Americas writing prompt
A Harlem Jazz Dream
Create a tale set in the 1920s Harlem Renaissance. Develop a character who is a jazz musician struggling to gain recognition. Intertwine their personal and artistic journey with the vibrant but volatile atmosphere of Harlem during this era of profound cultural, social, and artistic expressions.
Suggested length: A short story: 1,500 to 5,000 words, or flash fiction under 1,000
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Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- 1Choose one real detail of the period, like a price, a law or a song, and build a scene around it.
- 2Keep the famous event offstage and show its ripples.
- 3Make the dialogue sound of its time without becoming hard to read.
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