Articles

Meet the Not-Quite-Writer: Jo Skinner
n this article, we interview Jo Skinner. Jo makes regular appearances on the Not Quite Write Prize longlist and has just announced the release of her novel, The Truth About My Daughter with Hawkeye Publishing.
Level Up! Opening With Dialogue
Ed and Amanda share their top tips for taking your flash fiction game to the next level.
Meet the Not-Quite-Writer: Chad Frame
In this article, we interview Chad Frame, WINNER of the April 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction. Chad has been with the Not Quite Write Prize from the start and prepared for his win by also placing 2nd in the January 2024 round of the competition.
Results of the July 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction
The July 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words, which: 1. included the word TABLE. 2. included the action “stealing something.” 3. broke the writing rule “avoid purple prose.” Read all the stories that made the shortlist, along with…
Level Up! Flash Fiction Tropes
How original is my idea? In this article, we dish the dirt on the most common stories submitted to 5 major flash fiction competitions: The Not Quite Write Prize, Furious Fiction, Twist in the Tale, Writing Battle, and Globe Soup. We call these story ideas the Flash Fiction Tropes.
Meet the Not-Quite-Writer: Athena Law
In this article, we interview Athena, WINNER of the January 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction.
Writing rules: Avoid Purple Prose
Ahh, purple prose: a trap laid with delicious words to capture unsuspecting writers! Writers are often cautioned against falling into this trap, but it can be hard to tell the difference between beautiful words and purple ones in the wild. In this article we hope to explain what purple prose looks like, as well as…
Meet the Not-Quite-Writer: Dean Koorey
In this article, we interview Dean Koorey, renowned Furious Fiction judge, 4th place holder in the January 2024 Not Quite Write Prize, and WINNER of the 2024 NYC Midnight 250 Word Flash Fiction Challenge.
Level Up! Naming Your Character
Ed and Amanda share their top tips for taking your flash fiction game to the next level.
Results of the April 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction
The April 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words, which: 1. included the word DATE. 2. included the action “picking a winner.” 3. broke the writing rule “always use said.” Read all the stories that made the shortlist, along…
Writing rules: Always use said
A writing rule you’ll often hear is that you should always use the dialogue tag “said” rather than a more descriptive verb. This can be confusing because it contradicts other writing advice which tells us to opt for descriptive verbs wherever possible.
Level Up! Choosing a Killer Title
Ed and Amanda share their top tips for taking your flash fiction game to the next level.
Results of the January 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction
The January 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words, which: 1. included the word PUNCH. 2. included the action “spilling something.” 3. broke the writing rule “avoid clichés.” Read all the stories that made the shortlist, along with comments…
WTF is an “anti-prompt”?
Like many other writing competitions, the Not Quite Write Prize uses creative writing prompts to inspire and challenge entrants (and to ensure your entries are written for this comp and not some other purpose). Unlike other writing competitions, the Not Quite Write Prize also includes something called an “anti-prompt”. The Not Quite Write Prize anti-prompt…
How the Judging Process Works
At Not Quite Write, we value transparency in the judging process, so we’ve put together this handy overview so you can see what happens after you hit “Submit”.
How to format your Not Quite Write Prize Entry
We know what it’s like to enter a competition and wonder how the story will look on the other end, particularly when submitting via an online form. In the interests of transparency, we thought we’d share a little more detail about how the entry process works. We hope it helps to soothe some of those…
How to Win the Not Quite Write Prize
The judges of the Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction share their tips for writing prize-winning flash.
Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction 2023 – Winner & Shortlist
The 2023 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 600 words, which: 1. included the word RITE. 2. included the action “crossing a line.” 3. broke the writing rule “avoid all adverbs.” Read all the stories that made the shortlist, along with…

Meet the Not-Quite-Writer: Jo Skinner
n this article, we interview Jo Skinner. Jo makes regular appearances on the Not Quite Write Prize longlist and has just announced the release of her novel, The Truth About My Daughter with Hawkeye Publishing.
Level Up! Opening With Dialogue
Ed and Amanda share their top tips for taking your flash fiction game to the next level.
Meet the Not-Quite-Writer: Chad Frame
In this article, we interview Chad Frame, WINNER of the April 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction. Chad has been with the Not Quite Write Prize from the start and prepared for his win by also placing 2nd in the January 2024 round of the competition.
Results of the July 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction
The July 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words, which: 1. included the word TABLE. 2. included the action “stealing something.” 3. broke the writing rule “avoid purple prose.” Read all the stories that made the shortlist, along with…
Level Up! Flash Fiction Tropes
How original is my idea? In this article, we dish the dirt on the most common stories submitted to 5 major flash fiction competitions: The Not Quite Write Prize, Furious Fiction, Twist in the Tale, Writing Battle, and Globe Soup. We call these story ideas the Flash Fiction Tropes.
Meet the Not-Quite-Writer: Athena Law
In this article, we interview Athena, WINNER of the January 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction.
Writing rules: Avoid Purple Prose
Ahh, purple prose: a trap laid with delicious words to capture unsuspecting writers! Writers are often cautioned against falling into this trap, but it can be hard to tell the difference between beautiful words and purple ones in the wild. In this article we hope to explain what purple prose looks like, as well as…
Meet the Not-Quite-Writer: Dean Koorey
In this article, we interview Dean Koorey, renowned Furious Fiction judge, 4th place holder in the January 2024 Not Quite Write Prize, and WINNER of the 2024 NYC Midnight 250 Word Flash Fiction Challenge.
Level Up! Naming Your Character
Ed and Amanda share their top tips for taking your flash fiction game to the next level.
Results of the April 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction
The April 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words, which: 1. included the word DATE. 2. included the action “picking a winner.” 3. broke the writing rule “always use said.” Read all the stories that made the shortlist, along…
Writing rules: Always use said
A writing rule you’ll often hear is that you should always use the dialogue tag “said” rather than a more descriptive verb. This can be confusing because it contradicts other writing advice which tells us to opt for descriptive verbs wherever possible.
Level Up! Choosing a Killer Title
Ed and Amanda share their top tips for taking your flash fiction game to the next level.
Results of the January 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction
The January 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words, which: 1. included the word PUNCH. 2. included the action “spilling something.” 3. broke the writing rule “avoid clichés.” Read all the stories that made the shortlist, along with comments…
WTF is an “anti-prompt”?
Like many other writing competitions, the Not Quite Write Prize uses creative writing prompts to inspire and challenge entrants (and to ensure your entries are written for this comp and not some other purpose). Unlike other writing competitions, the Not Quite Write Prize also includes something called an “anti-prompt”. The Not Quite Write Prize anti-prompt…
How the Judging Process Works
At Not Quite Write, we value transparency in the judging process, so we’ve put together this handy overview so you can see what happens after you hit “Submit”.
How to format your Not Quite Write Prize Entry
We know what it’s like to enter a competition and wonder how the story will look on the other end, particularly when submitting via an online form. In the interests of transparency, we thought we’d share a little more detail about how the entry process works. We hope it helps to soothe some of those…
How to Win the Not Quite Write Prize
The judges of the Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction share their tips for writing prize-winning flash.
Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction 2023 – Winner & Shortlist
The 2023 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 600 words, which: 1. included the word RITE. 2. included the action “crossing a line.” 3. broke the writing rule “avoid all adverbs.” Read all the stories that made the shortlist, along with…