Ultra Flash Fiction
Our annual three-hundred, one-syllable word Ultra Flash Fiction Contest was the diabolical brainchild of WMO’s founder, Al Manning. He wasn’t trying to be difficult. Instead, the exercise is designed to illustrate the importance of word choice and proofreading. Since its inception in 2010, many a fine story have fallen in the reject pile because a two-syllable snuck in past the writer.
In 2020, WMO invited all members of the North Carolina Writers’ Network to submit, and introduced a more palatable three-hundred, multi-syllable word contest for WMO members.
Some past winning entries are shown below. You can find others on our old website.
2022 Guidelines
Writers’ Morning Out will begin accepting submissions for the twelfth annual Ultra-Flash Fiction contest on August 1. The contest will have two divisions: one-syllable and
Winning Entries
2021 One Syllable Winner: “Fine” by Sandra Fischer
The call she knew would come came. He’s gone, they said. Died in his sleep. Tears fell, some for joy that he was free.
2021 Multi-Syllable Winner: None
There were no entries in the multi-syllable three hundred word contest.
2020 Multi-Syllables Winner: “Empty Rooms” by William Polf
He drove straight through, despite his full bladder and his aching left knee. He wanted to get to the summer house before sunset, and he
2020 One Syllable Winner: “Just Once” by Jane Shlensky
Since the stroke, his words won’t come—hide and seek, smudge and slur, thoughts and tongue as thick as mud yet clear to him. “Speak?”
2019 One Syllable Winner: “Life’s a Tale You Write as You Go” by Judith Stanton
Or so said Gran, the old witch. Who knew what she saw, what lay in the way; the then, the now, the what would be.
2018 One Syllable Winner: “Don’t” by Pat Shipman
I don’t talk much. They say I should. They say it is rude. They say I am strange, not right like them. They say