In early February I finished an online writing class and invited about a dozen writers I met through it to join me in an online writing group to stay in touch and encourage one another to keep writing. About half are fairly active and one suggested I provide them a weekly flash fiction challenge.

“Flash Fiction?” I replied. She explained. Prompt the group with three random words or a phrase and limit the writer to 300-350 words, yet aim to include all the elements of a short story: scene, main character, conflict, climax and resolution. Then share and offer feedback to one another.

Being me, I loved the idea but took it a step further, prompting twice a week with three words on Monday and a phrase each Thursday. I’ve been posting them consistently for 6 weeks now, and flash fiction can be a real challenge — both coming up with ideas and writing from my own prompts.

Tomorrow marks the 7th week, and ironically, creating a prompt to challenge others has been the biggest boon to my own consistent writing of fiction the last few months.

It truly is better to give than receive.

— The Impostor