Psst! Ember here. I hacked our emails to get you your prompts a touch early. You’re welcome—and you can thank me by writing a great story!

My First Contest starts now.

First, The Prizes

With 112 sign-ups, we’ve increased prizes again! The final amounts for this contest will be:

• 1st place: US $275 (from $225)

• 2nd place: US $250 (from $200)

• 3rd place: US $225 (from $175)

• 3 honorable mentions: US $80 (from $65)

Second, The Deets

Just in case you forgot…

• Word count: 750–1250

• Genre: Open

• Stories due: 10:00 pm Eastern US (New York) on Monday, February 2

• Results: Monday, March 16

Third, Your Prompts

For your story, you must incorporate two different prompts from two different categories below (e.g., one location and one item, or one item and one action, but not two items or two events). No bonus points for using a prompt from all three, but you’re welcome to give it a go if it sparks something for you!

Locations

• A ship stuck in ice

• A rural gas station

• The top of a mesa

• A floating market

If you choose a location prompt, at least some part of your story must be set there—the whole story doesn’t need to be, but the location cannot simple be mentioned or occur off the page.

Items

• A harp that can't be played

• A book with ever-changing text

• An incorrect coffee order with latte art

• A coffin that speaks to its inhabitant

If you choose an item prompt, the item must appear in the story. It does not have to be central to the plot, but our rubric does consider prompt integration, so the more central it is, the better your story is likely to do!

Events

• Someone willing is sacrificed

• A lie turns out to be true

• A pay phone rings

• Someone seeks refuge in the stars

If you choose an event prompt, the event should be important to your plot. However, it does not need to happen on the page. For example, if you choose “someone willing is sacrificed,” your story could address the aftermath of someone sacrificing herself to save others during a zombie apocalypse. Even though the event happened before the story began, it still has significant impact on the story.

Fourth, Submitting Your Story

When you’re ready, you can submit your story at the link below. You may submit as many times as you like before the form closes; we will judge your latest submission. (However, I have to clear extra submissions manually, so please try not to do it like 30 times 🙃)

You’ll need your order number to submit. It’s .

Submit story

If you have questions, please reply to this email and we’ll get back to you as soon as I can!