Furious Fiction - Australian Writers' Centre

Furious Fiction - Australian Writers' Centre

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Posted 2022-09-05 by Gayle Beveridge-Marienfollow

Fri 01 Sep 2023

The Furious Fiction is a free to enter competition. The competition runs on the first weekend of each quarter. The prompts for your 500-word story are published at 5pm on the Friday night and you have until midnight Sunday to submit your entry online. That's 55 hours!


I have entered twice before and although I wasn't a winner; it was a lot of fun. If you're wondering what sort of prompts you're likely to encounter, this has been my experience. The first time I tried the prompts were: Each story had to begin on the side of a road.Each story must include the words APRON, PIGMENT, RIBBON, ICON, LEMON Each story had to include a splash.My story was titled 'Conversations in a Laundromat.'


The second time I gave it a shot, the prompts were:Your story's setting: a COURT of some kind.Your story must include a character who measures something.Your story must include the words BALLOON, ROCK, UMBRELLAMy story was titled 'Birthday Bash.'

Click here to read the past winning and short-listed stories.


Here is the basic information for the competition:
Competition website: https://www.writerscentre.com.au/furious-fiction/
Terms and Conditions: https://www.writerscentre.com.au/terms-and-conditions-furious-fiction/
Country of Origin: Australia.
Notification: Click on 'Notify Me When It Begins' on the competition website.
Known Restrictions: Over 17 years of age.
Theme: A series of prompts apply to each story.
Word Count: to 500 words
Submission Deadline: Competition runs on the first weekend of every quarter. Prompts are supplied at 5pm Friday night and you have until midnight Sunday night to get your story in.
Expected Results Date: Within a month of submission.
Prizes: No prize money is offered.
Publication: The winner and the shortlisted entries are published on the Australian Writers Centre website.
Entry Fees: Free.

Upcoming competition dates: 5pm Friday December 2nd 2022 to midnight Sunday December 4th 20225pm Friday March 3rd 2023 to midnight Sunday March 5th 20235pm Friday June 2nd 2023 to midnight Sunday June 4th 20235pm Friday September 1st 2023 to midnight Sunday September 3rd 20235pm Friday December 1st 2023 to midnight Sunday December 3rd 2023


It sounds daunting, but once you get into it, you'll be surprised at what comes to mind. If you're new to writing competitions, check out the article Tips for Entering Writing Competitions .

The competition is run by the Australian Writers Centre which also offers writing courses and a free sign up to their regular newsletter. I love the newsletter, which usually has a humorous tone to it.So, what are you waiting for? Hop over to the Furious Fiction website and click the 'Notify Me When It Begins' button.

Still think it's a bit hard? Here's one of my past attempts 'Birthday Bash' which answered the prompts:Your story's setting: a COURT of some kind.Your story must include a character who measures something.our story must include the words BALLOON, ROCK, UMBRELLA


Birthday Bash"Happy birthday to you," Scott holds his beer glass high and the boom of his song drowns out the rest of the family. "Happy birthday you old coot, happy birthday to you.""What do you mean, old coot!" Harry leans across the table towards his son, his long beard narrowly avoiding the raging fire of eighty candles."Oh, come on Dad. It's not like you can do what you used to.""I could hold my own against you any day."Scott's beer-belly rocks and rolls as he bellows his raucous laughter."Right," shouts Harry, "I challenge you to a game of tennis.""What! That court hasn't been used for years. There are cracks in it.""Afraid this 'old coot' will beat you, then. Are you?""Dad, there isn't even a net anymore."Harry pushes away from the table, leaving birthday candles melting onto the cake and presents unopened. All eyes turn to Scott. The family, well-trained in these matters, expresses their discontent with silent stares.Harry returns with his surveyor's long tape, calls a grandson to hold it and stomps across the court, the tape unreeling behind him. His measuring done, he disappears into the garage again before emerging with his super long extension cord and tying it around the first net post."An extension cord Dad; you've got to be joking.""There's nothing else long enough and I'm improvising. Not something your generation would understand, eh?"

Scott laughs as the second post begins to topple. "Game over, Dad."Harry glares from beneath verandah-eyebrows and calls to his younger son. "Here, get three of those rocks out of Mum's garden and shore up this post." Everybody knows there is no stopping this now.Scott's mother drags a plastic chair up to the side of the court as their eldest grandson delivers a large umbrella, and the tennis ball and rackets she had sent him to collect."Mum…" Scott raises a hand in dismay. "I'm the chair umpire." She waves a dismissive hand and settles under the umbrella's shade. "Get on with it. Harry, you serve."Scott reaches into his pocket. "Aren't we supposed to flip a coin?" "It's your father's birthday."Harry smirks, walks to the base line, tosses the ball up and hits it with one almighty THWOK! At precisely the same time, a pink balloon, escaped from his great-granddaughter's grasp just seconds ago, floats past and POP! Tennis ball - fifteen, balloon–love.


The toddler bursts into tears, her sweet face distorted in her distress."Default," Mum calls, "Disqualified!""Damn it, woman, what default!" Harry tosses his racket to the ground."Severe mental anguish inflicted on cute innocent spectator." "Ha," Scott holds his racket high, "I win."Mum points a finger at Scott. "Default," she calls. "Disqualified!""What have I done?" he protests. "You were rude to your father on his birthday, and now Shari's poor little heart is broken. You should be ashamed. Game over. No winner. Somebody relight the candles."

#december
#win_stuff
#unusual_things_to_do
#literary
#fun_things_to_do
#free
!date 01/09/2023 -- 01/09/2023
%wnmelbourne
103670 - 2023-06-12 10:50:57

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