Will Flash Fiction Keep This Blogmachine A-Churning? I Think It Will
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I’ll be outta here for a couple weeks in October.
Mm-hmm, yes, I know, you’re not supposed to announce your trips online, but as it turns out, I blog everyday. I amble about the Twitters every day. If I go away and don’t say anything, then you people are going to think I fell down a well and broke my leg. Unless I lie about it. Which takes great effort to blog and tweet on vacation: “Oh, I’m just… you know. Sitting here in my office. Typey-typey!”
Ehh. No. Don’t have the energy.
(Plus, the house will remain occupado whilst I’m gone, as someone has to watch the dogs.)
So, I’ve been thinking how to keep this site up and chugging along while I’m off cavorting upon distant moons and swimming in alien seas, and then I looked at the calendar and see that my time away coincides with the ramp-up to Halloween. Now, let’s remember: I love me some horror fiction. I just do. When I started writing, that’s what I loved to write most — though, as I’ve aged, my writing and reading interests have strayed. But I always still come back to adoring great horror fiction.
Then I thought, well, maybe I should do something flash-fiction-flavored.
Something flavored with a little splash of terror sauce.
I figured, no need to ask for blog posts this time around. (Plus, I intend to still do some light blogging on the trip — the trip is, after all, in part a work trip for me. Starts with Bouchercon, by the way.)
I also don’t need a set number, necessarily — however many I get, I get.
Is this a good idea? A bad idea? You tell me.
I think, if it sounds good, the set up will look a little something like this:
Flash Fiction: “Vacation Hell” Horror
1.) Write a 1000 words or less piece of flash horror fiction set in and around vacation or travel.
2.) Get me those 1000 words by Monday, October 11th. You can email me the story at chuckwendig [at] terribleminds [dot] com. Please ensure that I know who you are and what this is for, yeah?
3.) I’d like at least 14 total entries, but if more arise, hey, no problem there. The more the merrier.
4.) I do not own the stories, so you are free to cross-post on your blogs. My preference would be that you wait until the day of posting here, however, but that’s entirely on you. Again, I don’t own the stories.
5.) I will do a contest at the end of it — people can come, vote on their favorites. This means I will post the stories as they are — word goblins, spelling goobers, and punctuation poo-poo included.
6.) Winner gets either a free roleplaying book of mine, signed if you care; a copy of Beauty Has Her Way, an anthology from Dark Quest Books that contains a story of mine, “The Moko-Jumbie Girl;” or a copy of Needle #2, the killer noir magazine with stories from the likes of Stephen Blackmoore, Julie Summerell, Frank Bill, and Chris F. Holm. (Which I didn’t write, but hey, if I can pimp great writers, I’ll pimp great writers.) For the record, Beauty Has Her Way isn’t out yet, and I don’t know the release date, but it’s all done and the cover’s out in the wild now, so I imagine it’s not on a slow boat or anything.
7.) The contest prize portion is only available to people who live in, say, the 48 “upper” states of these United States. International participants can still try out, but hey, you gotta pay the shipping. I’ll pay the shipping if you’re in America, but anywhere else, the bill’s on you nerds.
Who’s In?
Take me to bed or lose me forever.
…uhh, no wait, that’s not it.
Ahem, I’d love to know if you’re thinking about jumping in and trying this out. I don’t need a firm commitment, but wouldn’t mind a loose set of numbers. Just to get an idea. Just to get a base.
You can also tell me to go fuck myself. Always a viable option!
About The Author
ChuckWendig
Chuck Wendig is equal parts novelist, screenwriter, and game designer. He is the author of the novels DOUBLE DEAD, BLACKBIRDS, and MOCKINGBIRD. In addition, he's got a metric boatload of writing-related e-books available, including the popular 500 WAYS TO BE A BETTER WRITER. He currently lives in the wilds of Pennsyltucky with wife, dog, and newborn progeny.
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In like Flynn.
I’m on this like a Stephanie Meyer heroine is on a dead guy, which is to say I’m throwing my pork-pie into the squared circle. Count me in.
Hmmm…never tried any horror. I’ll let you know by the 11th whether I have something or not.
[...] theme is horror vacation. For more guidelines, read it directly from the lunatic’s blog: Terribleminds.com Challenges ← F3 – Cycle 1 – Lost Shoe blog comments powered by [...]
I’ve been known to flash some fiction from time to time. Count me in.
I’ll do it. And before the deadline, too.
A writing contest that will not conflict with my translation and thesis work? Hot diggity damn, sign me up for that glorious thing!
I’m in.
Shake it shake it!
Hells to a world of Yeses, I am in. Being the notorious flake I am (just ask David) there’s a chance I may not manage it, but I fully intend to do it at this moment. RAWR!
Are we allowed to enter if we don’t have a blog?
You had me at duct tape.
Was I not supposed to mention that?
Come on, it’s not like it left any permanent marks. And you liked the whipped cream.
Deadlines are the only way I can force myself to write fiction, so…yes.
Sure, I’ll give it the old college try. I’ve been meaning to dip my toes in horror. You’ve just supplied me with a good excuse.
I think I’ll give it a shot. It might even turn out as a real story!
Gee Thanks Chuck, another excuse for me to distract myself from 5 other writing and a half dozen music projects I got boiling on all burners;)
I’m in. Micro-work contests are basically the most fun thing(s).
My beard come fat enough. I’m in.
I’ll be your huckleberry.
(Unless you have enough huckleberries, as there may be more than 14 entries. I’m not a math guy. I like letters.)
K
I’m like, totally in. I’ve had an idea for while, we’ll see how it works out.
Horror vacation flash, you say? All right, I’m game
Go fuck yourself.
Now that that’s out of the way…
Hey! HEY! You asked for it! Don’t give me that lip!
Back into the well, Wendig. Don’t make me get the hose.
I can possibly maybe do something with this. Happy pills in hand, I am productive and shit again. Somewhat. Maybe. Yes. Productive.
Swear.
Bring it on.
I’m a totally newbie to your blog, but I will compete. Oh, yes, I will compete.
So I puttered with this story about the deep creep South today, got halfway through and realized I hadn’t injected any fiction yet…creepy;)
I shall try ever so hard and, work permitting, inflict the words on you by the 11th at the latest. I’ve never written horror fiction. It’s just a matter of mixing boobs and blood in sufficient quantities, right? I’ve seen Friday the 13th. I can do this.
In.
Ohh, @Dave — it’s more than merely boobs and blood. It’s boobs, blood, and TENSION.
And I think I may need to do a revised post on tension.
– c.
Tension? Like the strap of a too-full bra? I gotcha covered.
Hmm… I think I’m in.
Wendigooooo,
As you know, I’m all about the prizes and the payoff.
So I read this, and I was kinda sorta thinking about it, until I got to that bit at the end about no overseas shipping, and was like “That’s like a giant FUCKYOU specifically aimed at me. Maybe I shouldn’t have taken that shit in Wendig’s bed. Ah hell, screw that guy, it was funny.”
And sure, I cried quietly in the corner for a few moments, but then wiped my eyes, crossed you off my Xmas list and got on with my life.
However, I then realised two things:
1 – I have a good idea for a story.
2 – I’ll be in the US in November, and prizes could be obtained at that time.
So okay, I’m in. Expect something this week.
–
Patrick
I can write 1000 words of horror about taking you to bed where you proceed to fuck yourself.
Okay, more coffee laced with Dran-o to get that visual image out of my head. I’m in for the writing, though.
Never done horror. Never even though about doing horror. Maybe it’s like football players doing ballet, though. Maybe it will help. Anyway, what the fuck. I’ll have a go.
The gears are already turning. Consider me in!
I’m not sure if I’ll get a story done in time, but I’ve posted your announcement on Women of Mystery to let folks know about this challenge:
http://www.womenofmystery.net/2010/09/horror-flash-fiction-challenge.html
Sounds like fun!
@Kathleen –
Crazy awesome! Thank you for that — I hope to see an entry from you, though, no doubt.
– c.
Okay, I’ll take a stab at it. And the other contestants. Possibly you, if it doesn’t go well. We’ll see.
Count on me.
[...] is going to be leaving us for two weeks and, needing his blog not to go belly up, has put out a call for horror flash fiction from his readers to fill the void. And, while I’ve never written horror before, I’m [...]
[...] http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2010/09/18/will-flash-fiction-keep-this-blogmachine-a-churning/ [...]
[...] The Terribleminds Flash Fiction Challenge. [...]
I’ll be there in a day or two.
[...] I surfed over to Chucky’s blog and discovered that he’s going on vacation this month and is leaving the asylum to the inmates in [...]
[...] big news me-wise is what I’m working on now. I’ve got a bit for Chuck Wendig’s Flash Fiction thing I need to get finished today (and I am excited, I think this is a cool idea). I haven’t [...]
[...] I will unfortunately be missing out on VACATION HELL due to saving the work-in-progress to the wrong place yesterday (I blame the old cheese, long [...]
Vacation Hell : 10/11/10 -11:30 P.M. …1000 words…”Triptych” by T. Reed finished and submitted by email:)
Almost true…a little bit Twilight Zone too;)