Sunday Flash Fiction Special #1

This month, I’m participating in the 2014 April A-to-Z Blogging Challenge, where we post a letter-related blog article every day during April (except Sundays). My “theme” this year is flash fiction, and to that end, I’m posting 100-word pieces of flash fiction. You might wonder: why 100-words? The inspiration for that comes from the person who got me into writing flash fiction in the first place: literary agent Janet Reid. She periodically holds writing contests on her blog where she invites her readers to submit stories of no more than 100 words. There’s usually a twist (often five words that must be included in the story), and a prize for the story she likes best. I’ve participated in a number of these over the past few years, and they have helped my writing a lot. So this month’s challenge is, in part, an homage to Janet and her contests.

Since we take a break from the A-to-Z Challenge every Sunday, I thought it might be fun to use this day to re-post some of the stories I’ve written for Janet’s contests. Each piece I’ve chosen was either a finalist, or at least received special recognition. On the last Sunday of the month, I’ll post my only win (so far).

THE GONE FISHING WRITING CONTEST

(August 23, 2013)

Must include: Beautiful, Downtown, Queens, Rental, Cat

My entry:

Here’s the problem: Pet-less in New York meets a gorgeous animal lover at a party, and invites her over for drinks the next evening. I need a pet for tonight to impress the lovely Laura.

Then I see the ad: “Beautiful rental cat. Downtown Queens“—followed by the address.

Twenty bucks seems reasonable for a one-night cat, but when you include accessories—food, litter, toys—it gets expensive. This had better be one helluva kitty.

I walk to the apartment door and ring the bell. The door opens.

It’s Laura.

“Rental cat?”

“Meow,” Laura says, grinning.

See you tomorrow for my “F” story…