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And we’re back.
Once again, with last week’s challenge (The Hotel), you crazy emmereffers came out of the woodwork and did up some amazingly cool stuff. And, once again, it’s time to re-up the stash. I mean, re-up the flash fiction challenge. Ready for another go?
Okay, so, as you may know, the wife and I are expecting our first progeny — Der Wendigspawn — in the next few months. Which means my life has become suddenly and swiftly baby-focused. Everything is crib-nursery-Pooh-poo-bottle-milk-breast-how-many-centimeters-dilated-diaper-Nuk-Bjorn-Boppy-headasplode. On this subject I’ve been commiserating with fellow expectant father-dude, Anthony “Pulptone” Schiavino. We half-joke that, come summer, people are going to see us online at 3AM, drunk, delirious, feeding our respective infants. We will be the protagonists in some crazy baby-related stories.
Then, he said this:
Oh, snap.
And a flash fiction challenge was born.
Your challenge, should you choose to accept it:
BABY PULP FLASH FICTION.
It must be baby-centered.
It must be pulp. Pulp is, of course, a kind of lurid, cheap, fastly-produced genre fiction. Men’s Adventure! Noir! Space opera! Superhero! Detective! And so on, and so forth. So, in other words: baby noir! Baby superhero! Baby space opera! Baby adventure! Detective baby!
Baby Pulp.
And that’s it.
Please, no porny baby stories. I just — I mean — c’mon, no. These tales don’t need to be in good taste, but I don’t want any visits from PedoBear, you hear me?
Once again, you have 1000 words.
You have one week (let’s say next Friday, 9AM EST).
Post at your own blogs, drop a link in your blog to here, and drop a link to your blogged fiction in the comments below. Then at the end of the week I’ll tally it all up right here in this post.
Now get that pacifier out of your mouth. It’s time to fill the flash fiction diapers.
BOOM.
[EDIT, Friday 3/25/11: So, this week I'm going to not compile the links -- feels like the links found in the comments work okay for most people. Plus, it gets erm, unusually time-consuming to compile all those links. Between baby class Thursday night and trying to hit Friday morning's writing deadline, it's a bit of a time-kill for what may be dubious value. That said, if you would rather I continue to compile them, drop a comment below and let me know. If it's something you prefer, I'll make sure to revive the practice with next week's challenge.]
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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There’s only one thing wrong with the Wendig baby… IT’S ALIVE!!
I’m a newb, lured over here by the urging of some folks at Flash Fiction Friday. I have to say that even though I didn’t get to participate in the the last two challenges, I thought the prompts were great. I’m looking forward to reading what everyone came up with, and if I can find a few minutes of quiet time (hahaha, riiiight…) I might be able to whip something up for the current challenge.
@Brandy:
Do it! The spirit of pulp is, in many ways, to stick your hands into the mess without thinking too much about it.
– c.
Any quickie guides for someone with very limited experience with pulp? Hell, I probably have more than I think…but would hate to break genre.
Having three kids of my own (with the youngest having turned one a couple of weeks back), this sounds like fun. I’ve even written pulp before.
I’m in. Now to come up with an idea…
HAHAHA! When I first read the title of the challenge I thought “Oooh, so it has to be about babies and something ground up resulting in pulp?”
I have to now wiki and google what pulp genre is all about…though I am guessing its nothing sweet and baby-like
Okay, I’ve never written pulp before, but I have had a kid, so I thought I could try and wing it. Here’s my attempt!
http://lindsaymawson.blogspot.com/2011/03/flash-fiction-challenge-2-baby-pulp.html
Ohhhh baby-noir! I’m sooooo on this.
Never done pulp before either. It’s a micro flash, at just under 500 words, but does feature a certain bearded man named Chuck. I present: The Lair of Dr. Babile!
http://www.realityrefracted.com/2010/01/lair-of-dr-babile-terrible-minds-flash.html
I am so on this.
Your challenges are making me realize I write too damn slow. I’m still working on Hotel.
Totally in. I’ve never written pulp before but I’ve been wanting to play with it for a bit. Awesome!
Babies, eh?
http://downrange-impact.blogspot.com/2011/03/import-export.html
[...] Other than cover letters, I got sucked in by Chuck’s Pulp Baby micro fic challenge and wrote up a 1000 word thing that I like. Sent it out to some friends for feedback and will look [...]
This has the potential to go so wonderfully sideways.
[...] following story is my first foray into flash fiction. It’s for Chuck Wendig’s blog terribleminds and the theme is Baby Pulp. That’s right. You read that [...]
For some reason, I automatically thought about Baby Head, a playable character in the beat ‘em up game, Captain Commando.
Here’s my entry: The Consequences of Responsibility
http://sgtzero.wordpress.com/2011/03/18/the-consequences-of-responsibility/
more addictive than episodes of ‘Hoarders’, the weekly(?) flash fiction challange is here again! Thanks for checking out my entry:
http://chrysalisnow.blogspot.com/2011/03/where-is-baby.html
under 300 words.
“Try it.”
“it’s delicious! What is it?”
“Baby Pulp.”
[...] This post is part of Chuck Wendig’s weekly Flash Fiction challenge. You can find out more about it here. [...]
You’ll find my submission here, though it’s a tad shorter than the usual so-close-to-a-thousand-it’s-almost-rude length. Enjoy! http://bit.ly/hKEvaF
Oh. My. God. Wendig, you really are the weirdest person I don’t even know. Schiavino, I’m including you in that category. Your wives must have a highly developed sense of— the bizarre.
The closest I’ve ever come to reading pulp is listening to the “Guy Noir” episodes on Prairie Home Companion. I have no idea, is that pulp?
Hell. Now I’ve got a baby noir story foaming up in my head. Must. Get. It. Out.
KDJames…whatever do you mean? Wait. Look. Over there! A SQUIRREL!
Get it out. It’s the only cure.
But just wait. If you think this is bizarre I can only imagine what the summer will bring.
I didn’t get to last weeks. I’ll have to read the entries.
Here’s something to teethe on.
http://taratylertalks.blogspot.com/2011/03/psghetti-western.html
[...] us to say that) soul-sucking snarly-bearded word demon sometimes known as Chuck Wendig has issued a Flash Fiction challenge. He calls it Baby Pulp. Or Baby Noir. Yes, pulp/noir fiction featuring babies, for godsakes. [...]
Probably WordPress has already tagged you with the link, but here it is anyway:
Tonight’s mental calisthenics: The most ridiculous thing I’ve ever written: http://wp.me/pDGdR-jJ
[...] Wendig’s flash fiction challenge this week was BABY PULP. Never done pulp noir before, so here it goes. It does involve babies, and it is [...]
These challenges are fun. I am definitely being confronted with unfamiliar subject matter.
Here is mine.
http://marlanesque.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/redacted-pulp-noir-flash-fiction-challenge/
[...] week's challenge over at Terrible Minds is to write a flash fiction based on the prompt "Pulp Babies." For those of you who are not aware, [...]
Madman Maverick vs. THE BABY FROM HELL
http://unsanityfiles.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/madman-maverick-vs-the-baby-from-hell/
[...] post represents my foray into Flash Fiction. Through Albert Berg's Unsanity Files I found Chuck Wendig's Terrible Minds, with its Friday Flash Fiction Challenge. This week's challenge: Baby Pulp – meaning it has to [...]
Greetings – thought I’d give this a go – my first attempt – please be gentle.
http://tishipoo.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/samanthas-spade/
I can’t thank you enough for this. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun writing a story. I hope everyone enjoys reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Here’s On the Job.
http://jfjuzwik.blogspot.com/2011/03/on-job.html
Once more into the breach.
http://tailwindstimemachines.blogspot.com/2011/03/flash-fiction-baby-pulp.html
Baby noir….hmmm. You know Chuck, this could get ugly fast. I would recommend you do not subject your lovely wife to any of these stories. She might be a wee tad sensitive. At least don’t let her read the story I’m going to submit. lol!
I guess being a baby can get a lot creepier than we could imagine.
http://lettersbloodyletters.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/the-thing-in-the-dark/
This weekly challenge is becoming an addiction
.
[...] flash fiction from Chuck Wendig. The challenge: To write “Baby Pulp” in 1000 words or [...]
Baby Noir
http://adiaryofawriter.blogspot.com/2011/03/baby-pulp.html
This my attempt, though I am highly doubtful it can be considered Baby Pulp!
http://callmeshree.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/flash-fiction-damien/
I’m sure this scene looked a lot cooler in my head.
“Adventure in the Sky!”
http://flatvurm.livejournal.com/358987.html
Ok, I’ve got my story posted. First, let me just apologize in advance to Chuck and his wife. LOL! Please don’t let her read this, Chuck. I’ve given you fair warning. This is all your fault! Here’s my entry: http://juliamadeleineauthor.blogspot.com/2011/03/another-fun-flash-fiction-challenge.html
@ Rob Abrazado,
That was killer.
Dave
@Dave Turner, thank you kindly!
I present “A Dream of Camelot”.
Sort of baby pulp. There is (at least) a baby… http://tinyurl.com/4tzlxco
Take care,
Sean
[...] Saves the Day Posted on March 23, 2011 by Bika Here is a thing for Chuck Wendig’s Baby Pulp Flash Fic challenge. It’s very, very silly and I may have gone overboard with the villain. If you are [...]
Sorry, world. Sorry, Portland. Sorry, hipsters. Sorry, everyone.
http://bikacentral.wordpress.com/2011/03/23/blue-saves-the-day/
Earlier comment attempt failed…just a quick test to pimp my friend Janie’s submission to the Baby Pulp extravaganza!
http://rustywagonwheel.blogspot.com/2011/03/baby-pulp.html
Here’s mine, “Let Sleeping Babes Lie”
http://devereauxcourt.blogspot.com/2011/03/flash-pulp-baby.html
Here’s my shot: “Weird Science”. Not sure I like how it turned out, but one of my personal rules of flash is minimal edits. Write it, do a quick sculpt on it and send it out. Also, first shot at writing pulp.
http://jamiewyman.blogspot.com/2011/03/baby-pulp-flash-fiction-challenge.html
Finally completed my little adventure titled “Space God Baby” and it’s the adventures of a newborn Merlin after the end of the universe. Pulpy enough for ya?
http://paulvogtwrites.blogspot.com/2011/03/space-god-baby.html#more
[...] Wendig, freelance penmonkey, put a flash fiction challenge up on his blog: Baby Pulp, 1000 words. It isn’t as baby-centered as the challenge demanded but that is alright. It [...]
Here it is.
Where were you when King Kong fell?
http://githyankidiaspora.wordpress.com/2011/03/23/where-were-you-when-king-kong-fell/
Thanks, that was fun.
Once again, too much fun:
http://warnerkirby.blogs.com/clintonaut/2011/03/amelia-dare-baby-girl-detective-the-case-of-the-heavy-patsy.html
Hope you like it.
I don’t know what possessed me, but it was FUN! Here is my effort – Juice:
http://pinkwood.blogspot.com/2011/03/pulp-fiction-baby.html
Kudos, everyone! I’m enjoying reading these creative endeavors.
Mine is a little tale I call “Mother’s Milk of Explosive Dreaded Doom”.
http://angryreporter.blogspot.com/2011/03/flash-fiction-challenge.html
I almost missed this one, but I couldn’t not do it. lol Everyone’s stories are so excellent; I had a lot of fun reading them, even though I haven’t had the chance to leave comments for everyone. I was too busy reading!
Well, for what it’s worth, here’s my entry: http://writemomma.blogspot.com/ It’s longer than my last one, but hopefully not too long.
[...] visit last week’s flash fiction challenge — BABY PULP! It’s easily my favorite, so check out the [...]
Damn … missed it …