The Stranger's Sacred Relic
A devout family in a small town faces a moral crisis when a mysterious stranger arrives, claiming to possess a relic that could shake the foundation of their faith. As rumors spread, the town is divided, and the family must navigate their beliefs while dealing with the turmoil the stranger brings.
Suggested length: A short story: 1,500 to 5,000 words, or flash fiction under 1,000
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- Tell it through the messages, notes or voicemails the characters leave.
- Write the scene everyone else would skip: the morning after.
- End on a small gesture rather than a speech.
Writing contemporary fiction
People like us, now, in trouble we recognize.
Contemporary fiction is set in the present day and deals with life as it's actually lived: families, marriages, friendships, work, loss. It sits between literary and commercial fiction, often shelved as book club or upmarket fiction.
What readers expect
- A present-day, realistic setting
- Relatable, flawed characters
- Emotional stakes over action
- Issues readers face themselves
A tip before you start
Today is your setting, so use it: the group chat, the parking ticket, the brand of cereal. Specifics make it feel true.
More Contemporary Faith Fiction prompts
- The Church's Unexpected FortuneA small town's community church unexpectedly inherits a massive fortune from an unknown benefactor. Write about how different factions within the…
- A Love Across FaithsImagine a scenario where two people from harshly contrasting religious backgrounds fall in love. Explore how they manage family objections, societal…
- The Atheist and the ChurchA young atheist inherits an old, dilapidated church from a mysterious distant relative. Describe their journey as they decide to convert it into a…
- A City Leader's QuestionsDescribe a day in the life of a religious leader in a bustling city who encounters various people from different walks of life. Each interaction…
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