The Inherited Relic
Narrate a tale of two siblings who inherit an ancient religious artifact from their grandparents. As they delve deeper into its history and significance, they begin to question their own beliefs and the foundations of their family's traditions.
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.
- End on a small gesture rather than a speech.
- Give your main character a job you know well, and use its details.
- Let a minor character change the ending.
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
- Faith Beyond the FamilyThe youngest child of a strictly religious family secretly joins a non-denominational spiritual group. Explore the dynamics of love, acceptance, and…
- Saving the Old Meeting HouseSet in a multicultural urban neighborhood, bring to life a story where members of different religious communities come together to save a historic…
- The Leader’s VisionsExplore the life of a religious leader who starts receiving visions that they initially believe to be divine instructions. As the story unfolds, delve…
- 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…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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