Alert: This episode contains heartbeat sound effects. Long ago, the human heart experienced an extraordinary change, all because one god wanted to find a quiet place to sleep. Genre: Mythology   Excerpt: A tale was once told among the ancestors of the people who live at the base of the great mountain to the north, from which a waterfall plummets into a river that winds across the land. The people who now live in that rich and lovely place still remember the tale of how and why their ancestors’ hearts once grew still and frigid. And they still remember what part the everyday gods played in ..read more

A moth dreams of visiting the Moon, but is too small to fly all the way. Genre: Mythology   Excerpt: When first the moths alighted in the world below, the land of earth, they did so out of curiosity. And they did so because they were sent forth from their home by their creator. Their home and their creator were one and same, and she bore the name Moon. And she was the moon.   What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?You’re a moth; what is your flame?  What draws you to it?Source: 500 Creative Prompts. Copyright © 2019 Piccadilly (USA) Inc.   Faster FictioneerE ..read more

After a man stuck in the middle seat of a long flight wishes he had more room in his row, his wish comes true: his seatmates start vanishing. Genre: Mystery   Excerpt: But saying it out loud, he sounded a little foolish to himself, so he laughed and waved a hand. “I’m probably just being a worrywart for nothing. But I figure better safe than sorry.” The flight attendants agreed. And they said they’d look for his missing seatmates, and if they returned in the meantime, they asked if John would come back and let them know. They would be serving the final snacks for the flight in about fifte ..read more

Two passengers find themselves alone just after takeoff, on a plane that seems to be floating in some substance that the passengers can only define as being green and gold. Genre: Science Mystery   Excerpt: If we were asleep, and the plane crashed into an ocean with green-and-gold water, and we’re now sinking, and the rest of the passengers managed to get out, then how did they all get a chance to take their luggage? And how did they then close the cabin doors again?   What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?Prompt: That was the last thing I needed to see in the middle of t ..read more

During his first week working at a unique pizzeria, Ronnie encounters some uncanny late-night customers, who place an order for the rarest pizza on the menu. Genre: Fantasy   Excerpt:“What…what will this one do?” Ronnie asked as he folded fresh rosemary leaves and parmesan flakes into the dough. “It’ll make the customer swoon with pleasure upon first bite is what it will do.” Madeleine Miriam cocked an eyebrow. “And it’ll treat those infected gums on the left side of his jaw.”   What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?Describe your favorite food in no more than five words ..read more

Three friends decide to do their science project on a forgotten novelty invention, a self-peeling banana. Genre: Science Fiction   Excerpt: “What about dinosaurs?” I said after a few minutes. “We could do our project on how and why they went extinct. That’s exciting.” K.D. shook her head. “It might seem too basic. Like something we would have done in the fifth grade.” She loved dinosaurs. She probably didn’t want someone making fun of our project if it was about the thing she loved most. “But maybe you’re on the right track. Animals, but rare ones. What about cryptids?”   What’s the ..read more

A young journalist follows her latest lead into a quirky fast food place located in her dreams.  Genre: Mysterious Fantasy   Excerpt: “Welcome to Thoughtsburger, would you like to try our new Weltschmerz platter with a side of Bitterness and Longing?” Ria stared at the person who had just addressed her. “Uh, no, thank you.”   What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?Write a menu for a fictional fast-food restaurant.Source: A Writer’s Year: 365 Creative Writing Prompts. Text by Emma Bastow. Copyright © 2019 HarperCollins Publishers   You might also appreciate s ..read more

To save her friends and herself from being eaten, a ghost crab enters a juggling contest with a devious and possibly unbeatable opponent. Genre: Fable Excerpt: Four unlikely friends were frolicking in the ocean one day. They were the Ghost Crab, the Blue Marlin, the Jellyfish, and the Nautilus. The crab and the marlin splashed about on the surface, and dove back down, while the jelly and the mollusk bobbed gently under the surface. Overhead, there passed the shadow of the Seagull, who watched the friends with great interest, a great interest born of a keen hunger. Here she saw a variety of swe ..read more

When a young man sees his reflection in a pool as he has never seen it before, he is both mesmerized and suspicious. Genre: Mythology    Excerpt: One day, he had an enticing thought. Then he chastised himself and told himself it was a silly and foolish thought. He shook his head as if shaking off the thought, but it was a sticky thought. It would not be forgotten. And so, he leaned down closer to his reflection, closer and closer, until his lips touched the surface of the water, and the lips of his reflection.   What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?The prompt was a ..read more

Longtime lovers the ogre and the elf each recall the first few days of their honeymoon a bit differently. Genre: Fairy Tale   Excerpt: The ogre snapped her fingers and furrowed her warty brow. “What was the name of the place where we stayed…was it…the Twilight Twinklings Inn?” “No darling, that was for our first anniversary, when we went up north to see the lights.” The ogre brought her fist down on the table, making the forks jump. “Might of the Mermaid! That’s the place.” The elf nodded, then chuckled as a memory arose. “First mishap, our missing luggage…”   What’s the Writing Prom ..read more