This is my journey of competing in the short story Flash Fiction Challenge by NYC Midnight Movie Making Madness. I describe the challenge, my experience participating, submitted story, and comments from the judges.

Who Sponsors the Flash Fiction Challenge?

NYC Midnight Movie Making Madness organizes the Flash Fiction Challenge. Their goal, according to their website, is to discover and promote a new wave of talented storytellers. Through providing prizes and exposure, they hope to help writers take the next steps toward professional writing.

How Does the Challenge Work?

You are given 48 hours to craft a short story with a prompt containing: a genre, a location, and an object. This prompt is provided to you at 11:59 PM on Friday (Eastern Time Zone), and the competition ends at midnight on Sunday.

You are assigned to a group, and all of you will use the same prompt and compete against each other for the opportunity to move on to round 2. The same process will be followed for that round, which determines who proceeds to the final round—the final round results in the ultimate winners.

Do You Retain Rights to Your Story?

You retain the rights to your story. NYC Midnight reserves the right to publish the title and synopsis for publicity purposes.

Can You Share Your Story?

You are asked to wait until 10 days after the round results have been announced. Before that time, you are not to share on your website, social media pages, and/or through other publishers.

Forums

NYC Midnight has forums where you can post your story, read others’ stories, and provide/receive feedback. This is not considered a public publishing platform.

How Many Participants?

For the 2025 Short Story Challenge, there were 3,044 writers in 88 groups with approximately 35 writers per group.

Formatting Rules (NYC Midnight Website)

Electronic File

Submissions are to be sent as a .doc (Word document 97–2003), .docx (Word document), .txt (Text File), or .rtf (Rich Text Format).
The name of the file must be the title of your story. For example, if the title of your Story is “Tennis,” then the name of your Short Story must be saved as “Tennis.doc” or “Tennis.txt.”

Font

Each Story must be typed in 12-point and in Courier, New Courier, or Times New Roman typeface — ONLY.

Title Page

The Title Page of the Story must only contain the TITLE of the Short Story and the BRIEF SYNOPSIS.

Brief Synopsis

The brief synopsis must be a maximum of 2 sentences and a minimum of 1 sentence. The brief synopsis serves as a description of the Story.

Anonymity

The author’s name must NOT appear anywhere in the Story, including the title page.

Length

The maximum length of each story is 1,000 words, not including the title page. The title page is not included in the word count, and there is no minimum number of words.

Spacing & Margins

There are no rules regarding margins or spacing, so you are free to format your stories however you like.

Source

NYC Midnight Website

Do You Receive Feedback on Your Story?

If you pay an additional fee, you receive feedback from the judges. I am a relatively new writer, and I chose this option. I didn’t know the genre at that point, but I was excited to obtain professional feedback about my writing. I will address this later.

My Experience

My Prompt

My prompt arrived in my inbox at 10:59 PM on Friday, May 30, 2025. I live in the Central Time Zone.

My assignment:

Genre: Mystery
Location: Archeological site
Object: Shoe box

My Process

My initial response was panic. I had registered for the challenge that very day and convinced myself I had time over the weekend to complete a short story. I had been participating in other writing challenges, but not with such a short turnaround time.

A mystery??? I had never written a mystery before, even though it is one of my favorite genres to read. My mind went completely blank. I went to bed wondering what I had gotten myself into.

The next day, I had many family commitments and let ideas percolate in my mind. I had some vague ideas, but wondered if I could complete the challenge. I had glimmers of a plot.

Sunday, June 1, 2025, quickly arrived. The deadline, 10:59 PM, was rapidly approaching! The day marched on with ideas still tumbling around. Inspiration took hold about 3 PM, and I began to write. The pressure was on!

I submitted my work at about 9 PM. I didn’t want to go until the last minute and continue to stress. Sometimes, you change the things that worked because you panicked. Also, I am not a night person, so it would have been a dangerous move.

It felt good to submit the work, call it done, and go to bed. I had stepped up and completed my first flash fiction challenge!

Waiting for the Results

The top 20% of participants move on to the second round. So, seven people from my group would move on. The results were announced on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

I was not surprised, but a bit disappointed, not to advance to the next round. But, having never written a mystery, I am pleased to have given it a try. My goal is to improve my writing.

The second round consists of 616 writers in 22 groups, each with 28 writers. The prompts were given at 11:59 PM on Friday, August 1, 2025, and the stories were due at 11:59 PM (Eastern) on Sunday, August 3, 2025.

Sharing My Story

It has been 10 days since the results were announced, and I am now able to share the story I wrote for the challenge. I see things I would like to change, but I am sharing my actual submission.

Buried Treasure

Synopsis

A benefactor has provided funds for a group of archaeologists to dig for Native American artifacts. An unusual find leads the scientists to think another motive might be involved.

Story

Allison wiped the sweat from her neck and reached for her water bottle. Two months at the Big Creek archaeological site, but she hadn’t discovered any artifacts. She surveyed the area, watching other graduate students working their 1 X 1-meter square grid.

Her dream of becoming Dr. Allison Thompson was on the line. Years of academic coursework led her to this dig. A great find here would complete her thesis and cement her credibility as an archeologist. Research papers and convention presentations are vital to success in academia.

Sam’s sweat-soaked shirt clung to his athletic body. This is not what you are here for girl! Focus! She wished him well in his work but had no time for romance.

Tina, working hard but careful to look her best, often took selfies to showcase her work. Her social media profile was well-known and, to some extent, encouraged because it brought interest to a field some thought was dull. Why would people think that? Allison didn’t know. Hard work, yes. Boring? No!

Their benefactor was very specific about the grid placement and all 50 workers were given the best equipment, excellent food, and appropriate accommodation. Their focus was to be on finding artifacts.

Site rules required a break during the peak of the day’s heat. The sounds of a metal triangle being struck rung through the camp. Workers slowly gathered their notes, arranged their tools, and prepared to return to the cooler environment of their tents.

Tina was taking additional photos and selfies, while Sam seemed intent on getting in a few more moments of work. Allison shrugged and began her trek back to her tent.

She hadn’t gone far when she heard Sam’s excited cry, saying he had found something! Odd, he sounded a bit unsure. What could be going on?

Allison was closest and got there first with Tina right behind. Sam was holding something and looking confused. As Allison drew nearer, she saw that it was a shoe box. What is this? A prank?

The shoe box was tattered, falling apart in his hands, and obviously old, but not an artifact. Why was it here? What did it hold that needed to be buried?

Protocol stated that they wait for their mentor before touching or altering any artifact, but nothing was normal about this. Sam’s hands trembled as they peeled back the deteriorated lid of the box. Mouth gaping with shock, he nearly dropped the box. There were many stacked and banded bills inside!

The three stood in wonder as they pondered what this meant. There could be one million dollars or more in the box. What to do now?

Sam whispered, “Let’s tell the professor…”

Tina, also whispering, “This is amazing! Can we keep it?”

Allison, very calmly, said, “Hide it! Now!”

In unison, Tina and Sam wondered aloud, “Why?”

“Don’t you see? Our benefactor told us specifically where to dig, so he must have been looking for this. This isn’t a regular dig site, it was a treasure hunt! The big question is, now that we have it, what happens to us?” worried Allison.

“Do you think we are in danger?” Sam demanded.

“We are in a desolate place holding what could be one million dollars in cash. People kill for less. Nobody knows we have it, so let’s hide it to be safe.”

“Um, guys, I am sorry but… Right after I saw the box, I posted it on my social media channels. I was so excited. I didn’t think…”

“OK… what do we do now?” Allison’s voice tight with tension. “If we all go together, maybe we can find out what is really going on. Do we take the box to show everyone or leave it here?”

“We have to take it,” Sam muttered. “You can’t just leave this unattended. Also, we need to very publicly show our find.”

In agreement, they trudged toward the main tent. What should have been an exciting moment was filled with dread.

As they drew nearer, others gathered around after noticing their somber expressions and the bundle they carried.

“We found something, but we don’t know what to make of it,” Sam announced. “We’ll show everyone once we have all the leaders together.

Once leadership assembled, Sam gently opened the bag and carefully set the box on a table. Next, he slowly removed the lid to reveal the contents. Shock rippled through the group. A cardboard box filled with money was an unexpected find.

“Wh.. what?” stuttered the professors.

“Congratulations! You found my treasure for me!” boomed the benefactor. “I’ve waited so long to get that back!”

The professors studied the man, trying to determine what to ask first.

“Have you brought us here for illegal reasons?” one cautiously inquired.

“No! Not at all! That money is legally mine. In fact, we are on my land.” He quickly reassured them.

“So… this is not an actual dig? We are professional archaeologists, not treasure hunters!” one sputtered. “Unacceptable! You wasted the time and talent of many people in this quest. We can’t present, write about, or show this “prize” to gain more funding.”

“No, no, let me explain. I promise you; this IS a real dig. My family has owned this land for generations and different native American tribes lived here. I wanted to open this land up to archeologists, but my father did not agree.”

That night, the benefactor introduced himself as Mr. Malone and explained how his father was squandering the family’s fortune, so he hid this sum to keep it safe. After he built his own fortune, his father passed away and it seemed wrong to leave so much money in the ground. He knew the general location, but needed help to find it, and thought this would be a great time to bring in archeologists. He added that he would continue funding the dig and was confident that artifacts would be found.

Comments From Judges

The feedback comes with an identification number for the judge. This number probably wouldn’t identify them, but I will refer to them as Judge 1, 2, and 3. The comments are as provided to me, no alterations.

What the Judges Liked About My Story

Judge 1: This is a fun and wholesome take on the prompt; this story delivers a well-rounded cast, a tight mystery, and a resolution that feels nominally happy, but slightly enigmatic. I think it’s a strong piece of fiction that delivers an exciting, low-stakes conflict. I think one of the strongest points of the piece, from a technical perspective, is the cast of the three graduate student archeologists who find the money. The story sets these characters up with clear roles and personalities; they feel like distinct people and they attack the problem in ways that feel consistent with their characters. Generating three idiosyncratic, but well-realized characters in such a short word count is really impressive and a technical feat for this piece. I think another strong point of this piece is the enigmatic benefactor, Mr. Malone. The ending of this story, if taken at face value, suggests that Malone engineered a win-win for the archaeologists and himself. A closer reading, though, undermines that assumption; there’s something a little sinister implied by the fact that no artifacts have yet been found. He’s not a trustworthy character, and I think the story leads readers to hold a healthy skepticism regarding the success of the dig. It feels like a cool, slight tonal shift in the end, and I think it darkens this story in a satisfying way — are they really going to continue digging for artifacts, or does he have further hidden motives? It’s a fun and enigmatic ending.

Judge 2: I enjoyed reading your charming mystery tale, “Buried Treasure.” I found it to be interesting and pleasantly light-hearted. I was glad that in the end, nothing nefarious was going on, and Mr. Malone was only trying to recover his own money. Your story possesses a complete narrative arc with a clear beginning, middle and end. A mystery arose, the answer to the mystery was given, case closed. You did well in only having a small handful of named characters, as too many characters is overwhelming in a story so short. I was unable to locate any errors of grammar, punctuation, or spelling. Well done!

Judge 3: There was a satisfying subversion of expectations in the reveals that the benefactor was not involved in any crime and that the dig was not entirely fake, which gave your ending impact. It was also interesting to see the different motivations guiding each character, since it highlighted how the same activities/circumstances could be driven by different forces in each individual narrative.

What the Judges Feel Needs Work

Judge 1: I have two main thoughts on what might give this piece a bit more heft. First, I think this piece could lend a bit more realism and depth to both its dialogue and exposition. Right now, some of the dialogue and exposition feels, well, like dialogue and exposition. Typically, good dialogue feels more like speech — kind of careless, relying on shared knowledge, quick and efficient and messy. So, for instance, a group of archaeologists talking to each other would likely use archaeological jargon, have some way of communicating that distinguishes them as an in-group with specialized knowledge and purpose. So take the dialogue spoken by Allison: “Don’t you see….happens to us?” Those lines serve the function of explaining the plot to the reader and to the other characters; it feels more geared toward explaining the plot than it feels like an extemporaneous realization. The emotion and context of the moment feel a bit absent from the speech, almost. Another example is this set of lines: “You wasted the time and talent of many people in this quest. We can’t present, write about, or show this “prize” to gain more funding.” This is an angry and outraged person, but they’re describing that outrage in this really thorough, really direct (and arguably kind of wooden) speech. What would it look like if that anger were playing out in front of you? I think developing a more realistic speech pattern for these characters would lend a new weight and texture to the story. I also think that a bit more research might lend this piece a bit of credibility and realism. The benefactor remaining anonymous, for instance, feels a bit farfetched — if an entire archaeological dig took place without either already-found artifacts or a well-known reason for choosing the site, I think that would be a noteworthy cause of stress for the workers involved — they’d likely be aware of the strangeness of the request. And some of the smaller details might need a bit more attention, as well — for instance, the idea that a million dollars will fit in a shoebox feels a little wonky (even in hundreds, that would be 10,000 bills), and I think it’s crucial to get those details right to convey the realism and danger of this plot.

Judge 2: Though I liked your story, one thing I noticed is that no mention was made of what the team thought they were looking for. Archaeological digs on that scale usually have some goal in mind — like the remains of a particular settlement — and it doesn’t seem to quite make sense that they were just in the middle of nowhere digging for no particular reason. It might be better to give just a little bit of backstory — for instance, where are they? What is the terrain like? All we know is that it’s hot, and that Native Americans used to live here, but that could still be almost anywhere in North America if it’s summer. And most importantly, what is it they think they’re looking for? Another thing I was thinking about: If the shoebox was falling apart, perhaps the money would be, too. Hopefully it was well sealed in plastic, but the story didn’t mention that. Perhaps I missed something, but I wasn’t quite clear on how Tina had posted the find on social media only moments after they found the money. When did she have time to go grab her phone? Regarding dialogue, I would advise you to read your story out loud, and see if the dialogue all sounds natural. Some of the dialogue here sounded a tad unnatural — for instance, Sam saying “Do you think we are in danger?” Almost anyone in that situation would have said “Do you think we’re in danger?” or, “Are we in danger?” A mystery was raised — who put that money there, and why? And the mystery was solved — it was Mr. Malone, who hid it there to keep his father from squandering it. It’s good that the question was answered, and yet, maybe it would have been more satisfying if one of the characters in the story had solved the mystery, rather than the answer simply being told to them. Just something to think about. I hope something I’ve said was helpful to you. You have a good imagination and a warmth of heart that show in your work. Keep writing!

Judge 3: Despite the setting of Big Creek being central to the story, the reader isn’t given many details of the setting. It might be interesting to add some sensory descriptions of the place, perhaps through the main characters interacting with it in their work. In the initial section, the reveals of what motivates each character could be edited to be showcased by their actions in the setting, rather than directly stated. Doing so can ground readers more in the narrative, since they will be more immersed in the reality of being a researcher at the Big Creek dig.

My Thoughts About the Comments

I agree with all the suggested improvements. Writing engaging dialogue is something I am working hard to learn. The other suggestions are helpful too, and I am considering rewriting the story. I appreciate the specific examples of areas that could be improved and suggestions for how to do so.

I had fun writing the story and stretching myself. The feedback was worth the extra money, especially since growing as a writer is my primary goal.

Feedback For the Judges

We were invited to give feedback about the judges. We rated the value of the feedback numerically and could provide additional comments. This was a nice idea, and I gave thoughtful positive comments.

What About You?

Have you competed in a challenge like this? Would you be interested in doing one? I love hearing how other writers stretch their comfort zones and hone their skills!