250-word Microfiction Challenge 2024

Judge’s Review: the story features exposition in a way which makes it clear the writer has worked hard to find ways in which to show, rather than tell – i.e. not all of the dialogue serves to communicate exposition, but instead features some nuance, and subtext in places throughout the prose.
It can be challenging to communicate the necessary information with a reader without simply “telling” in a story of this length, and so it speaks to the skill of the writer when “show” happens. Nicely done.

These words are the ones that I am hanging onto the most! I wanted to end 2024 with challenging myself. The NYC Midnight challenges have been very good for me as a writer, and maybe as a person. There is no say on what genre you’ll land in. No influence you can levy. And the time waits for no one.

I decided to try the Short Story challenge because it’s important to improve. I have a tendency of writing too much. Giving too much detail and it becomes boring. I’ve done this because I’m overthinking and comparing myself to others. In short, I panic. But this challenge, I wanted to be myself and see what the results would be. By the critique above, I am going to say that being me is no bad thing. I like my writing style, and I will keep me!

But let me tell you, writing a whole scene with emotion, context, and meeting all the parameters within 250 words is insane! I kept having to delete, and delete, and…well, you get it. And yes, I’ll be doing more challenges even if I never make it to the next round. And no, I didn’t make the cut this time. Not all the reviews were glowing, but I think they’re very helpful. One judge thought I could do more to help first-time readers understand the scene by using more standard language rather than social colloquialisms. I will be mindful of that, but I also don’t want to get too hung up on trying to be the perfect writer. What I’ve failed to become over the years, is a perfect anything. We’re human. We’re going to find our own way, and I’m proud of us for that.

Now that I haven’t moved to the next round, I am free to share my challenge piece that I am going to remain proud of! I hope that you will enjoy.

The Challenge Rules:
250 word count (15 word title max)
Genre: Ghost Story
Action: Partitioning a living space
Word: Letter (must be used somewhere in the story)

You’ve Got to Start a Fire Somehow _{by Selina Elliot}

“Just once I’d like to round a corner and see a nice house.”

Bradley grinned, “nice, love that show.”

“Mm, but seriously…”

“We’re flippers,” came the sigh. “Buying crappy homes and turning them into gems means we only see a nice home when we leave.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

The front door creaked open without touch.

Bradley grimaced, “we’ll need to board up before we do any major renovations.”

“Yep. First, let’s see what we’re dealing with.”

They moved off in different directions before pausing. Bradley gave in with a sigh. First rule was to stick together.

“Hmm, kitchen in here?”

Bradley critiqued with narrowed eyes. It was a lovely, large sitting room. Or it had once been.

“Morning sun, breakfast nook.”

That same sun Marc talked of had captured the far wall. Moving slowly, Bradley stared at a dusty frame struggling to reflect the sunshine. Careful hands lifted the heavy frame while a caring arm wiped away the dust.

“What’s that?”

Softly spoken, “letters.”

“Who frames a letter? Oh, love letters!”

“From Emmaline to Iver,” he also read. “She sounds obsessed.”

Marc would have replied, but a haunting scream stole the moment. The frame fell to the floor where shards of glass should have sprayed out, but only a dull thud sounded. He looked down while Marc’s eyes made a desperate search. As the picture frame turned black, Bradley pulled his friend away. It was too late for the size of fire which erupted from the frame.
_{By Selina Elliot}