Flash fiction prompt: a no pressure writing challenge

Writing requires discipline. It requires sitting down and carving those words out of your brain and moulding them into something coherent. It requires hours of toil with a pen or a keyboard and once you’ve finally polished it then you’ve got hours of submission time and all the emotional rollercoaster that goes with that particular train.

But it also requires fun. You’ve got to enjoy those words, the craft, the feeling you get when get the rhythm is just right. I don’t know a writer who doesn’t find joy in the crafting, even when sometimes it’s undeniably hard.

So sometimes, when you’re working on a novel or longer piece, or prepping a shorter story for submission, you get so tied up in the detail that you need a bit of light, no-strings writerly relief.

Or sometimes, when you’ve had a break from writing for whatever reason, you want of bit of no-pressure tinkering to coax the words out again.

So, in the spirit of no pressure writing, I’m hosting a series of flash fiction prompt challenges here at the Dust Lounge . They’re a chance to flex your creative brains freely and share some words and get some stories out there. Polished? As polished as you can get them, as polished as you want them, as rough as takes your fancy. Experimental? Play around, try something new, refine a style. Wondered what the main character in your current WIP would do in a strange new story or setting? Have at it.

This week’s challenge is brought to you courtesy of the random choices made by an equally randomly picked google search site. One picture, one word. Carve out a story around 500 words, post it up in your online space and share a link here for everyone to read. Looking forward to seeing your takes on it.

The picture:

The word: Burial

And in the interests of keeping things quick and spicy and striking while the iron is hot, stories are due by Friday 11th October! The prompt will stay up but this should give everyone a chance to share something and check in on what others come up with while the prompt is fresh in everyone’s minds.

Enjoy, and don’t forget to posts links to your work in the comments below!