Chuck Wendig is a novelist, screenwriter, and game designer. This is his blog. He talks a lot about writing. And food. And the madness of toddlers. He uses lots of naughty language. NSFW. Probably NSFL. Be advised.

Flash Fiction Challenge: “Random Photo Story”

Last week’s challenge — “Three Sentences For Bear71” is up. I’ll keep folks updated on that page if any are selected and incorporated into the Bear71 experience at the Sundance Film Festical.

This challenge?

Pretty straightforward.

Go here: http://bighugelabs.com/random.php

It will pull up six random Flickr photos.

You will choose three of these photos and incorporate them into a single piece of flash fiction.

Be sure to give us the links of the three photos as well as the link to your story.

You’ve got 1,000 words.

You’ve got one week (Fri, Jan 27th, noon EST).

40 comments

Jim Franklin

January 20, 2012 at 3:30 AM // Reply

Interesting challenge… I’ll take it. Do you gift wrap?

I noticed with the random generator that a lot of the images had the ‘All Rights Reserved’ tag on it, so if you want to use the image on your blog, you have to contact the owner and ask them.

I’m not sure about just linking to Flickr, do you need to ask them for permission to do that? I assume not.
- terribleminds
  
  January 20, 2012 at 6:19 AM // Reply
  
  @Jim:
  
  You really only need to link to the photo. People can click through — linking is totally fine, no worries about rights for a link.
  
  – c.
Janice Brown

January 20, 2012 at 8:20 AM // Reply

Love this! Will see what I can do.
Louise Sorensen

January 20, 2012 at 10:12 AM // Reply

I tried copying the short cut, and clicking on link, but when I clicked on them to check the link, it said no address exists.
How do i make a link?
Jennifer L. Davis

January 20, 2012 at 12:11 PM // Reply

Okay, here’s mine (http://www.intellectualblathering.com/archives/3529) . It’s very short flash, coming in at just under 500 words. The photos I used are these three:

Piano Apple by zakonslike (https://secure.flickr.com/photos/7324037@N05/2445834695/)

Untitled by Leonardo Amaro Rodrigues (https://secure.flickr.com/photos/8857639@N04/6705090359/)

Closed Wings by yukiharu (https://secure.flickr.com/photos/46097788@N04/6549729487/)
Darlene Underdahl

January 20, 2012 at 1:55 PM // Reply

Back Home

http://darlene.underdahl.net/?p=122

Sorry, but the links got away from me. The pictures were a rustic “shop” in snow and trees, a blah industrial town, and a red-and-white dog in a house.

I hope you like it anyway.
Niki

January 21, 2012 at 10:59 AM // Reply

My first flash fiction challenge. As Chuck says, I am learning to finish the crap that I start.

http://schweggiewrites.tumblr.com/post/16229190269/flash-fiction-challenge-random-photo-story
Shiri Sondheimer

January 21, 2012 at 2:54 PM // Reply

The photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30427198@N00/6679064107/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8545275@N06/6727007729/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31813453@N00/6406785065/

The warning: not for the religiously sensitive. Which I have a feeling isn’t an issue if you frequent this blog. Still, only fair to warn…

The link: http://swsondheimer.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/flash-fiction-challenge-random-photo-story/

I’m getting addicted to these things…
Daniel M. Perez

January 22, 2012 at 12:46 AM // Reply

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

Here’s my entry: Parati – http://www.dmperez.com/2012/01/22/fiction-parati/
Rj Keith

January 22, 2012 at 7:45 AM // Reply

First flash fiction challenge ever..

Here’s the links to the photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59884883@N00/6412879325/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31231639@N02/2947033184/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marc-gascoigne/6525219831/

and my entry link:

http://rjkeith.wordpress.com/2012/01/22/flash-fiction-challenge/
Paul Scotti

January 23, 2012 at 6:53 AM // Reply

Hello, I’m new to the flash fiction scene so I’d really appreciate any critiques on this.

I used the following photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30725488@N00/5356081219/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7644163@N02/6550536355/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/18398888@N00/3644358537/

Here’s the story. 565 words. Hope you enjoy. I had to look up quite a bit of Australian slang to write this. http://blahstories.tumblr.com/post/16334407477
Josh Loomis

January 23, 2012 at 7:54 AM // Reply

The yarn:
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2012/01/23/flash-fiction-challenge-three-random-photos/

The snappies:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andregovia/6726664921/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28142785@N06/6728027175/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/coolbiere/6725172911/
Jim Franklin

January 23, 2012 at 7:58 AM // Reply

Here’s mine. One day I’ll do something about fluffy bunnies and puppies and so on, but not this time.

This is Static
http://www.thezombiechimp.com/2012/01/23/flash-fiction-static/

…and I used these three images
http://flickr.com/photos/25077496@N03/5889634022/
http://flickr.com/photos/13834179@N00/5350780150/
http://flickr.com/photos/60334228@N03/5930950673/
Donna B. McNicol (@DonnaBMcNicol)

January 23, 2012 at 3:10 PM // Reply

Just published mine at http://donnamcnicol.blogspot.com/2012/01/dance-flash-fiction.html

The three photos I used are:
Before: http://flickr.com/photos/7997441@N08/6689198385/
Dance: http://flickr.com/photos/7997441@N08/6182410870/
After: http://flickr.com/photos/40583498@N03/6721584761/

New at flash fiction so appreciate any input/comments. Thanks!
Willis

January 23, 2012 at 5:33 PM // Reply

Here is my submission: http://willis-f.blogspot.com/2012/01/human-at-heart.html

My three images?

A Tree: http://flickr.com/photos/25719387@N04/5738962163/
A Mailbox: http://flickr.com/photos/28973790@N05/5731932817/
A Fence: http://flickr.com/photos/88789443@N00/5729455447/
Logan Riley

January 23, 2012 at 8:57 PM // Reply

wow…i really have a hard time getting anywhere near 1000 words. hope you all enjoy!

http://literarybandit.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/that-kind-of-woman/

Images:
1. http://www.flickr.com/photos/9129968@N02/6428594659/
2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/23214264@N06/6399864271/
3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/72213316@N00/2287610734
Candice

January 23, 2012 at 11:48 PM // Reply

My entry, for your consideration, is here: http://candicerobinson.ca/2012/01/23/quilted-memories/

Like a true rebel, I ended up using all 6 photos. The first three dictated the story, the others were just a bonus.

The main 3:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22554961@N00/1221250557/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36539553@N08/5690291687/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22554961@N00/1285015332/

The bonus 3:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47851221@N00/5672044019/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22554961@N00/270461841/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22554961@N00/186341341/
Sarah Hans

January 24, 2012 at 12:14 PM // Reply

Photos and story are here: http://sarahhans.com/2012/01/24/the-cupcake-tattoo/

Thanks for the challenge Chuck. I ended up writing something much more heartfelt and personal than I was expecting. I debated posting it, even, but ultimately, I find that putting work out there is rewarding, even when it’s a bit scary. Maybe especially when it’s a bit scary. Rawr.
Frank R. McBride

January 25, 2012 at 5:47 PM // Reply

Might as well get back in the game with participating here again …

http://pulpdogg.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/flash-fic-challenge-random-photos/

Totally and utterly random story, but there you go …
Katelyn Lea

January 25, 2012 at 10:13 PM // Reply

My first completed challenge. Looking forward to doing more. Maybe this is slightly depressing, but I’m in one of those moods.

http://kleamidnightdisease.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/flash-fiction-challenge-random-photo-story/

My photos are linked in the blog post. Critique welcome, preferably in the comments section of the blog, but here works too
yojimbojapan

January 26, 2012 at 12:20 AM // Reply

Here are my photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32154460@N04/6696450043/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67056772@N06/6221522766/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24796741@N05/3513735603/

And here is my story:
http://yojimbojapan.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/flickr-photo-story-challenge/
Kai

January 26, 2012 at 10:57 AM // Reply

My photos:
Agnus – http://www.flickr.com/photos/44728333@N02/4735129118/
Unknown Man of Mystery – http://www.flickr.com/photos/7388762@N03/5936528741/
Vista of the Ghost Town of Goldfield, Arizona – http://www.flickr.com/photos/7388762@N03/5894859532/

My story:
Hunted – http://kaimicheals.com/wp/?p=20

Criticism welcome and appreciated.
Louise Sorensen

January 26, 2012 at 11:22 AM // Reply

Hi Everyone.
Here’s my story Gurrrl http://wp.me/s1BAlV-gurrrl

I’m not sure all the picture links will work, but here they are

http://flickr.com/photos/23530118@N04/3658433623 Paint Me Beautiful
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21713761@N00/5348334452/ two guys, one of them wreathed in smoke
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34743263@N08/5185388794/ a log fallen over the milky water of a fast moving stream
Mike

January 26, 2012 at 9:26 PM // Reply

Here’s mine – ended up with only 574 words. Links are in the post.

http://www.ravensview.ca/ravens/2012/01/random-photo-story.html
Ben K.

January 26, 2012 at 9:48 PM // Reply

The photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/geertbro/3294596685/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29917767@N05/3027482327/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/56044438@N00/2274369997/

…and the story, called “Vector Blue”

http://warnerkirby.blogs.com/clintonaut/2012/01/vector-blue.html

Thanks as always, Chuck!
Eva T

January 27, 2012 at 6:24 AM // Reply

And here’s my link: http://eileen-alphabet.livejournal.com/18387.html

Must say, I’m glad to be back on the flash fiction horse. It was fun to do.
Eden Mabee

January 27, 2012 at 8:43 PM // Reply

I’m a touch late on the bandwagon, but here: http://manyworldsmanyminds.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/they-made-me-do-it-lots-of-flash-fiction/

Basically because (as Chuck says), “I am a writer, and I will finish the shit that I started.”