Flash Fiction Draw for May 2021

It’s May! That means the year is one-third over, and time’s a-wasting. So let’s get right to this month’s Flash Fiction Draw.

(If you want to skip the song and dance, click here to go right to the prompt.)

If you’re unfamiliar with this, here’s the deal: I draw three cards from a deck of playing cards, each from a different suit, and use those to select a genre, setting, and random item for a writing prompt. From there, you have a week from today (Monday, May 10, in other words) to write a 1,000-word or less flash fiction piece based on the prompt. Simple, right? Right.

To recap, here’s where we stand so far. The grayed-out items have been used already:

Card drawnGenreSettingObject
1RomanceSpaceshipRay gun
2Science FictionRestaurant kitchenKey
3Fairy TaleStudio apartment in a big cityHairbrush
4HorrorAuditoriumLength of rope
5MysterySewerPendant and necklace
6ThrillerHighway tollboothPotted plant
7ComedyFarm fieldTablet computer
8FantasyPawn shopFountain pen
9Ghost StoryMarshDecorative pillow
10SuspenseTulip fieldVacuum cleaner
JCrime CaperTrunk of a carBouquet of roses
QAction/AdventureToolshed / Utility closetA stray sock
KHistorical FictionShopping mallSuitcase

And here’s the prompt:

As always, if you want to get right to the good stuff, here’s the prompt:

  • Science fiction (“double feature“)…
  • in an auditorium…
  • with a tablet computer.

Remember, there’s no pressure here, so if you take longer than a week, or if your story turns out to be longer than a thousand words, or you only incorporate two of the three elements, or if you end up writing a breakaway pop hit instead of a story, it’s all valid! But be sure to email me, or tweet at me, or leave a comment below to let me know what you’ve written.