A few weeks ago, we dangled two tantalizing prompts in front of writers, and then limited them to write a short story in only 600 words. It is a tough writing challenge: How to develop—and close out—both a storyline and complete character sketch in fewer words than on

She turned the envelope over in her hands. She had waited so long for this letter, but now she wasn’t sure she could bring herself to open it. Caitlyn slid the white rectangle across her palm, imagining years unraveled, her whole life undone by a few bits of paper. They

An Honorable Mention to “Theatrical Anticipation” by Maddy Oldread. I think she did a wonderful job of describing Jessica’s fears and worries and then leaving us hanging wondering what the letter said.  – Karen Polsgrove   She turned the envelope over in her hands. She had waited so long for this

She turned the envelope over in her hands. She had waited so long for this letter, but now she wasn’t sure she could bring herself to open it. The envelope was robin’s egg blue with cartoonish red hearts on it. It also smelled a little funny. Pungent, and kind of

That fire season was particularly bad, covering everything in a light layer of ash. Though, curiously, the sun felt closer through the screen of smoke, casting a glowing unnatural orange over everything. Still, each morning as the ash fell, Ella stood on her porch and waited. Each morning the mail

The morning dew was still dripping from the leaves, and the sound of a branch snapping wasn’t far away. From where he stood—or, was it hiding?—behind the bush, the noise seemed as if it could be as close as an arm’s length. He walked out of his trailer, and lit

The morning dew was still dripping from the leaves, and the sound of a branch snapping wasn’t far away. From where he stood—or, was it hiding?—behind the bush, the noise seemed as if it could be as close as an arm’s length. “Do you think it’s him?” Fran whispered. “Sssh!”