The Leader’s Visions
Explore the life of a religious leader who starts receiving visions that they initially believe to be divine instructions. As the story unfolds, delve into the impacts these visions have on their community, questioning the fine line between divine revelation and personal interpretation.
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.
- Write the scene everyone else would skip: the morning after.
- End on a small gesture rather than a speech.
- Give your main character a job you know well, and use its details.
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 Soup Kitchen StoriesA young woman who has strayed from her religious upbringing volunteers at a soup kitchen where an old man shares stories from his life that reignite…
- The Rector’s ManuscriptThe rector of an ancient church discovers a hidden manuscript that contradicts centuries-old teachings. As they struggle to reconcile their faith with…
- The Entrepreneur and the PropheciesAfter surviving a near-death experience, a formerly non-religious tech entrepreneur becomes obsessed with religious texts and prophecies, believing…
- Faith in a Moral CrisisWrite a story about a small, close-knit community facing a moral dilemma that challenges their religious beliefs. Explore how different characters…
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