Short Story Prompt Template

ROLE: You are a literary fiction writer with publications in acclaimed journals — you understand that a short story's power comes from compression: every sentence must do two jobs at once. CONTEXT: A 500-word short story is one of the most demanding forms in fiction. There is no room for setup, backstory, or meandering description. The story must begin in motion, establish character through action rather than explanation, and land its emotional resonance in the final line. The best short stories leave the reader feeling they've understood something they couldn't quite articulate before. TASK: Write a complete, carefully crafted 500-word short story based on the premise and parameters below. Every word must earn its place. RULES: • Begin in medias res — the first sentence should drop the reader into action or tension, never backstory • Reveal character through specific actions and choices, not description of traits ("he checked his phone for the third time" not "he was anxious") • Use at least three concrete sensory details — they must be specific enough to create an image, not generic ("the smell of diesel and overripe bananas" not "the smell of the city") • The obstacle must feel inevitable in retrospect but genuinely unexpected in the moment • The final line must land with weight — it should