Photography by Fran Cassidy

Once again a big thank you to Meg Pokrass,for judging the Pokrass Prize, named for her as one of the founders in 2017 (along with Jude Higgins) of Flash Fiction Festivals UK. The first festival was held in Bath. This is the fourth year the Pokrass Prize contest has been open to festival participants. Each time, Meg has offered a very interesting visual image and words to include, as a prompt for your stories. The contest is open to anyone booked on to the festival (whether for the whole weekend, a single day or for the pre-festival workshop).

This year, Meg would like you to write a flash sparked off by the photograph by Fran Cassidy
The photo credit: https://www.instagram.com/fran.cassidy/?hl=en

Meg says

“Write a story of up to 400 words, nvolving a glimpse of this woman. You may wish to tell it from the perspective of a narrator who cares about her, or who used to care about her. See if you can include a significant item, one that’s being carried inside her tote bag. Prompt words: picky, tendril, pale, fog, weakness, sniffles. Include some or all of the words.

The first prize winner receives £50, a book from Ad Hoc Fiction and publication on this website and in the festival anthology and the two runners- up receive a book and publication.

The deadline for the contest is midsummer’s day,June 21st 2025. And the winners will be announced at the festival on Saturday 19th July. Stories should be sent with no identifying details on them as email attachements in word docx or pdf to story@flashfictionfestival.com. Your name and Pokrass Prize in the subject line of the email.

Do enter if you have booked. Good odds and good prizes! Good luck

Jude, February 2025.