The Letter Upstairs
Imagine a story where the main character discovers a forgotten letter in the attic, leading to the unraveling of a long-held family secret that could change their life.
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 short story collections
Many stories, one sitting each, and every one has to land.
A collection gathers short stories, usually by one author and often linked by theme, place or character. Each story is a complete world in a few thousand words, which makes them the hardest test of craft and the easiest way to start.
What readers expect
- Complete stories, read in one sitting
- A shared theme, voice or place
- Compression: every word counts
- Endings that resonate
A tip before you start
Most collections start as stories published one at a time in magazines. Send yours out: it builds the book and your track record.
More Short Story prompts
- Blackout in the Apartment BuildingConsider a story set during a city-wide blackout that forces residents of an apartment building to interact with one another, revealing secrets and…
- The Violin Case LetterWrite a story about a young violinist who discovers a forgotten letter hidden inside an ancient violin case that changes everything they thought they…
- Friends at the Old HangoutWrite about two childhood best friends who reunite after many years apart. One has achieved significant success while the other has quietly struggled.…
- The Four-Hour Train RideCreate a tale where two strangers share a four-hour train ride and discover they have more in common than they initially thought, leading each to…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
Chapterly gives a draft somewhere to grow: chapters, daily word goals, and readers when you're ready.
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