2025 Braidwood Microfiction Challenge

​

Welcome to the Microfiction Story Challenge!

In this exciting contest, participants will be allocated specific prompts that include a genre, an action, and a word. Your task is to weave these elements into a compelling and concise story, all within the 100-word limit.

Genre: The genre will set the tone and backdrop of your story, ranging from science fiction to fantasy, mystery, romance, or any other imaginative realm.

Action: The action prompt will drive the plot forward, requiring your protagonist to engage in a specific activity or event, such as discovering a hidden message, embarking on a journey, or solving a puzzle.

Word: The word prompt must seamlessly integrate into your narrative, adding depth and intrigue to your story. It could be anything from "luminescent" to "whisper," "ancient," or "enigmatic."

​

• Entries Open: now

• Story Prompts Available: emailed to you after we receive your registration.

• Submit Stories: Friday, July 11

• Launch: Saturday, July 19

​

How To Enter the Microfiction Story Challenge

• Send an email to microfiction@bragart.com.au to register and receive your prompts. Include your full name and, if you prefer for privacy, a pen name.

• Prompt Allocation: You will receive prompts via email. Each participant will be assigned a unique genre, action, and word prompt.

• Writing Period: The deadline for submission is Friday, July 11.

• Submission Format: Submit your story as a PDF document using 14-point Arial font. The submission should include your name/pen name, the story title (no more than 10 words, not included in the word count), and the assigned genre, action, and word prompts.

Launch on Saturday July 19

• The entries will be pinned up around the BRAG rooms

• 11am the authors may read out their own stories

• People’s choice – people place stickers on their favourite stories – and the top 5 get their stories published on the BRAG website and our social media.​

... and then there is AI:

Get ready to unleash your creative flair! This competition is all about letting your imagination run wild. While there are plenty of AI tools out there that can help with editing and fixing grammar or spelling mistakes, we want you to put your spin on telling a story. Think of this as a delightful challenge where you get to be the judge of how AI plays a role in your writing. We do have some programs to check for AI use, but remember, the real fun is crafting a story that's all yours, with just a sprinkle of those fun limitations to keep things interesting. So, grab your pens (or keyboards) and let’s see what magical tales you can create!

​​

We would like to acknowledge the NYC Midnight competitions, which have inspired this event. We encourage you to visit their website for excellent examples of 100-word Microfiction stories.