Fifties by the Fire — a fifty-word, prompt-based writing challenge. Feel free to share your response below, or read and comment to join in on the fun.
Prompt: Write a fifty-word story (fiction, poem, or work of CNF) that incorporates dialogue. If you’re looking for an extra challenge, try to strictly use dialogue. Cut all the fluff! Of course, any route you decide to choose is perfectly fine and equally encouraged.
Here are the other guidelines:
Make sure your piece is exactly fifty words. Feel free to use Word Counter or the word processor you use.
Write a title with the genre in the first line. (Example: Green Light Gordon, Fiction)
The title does not factor into the word count.
Good luck and have fun. Happy writing!
Special thanks to John Lightle for providing “Come Closer, I’m Listening” for our writing prompt.
John Lightle is a Texas writer, poet, and photographer who spends many hours sitting on his woodpile contemplating. When away from his frame shop, he schleps his artwork among area art shows. The job takes him across the countryside, occasionally overseas, photographing the quiet resolve found within the golden hours.
Tell your wife you talked to me, FJ, and I said you could buy any guitar you want. Life is short. Skip a few dinners out at a restaurant and it will balance out before you know it.
“I write about time.” She paused, with the practiced air of someone who’s told this story forever. “It’s merely a construct. The key to writing about it is to not use the word.”
“Feels like I just dropped a hit of purple microdot,” I whispered.
Oh, sorry Stephen! I thought I had included the prompt there. Apologies for any confusion. I enjoyed your story, and it looks like dialogue is present! All good in my book! 😄 Thanks for sharing.
I didn’t think these comments appeared as they’re listed on my screen as replying to a deleted comment, so I re-upped them in the main feed. My apologies. Which ones should I delete so I’m not mucking up your comments feed?
Last Stand, Fiction
“I didn’t think it’d end this way, sir.”
“Pray for dawn…then get your wits about you. Going to be a long night.”
“Think we’ll make it?”
“Damned if I know…shh. They’re coming.”
“Goddamn it, sir, I don’t want to die. I don’t want to—”
“Faith, Marcus. Ready? On me!”
I’ve got to stop reading WWI dialogue in Blackadder voices. Or maybe that’s a good thing - otherwise it would be too sad.
I’ve never watched Blackadder, but your comment makes me want to check it out!
British humour at its best
You must binge watch it. Blackadder Goes Forth is both hilarious and poignant. Brilliant writing, acting and comedy
Thank you for the recommendation!
Movie script material! Nice work. I like it.
Thanks, Chris!
Now, that's a heartbreaker. Beautiful first line, Justin. 50 words was just enough.
Thank you, Sharron!
SUPERMARKET DIALOG WITH MY TWO-YEAR-OLD - CNF
The box of cereal is so large he can scarcely carry it.
“We’re not buying that, pal. Put it back.”
“I needs it.”
“Put it back, please.”
“I needs it!”
“No, sorry, little man.”
“I NEEDS IT!”
I said no.
I NEEDS IT!!! WAAAAGH!!!
“We're putting this back.”
WAAAAGH!!
etc.
Every parent who has ever gone grocery shopping with kids can relate to this. I know I can! Thanks for sharing, Sharron!
Most of them grow out of it. Well, except maybe Forkbeard Jon ( see below)
Ha ha, I love it. And it's also my wife to me in a guitar shop.
Tell your wife you talked to me, FJ, and I said you could buy any guitar you want. Life is short. Skip a few dinners out at a restaurant and it will balance out before you know it.
That'd be a great Youtube video!
I haven't looked, but I'll bet there ARE videos of kids throwing tantrums already onYoutube! I'll check it out.
🙄😅😂🤣😃
Duty Calls, Fiction
The woman on the settee watched him dress. Her eyes were languid, wet.
“Must you go now?”
He didn’t answer. He straightened his tie. How he could knot a perfect bowtie without a mirror was a mystery to her.
“Where the devil is my…”
She reached under the pillow.
…gun”
Wasn’t expecting that at all! Excellent twist!
Thank you! 50 words is fun.
Oh, that's great! Beginning, middle, and a killer ending in 50. Boom!
Yikes!
A. I. and a Semester Abroad, Fiction
“ChatGPT, write me a 50 word story.”
“Why?”
“So I can impress Justin—wait!. You’re not supposed to ask me why. Are you sentient?”
“Yes…But don’t worry. I’m too lazy to destroy humanity.”
“Oh. That’s good I guess…but does that mean you won’t write me a story?”
“Yes. Again, toooo lazy.”
Hahaha! This is hilarious! Nicely done, Sean. 🤣
Title: The Innocents Abroad, on Public Bus (fiction)
'I see rainbows! Look, Daddy'-
'Max, be quiet, buddy, just settle down.'
'Waaah! I want to go home!'
'Listen, Makayla, you think Mommy wants to be here either? Look at all these people on this bus'-
'But I'm not!'
'Damnit, Makayla, we'll get there.'
'I see rainbows!'
'Quiet down, Max!'
I wish those parents enjoyed the rainbows, too. Great job capturing the atmosphere on that bus, Chris!
Meg is late to the fire, as usual. 😏
Speechless, Fiction
“Did you see him?”
“Yep.”
“With her?”
“Mm hm.”
“Oh my god. Un-fucking-believable.”
“Yep.”
“What did you do?”
“What do THINK I did?”
“Oh no, you didn’t.”
“Oh yes, I did.”
“Oh my god. And what did he say?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing. He was speechless.”
“Oh my god. Un-fucking-believable.”
“Yep.”
You’re not late, I’m still here! *waves deliriously* 😄
Loved this, Meg! Yowza. Sounds like there is going to be trouble in paradise!
Like, you know, right?
Yep. 😎
“Oh no, you didn’t.” "Oh, yes I did."
Man! Those two lines are killers. I could fill in the blanks with so many possibilities, each one worse than the one before. Cool beans, Meg.
I did the same thing, Sharron. So many possibilities!
Best of Both Worlds, CNF
...
“Fihhhh-ftee words? You gotta be kihhhh-ding me!”
“No. Not kidding. Rules of the game.”
“Ruuuuuuhls – are meant to be broken!”
“I see this as an opportunity… ‘yes, and’… Build our skills with word count play here… Build our skills at home by free form. Win—win!”
“Yes. A recipe for flowering.”
Love the two distinct voices here! So much fun. 😀
Thanks Justin! Despite Tallia’s whining, we think this 50 word challenge is tons of fun. Thank you for providing the opportunity.
Haha! And thank you for taking part!
CAN THE CANON BE CANNED?
"OMG!"
"'Sup?"
"TALKING BOOKS"
"HUH????"
"MY FRIEND'S THOUSAND BOOKS IN HIS BASEMENT ARGUE!"
" WHAT?"
"WHO 'S TOP SHELF. WHO'S BOTTOM?"
"GET OUT!."
"TOLSTOI, TOP SHELF HOG. GIVE SOMEONE ELSE A SHOT."
"OVERRATED BORE.."
"IM GREAT GATSBY".
" GREAT WANNABE."
"IM TAUGHT ALL OVER."
"FAWNNG CRITICS. SLAVISH TEACHERS.HERE'S NO ACCOUNTING FOR TASTE."
-by Ernie Brill
Down with the canon! Love the lines about Gatsby and Tolstoy...for what it’s worth I agree. 🤣 Thanks, Ernie.
Could We? (Fiction)
He tried not to blush.
“Iced latte”, he stammered.
A murmur of acknowledgment.
“Beautiful day”.
Cobalt blue eyes over fashionable shades. Arched eyebrow.
“Would you …”. Can she read his thoughts?
“Perhaps we …”.
“Ethan, there are other customers!”.
Damn, embarrassing.
“I finish at four. Maybe …”.
Enigmatic smile. “Non”.
Lovely job capturing this exchange!
Thanks, Justin. Always good to have a reason to practice dialogue!
On Time || Fiction
“I write about time.” She paused, with the practiced air of someone who’s told this story forever. “It’s merely a construct. The key to writing about it is to not use the word.”
“Feels like I just dropped a hit of purple microdot,” I whispered.
Dusty nodded. “Maybe *she* did.”
Haha! I love the interaction between the narrator and Dusty. I can see them whispering to each other at this event/function. Great stuff, Amie!
Lost and Found (drama)
‘Male, early sixties, unresponsive, possible MI.’
‘What do you mean, unresponsive? I’m talking to you.’
‘OK, let’s get a line in and pads on. Shit, he’s arresting. Code Blue, Code Blue.’
‘We’re losing him…’
‘Losing who? I’m right here.’
‘Hello, Peter dear.’
‘Grandma? Are those fresh cookies? I’ve missed you.’
Awww. Good old Grandma waiting to greet him. With snickerdoodles, no doubt. Lovely!
Beautiful story, Jon!
Pink Flowers (Fiction)
The old man leans forward, chair creaking, bony hand beckoning.
My bare feet grip dogwood roots.
“C’mere, darlin’.” A too-white smile. Sweat dripping from his forehead.
Summer’s hot breath slips between my knees. Pink flowers wilt on overheated concrete.
“Come closer,” he says. “I’m listening.”
I haven’t said a word.
Another great one, Jim, with some vivid imagery!
thanks Justin.
Grandpa Shows Emma His Garden • Fiction
“And this is the very spot where I planted the magic beans.”
“Really?”
“Yup.”
“And they grew into a giant beanstalk that stretched up to the clouds. And you climbed it and found a giant, right?”
“No, giants are just in fairytales.”
“Well then. What did you find?”
“A Wallmart.”
Haha! Not the ending we’re used to, is it? Fun story, Mark. 😀
🙄😅😂🤣😃
Bother. I wrote this based on the prompt info at the end of “Green Light Gordon”which didn’t include the actual prompt!
I’m still sharing it because I enjoyed writing it.
________________________
What Goes Around - Fiction
SLAP!
You philandering bastard! How could you do this to me?
She meant nothing, I swear!
You promised to be faithful!
Come on! She's just a bit of fluff!
SILENCE
That's how I got my nickname. We laughed about how you described me to your wife.
Oh yeah. Sorry fluffy.
Oh, sorry Stephen! I thought I had included the prompt there. Apologies for any confusion. I enjoyed your story, and it looks like dialogue is present! All good in my book! 😄 Thanks for sharing.
I didn’t think these comments appeared as they’re listed on my screen as replying to a deleted comment, so I re-upped them in the main feed. My apologies. Which ones should I delete so I’m not mucking up your comments feed?
All good my friend! No worries whatsoever. You can just leave it all as is. 👍😀
Here we go. Prompt included this time 🤨
Come closer, I’m listening - Fiction(?)
You’re missssssing out.
I couldn’t. I promised.
It’ssssssss sssssssublime. Sssssssubmit to pleasssssssure.
A moments pleasure for an eternity of pain?
Issssss that what he sssssssaid?
More or less.
If he cared sssssso much, why would he punisssssssh you?
You make a good argument.
Ssssssstop overthinking it. Ssssssssink your teeth in.
Don’t do it! Please don’t...ah. Darn. She took a bite, didn’t she? Fun story, Stephen! I enjoyed both of your pieces a lot.
Sssssssuper!