A Feast of Fiction: The Second Indulgence

Dates: Sep 26, 2026 - Nov 7, 2026

Prompt drops: Every weekday at 12:00pm Eastern/US Time

All deadlines and scoring are based on America/New_York

Join us for a month-long horror writing challenge where every day brings a new prompt!

October 9, 2026

★ The First Course (Bonus • 1.5x) — Oct 9

Oct 9, 2026

Word Limit: ∞

As you socialize with the other guests, an announcement is made that it is time for the first course of the banquet. You and the rest of Lord Devereaux’s guests file into the room and gather around a huge banquet table. He raises his glass and proposes a toast.

What does he say?

Write a story or poem about the first course of celebrations and what kind of appetizers you expect someone like Lord Devereaux to serve his human friends.

Note: This is a continuation of your September 26th prompt, and also worth 1.5x points, but you may also start here if you did not write for the first one.

Responses

"The First Course" — Hazel Allen : A weird and silly take on today's prompt, going with a bit of a meta-narrative vibe I guess.

"God of Stories" — Victoria "Moueska" Buritsch : In Which the Party Planner Stands Aside...

"A Sausage Amongst The Caviar- a poem" — Gary L Taylor : Further to the events of the initial story, this poem looks at Lord Devereaux re-running the ball, beginning with a feast.

"Lord Devereaux Puts Me to Work at His Masquerade. Kira Is Having a Wonderful Time." — J.M. Gooding : The guests arrive at Lord Devereaux's masquerade ball, and J.M. and his muse Kira discover that being unpaid staff at an eldritch dinner party comes with unexpected responsibilities.

"The Empty Chair" — Rebecca Watson (ReBe)

"A Measure of Hunger" — BentButTrue : Dinner is over. The banquet is just beginning. Lord Devereaux serves a first course designed to reveal what his guests truly hunger for—and Sheldon discovers his appetite may be certainty.