New competition themeApril 2025 Our competition theme for April to June 2025 is an image prompt: Vor dem Tanz [Before the Dance], Austria 1872, by Franz von Defregger (1835-1921) Whether you focus on the dancers or the musicians, the people in the foreground or the background, or those just out of frame, we want to hear their story. What are they saying, doing, eating, and thinking? What are their hopes for the night? What happens before the dance, and what is the result? As usual, the word...

New competition themeJanuary 2025 Our competition theme for January to March 2025 is Square. Whether your character is making a 5-by-5 bingo card for the new year, or a giant 452 grid (for some reason); whether they meet for tea in a quaint European square, or click their heels across Vermeer's black and white tiles - we look forward to see what you come up with for our first theme of 2025! As usual, the word limit is 500 words, we're open to any style, genre or form (including poetry,...

Writing Opportunitiesspring 2024 Dear all, In this update: April-June competition theme: Rough Free trial of Rise and Shine, online writers' platform Spaces available in our weekly feedback group Fourth Floor anthology update New competition theme Our competition theme for April to June 2024 is Rough. From your rough first draft, to a rough day at the office; from a rough diamond to a golf ball in the rough. Your character might only roughly know where they’re going, or might be too rough...