Winners of the January, February & March
53-Word Story Contest!

Our FREE, Monthly
53-Word Story Contest

Each month we offer a prompt to write a 53-word story—no more, no less—and send it to us by the fifteenth day of the month. Our editors select one winning story, and the author receives a book from Press 53 as well as publication in Prime Number Magazine. Want to play along? Subscribe to Prime Number Magazine for free and we’ll send you the prompt on the first day of each month. You can also find the prompt and the previous month’s winning story at the 53-Word Story Contest page.

Scroll down to read our winners for January, February, and March 2022

Nina Miller

January 2022

Prompt: Write a 53-word story about a dynamic duo

Craving for Two

There's not enough malt vinegar in the world to quench my desire for battered haddock nestled in a mound of greasy chips wrapped in oil-soaked newspaper.

"There's a chip shop open somewhere," hubby insists, blinded by the rising sun.

I feel the boys wrestle in utero, hoping to calm them with crispy filet.

~ ~ ~

53-Word Bio
Nina Miller is a physician and fencer who started writing during the pandemic. Her work appears in the Flash Flood Journal, Bright Flash Literary Review, 50 Give or Take, and 101 Words. While she loves fish and chips, her brother, sister-in-law, and rambunctious twin nephews inspired this moment. Read more at ninamillerwrites.com

Sara Elizabeth Dowd

February 2022

Prompt: Write a 53-word story about being resourceful

Please Follow Proper Courtroom Etiquette

The witness testimony is crucial, filling the interpreter’s brain with dovetailing streams of letters, concepts, and possible renderings. All eyes lock on her as the silence awaiting her interpretation threatens to swallow her whole.

Rummaging quickly through her arsenal of Korean slang, she locates the equivalent in English. Satisfied, she begins:

“That shithead…”

~ ~ ~

53-Word Bio
Sara Elizabeth (Elle) Dowd is a Spanish interpreter who side hustles as an adjunct professor. She lives in New York where she does volunteer cat fostering. You might find her playing War at the casino (which isn’t really considered gambling) when she’s not occupied perfecting her mom’s quiche recipe or practicing hot yoga.

Jill Mills

March 2022

Prompt: Write a 53-word story about rearranging

Don't Mess with Dewey

Meg stared at the clash of colors lining the walls. To her eyes this was chaos to be tamed. As she worked a smooth gradient appeared from red to violet... a perfect rainbow. "MEG!" came a harsh whisper, breaking the pleasure of the moment. "What have you done?... The books...” sighed the librarian.