Scandal in the Church
Write a story about a small town's church community confronting their beliefs when a scandal involving their beloved pastor comes to light. How do the various members react, and what secrets are uncovered in the process?
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 Faith Fiction prompts
- A Festival Tradition ReimaginedCraft a story set during a major religious festival in a small town where an unexpected event forces the community to reinterpret their longstanding…
- An Atheist at the Community TableDevelop a narrative about an atheist who reluctantly agrees to participate in a religious community project. Through their experiences and discussions…
- The Stranger's Sacred RelicA devout family in a small town faces a moral crisis when a mysterious stranger arrives, claiming to possess a relic that could shake the foundation…
- The Church's Unexpected FortuneA small town's community church unexpectedly inherits a massive fortune from an unknown benefactor. Write about how different factions within the…
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