(Last week’s challenge, “Random Photo Story,” says, “Come look at my entries! They’re super!”)
So, maybe you saw an article on io9 yesterday — “10 Writing ‘Rules’ We Wish More Sci-Fi And Fantasy Authors Would Break.” It’s a very cool article. And I pretty much agree with all of it. In fact, BLACKBIRDS (which gets its first official review right here!) features a potentially unsympathetic character (though I love her dearly) and is written entirely in the present tense.
Now, for this challenge, I’m scraping all that away and saying —
Write a piece of flash fiction, 1000 words or less, in the present tense.
Doesn’t matter if it’s sci-fi or fantasy. I’m not asking you to write an unsympathetic character that yet remains compelling (aka livable over likable) — no, that’ll be a separate challenge.
Why do I love the present tense? It feels fast. Urgent. In the moment. It feels like you’re telling a story that’s evolving as the reader reads it as opposed to a story whose events have come and gone.
I am a big fan.
So, do that with your story this week.
Write whatever you want. Whatever genre, whatever character, whatever story.
As long as it’s in the present tense.
Post your stories at your site and drop a link into the comments here so we can come read ’em.
You’ve got a week.
I’ll see you back here on Friday, February 3rd, by noon EST.
67 responses to “Flash Fiction Challenge: The Present Tense”
Man this was hard. But I managed to write something I call Out of Air.
http://nmniskanen.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/flash-fiction-out-of-air/
Wow, everybody has posted such good stuff.
I thought I would givie it a try. I titled it Omega.
http://thepumpkinsociety.blogspot.com/2012/02/omega.html
Be gentle, it is only my second time. 🙂
All of the entries so far have been awesome. I’ve only read half so far and it’s pretty killer stuff.
Wellp, here’s my semi-humble entry. A tale of shadows in a royal city. Hope you enjoy and feel free to leave any and all feedback.
http://8thage.blogspot.com/2012/02/cloak-and-dagger-in-royal-city.html
I can’t tell you what I went through to post this story here today.
My Brother the Inventor http://wp.me/p1BAlV-25
I may not be able to read everyone’s stories this week, but hopefully next week, normalcy will be restored.
My offering… a little different than my usual. Thanks, Chuck:
http://warnerkirby.blogs.com/clintonaut/2012/02/lightning-strikes-twice.html
My piece, once again just before deadline: http://eileen-alphabet.livejournal.com/18671.html
A little background on of my characters. Warning, contains implied gore.
Here ya go. Have another lump of present tense tension. This time with less angst!
Relativity
“From The Sun”
http://amytupper.net/2012/02/03/from-the-sun/
[…] A flash fiction response to a challenge issued by Chuck Wendig at terribleminds.com. […]
[…] weeks challenge was 1000 words in present tense. The below is a pretty poor attempt, despite being something like […]
“Charlotte’s Last Job”, 990 words.
http://kaimicheals.com/wp/?p=26
Comments and criticism welcome. In fact, I beg of thee, comment or criticize.
[…] decided to participate in a flash fiction challenge put forth by Chuck Wendig at his blog terribleminds. The challenge was to write a 1000 word piece of flash fiction in the present tense. Here’s […]
First-time poster, challenge accepted!
Just A Moment
http://bookvmovie.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/flash-fiction/
First-time poster, challenge accepted! Decided to give this a try.
Just A Moment
http://bookvmovie.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/flash-fiction/
Oops – a little past noon, but this was fun. And challenging, I think is mostly present tense, with a bit of future implied.
http://www.ravensview.ca/ravens/2012/02/present-tense.html
[…] flash fiction challenge from Chuck Wendig at his blog terribleminds: create a compelling tale featuring an unlikable protagonist. This one really got me […]
[…] Wendig set out another intriguing flash fiction challenge based on an article in io9; 10 Writing “Rules” We Wish More Science Fiction and Fantasy […]