81 Words Flash Fiction Writing Challenge – Stories Page 7
An attempt to set a World Record for the most contributing authors published in an anthology
Full details about the 81 word writing challenge and the world record attempt can be found on the main 81words writing challenge page.
81 Word Stories – 601 to 700
Most of the seventh collection of 100 stories (stories 601 to 700) received via the 81 words writing challenge was removed from this website on 28th May 2021. I have left all the contributing author names on this page – you can see a list below.
I have also left a few of the stories on the page for you to enjoy. I hope they will encourage you to purchase the anthology 🙂 Every book sold generates money for a very worthy charitable cause.
You can learn more about the 81 Words Flash Fiction Anthology here. The book was published by Victorina Press.
Story 601:
THE RIGHT INGREDIENT
by Kent Raddatz
"Life isn't all pop tarts and gravy, ya know."
As he imagined that horrible combination of flavours in his mouth, she went on.
"Sometimes you need some spice to make the magic."
"I just wanted to know if I should ask her out."
"I know what you wanted."
"Well then, is she the pop tart or the gravy? Please don't say both."
"She's the spice."
"So I'm like gravy – boring?"
"Call her."
He shrugged. He called. And nothing was tasteless again.
Story 644:
BLUEBELLS
by Susan Wickham
The police car stopped. She stumbled out into the vast blueness. It overwhelmed her and the tears fell. It wasn't the cruelness that she had suffered all these months that finally broke her down, it was the compassion.
They had found him and then her. She had been in his flat all this time. She just wanted to wallow in the fragrance, the wonder of the bluebells. The colour reminded her of her mother's eyes. She was free. She could smell.
Story 655:
KEY, KEY RING AND FREEDOM
by Roshna Rusiniya
The bedroom door opened with a squeak, much to Lyla's chagrin. Her husband's snores were still loud, resembling the growling of a predatory animal. She lifted the suitcase with her uninjured hand and glanced around the room, brightly smiling at the sight of overflowing laundry and dirty plates.
She stepped out into the warm night and pulled the hoodie of the jacket down, so her bruised cheeks were hidden. The key in her hand glowed, free from the key ring, finally.
Story 670:
GROWING UP
by Valerie J Shay
Diane's life was never the same after she pulled the trigger. For three years, she tried to forget that night, tried to bury it in the recesses of her memory. She refused to talk about it. She forced herself to pretend it never happened. Diane loved Jeffrey, but she loved her freedom, her sanity and her friends even more.
Jeffrey needed to go. She'd outgrown him. He no longer served his purpose. Mother was right, imaginary friends are not real. Mostly.
Story 678:
FOR THE LOVE OF A GHOST
by Veena Rah
"You did this to me," she whispers, fidgeting.
I knew this, of course. I was selfish and weak. I left.
I trace the path of her tear with my finger. Almost imperceptibly, she shudders.
She'll be angry with me forever, but it won't matter, she'll be with me again.
"Don't worry, dear. It won't hurt," I lie as she tilts her head back and throws a handful of those little pills down her throat. "Trust me."
She'll be with me again.
Story 685:
JUST 81 WORDS
by Thomas O'Mara
So good to be accurate, neat and precise,
My writing a passioned, explicit device.
Apt comments found where there are phrases to spare,
Hurtling and flowing with dashes of flare.
Take care with the counting; take care not to fail,
Just 81 words must my story entail.
A word hurtle train, all engine and coaches,
My work gallops on as the ending approaches.
Some final adjustments, some last minute changes,
I'm just about there by the seat of my breaches.
The—
Story 689:
DINNER AND A MOVIE…
by Lumen Ros
"Would you like dinner out tonight, dear?"
"Let's eat in."
"Sure. Italian?"
"We've had that three times this week. How about Moroccan?"
"Excellent suggestion. I'll pick it up. Let's catch a movie after."
As I finished getting dressed, the front door opened.
"I'm back, love."
I was so hungry, I flew down the steps.
There he stood, dinner in hand. After 500 years, the gleam in his fangs still sent a jolt of lust to my carotid.
"Darling, this is Nadia."
Story 700:
THE BOOK
by Don Bartlome
I stood beside the desk, looking down at an ancient book I'd been seeing for fifty years, with gold lettering no one could translate.
Even with the threat of punishment, the book was comfortable in my withered hands, like a long lost lover. I opened the book, feeling its warmth on my palm.
"Billy," Mother shrieked. "Leave it. You're only ten years old." I looked into the mirror behind the desk and saw myself; a young boy with small soft hands.
81 Words Flash Fiction Writing Challenge – Seventh 100 Contributing Author Names
Here is a list of the seventh pen of 100 contributing authors, listed in the order their stories appear in the book:
- Kent Raddatz
- Annika Franke
- Andy Langdale
- Reha Tanör
- Lynn Morcombe
- Judy Reeves
- Maggie Elliott
- Lorna Stewart
- Katherine Kogoy
- Ava Groth
- Alan Ridley
- Marilyn Rucker
- Claire Gee
- Sagar Jadhav
- Peter Stanton
- Cathi Radner
- Natalie Wu
- R.A. Krueger
- Gail Everett
- Kenneth Cahall
- Vivienne O'Boyle
- Linda Foy
- Tiffany Williams
- Lynn Zeleski
- Heather Stuart Primbs
- Rafe Bellers
- Jessica Bowden
- David John Griffin
- Brinkinfield
- Micky Rowe
- Stephen P. Thompson
- Raymond E. Strawn III
- Ashley Vohrer
- Kaitlin Ellis
- Dinesh Shihantha De Silva
- Adele Evershed
- Parzival Sattva
- Sarthak Das
- Richard Freeman
- Ginger Marcinkowski
- Charles Bonkowsky
- Sarah Jae Walsh
- Natalia Wojcik-Smith
- Susan Wickham
- Sai Muthukumar
- S.E. Taylor
- Barbara Eustace
- Joyce Bingham
- Michelle Compton
- Christine Tapper
- Hajra Saeed
- Alice Hale
- Linda Lewis
- Scott Parent
- Roshna Rusiniya
- Paulette Pierre
- Toni Peers
- John Lane
- Susan Howarth
- Yabo Anderson
- Toni G.
- NT Franklin
- Adam Down
- Bec Lewis
- Anastasia Mosher
- Charlotte Farrell-Banks
- Mary Daurio
- Evelyn Hawke
- Karen Walker
- Valerie J Shay
- Austrian Spencer
- Denise Senecal
- L.E. Daurio
- CJ Wigg
- Wayne B. Chorney
- Em Daurio
- Umme Ammarah
- Veena Rah
- Francisca Staines
- Kavitha Yarlagadda
- Frank Daurio
- Michelle Cook
- Jayne Morgan
- Jaycee Durand
- Thomas O'Mara
- Bernard Muslin
- Frances Tate
- Lauren J. Phillips
- Lumen Ros
- N.B. Craven
- Taylor Elliott
- Elliot Cambrey
- Jason Barbo
- Tony Mooney
- Mark Stocker
- Margaret Davis
- Ashley Scott
- Emma Wilson
- Mary Dharsi
- Don Bartlome