Thursday 360 Challenge

Whitney L. Schwartz

Thursday 365 pic 3Welcome to Thursday 360!

Are you a Christian writer? Think you can write a mind-blowing short story in 360 words or less? Let’s see what you’ve got!

Here’s How it Works

New posts will publish here on Thursdays. Write a 360-word (or less) flash fiction story based on the photo prompt (featured near the bottom of this post) and enter it in the comments section below. The results will be posted the following Thursday along with the new prompt. Winner will get the opportunity to display the Champion’s Badge on their website.

Rules and What-not

The rules are pretty simple. All entries for the current challenge must be posted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday, March 2nd. They must be original, unpublished stories inspired by the photo prompt and they must have no more than 360 words (title doesn’t count). Stories don’t have to be Christian in subject matter, but cannot contain foul language, erotic, anti-Christian content, etc… (Let’s try to keep it G-rated, folks.) By posting, you attest that your entry conforms to these rules; I am in no way liable if it doesn’t. I reserve the right to reject/delete anything that does not follow the rules.

All entries remain the property of their authors.

Results for Last Week’s Challenge

Dropped Egg by Daleen Cowgar: An attractive man sits down beside a young woman on a bench and she plunges headlong into daydreams of the future they could have together while he sits staring upward the entire time. At the end of the story it is revealed that he has been staring at what he believes to be a dead squirrel in a tree and the young woman’s romantic dreams fall “like a dropped egg.” The ending is probably my favorite part because it was so funny. Thanks for the laugh, Daleen. 🙂

Not Today by Jeremy Bullard: A man recalls contemplating suicide after losing everything. His wife was killed by a drunk driver, he lost his job, started drinking, and had his children taken away from him. Then, back in the present, sober with his kids back in his custody, he explains to his children how he had wanted to climb to the top of Bernard Towers and “see if I could find Mommy up there.” “Is she up there?” his son asks. Tears fall as he answers, “Not today, buddy. Not today.” Thanks for this tender and well-written piece, Jeremy.

The Bringing of the Rain by Clueless: The protagonist recalls in striking images how the rain used to roll in when they were children and how “God’s handiwork was so awesome.” But in the present, the protagonist faces the death of a child and the storm clouds are now ominous rather than beautiful. This is a vivid, touching story. Sad, but written in a captivating style. Thanks for sharing.

Now for the results…

Champion: Clueless

Congratulations! Here’s your e-badge.

updated thursday 360 e-badge

 

The Prompt

And here’s the new prompt for this week’s challenge.

Remember the deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday, March 2nd.

Photo Credit, David Niblack, Imagebase.net

 

Also, remember to become a follower so you can get email notifications of results and new posts.

 

Check out Christian Flash Weekly after you’re done for another great contest to help you hone your short fiction skills.

10 thoughts on “Thursday 360 Challenge”

  2. Pingback: Dropped Egg | Thoughts from a Christian Cowgirl

  3. The Christians Aren’t Leaving

    WC: 299

     

    Stacie looked up from the garden. “What are you thinking about?”

    “Sermons.” Jayden muttered.

    “Sure you are.” She nudged him with her elbow. “I’m your wife. I know when something’s wrong.

    “I was followed again today.”

    Stacie sat up straight. “You were?”

    “Yeah, from Kirman’s closed market to Leon’s back alley. I think I lost them there.” Jayden dropped his head to his hands. “I couldn’t see them, but I could hear them, him, I don’t know. I turned, they turned. I stopped, they stopped. I started, they started.”

    “What should we do?”

    “Why are you asking me?” He moaned, glancing over at his wife.

    “You’re the pastor and the head of this house.” Stacie answered.

    “God wants me here.”

    “Then it’s settled.”

    “It is?”

    “Yes. It is.” Stacie nodded firmly.

    “You know we could both die staying, right?”

    “You know we could both die leaving, right?” Stacie countered.

    “Yes, but…”

    “…but God wants you here and who are we to disagree?”

    “The safest thing to do would be to try and get out of the country.” Jayden looked Stacie in the eye. “It’s what the Muslims told us to do if we want to live.”

    “But is it the smartest?” Stacie looked right back. “To save our lives now but throw away our eternal life because a couple of mortal men told us to?”

    “You keep me going, Stacie.” Jayden murmured, kneeling on the dirt beside her. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

    “That’s what I’m here for.” Stacie answered. Then she popped up. “Start thinking about Sunday’s sermons, Jayden. I’ve gotta make supper.”

    Across the road, the whole conversation was heard. The hearer grabbed a chunk of dirt, rolled it around in his hands, and slipped back to tell his authorities.

    The Christians aren’t leaving.

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  4. Scorched Earth

    This was his land. The land his father had fought and died for. The land where Cherokee and buffalo once ran wild, free as the high blue sky that hung above the prairies. The land that had been stained with the blood of Yankee and Rebel soldiers, watered by the tears of joys and sorrows. The land where he’d been born and where he’d die. This was wild land, untamed with a wild, savage beauty. Land where the distant echoes of voices past lie buried within the rich, black soil. Land with infinite potential, that held the keys to his past and future beneath the sun-bleached and wind-beaten prairie grasses. Land where his memories and dreams collided to create that one priceless place called home. Land where freedom rolled on across the plains, infinite like the sky. All the powers of man and earth could try to take it from him, but he’d fight for this land to his dying breath. He’d come too far to lose it now. No drought would take away his land. He’d water it with his blood, sweat, and tears if he had to. This was raw land, wild and majestic. This was his land. It was his, he screamed up at the scorching sun…and he prayed to God for rain.

    Approx. Word Count: 217

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