A few weeks ago, my online writer’s group introduced me to a weekly flash fiction contest hosted by Ad Hoc Fiction. Basically, writers are given a prompt word (ex: feather, bark, note) and must incorporate it into a 150-worded story.
Yep! That’s it. Just 150 words to address all the vital components of a story and satisfy readers.
*gulp*
Once the deadline passes, the submissions are posted on Ad Hoc’s website and the public votes for a winner. It’s free (yes, FREE), it’s fun, and it’s a great way to challenge yourself. So give it a shot! Whether you want to learn, warm up, or win, you’re sure to have a blast with Ad Hoc Fiction.
Below is a story I submitted a few weeks ago. The prompt word I had to include was “plaster.” Enjoy!
“Crumb Layer”
by Jenna Willett
When I was little, my mom would let me help her frost cakes. “Remember, Annie,” she’d say, “the first layer is the crumb layer. You frost, wait, frost again, and—voila! See?” She’d point at a finished cake. No crumbs, no blemishes. The decorating method worked beautifully.
It still does.
I hum to myself as I spread a second layer of white goo over the crumbly surface. I dip, swirl, smear, and wipe my metal spatula down and up, left to right. Over and over. I work carefully, but quickly. I have to. Even with the heater on, the house is cold and the cold makes things set faster.
I give one final swipe and stand back to study my handiwork.
I smile.
The plastered wall looks great. With a layer of paint, it’ll look perfect.
Nobody will ever suspect I hid a dead body behind it.
To learn more about the contest and Ad Hoc Fiction, click here.
Photo credits: 1
Jen's Pen Den 
I write Flash Fiction all the time and often 100 words (more or less) and find it makes me work harder at finding the exact words I need to convey a story with a beginning, middle and end. I’ve been doing it for some years. It makes a change from short stories and novels. Good luck with all your efforts. 🙂
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Completely agree! I enjoy types of challenges because they’re great learning tools.
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Indeed they are and fun too.
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oh hahah. I love the little story you have there, and my 150 words is little. Well it sounds like a fun idea, thank you sharing it, and i will think about it as it sounds like a fun challenge.
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Thank you! My brain goes to weird places sometimes (okay, all the time, haha). I hope you give it a try! It’s definitely a lot of fun 🙂
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Thanks
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Gulp…Wow. For 150 words that story sure packs a wallop! o_O.
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HA! Er, thanks…? 😉 My mind works in ways that are even mysterious to me. I scare myself sometimes.
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Haha, scary, but beautifully done.:)
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Thank you! 🙂
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That was great! I liked the cake-frosting turning into spackling turning into murder. Two surprises in so few words. Well done.
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Thank you! It was definitely a challenge to write a twisty-turny story in 150-words, haha. Happy to hear I succeeded!
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I’m really liking the 150 word challenges. It’s enough to say something, but damn, you’ve got to be focused!
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So focused! I feel like I have to basically pick a single moment in a character’s life and then dig into it…and by doing that, I’ll then be able to tell an entire story (somehow, lol).
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That story is AWESOME! What a twist at the end. Took me a second to wrap my mind around the jump from icing to spackling. Great job. I have got to try this! Thanks fo sharing. Reblogging. This is too good to leave alone.
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Thank you 🙂 Happy to hear you enjoyed it. And good luck with the contest. You’ll have a blast with it I’m sure!
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Reblogged this on TheKingsKidChronicles and commented:
Wow. I have to try this. Check out this amazing flash fiction by Jen!
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Sounds like a challenge… a toughee! 😀
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