Notes in the Returned Book
Write a story about a small town librarian who discovers, hidden in a returned book, a series of handwritten notes detailing someone's plan to leave everything behind and start anew. What does the librarian do with this information?
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 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
- The Artist Goes ViralDescribe the life of a struggling artist in a bustling New York City who gains unexpected fame from a viral social media post. Explore the impact of…
- The Subway Driver's JournalDescribe a day in the life of a New York City subway driver who discovers a lost, handwritten journal on the train and becomes obsessed with finding…
- The Techie in AlaskaTell the story of a Silicon Valley techie who moves to a remote Alaskan village to escape the pressures of the tech world, only to find that the small…
- The Intern and the ScandalDescribe the life-changing day of a young Wall Street intern who accidentally discovers confidential information that could lead to a major financial…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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