Random Word Flash Fiction

Ready to put on your creative writer caps (I actually have one that says "This is my Writer costume.") Go grab a dictionary or thesaurus.

For this flat mail swap (listed as a Type 3 because writing is a craft), you will create a flash fiction story of no more than 300 words using the five required words and five words you'll find using the parameters set forth below. And, in a note to your partner -- or in the story via underscore, bold or highlight -- be sure to identify your five new words.

Typing preferred, but legible handwriting accepted.

The five required words for your flash fiction are:

• asylum

• acquit

• cane

• almanac

• contaminate

Where did those words come from? The same place where you'll find the other five -- in your dictionary or thesaurus using the following rubric:

• Page 48: Any word of your choosing.

• Page 10: The 10th word.

• Page 100: The last word

• Page 25: The 12th word.

• Page 155: The first word in the second column.

NOTE: The words you're hunting for are the ones being used to find the meaning of or a synonym for, not the definitions or synonyms. Usually, but not always, you'll find the words we want for the swap in bold type in a dictionary or thesaurus.

For inquiring minds: The five required words for everyone used the same rubric. My source was a paperback Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus.

Not sure what Flash Fiction is? Here's a Writer's Digest article explaining the concept.

If we have a good outing with this, I'll post a second round of Random Word Flash Fiction.

Recap: Short story of no more than 300 words using the five required words plus five words that each participant will locate in a dictionary or thesaurus.

Snail mail. International. Group membership.