The Letter in the Secondhand Book
Write the inner monologue of a person who decides to change their life completely after discovering a letter hidden in a secondhand book. What does the letter say, and how does it inspire them to take action?
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 Fiction prompts
- Saving Camp EvergreenImagine 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…
- 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…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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