A plane delay, whether of fifteen minutes or five hours, can set off an unexpected series of consequences as travelers often have plans with people awaiting them upon arrival at the other end. It may involve gatherings with family and friends, business meetings, vacation activities, restaurant reservations, show tickets, or connecting flights to catch. This week, write a short story that launches with a character experiencing a short or long flight delay, unfurling a chain reaction that affects an important relationship in their life. You might choose to stay with one character throughout the entirety of the story or cobble together a narrative that weaves together the stories of multiple characters affected by the fallout of the same delayed flight. How do differing characters’ responses reveal something about their personality and priorities?
Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.





