The California Beach House
Create a narrative about a diverse group of people who inherit a dilapidated beach house in California. Forced to work together to fix it up, they learn about each other's lives, prejudices, dreams, and fears.
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.
- Let a minor character change the ending.
- Set it all in one day.
- Make the conflict something the reader has faced themselves.
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 American Fiction prompts
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- A Teacher's Long DayDescribe the day in the life of a high school teacher in an underfunded urban district, detailing the personal challenges they face outside of school…
- The Fusion RestaurantA couple from different cultural backgrounds opens a fusion restaurant in a predominantly conservative town. Explore their experiences as they try to…
- The Oregon Town ProjectTell the story of a high school teacher in a rural Oregon town who inspires her students to organize a community project that unexpectedly brings…
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