How It Works

Each week will have a theme associated with it, and you have until Sunday night each week wherever you live to submit your story for that particular week, though you can submit well in advance of the deadline, too. Yeah, we’re tight about some things (251 words won’t get posted) but loose about others (the Editors communicate across the International Dateline, which means we’re already confused enough about which day it is; the point is, send in your entries by Sunday, and they’ll get posted later that week: it’s that simple).

Themes will be posted here and on the 52|250 Facebook Page six weeks in advance (because some things are meant to be tweaked for more than six days, and sometimes you might want to plan ahead, or at least plan to plan ahead even if in the end you still find yourself wooing your muse at quarter to midnight on a particular Sunday night).

You do not have to include a direct reference to the week’s theme in your story. As long as your submission is inspired by the theme, we’re happy that you’re playing along.

Click on Themes to see the themes and the due dates. You will always have at least six themes to choose from—six weeks to plan or procrastinate, whichever suits you.

Note: you do not have to write every week to participate. You may come and go as you please. If you decide to skip one week or two or even three, please come back when you can and join us again. The idea is to generate creativity, not to straightjacket you into compliance.

Thanks for playing! Now go write!