53-Word Story Contest

Each month we offer a prompt to subscribers of Press 53 and Prime Number Magazine 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.

Prompt for May: If you’re wanting for writing inspiration, look for the Eta Aquariids peaking this month. Meteors, like a good story, make their presence known quickly, flash brilliance for their beholders, and never, ever, linger longer than they should. But, whatever it is that moves your pen this month, just try to keep it clean.

Write a 53-word story about showers

53-Word Bio
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Lindsey James draws inspiration for her writing from the people and landscapes of rural eastern Washington State. By day, she swaps classic stories for fresh slang with her middle school students. You can read her previously published work in the Saturday Evening Post and the Penmen Review.

Prompt for June: Dr. Seuss asks, “How did it get so late so soon? . . . December is here before it’s June.” Indeed, how is it time to say farewell to spring? Do the seasons get shorter as the days grow longer? This month those will shorten too; it seems we will open our eyes to winter soon. 

Write a 53-word story about a blink

53-Word Bio
Bari Lynn Hein is a wife, mother, feminist, cockeyed optimist, amateur genealogist, art lover, music lover, and former bakery manager who still loves to bake—all of which factor into her writing. Her published short stories have won awards and reached readers in eleven countries—so far. You can learn more at barilynnhein.com

Prompt for July: We might think of shortening days as a curfew, which once meant to cover and save the hearth fire. We might think of the sloping sun behind an afternoon cloud mass. We might think of hotel vacations and groups of elevators. We might think of reliable weather. We might think of storing memories.

Write a 53-word story about a bank

53-Word Bio
Chrystel Roberts is a free-spirited African woman living in her homeland of Zambia. A single parent of three, she writes short stories and poetry as a pastime. One of Chrystel’s poems won her first prize in a national poetry contest; to her delight, the poem was recited on ZNBC, Zambia’s national television station.

Prompt for August: August 10 is National S’mores Day. Yep, a celebration of graham crackers, chocolate bars, marshmallows, and a nice fire. My daughter prefers her marshmallow between chocolate chip cookies. I’ve never been a fan of S’mores, but I’m a bit of a marshmallow myself, so I play along whenever someone says “Let’s make S’mores!”

Write a 53-word story about a marshmallow