2024 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 4
Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by Managing Editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, example story, and write your own. Today’s prompt is to write a story in the form of a museum exhibit placard.
For today's prompt, let's let a story bloom out of format. Write a story in the form of a museum exhibit placard.
Remember: These prompts are just starting points; you have the freedom to go wherever your flash of inspiration takes you.
(Note: If your story gets flagged for review, be patient—we will be releasing comments every few hours throughout the weekdays of this challenge. Our system randomly flags comments for review, so just sit tight and wait for us to set it free! If you run into any other issues with posting your story, please just send me an e-mail at mrichard@aimmedia.com with the subject line: Flash Fiction Challenge Commenting Issue.)
Here’s my attempt at a story written as a museum placard:
Almost Toddler
(American, b. 2023)
"No," 2024
Sweat, tears, and the unfathomable rage of the very young
This piece represents the transition from baby to toddler: The 9-month-old has her head thrown back, face red and wet with tears. Beside her, her mother is trying to distract her with an octopus teething toy in one hand while with the other discarding a hairball the baby found under the sofa behind them. Audiences are frozen with them, suspended in a moment that feels endless for so many reasons.
Since obtaining her MFA in fiction, Moriah Richard has worked with over 100 authors to help them achieve their publication dreams. As the managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine, she spearheads the world-building column Building Better Worlds, a 2023 Eddie & Ozzie Award winner. She also runs the Flash Fiction February Challenge on the WD blog, encouraging writers to pen one microstory a day over the course of the month and share their work with other participants. As a reader, Moriah is most interested in horror, fantasy, and romance, although she will read just about anything with a great hook.
Learn more about Moriah on her personal website.
