June 23 – July 6
In 2025, Microzine will share various door prompts, and it’s up to you to decide what (or who) is behind them. Perhaps a beast waiting for you? A family having a squabble? Lovers taking advantage of being alone? A knight suiting up for his next battle? An old woman waiting for a visit…from you…? A room of missing treasure finally discovered?
The possibilities of what, or who, one might find behind a closed door are endless. Step right up. Knock and enter. If you dare.
THE CHALLENGE
Using the above image as a prompt, write a story selecting one of the following stipulations:
Must be exactly 6-words, 25-words, 50-words, or 100-words in length. Title is never counted towards word count OR
a StoryStack that follows the rules outlined here:
NOTE: Put your story title & word count in brackets first, followed by your story.
Ex. [Story Title, 100]
An added element to this challenge is the deadline. Any story put in the comments AFTER the date listed below will not be considered for digital/print issues.
DEADLINE: July 6, 2025
DIGITAL/PRINT ISSUE OPPORTUNITY
Only stories shared in the comments section will be considered for digital and print issues. Stories only shared in Substack Notes will not be considered. If you put your story up on your own publication it will not disqualify it from consideration.
Good luck!
Side By Side
A Story Stack: Separation Method
6 words
A railing couldn’t define their relationship.
25 words
George stepped out to pick up his evening newspaper.
“Love the dress George,” called Mabel. “The five o’clock shadow takes away from the effect though.”
50 words
“They painted their door red,” Geoffrey moaned to his wife.
Sally looked up from her computer. “I think it is a lovely colour,” she reflected. “It’s bold and makes a warm, welcoming statement.”
“White makes a statement!” Geoffrey reflected.
“Yes,” replied Sally. “Just not the statement you think it makes.”
100 words
Joseph opened his bedroom window and slipped out backwards. He looked down at the red box above the door and lowered himself to it. With one foot on the box he reached down and lowered himself to the lintel above the door. Once both feet touched the lintel he reached down and lowered himself to the railing where he turned and jumped. Immediately he squealed a surprise gasp.
“Heading somewhere?” asked his neighbour Blake.
“Maybe,” replied Joseph.
“Next time, check to see who is out here first,” replied Blake.
“There won’t be a next time,” Frank, Joseph’s father, stated sternly.
150 words
Connie was putting clothes away in her teenage son’s closet when she noticed something funny. She cleared space so she could have a good look. Reaching out she pulled the sheet of drywall away. It had been expertly cut into a square.
“I didn’t know that he knew how to drywall,” reflected Connie a little tensely.
She got down on her hands and knees and pushed her way through the opening. Noticing the drywall there had been cut too she pushed her way through and gasped.
As she stood up she realized that she was standing in her neighbour’s teenage daughter’s bedroom.
In her anger Connie marched to the stairs and down to the living room. Marge looked up, surprised to see Connie.
“You need to see this,” intoned Connie as she led the way back up stairs.
Surveying the hole Marge quipped, “Maybe we should put in a door?”