While in remote learning our students were offered the opportunity to participate in some extra cocurricular creative writing. Called the ‘Flash Fiction Challenge’, it was hoped that the activity would provide students with daily writing practice and nurture and encourage students’ creativity.
The Fast Fiction Challenge involved providing a one-word prompt and the students then had to write a 30-word short story based on the prompt. The challenge also coincided with the virtual Melbourne Writers Festival, who also offered the same challenge to the general public.
Over six weeks, various prompts were given to the students. The below short stories were judged to be the best.
The overall winner was Denisse Lopez Garza (Year 8 Blue) (pictured), who used the prompt ‘wind’:
I look down at my watch. It's time for powerful, destructive winds to sweep everything into the calm night sky. Nobody believed my calculations. They'll regret that very, very soon.
An honourable mention was awarded to Emma Di Paola (Year 11 Silver) whose story was based on the prompt ‘hero’:
Screams ran through ears as they dropped to their knees. Being abandoned without comfort hurt more than the fresh scars. Yet, a stranger, came to hold them. No questions asked.
Another honourable mention goes to Shae Preston (Year 11 Gold) who used the prompt ‘wind’ to create her short story:
Thoughts swirled through his head like wind through trees of a storm. Branches snapping under the force causing the next blow within his mental state, slowly, slowly, loosening his grip.
Book vouchers will be awarded to all the winners and there will also be encouragement awards for everyone who participated in the challenge. Well done everyone!
