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The Second Annual Freewrite 500

Annie Cosby
juillet 30, 2026 | 2 lire la lecture

PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH

Calling all micro-fiction storytellers! 🏁

For the second year in a row, Freewrite is teaming up with Grant Faulkner, co-founder of the Flash Fiction Institute and author of The Art of Brevity, to bring you the fastest, most adrenaline-pumping writing event of the year.

Whether you're a seasoned writer or a creative rookie, the Freewrite 500 is your chance to rev up your imagination, write a 500-word story, and win big.

You do not need to own a Freewrite to participate.

[REGISTRATION CLOSED]

 

How It Works

🎟️ Fill out the form above to secure your spot. It's totally free. (You must register to participate.)

📖 Watch the free mini flash fiction lesson by Grant Faulkner, which includes the announcement of the prompt for the contest. WATCH IT HERE.

📝 You'll have the weekend to finish and submit your 500-word storybased on the prompt by end of day on Monday, August 17. Entries must be 500 words or less. The entry form is plain text. Any necessary formatting should be noted in [brackets]. [SUBMISSIONS CLOSED]

✏️ Our judging panel, led by Faulkner and made up of writers from the Freewrite team and the Flash Fiction Institute, will judge each piece based on: length (500 words), relevance to the prompt, and creativity.

🥇 NEW THIS YEAR: The panel will select three finalists, and then announce one grand prize winner.

All work must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, August 17, 2026.

The Prize Pack

One winner will receive:

  • Publication on the Freewrite blog and Flash Fiction Institute blog
  • 1 Freewrite Traveler
  • 1 hour-long one-on-one coaching session with Grant Faulkner
  • 1 free Flash Gym session with the Flash Fiction Institute
  • 1 Words Are Hard prompt deck
  • A paperback copy of Set Your Story Free, the ultimate guide to freewriting
  • A digital copy of the opening chapter of Grant Faulkner's book, The Art of Brevity

Second and third place writers will each receive:

  • Publication on the Freewrite blog and Flash Fiction Institute blog
  • 1 Freewrite Alpha
  • 1 free Flash Gym session with the Flash Fiction Institute
  • 1 Words Are Hard prompt deck
  • A paperback copy of Set Your Story Free, the ultimate guide to freewriting
  • A digital copy of the opening chapter of Grant Faulkner's book, The Art of Brevity

The Schedule

  • Thursday, Aug 13: Lesson & prompt announcement
  • Monday, Aug 17: Submissions deadline
  • Monday, Aug 31: Finalists announced
  • Monday, September 7: Grand prize winner announced

Questions? You can reach us at hello@getfreewrite.com.

Write on.

The Freewrite 500 Pit Crew 🏁 

Full contest terms and conditions

septembre 29, 2026 • 2 lire la lecture

Official Rules for the Promotion

No purchase necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your changes of wining. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

1. Eligibility

The "Hemingwrite Giveaway" ("Promotion") is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Employees, officers, and directors of Astrohaus ("Sponsor") and its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and their immediate family members (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and/or those living in the same household are not eligible. The Promotion is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

2. Promotion Period

The Promotion begins at 8 a.m. EST Sept 1, and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on September 30 ("Promotion Period"). Sponsor's computer is the official timekeeping device for this Promotion.

3. How to Enter

There are two (2) ways to enter:

a) Purchase Method:

During the Promotion Period, fill out the form here: https://getfreewrite.com/a/ps/landing_pages/28761/hemingwrite-giveaway-2026Limit one (1) entry per person.

4. Prize

One (1) Grand Prize: A Freewrite Ernest Hemingway Special Edition Smart Typewriter (value $1,099.00 USD).

Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): up to $1,099.00 USD.

5. Winner Selection

One (1) potential winner will be selected in a random drawing on or about October 1, from among all eligible entries received during the Promotion Period. Odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received.

6. Winner Notification

The potential winner will be notified by email within five (5) business days following the drawing. The potential winner may be required to complete and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability & Publicity Release within seven (7) days of notification. If a selected winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to claim the prize, or fails to timely return the required documents, the prize may be forfeited and an alternate winner selected.

7. General Conditions

By participating, entrants agree to abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final. The Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, modify, or suspend the Promotion if it becomes technically corrupted or cannot be conducted as planned. The prize is non-transferable. All federal, state, and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner.

8. Limitation of Liability

Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, damaged, or illegible entries or for any technical or human error that may occur in the administration of the Promotion.

9. Privacy

Any personal information collected will be used in accordance with the Sponsor’s Privacy Policy located at https://getfreewrite.com/pages/privacy-policy.

9. Sponsor

Astrohaus
1632 1st Avenue #29179
New York, NY 10028

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