The Cafe's Locked Briefcase
Create a narrative centered around a neighborhood cafe that serves as the meeting point for an eclectic group of regulars. One day, an unusual stranger enters and leaves behind a mysterious, locked briefcase. Detail the speculation, secrets, and stories that unravel as a result.
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.
- Give your main character a job you know well, and use its details.
- Let a minor character change the ending.
- Set it all in one day.
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 Fiction prompts
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- Solace on the Cross-Country TrainCreate a story about two strangers who sit next to each other on a cross-country train ride. Each has a different reason for their journey, but they…
- The Family Birthday TaskDevelop a story about a unique tradition in a family where each member must complete a particular (and peculiar) task when they turn a certain age.…
- The Town's Career VoteImagine a world where every adult gets to "rechoose" their career every ten years but the decision is heavily influenced by community votes. Follow…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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