete your story. __________________ Goddamn bitch. She hasn’t stopped talking since we left the hotel. What the hell was I thinking when I did that? “Oh, Mark. I forgot my wallet at that place! You gotta go back.” My fingers tighten around the steering wheel, knuckles turning white as I grit my teeth and force myself not to snap. Bea... [More]

Written for the Prompt: Write about stumbling across a magical place where all missing things go. You find socks, car keys, people...and then you find you cannot leave. _____________________________ Mother always calls me a smart little girl. Not because I’m good with books, but because I know the right answer to give whenever one of my things goes missing. “Where’s the new sweater I bought for you?” she’d ask. That ugly horrible sweater. “It’s in the Land of the Lost, mom,” I... [More]

Written for the Prompt: Write a story containing these three items: strawberries, trench coat, and a goldfish named Louie. _______________________ There is a man in a trench coat watching me from across the street. With a fedora on his head and a cigar between his lips, he puffs and lets out a cloud of smoke which mingles with the light drizzle. I suck on some strawberries, keeping watch behind the curtains. My fingers dance across my telephone, an eternal debate raging within... [More]

Written for the: Prompt: Write about a very, very hungry character. ______________________ Imagine if you will, waking up to the tantalizing aroma of bacon sizzling, black coffee wafting into your nostrils, and eggs scrambling across a frying pan with each wicked whisk of the spatula. Your tongue gets heavier, too heavy to fit your mouth it seems; drool pooling rapidly as eyes widen and dilate with every shallow breath you take. Your stomach rumbles – a tune you’re now used to – but thi... [More]

WINNING ENTRY Written for the: Prompt in bold: ______________ I woke up. My head was spinning. My arms and legs ached. I was sprawled out on a hard wooden floor in a dimly lit room. Where was I? My wrists were bound with a damp, thick rope and secured to something firm in the corner. A large concert piano sat beneath the dull light on the opposite side of the room, accompanied by an old turntable and some assorted LPs. Suddenly I heard a movement in the shadows, and a voice brok... [More]

Prompt: Your character meets a famous thespian and learns s/he is quite different than his/her public persona. Winning Entry for 04/24/06 _________ Annabelle Fontaine is the most beautiful woman in the world, and since watching her rendition of Helena in ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’, I knew I was very much in love. So one can only imagine my pleasure at being the lucky winner to go backstage to meet the enigmatic actress. Although she is famous, no one really knows about her perso... [More]

Prompt: Write a story that involves conversation and a cell phone. Entry for 04/27/06 _________ “Dude, check out my new wireless. It’s got everything! Camera, video – I can watch games, movies and can even download songs, man! Here, check this out…” “Interesting,” came the reply. “Just don’t hold it too close to me though.” Brad, who had been excited about his new device, stared at his friend with a mixture of wariness and frustration. “What are you…?” “Have you heard of th... [More]

Written for the Prompt: Write about a homeless couple Winning Entry ______________ Hysterical laughter threatened to bubble to the surface, forcing her to slap a hand over her mouth to control it quickly. The ‘slush’ sound of wading feet – knee deep actually – filled the heavy silence as they wandered through the remains of what was once a picturesque seaside home. Their first and only home for the past three years. He stole a glance at her, feeling his heart sink with every... [More]

Written for the Prompt: Write a story that includes the following words: band-aid, wedding cake, and baseball cap. Winning Entry: 06/13/06 ________________ He loved her. There was no doubt about it now. Sure they were only ten years old and she was much taller than him, but he didn’t care. He liked the way her long black hair seemed to shine under the sunlight, the way her brown eyes would sparkle with either amusement when he made her laugh, or flash with fury when he got he... [More]

Written for the Prompt: A woman slowly unravels after suffering a personal loss. ___________________ Sweat, like tiny teardrops, stood out on her brow as she scrubbed at the stubborn stain on the wall. She had no idea why Brandon would wear his muddy boots into the house when she had specifically warned him not to do so. “Goodness,” she muttered to herself, wringing the cloth in the now murky bucket of water. “I’m going to have to ground him for not listening to me. And look at th... [More]

Written for the: Prompt: Write about getting to know a new coworker...and learning more information about this person than you intended. __________________ In a nine to five world, where tiny cubicles trap world-weary employees, the mundane, daily routine becomes sweet music to my ears. There’s the dull hum of a hundred processors, crunching out numbers faster than the eye can see. There’s the chime of the copier as it goes out of order, the subsequent kick from a disgruntled worker, ... [More]

Written for the: Prompt: Show how your main character has been forced into doing something s/he does not wish to do. ___________________ The ZigZag Café. A hot spot for all that is cool and hip in today’s society. I am a rich man with several hundred bucks to burn. A fresh face in a city, dizzying and spinning out of control. New York. A hot summer’s night and I feel like I’m King of the World. Got paid – need to let loose after working those god awful hours. I need the release. Sh... [More]

Written for the: Prompt: Write a story in which someone takes a picture. _____________________ I’m not supposed to be on duty tonight, I try to tell my impatient boss. I’m only an intern, no experience with this kind of thing. Yet. “You wanted to work in the police department, right?” he growls at me. “Ye…yes, sir…?” “Then shut up and start doing your goddamn job, son!” The camera is thrust in my hands and I am pushed into a throng of chaos, noise and anarchy. The whirring l... [More]

Written for the Prompt: Write about a co-ed softball game. Honorable Mention _______________ “We are live at Bridle Park where the Lions are playing against the Pandas in the annual Co-ed Softball tournament. As everyone remembers, the Lions are the defending champions while the Pandas are a new team that’s taken the county by storm. With me now, is head coach Brian Micheals.” “Howdy.” “Coach Micheals, your team, the Pandas, is made up of quite an eclectic group. Tell us, ... [More]

Written for the Prompt: A man gets trapped in an elevator with his ex-wife's "perfect" new boyfriend. ___________ Running late! Running late! Hold the damn door for me! Phew! Just in time. “Hey, man, thanks…” “No problem. Pleasure’s all mine.” That megawatt smile. That cologne. The first time I smelled it was three months ago. It had sparked the final and most heated argument between Belinda and me – one that led to our quick and bitter divorce. Of course you coul... [More]

Written for the Prompt: Write about speaking on an important issue in public for the first time. ______________ Having spent all night thinking about it, I knew I was ready to face the day. “Are you sure about this, honey?” Mother asked, looking quite concerned. “I’ll be fine, Mom,” I replied. I prayed it wouldn’t be the last time I saw her, since leaving my home every morning was a journey in itself. I smoothed out my dress, knowing the... [More]

Written for the: Prompt: Write a story in which someone is running. _____________ He shook out his arms and arched his neck. Jumped up and down. One. Two. Three times. For good luck. He sucked in huge gulps of air and let them out in a whoosh, cracking knuckles, flexing muscles. All in preparation for the greatest race of his life. He eyed the stands, listening to the steady chant of his name. “Larry! Larry! Larry!” Oh, sweet music. It was a sea of red, white and blue in thi... [More]

Written for the: Prompt: I am a rock. I am an Island. ____________ In the cool confines of Dr. Mitchell’s office, Josh stretched out long legs on the narrow couch and laced his hands behind his head. In here it was quiet and soothing, a contrast to the bustle of the city outside the windows. He tapped his feet gently, hummed beneath his breath, before announcing to no one in particular. “I am a rock. I am an Island.” Dr. Mitchell lifted her gaze from the notepad and eyed her tee... [More]

Written for the Prompt: Your character becomes famous overnight. Detail how this has happened and how s/he feels about sudden fame. __________ Talk about being in the wrong place at the right time. Jonathan was sandwiched between a publicist and a personal assistant, both rattling on cell phones at a mile-a-minute. Sitting across from him in the limousine, was his lawyer and financial adviser, both looking rather perplexed. Jonathan wondered if he ought to tell them the truth.... [More]

Written for the Prompt: Write a story in which someone hides. _________________ My name is Bradley and this is my journal. Grandma gave it to me for my twelfth birthday yesterday. She says I can write whatever I want in it because it will help me to get rid of the bad dreams. You see, in my dreams, I’m always stuck in my old house, watching it burn to the ground while Daddy and Mommy keep yelling in the background. I remember trying to tell them to help me put out the fire, but ... [More]

Prompt: Write about a poor family that is finally able to go out to dinner at a fancy restaurant for the first time. Entry for 06/01/06 __________ From the moment he stepped foot into the ostentatious restaurant, David knew he was doomed. Despite the cool temperature, beads of sweat broke out on his brow and the cheap brown suit he wore seemed to weigh a ton on his lanky frame. He could feel their eyes on him – the eyes of the rich and powerful – examining this new specimen before the... [More]

Prompt: Write a story in which someone falls. Winning Entry 04/14/06 __________________ New Chanel dress skirt and matching top…sixty-five dollars. Second time worn Manolo Blahnik shoes…one hundred and fifty dollars. Hair extensions, perfect makeup and flawless skin….one hundred and ten dollars and fifteen cents (tax of course.) Falling on your ass in front of your new boss and exposing little girl cotton panties…priceless. Florence Parker was definitely not having a... [More]

Written for the: __________ I really shouldn’t have had that extra shot of vodka tonight. Damn, this is what I get for hanging out with a bunch of over enthusiastic teachers. Once they make up their minds to have fun, there’s simply no stopping them. So yeah, I guess this is why I’m currently seeing things. I mean, how else is one to explain the pair of feet sticking out of my neighbor’s trashcan?! Probably just a dummy, rational mind #1 speaks up. He did say he was an artist ... [More]

Prompt: Write a story with the words, funeral urn, postage stamps and gray sweatpants within. Honorable Mention for 04/12/06 _____________ There she goes again, sobbing and wailing while holding that horrendous looking funeral urn against her hefty bosom. “Oh why?! Oh why did you have to leave me Richard?!” Yes indeed. Why did you have to leave this old hag behind? I’m sure there was room for one more on that flight. You would have been wonderful companions in the afterlife... [More]

Prompt: Write how your character is affected by a severe thunderstorm. Winning Entry for 04/03/06 __________________ Long lashes flew open at the dull rumble of thunder in the distance. Outside the window, lightening flashed, bringing into sharp relief the various cluttered items within the small room. She shivered, knowing that Jared would take care of things in case of a power outage. “Bound to happen anyway,” she muttered softly, eyelids becoming heavy again as sleep took p... [More]