“In The Dying Light” was written in April 2023 for a 100-word microfiction contest where I was assigned a genre (Historical Fiction), word (Shot), and action (Starting a Campfire) that were required to be used. And so he sat there, fiddling with sticks in the cave’s gloaming, shot through with blood verging on…
“Fitting for a Funeral” was written in March 2023 for a 12-page Screenplay competition where I was assigned a genre (Comedy), subject (Legroom), and character (A Supervisor). This was my first screenplay and earned an Honorable Mention.
“The Wages of Sin” was written in January 2023 for a 2500-word Short Story competition where I was assigned a genre (Horror), subject (Spontaneity), and character (An Apprentice). Again, my first draft came out long, this time nearly 6000 words; however, I left myself almost five hours this time and was able to get it…
“Words on a Wall” was written in November 2022 for a 250-word flash fiction competition where I was assigned a genre (Horror), word (Pass), and action (Removing Graffiti). The black letters glistened in the flickering lamplight, ichorous words scrawled above the vacated scene. No living thing left here, only vespers leaking down from…
“Slumber So Deep” was written in September 2022 for a 600-word rhyming fiction contest. I was assigned a genre (Historical Fiction), theme (Castaway), and emotion (Exhausted) that were required to be used. It received an honorable mention in my group.
“Love Ain’t Etsy” was written in August 2022 for the second round of the 1000-word flash fiction contest. I was assigned a genre (Rom-Com), location (Picnic), and object (A Coloring Book) that were required to be used. It took 8th place in my group.
“Frontier Filosophy” was written in June 2022 for a 1000-word flash fiction contest where I was assigned a genre (Historical Fiction), location (A Town Meeting), and object (A Rain Barrel) that were required to be used. It took 8th place in my group.
“Flying in the Dark” was written in April 2022 for a 100-word microfiction contest where I was assigned a genre (Rom-Com), word (Batch), and action (Wearing a Sleep Mask) that were required to be used. Whining jet engines and a lightless underworld clouded waking thoughts, but sleep eluded Lucy. Lolling over, Rog whistled…
“Exacting a Price” was written in January 2022 for a 2500-word Short Story competition where I was assigned a genre (Crime Caper), subject (An Embargo), and character (A Showgirl). Unfortunately, I missed the deadline. My first draft came out at nearly 5000 words and with less than an hour remaining, I had to trim it…
“The Writ” was written in October 2021 for a 250-word flash fiction competition where I was assigned a genre (Suspense), word (Ride), and action (Folding a Piece of Paper). He took his time. Left me stood there, clenched fists, nails cutting into my palms. Between the quill carving across the hoary page, when…
Zander Faidley 