‘It was a dark and stormy night,’ or something like that




This is the age of fast content—short and sweet, quick and dirty, in and out. If you can’t make an impact in 140 characters you’re just not in the groove, try again.

But seriously, there’s still a place in this world for good creative writing.

The Acorn’s ninth annual Fiction in a Nutshell challenge returns this fall and pays homage to both brevity and bombast. The popular story-telling contest requires submitting writers to tell a complete fiction story in 100 words or less.

You’d think today’s fast-talking, quick-hitting millennial generation could meet the challenge hands down, but not so fast, Twitter-breath. Writing a fiction story in 100 words isn’t as easy as it sounds. Don’t forget: Beginning, middle and end. Characters, conflict and plot twist. The winning entries must be impactful, compelling and eye-opening.

Writers in two categories, 18-and-over and under-18, are allowed to submit stories in a multitude of genres—sci-fi, adventure, romance, to name a few.

Stories in past contests have dealt with death, loss, old age, extraterrestrials and transcendent love. He enters. She exits. He is spectacular as she skulks away. She knows that his disappointment at not meeting her is far less than his disappointment had she stayed.

Other popular themes are food, and animals, lots of animals. Lana swam out to the gray whale calf, climbed on his back and had the thrill of her life!

Murder and mayhem always excite. There was blood on the kitchen floor this morning, along with the petals of a rose and a gold wedding ring. The ring is my brother’s. The rose was plucked from my garden. The blood is from a dead man in the basement. I know the ring is my brother’s. He knows the rose is mine. One of us knows the dead man’s name and the other one killed him.

More than once, The Acorn judges have been caught off guard by unexpected endings and double crosses. ‘Idiot,’ whispered the old woman. ‘Did you think you were the only one who wanted that money?’

In previous contests metaphors have rung out and imagery sparkles. Her eyes shone bright like crystals in a haze of black.

Writers must be on their game to win Fiction in a Nutshell.

All blogging, tweeting and texting aside, the next great American novel is still out there waiting to be told. Fame, fortune and prize money await.

Submit your 100-word Fiction in a Nutshell story to the email newstip@theacorn.com by Fri., Nov. 4, and please include name, address and phone number so we can get in touch when our judges name you the winner.



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