The Artifact in the Attic
Create a narrative around a religious artifact discovered in an unexpected place, such as a family attic or buried in a public park. How does this discovery challenge the personal faith of the characters involved, and what controversies or revelations does it lead to?
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.
- Set it all in one day.
- Make the conflict something the reader has faced themselves.
- Keep what the hero wants and what they need in tension.
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
- Scandal in the ChurchWrite a story about a small town's church community confronting their beliefs when a scandal involving their beloved pastor comes to light. How do the…
- A Festival Tradition ReimaginedCraft a story set during a major religious festival in a small town where an unexpected event forces the community to reinterpret their longstanding…
- An Atheist at the Community TableDevelop a narrative about an atheist who reluctantly agrees to participate in a religious community project. Through their experiences and discussions…
- The Stranger's Sacred RelicA 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…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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