Surprising Comeback: Mini Flash Essay Contest
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Writers, we’ve got a brand-new flash contest for you. This one is inspired by a recent excerpt that we published from Amy Gabrielle’s new memoir, Widow in the City: A Memoir of Heartbreaks and Hookups, in which she writes about starting to date after losing her husband prematurely. It's also a super flash contest, as in you will only have one day to complete it. That’s right, these are due by EOD Wednesday, May 20.
The challenge? Tell us about a time you unexpectedly bounced back from a tragedy — surprising even yourself. Did you deliver the best performance of your life after experiencing a profound, sudden loss? Find the courage from you’re still not sure where to start your own (now very successful!) company following a brutal layoff? Something else entirely? We would like to hear about it.
Details:
Word Count: 300 words max — longer drafts will not be considered.
Deadline: EOD Wednesday, May 20, 2026 (Yes, that's TODAY!)
And lastly, the winning story will be published on Narratively.com within the next week.