Saving Camp Evergreen
Imagine a scenario where a middle-aged character decides to return to their childhood summer camp as a counselor, only to find it on the brink of closure. Depict their journey to save it, rediscovering old friendships, first loves, and the reasons that made the place magical in their memories.
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.
- Make the conflict something the reader has faced themselves.
- Keep what the hero wants and what they need in tension.
- Tell it through the messages, notes or voicemails the characters leave.
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
- The Unmarked PackagesCraft a story about a neighborhood where every house inexplicably receives a plain, unmarked package one morning. Explore the reactions of different…
- The Last-Minute Road TripCreate a tale centered around a last-minute road trip taken by two old friends. As they reconnect, their journey reveals hidden feelings and…
- Messages in the Morning MailDevelop a narrative involving a character who starts receiving anonymous, life-affirming messages in their mailbox every morning. How does it affect…
- Postcards Without a SenderImagine a character who starts receiving mysterious postcards from all around the world with no return address. Each postcard contains a clue that…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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