Tag Archives: 500 Club

500 Club (12/8)

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Happy Thursday, everyone! It’s time to keep our writing chops honed by slamming out some flash fiction. We like to make a game of it, so here are…

…the rules:

  1. Pick one of the two prompts and write 500 words on it.
  2. Post it to your blog.
  3. Give us your opening line below, along with a link back to the rest of it.
  4. Bask in the glow of success.

And now on to the prompts. This week we’re doing opening lines:

1. It was the eve of war, and we sat on the (insert noun here) and tried to figure out what to do with ourselves. 

2. It was the last sunset he ever saw. He never forgot it.

Happy writing!

500 Club (12/1)

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Happy Thursday! Happy December! Are you ready to play the 500 Club, holiday-style? Let’s get this season started.

But quick—before we begin—here’s a recap of the rules:

  1. Write a 500 word response to one of the prompts below.
  2. Post your story on your blog.
  3. Paste a teaser in the comments below, along with a link where we can read the rest.

Got it? Good. Here are today’s December-inspired prompts:

1. Write a story that somehow incorporates shopping on Black Friday.

…OR…

2. Write a story about a gift gone wrong.

Remember, no pressure. Writing should be fun.

Happy writing!

500 Club (11/10)

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It’s Thursday! Ready to play the 500 Club?

Before we begin, here’s a recap of the rules:

  1. Write a 500 word response to one of the prompts below.
  2. Post your story on your blog.
  3. Paste a teaser in the comments below, along with a link where we can read the rest.

Got it? Good. Here are today’s prompts:

1. Write a story in which one character is selling something to one or more other characters. Use your imagination.

…OR…

2. Write a scene in which two characters carry on a conversation but neither understands what the other is truly saying. Subtext and subtlety are key.

Remember, no pressure. This is for fun.

Happy writing!

The 500 Club (10/20)

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Welcome to Thursday. Welcome to The 500 Club!

Before we get to today’s prompts, a quick recap of how to play:

  1. Write a 500 word response to one of the prompts below.
  2. Post your story on your blog.
  3. Paste a teaser in the comments below, along with a link where we can read the rest.

Got it? Now for the prompts.

1.  Keeping in mind that much of good storytelling is based on reader expectation and surprise, write a story about a perfect day.

-OR-

2. Keeping in mind that much of good storytelling is based on reader expectation and surprise, write a story about a disastrous day.

Remember, no pressure. Just have fun writing.

500 Club (9/29)

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It’s Thursday! You know what that means, don’t you?

This week’s edition of The 500 Club!

Before we get to today’s prompts, a quick recap of how to ride this bicycle:

  1. Write a 500 word response to one of the prompts below.
  2. Post your story on your blog.
  3. Paste a teaser in the comments below, along with a link where we can read the rest.

Easy! You got this. Now for the prompts.

Today’s prompts are brought to you by the four elements.

1.  Write a story involving water and fire. You can interpret these elements literally, figuratively, metaphorically, anthropomorphically… However you choose to use the elements, you must use specific, telling details.

-OR-

2. Write a story involving air and earth. You can interpret these elements literally, figuratively, metaphorically, anthropomorphically… However you choose to use the elements, you must use specific, telling details.

Remember, no pressure. Just have fun indulging your wordsmitheryness.

500 Club (9/15)

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Hello Thursday! It’s time to play the 500 Club!

Here’s the rules, before we dive into the fun:

  1. Choose one of the prompts below and write a 500-word flash.
  2. Post your newly minted story on your blog.
  3. Drop us a comment here, pasting in the first line or two (the hook, if you will) of your story with a link to back to the rest of it.

Note: If you don’t have a blog, you can simply pop your 500 words into the handy little widget over there in the right column and send it to us.

Today’s prompts are almost-autobiographical.

1. Write a story about something that, as a child, always struck you as magical.

OR

2. Write a story about the little old man/woman you hope to become.

Have fun!

500 Club (9/8)

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Hello, and welcome to today’s episode of The 500 Club!

Before we begin the literary somersaults, a quick recap of the How To’s:

  1. Write a 500-word response to one of the prompts below.
  2. Post your story on your blog.
  3. Paste a teaser to your story and a link to the rest in the comments below.
  4. Pat yourself on the back for your outstanding effort and literary acrobatics.

Note: If you don’t have a blog, you can still play along! Just paste your 500 words into the handy little widget over there in the right column and send it to us.

Ready for today’s prompts?

1. Things were not as they seemed at the Starbucks that morning.

or

2. Begin and end your story with the sentence, “The only thing [CHARACTER] knew for sure was [FILL IN THE BLANK]“.

Have fun!

500 Club (8/25)

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Hello Beautiful Thursday! Let’s get our prompts on!

New to the 500 Club? Here are the rules:

  1. Choose one of the two prompts below and write 500 words on it.
  2. Post your brand new flash to your blog. (If you don’t have a blog, copy your story and paste it into the handy text box over yonder —-> See it? Keep scrolling down. Ok, cool.)
  3. Finally, post the first line or two of your story here in the comments and link back to your blog so we can finish reading your freshly-churned brilliance.

Green? Super green. And now, today’s prompts are…disoriented???

1. Where am I? Your character wakes up to find he/she has been shanghaied. A pirate ship, a stage coach, an interplanetary express, or just an old white Chevy Astro (eek!)- it’s your call.

OR

2. Where did it go? Your character wakes up to find something crucial missing. Her hair, his money… their child. Again, it’s your call. 

Happy writing! Go nuts!

500 Club (8/18)

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It’s Thursday! Time for another brain-cramping round of the 500 Club!

Before we get to the cramping of our brains, a quick recap of how this puppy runs:

  1. Write a 500-word story in response to one of the prompts below.
  2. Post your story on your blog.
  3. Paste a teaser to your story in the comments below and include a link where we can read the rest.

OR… If you don’t have a blog, paste your entire story in the brilliant little widget over there on the sidebar and send it to us.

Clear as mud puppies? Ready to cramp your brain? Here are today’s prompts:

1. Write a scene in a style/genre that is the opposite of what you typically read and/or write. Don’t write satire, but rather take the scene seriously. Push yourself out of your comfort zone.

…or…

2. Write a satire of the style/genre you typically read and/or write. Hone in on those tropes that typify your genre. Being aware of them will help you avoid cliché when you get back to your writing projects. Remember: just because you’re writing satire for this exercise doesn’t mean you should write sloppy. Take pride in your work.

Have fun!

500 Club (8/4)

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It’s Thursday! Time to write with the 500 Club!

Don’t know how to play? Here here are the rules:

  1. Write 500 words based on one of the prompts, or get crazy and find a way to incorporate both prompts.
  2. Post your newly written flash to your blog.
  3. Paste the opening line(s) of your story in the comments section below, and link back to your blog so we can read the rest. Boom!

If you don’t have a blog, copy and paste your flash in the boxamajigger over there on the right.

So, *dusts hands*…. prompts away!

1. The Do-over. Through magic or experimental science, your character gets a chance to rewrite a single hour of his/her life. What does he/she do-over? Why? Is the result what he/she hoped for?

…or…

2. Strangelove. Write about an unusual pairing. A boy and his armadillo. A girl and her teacup. A space ship and her planet.

Have Fun and Happy Writing!