Make a quick $5

This challenge has now closed. Thanks to all for your support. Winners are announced and showcased here:

Winners of the Golden Tea Leaf

There are two ways to make $5 on Vocal by Monday. Write something worthy, post it up on Vocal and hope you’ll get 800+ reads (you do the math) or…

Write a quick flash fiction about a thief and win the $5 prize tip on offer. Details are all here:

This is a great bit of weekend fun. We don’t want a serious literary accomplishment, just a great idea for a simple story about a thief.

Just spend an hour, 30 minutes or, even better, much less. Some of the entries so far have taken less that 10 minutes to write. The quicker, the better. Keep it simple, keep it quick, keep it brief and post it up by Sunday night. Show the world you can come up with a great character and tell their tale in just a hundred words or so. Though there is no upper or lower word limit.

Just imagine you are with a group of people you have just told you are a writer, and someone says:

So tell us a story

Wow! That’s put you on the spot. You gotta think of something quick. If you can’t do that, everyone will know your claim is a sham. This is your chance to impress. Come on! You are a storyteller. We know you can do it!

If you are not sure where to begin, why not start with:

Once upon a time there was a thief

Then think of something new and original they might steal like:

[name/pronoun] stole a line from my poem

Then think what might happen next like:

They wrote a whole new poem based on that one line

Then an ending, maybe

The poem stole my heart away.

We all know you can do much better than that. But it really is that easy so you have no excuse.

Just think up an original idea for a character (or steal someone else’s) who is a thief. Then write a quick-fire flash fiction about something they steal. Post on vocal in the usual way. Then link the story in comments.

It’s that easy

Winners are listed here:

Everyone’s a winner

Use the opportunity to show your talent. Write a quick story in less than an hour (if you can) that is as engaging as it is original.

Skip the soul searching serious literary exploration. This is a bit of fun with a little $5 tip for the best of the best entries.

BTW this story was written on my ancient iPhone. Why not try it? Great way to keep a narrative brief, and to the point, and word choice economic.

Here are some of my short stories about thieves and thievery

The Inside Job

A bank executive stands to benefit from assisting a heist team to rob his bank. Will he get away with it?

A macabre profession

To me, the ‘eerie’ silence of the secluded sepulchre was a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the wicked world outside. If I found what I was looking for it would certainly be worth my while.

A great train robber

He was the politest thief I ever met.

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Have fun fellow thieves