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: “Must Love Time Travel”

Last week’s challenge — “The Android and the Wondering Chamber.”

Yesterday I had the fortune of interviewing Misters Hornshaw and Hurwitch (who sound the purveyors of fine meats) about their funny book on time travel (So You Created A Wormhole).

As such, I thought, well, let’s carry the ball forward a little bit.

You have 1000 words in which to write a story where “time travel” is a prominent feature.

Anything and everything else can feature –

As long as it has time travel.

Post at your online space, then link back here in the comments.

You have, as always, a wee widdle week. Due by noon EST on Friday, July 27th.

NOW GO, TEMPORAL WIZARDS, GO.

52 comments

David Grigg

July 20, 2012 at 7:27 AM // Reply

Yup, posted mine last year.
Beth L.

July 20, 2012 at 9:42 AM // Reply

This is going to be a difficult day and it will be good to have this challenge to think about when needed.

Thanks, Chuck.
Shiri Sondheimer

July 20, 2012 at 11:11 AM // Reply

Haven’t turned on the news today, but am slowly catching up. Sort of wish I hadn’t. Probably would have written a different story if I’d heard the story before I started…

http://swsondheimer.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/must-love-time-travel/
Eric Honaker

July 20, 2012 at 3:05 PM // Reply

Here’s mine. I enjoyed that, I should write more little flash fictions.

http://www.wattpad.com/5888396-useless?d=ud
Darlene Underdahl

July 20, 2012 at 4:57 PM // Reply

Return to Barsoom

http://darlene.underdahl.net/?p=172
Ben

July 20, 2012 at 10:24 PM // Reply

Here it is

http://cinaphile.blogspot.com/2012/07/skipping-around-time.html
Ben

July 20, 2012 at 10:25 PM // Reply

Here it is.

http://cinaphile.blogspot.com/2012/07/skipping-around-time.html
David Grigg

July 21, 2012 at 12:04 AM // Reply

I had fun writing this. It’s called “Uplift” and it’s a bit over length at 1100 words, but I hope you’ll forgive me.

http://narratorium.com/2012/07/21/uplift/
oldestgenxer

July 21, 2012 at 12:22 AM // Reply

Three weeks from now I wrote a really cool story for this. I’ll go get it, and bring it back.
Laura Libricz

July 21, 2012 at 5:43 AM // Reply

A Friday Short-Short called ‘It Is Time’

http://lauralibricz.blogspot.de/2012/07/friday-flash_21.html

Have a great weekend!
Shoshana Kessock

July 21, 2012 at 8:12 AM // Reply

Here’s my contribution! “The Barley Hill”

http://shoshanakessock.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/flash-fiction-challenge-the-barley-hill/
Lindsay Mawson

July 21, 2012 at 8:30 AM // Reply

I had to take a while to think about this one… Parts of it are loosely based on actual events.

“Time Travel in a Peterbilt”

http://lindsaymawson.blogspot.ca/2012/07/flash-fiction-challenge-44-must-love.html

Enjoy.
Becca

July 21, 2012 at 7:07 PM // Reply

Thanks for the prompt Definitely got me writing again. http://www.rebeccaannjordan.com/2012/07/21/emily-nerese-81-dies/
Kristin Mireles

July 21, 2012 at 7:17 PM // Reply

The time travel in my story is the result of strange cosmic coincidence, rather than the result of science and technology.

“Somewhere Back in Time”

http://mireles-musings.blogspot.com/2012/07/somewhere-back-in-time.html
Bronson O'Quinn

July 21, 2012 at 11:04 PM // Reply

Hopping in late on this train, but here goes:
“Telechronicity”
http://www.disposabletea.com/2012/07/story-time-telechronicity.html
Jim Franklin

July 22, 2012 at 3:52 PM // Reply

This took a lot longer than I thought it would, but it’s finished now so I can go grab myself a glass of Swarfega to celebrate.

Hope you enjoy it too… The story of course, not the cleaning product, it’s an acquired taste.

Here’s the story… http://www.thezombiechimp.com/2012/07/22/flash-fiction-known-intrusion/
Shady

July 23, 2012 at 12:41 AM // Reply

Here’s what I came up with. It’s some of the goofiest sh*t I’ve written in a while. Hope it works. *chugs another High Life* Enjoy.

http://49shadesofme.blogspot.com/2012/07/a-shovel-full-of-time-traveling-dirt.html
Bill Dezell

July 23, 2012 at 5:56 AM // Reply

Here’s mine.
http://billthescribe.blogspot.com/2012/07/chuck-wendigs-time-travel-challenge.html
Anninyn

July 23, 2012 at 8:37 PM // Reply

Here we go. After the unremitting grimness of last weeks offering, I thought you might like something a bit lighter. http://ifuckinglovebooks.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/pair-of-ducks-weekly-flash-challenge/
Josh Loomis

July 24, 2012 at 12:31 AM // Reply

This one’s about a book.

http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2012/07/23/flash-fiction-the-displaced-journal/
Jo Eberhardt

July 24, 2012 at 12:33 AM // Reply

This was a great challenge. I had so much fun writing this story, it should have been illegal. And, because I watch WAY to many Pixar movies, I’ve named it:

To Infinity and Beyond
Nathan Zalman

July 24, 2012 at 3:04 PM // Reply

Here’s my 2-cents for this week, a time-travel twist on the “telepathic twins” story my hero Robert Heinlein told called “Time for the Stars.” It’s called [No Time for Brothers](http://nathanzalman.com/2012/07/no-time-for-brothers/ )
Nathan Zalman

July 24, 2012 at 3:08 PM // Reply

Oops, here’s the link:

http://nathanzalman.com/2012/07/no-time-for-brothers/
oldestgenxer

July 24, 2012 at 11:04 PM // Reply

I brought back a character from a previous challenge…And I’m not sure I like him. In fact, I’m sure I don’t. The guy’s a jerk. So, what would a jerk do with a time machine?

An Inappropriate Use of Time Travel

Like the character, I think the story itself is a little uneven. I have to be honest with you–probably not my best work. But I’m not going to bang out Shakespeare every time my knuckles drag across the keyboard. If I only had more time to work on it.
Jeff Xilon

July 25, 2012 at 3:57 AM // Reply

Ok. I found time travel quite a challenge to write with. Here’s my shot:

Saving The Future

http://www.jeffxilon.com/flash-fiction-time-travel-challenge/
DL Thurston

July 25, 2012 at 9:00 AM // Reply

I could claim I’m a little later than usual with writing a story because I didn’t have an idea until today, or I could claim I traveled forward form last Friday to post this today. Wait, no, it’s the former.

The Paradox: http://www.dlthurston.com/blog/2012/07/25/flash-fiction-the-paradox/
Logan Westbrook

July 25, 2012 at 12:31 PM // Reply

Here’s my effort, a story about a time travelling email scam

http://www.loganprime.com/?p=164
Beth L.

July 25, 2012 at 10:34 PM // Reply

Round and round she goes… snarling time.

http://knotachance.tumblr.com/
Kathleen

July 26, 2012 at 12:26 PM // Reply

Long time lurker, first time caller. Haven’t shared any of my writing with other humans in almost 20 years. Be gentle?

http://unmillemots.tumblr.com/post/28026576115/beware-the-faulty-heart
T.A. Saunders

July 26, 2012 at 2:44 PM // Reply

Found this week’s challenge quite interesting, so I took my own crack at it: http://fictionfoundry.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/meeting-god-chuck-wendig-flash-fiction-challenge/
Joshua D

July 26, 2012 at 9:07 PM // Reply

Well, I couldn’t keep it under 1000 words. Ended up at 1700, so consider yourself duly warned. But I really like the way the story turned out.

http://joshuadevans.com/free-fiction/living-in-the-past/
Ted

July 27, 2012 at 12:23 AM // Reply

Here’s my entry. It’s called “The Marshall Judgment”. 997 words.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u7DJok5RbYubKjaiyFlBgESC56SSwsyUFCEGVMgsYzY/edit
Mark Slabinski

July 27, 2012 at 12:51 AM // Reply

Here’s my entry. I participated in the last ff challenge and I actually had a lot of fun. Here’s my entry. 1000 words exact.

http://dredginganemptysea.wordpress.com/2012/07/27/flash-fiction-entry-2-must-love-time-travel/#more-38
Jenna Bird

July 27, 2012 at 2:34 AM // Reply

I wasn’t sure I’d get this one done in time! (ha ha ha)

http://jennaelf.blogspot.com/2012/07/flash-fiction-challenge-time-travel.html
Ilona

July 27, 2012 at 8:34 AM // Reply

http://ilonatherose.wordpress.com/alternating-current/

Alternating Current. Because I’m tired of people telling me that I can’t change the past, or at least not without creating paradoxes and destabilising reality.
Jon Stoffel

July 27, 2012 at 11:52 AM // Reply

I decided to participate in this about… umm… half an hour ago?

Regardless, got it done in time! (Time travel isn’t cheating, right?)

I give you… “Bad Respawn”

http://inspirandomonium.blogspot.com/2012/07/bad-respawn.html
Mike

July 27, 2012 at 11:54 AM // Reply

It was a challenge to not get lost in explaining how this might work, hard to not put too much science in science fiction. Good practive, and which is why I like the wide range we’re challenged with in here.
The Bus Station
http://www.ravensview.ca/ravens/2012/07/the-bus-station.html
Ethan

July 30, 2012 at 12:45 AM // Reply

I know I am a little late (well more than a little), but I’m a Flash Fiction virgin and I hope you can take a look and let me know what you think. I have no experience in time travel so I hope this is an accurate tale. http://shortstoriesandtalltales.wordpress.com/2012/07/30/a-second-chance/
Sarah O'Hara

October 2, 2012 at 8:31 AM // Reply

Here we go~
http://authorsarahohara.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge_29.html
RX.

February 3, 2013 at 2:10 AM // Reply

So I had this idea IMMEDIATELY once I read this challenge way back when it was first posted, but I only recently actually sat down and wrote it. If you’re interested, please do go read this story on my blog:

http://storytime365.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/010/