Weekly Prompt: A Sci-Fi Writing Pentathlon

Write a microfiction sci-fi story that includes the words: Gravity, pressure, thrust, contaminate, sex

In remembrance of the Olympics, we’re going to create our own Pentathlon this week. But this is not an athletic pentathlon; it’s a writing pentathlon.

“What in the hell is that?” you ask.

“It’s a made-up thing where you have to write a microfiction story that includes five different words.”

“But isn’t that just like the five-word challenge you used to do?”

I stop and scratch my head. “Yes,” I say, “It is like that, but it is different.”

“Different how?”

“Different in that this five-wor…*ahem* writing pentathlon must be in a specific genre. Like, science fiction. Yes… this is a Sci-Fi Writing Pentathlon.”

You stare awkwardly, shake your head and almost close your browser tab. But then, a thought strikes you. “What are the five words?” you ask.

“Well, that’s where it gets interesting,” I say. I tap my finger on my chin as my eyes study the ceiling.

…

“Hello?” you ask.

“Sorry. The five words are: Gravity, pressure, thrust, contaminate, sex.”

“Sex?”

I nod. “Think reproductive categories among species.”

“Oh, okay,” you say. Your cheeks flush.

TAGS: 6wordstory for stories that are exactly six words. Pentina for stories that are exactly 50 words. Centina for stories that are exactly 100 words. OneSentenceStory for stories that are told entirely in one sentence. PostcardFiction for all the rest, stories that are 250 words or fewer.