Saving the Route 66 Diner
Imagine a scenario where a family-owned diner on Route 66 is threatened by a big interstate development. Tell the story from the perspective of the youngest member of the family who comes up with a unique solution to save the diner.
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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- Letters from a Secret AdmirerYou discover a series of letters at the back of your grandmother's closet from an unknown admirer sent during the 1960s. As you read through them, you…
- Back for the Summer FestivalWrite a story about a small town in the Midwest preparing for its annual summer festival. Focus on a character who has returned from the city after…
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