August 30 holds a strange kind of stillness—summer is nearly gone, yet something quietly lingers in the air. It’s a day that feels like it doesn’t belong to any one season, like it’s borrowed time. A perfect moment for stories that slip between worlds.
So today, I challenge you to write a flash fiction scene in under 150 words using one of the ten prompts below.
These are scenes born of mystery, memory, and momentum. What shifts on August 30 might ripple far beyond this single day.
🔥 1. The Storm That Never Came
The whole town braces for a once-in-a-century storm.
But it never arrives.
Instead, something stranger does.
⏳ Prompt: Write a scene where everyone expects chaos—but it’s the eerie calm that changes everything.
🌕 2. The Night Market Only Opens Once
On August 30, a secret market appears in an alley after dusk.
🛍️ Prompt: Your character stumbles upon it—and must trade a memory to get what they want most.
🕯️ 3. The Last Light Ritual
Every year, someone lights a candle at the forest’s edge to keep something sealed.
This year, the candle won’t stay lit.
🧿 Prompt: What happens when the ritual fails?
💌 4. Postcard from the Future
A character receives a postcard dated August 30—but it’s from next year.
📮 Prompt: What does it say? Who sent it? And how does it change the present?
🌿 5. The Bloom That Came Too Soon
A legendary flower only blooms on September 1.
Today is August 30—and it’s already opened.
🌺 Prompt: As it blooms, it whispers a name. Who hears it, and what does it mean?
🧳 6. The Train That Doesn’t Stop
At 2:30 a.m., only on August 30, a train passes through town without stopping.
🚂 Prompt: This time, someone jumps aboard. Where does it take them?
📖 7. The Page That Wasn’t There Before
Your old journal contains a new entry—dated August 30, in your own handwriting.
🔍 Prompt: You don’t remember writing it. What does it say?
🌘 8. Moonlit Pact
The full moon on August 30 marks a vow between two souls—one living, one gone.
🩶 Prompt: What was the promise, and what happens when it’s broken… or fulfilled?
⏱️ 9. 30 Seconds Before Midnight
Your entire scene takes place in the final 30 seconds of August 30.
⏳ Prompt: What happens in less than half a minute that alters everything?
🌬️ 10. The Wind Carries Secrets
The August 30 wind is said to carry voices from the past.
💨 Prompt: A character hears a message they were never meant to receive.
🖋️ Ready to Write?
Choose your favorite and let the clock start ticking. These prompts are perfect for daily warmups, microfiction exercises, or the spark for something much bigger.
If you feel inspired, share your 150-word scene on your blog, journal it privately, or post on social using #FlashFictionAugust30. I’d love to see what unfolds ✨
And remember: the story doesn’t wait for September. It begins now.
Happy Writing ^_^
Sara's Writing Sanctuary 