creative-writing

Allison

National Flash Fiction Day Stories 2026

National Flash Fiction Day is one of my favorite days of the year. I treat it like a holiday, clearing my sschedule as much as possible so I can focus on reading and writing flash all day. This year, I also attended the anthology reading, and it was so wonderful to hear so many talented writers read their work! (I have a micro in the anthology.)

I wrote for 18 prompts (out of 25 – and I’m definitely keeping the others to inspire me later!) and submitted 12 pieces (11 were published). Prompts and constraints help me get out of my head when writing, and these was such a great list this year: check them out here!

A Stranger: Write a story set entirely on the banks of a river. Include two or more characters who interact in some way, but avoid using any dialogue, direct or reported.

The rain pummeled the ground too quickly to be absorbed: Write a story in exactly 15 words. Your title does not count towards the 15 words.

Exposed: Write a flash in which each sentence is at least one word shorter than the sentence before it.

Growth: Write a flash using no word more than once, and yes, this includes small words like the, and, I, and is. The minimum word count is 75 words.

On Trend: Write a story (inspired by this painting) about a group of people journeying toward a shared, unknown destination at either dawn or dusk.

Life’s a Beach: Write a flash from an unusual point of view, one that is neither human nor animal.

He holds my hand as we wait in line for the Zippin Pippin: Find a story published in the FlashFlood that you admire and choose five interesting words from it. (I chose ‘Coriolis Effect‘ by Mikki Aronoff.)

Meant for More: For this prompt, write a flash in which a bridge does something unexpected, means something unusual, or is used in a way bridges are not normally used.

Someone Else’s Treasure: Write a flash in which the past surfaces unexpectedly.

Anointed: Write a flash about forgiveness or reconciliation.  Use water in your story in some way.

Reception: Write two separate flashes, each no more than 100 words (and shorter is fine), that can stand alone but are connected by a single element: an object, a phrase, a location, a gesture.

Head to The Write-In to read everyone’s vastly different responses to these five prompts!

(The featured post image showcases the badges I earned for the pieces I wrote and submitted.)

Allison

Novel Writing Month

Well, it’s November 1st.

Ever since 2007, that means I’m starting to write 50,000 words of a novel (or story collection) as part of National Novel Writing Month. While the organization has crumbled over the past year or two, the sense of needing to write still strikes me, much like the whole “back to school” vibe of September (though school starts here at the beginning of August…).

The truth is, I kind of started a challenge at the beginning of October: Autocrit’s Novel 90 writing challenge. Writing a novel in ninety days seemed totally doable since I used to create an extremely rough draft in thirty. Except the idea I wanted to write just wasn’t coming together, and I spent most of the month trying to figure out whodunnit so I could complete the outline.

Whoops.

I pivoted though, and started writing a different idea that I’ve had in the back of my mind. Which means I’m writing without an outline, but that’s how November typically goes for me.

I’m also participating in the Sisters in Crime November Marathon. I’m a new member and want to make the most of the community, so I’m jumping right in with the hope of completing a draft of a cozy mystery this month.

Oh, and I can’t forget Nancy Stohlman’s FlashNano. Clearly this is just the month to kick myself in the pants!

Mostly, I wanted to share because I feel like I’ve been stagnant for much of this year. My flash writing has been on hold as I focus on longer works. Writing a novel feels satisfying, but I miss drafting a quick little piece and helping it find a home a few months later. With the exception of National Flash Fiction Day and the Ekphrastic Marathon, most of my publications this year were in the works since submitting last year, so my spreadsheet is looking empty.

It’s also nice to hold myself accountable, even if it’s only to the internet.