Welcome to MAY FURIOUS FICTION!

Here are your MAY story challenge prompts:

Your story must include a VOTE for something or someone.
Your story must feature an item made of silk.
Your story must include the words ANGRY, CIRCLE, STRIKE. (Longer variations are acceptable as long as original spelling is retained, e.g. “circled” but not “striking”)

Ready to have some storytelling fun? Embrace the creative challenge and be sure to share your progress over the weekend by tagging #furiousfiction on your socials.

GET OUT THE VOTE

Giving characters a choice to make can add interest for them and your reader. So this weekend, we’re being a little indulgent, because here in Australia there’s a national election taking place. HOWEVER, don’t let that sway you – there are many ‘votes’ your story could explore:

An election is indeed what comes to mind first. But there are plenty of ways to mix it up. Maybe it’s not a nationwide poll. It could be for the city council. Or class president. Maybe it’s set in a country getting democracy for the first time? Lots of areas to explore besides the obvious!
Votes are also a big part of reality shows. Maybe your story takes place on an island where people are voted off? Or any one of the other similar shows where contestants vote. OR is your character watching from home and voting for their favourite musician etc?
Prom king and queen anyone?
Actual ballots don’t need to feature. We use informal democracy in friend groups all the time. Maybe it’s a vote on a road trip of what music to listen to. A trivia team might vote on which answer to go with. Flatmates might vote on who should do the dishes.
Perhaps go topical with a story that looks at selecting the next pope?
Big events like the Olympics, Football World Cup or Academy Awards are all decided on through a secret ballot system. Maybe you go historical and play out a previous win or invent your own scenario.
Smaller things need votes too sometimes. For example, a homeowners’ group (body corporate) might vote on repaving the driveway.
A vote for a favourite story in a writing competition? Ahem. Be careful with that one – if you choose to do it, you’ll need to do it VERY well!
Whatever you do, have fun with the story. Maybe try something new – this is a risk-free creative sand box. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Your story must be a maximum of 500 words. Hyphenated words and contractions each count as just one word. NOTE: if you require italics for your story, please place an asterisk *before and after* the italic section(s). We’ll be featuring our Top Pick and a selection of our favourite stories at the end of the month!

Please complete the form BELOW to submit your story.

Submissions close MIDNIGHT Sunday 4 May 2025 (Sydney/Melbourne time). A countdown timer is located above.

HAPPY WRITING!

Furious Fiction Submit Story

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Name*

Pen name (optional)

Email address*

State*

Country*

Story title*

(If you don’t have a title, use ‘Untitled’ – but we recommend a title!)

Your story*

CAPTCHA

Not yet a member of the Furious Fiction Fan Club?

Click on the big blue button below to sign up to the Furious Fiction Fan Club and be notified about each monthly challenge!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: So tell me – what is FURIOUS FICTION?
A: FURIOUS FICTION is a monthly short story challenge from the Australian Writers’ Centre.

Q: How does it work?
A: On the FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH, we will unveil a new story challenge. You then have 55 hours and a maximum of 500 words to wow us with your storytelling skills.

Q: Can I see one you prepared earlier?
A: Of course! In fact, over on our story showcase archive, you can explore all of the previous challenges and featured stories since 2018! (Get comfy.)

Q: So, how much is it to be part of this?
A: Please, put your wallet away. It’s free to participate.

Q: Wait. Did you just say it’s FREE?
A: We did!

Q: How can I be part of FURIOUS FICTION?
A: It’s easy. The challenge is open worldwide to participants aged 17 years and over. Sign up to the Furious Fiction Fan Club to be notified when the next challenge goes LIVE.

Short Story Essentials

Write stories that dazzle readers in 2500 words

Self-paced Feedback $395

FOCUS ON... Developing characters who can carry a story

Create primary players with page-turning powers

Self-paced $70

Terms and Conditions: Furious Fiction

This is a challenge conducted by Australian Writers’ Centre Pty Limited (“AWC”) ABN 68 118 584 071.

Information on how to enter form part of these Terms and Conditions. Participation in this challenge is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

Entry must be in English and is open to entrants worldwide aged 17 years and over. AWC employees and the immediate family members of such employees are ineligible to enter.

Immediate family means any of the following: spouse, ex-spouse, de-facto spouse, child or step-child (whether by natural or by adoption), parent, step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, brother, sister, step-brother, or step-sister.

The challenge is FREE to enter. Any other costs associated with accessing the competition (e.g. Internet access charges) are the entrant’s responsibility.

The challenge is a game of skill in which chance plays no part in determining the best stories.

Challenge commences at 5pm AEDT on the first Friday of each month and closes at 11.59pm AEDT Sunday three days later (“the competition period”).
To enter, entrants must complete the Entry Form on the Submit Your Story page, including the required details, and submit their story within the word limit during the competition period. Emailed, posted or late entries will not be accepted.

The entered story must be 500 words or fewer and adhering to the defined challenge criteria. Stories must be the original work of the entrant, and previously unpublished. Once an entry has been submitted, it is final and cannot be withdrawn or edited by the entrant. However, the Australian Writers’ Centre reserves the right to edit for obvious minor typos before publication if required, where it will not substantially change the work.

Only one entry permitted per person per round.

Copyright is retained by the author at all times. By entering this challenge, all entrants grant permission for their story to be published (along with their name/pen name) on the Australian Writers’ Centre website, newsletter and social media platforms, and read aloud on the ‘So you want to be a writer’ podcast.

AWC reserves the right, at any time, to verify the validity of entries and entrants (including an entrant’s identity and place of residence) and to disqualify any entrant who submits an entry that is not in accordance with these Terms and Conditions or who tampers with the entry process. Failure by AWC to enforce any of its rights at any stage does not constitute a waiver of those rights.

If this challenge is interfered with in any way or is not capable of being conducted as reasonably anticipated due to any reason beyond the reasonable control of the AWC, AWC reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to the fullest extent permitted by law (a) to disqualify any entrant; or (b) subject to any written directions from a regulatory authority, to modify, suspend, terminate or cancel the competition, as appropriate.

Except for any liability that cannot be excluded by law, AWC (including its officers, employees and agents) excludes all liability (including negligence), for any personal injury; or any loss or damage (including loss of opportunity); whether direct, indirect, special or consequential, arising in any way out of the competition, including, but not limited to, where arising out of the following: (a) any technical difficulties or equipment malfunction (whether or not under the AWC’s control); (b) any theft, unauthorised access or third party interference; (c) any entry or prize claim that is late, lost, altered, damaged or misdirected (whether or not after their receipt by AWC) due to any reason beyond the reasonable control of AWC; (d) any variation in prize value to that stated in these Terms and Conditions; (e) any tax liability incurred by a winner or entrant; or (f) use of a prize.

AWC collects personal information in order to conduct the competition and will never disclose this information to a 3rd party. AWC may, for an indefinite period unless otherwise advised, use the information for its own promotional, marketing and publicity purposes including sending electronic messages or telephoning the entrant. Entrants should direct any request to access, update or correct information to AWC.

These Terms and Conditions are subject to change at any time without notice.