First up, a bit of administrative duties — for the last flash fiction challenge I was to pick a random participant to receive an Art Harder mug or e-book? The winner on that one was Ashley Lorelle. Ashley, you should email me at terribleminds at gmail dot com.
Now: time for the actual flash fiction challenge.
I love the concept of the “War on Christmas.” I don’t mean that I like the actual faux-bullshit “war,” I mean, I like that term.
I want you to use that term literally.
I want you to write a war about — or even against — Christmas.
Or, really, any winter holiday that tickles your fancy. Hanukah, Solstice, Kwanzaa, whatever. Hell, all of ’em wrapped up in one.
Interpret that as you see fit.
You’ve got the traditional 1000 words.
Post online, then link to it in the comments.
You’ve got one week: till Friday the 21st at noon EST.
I’ll pick a random participant to receive a… random holiday gift from yours truly.
Jeff Patterson says:
Idid a Holiday card with this theme a few years ago. It’s too long (2000 ws) to qualify, but I submit it for your enjoyment
http://www.baddaystudio.com/harbinger.html
December 14, 2012 — 9:32 AM
Jules says:
I loved that, especially the part about “…communication itself becoming decorative and ornamental?” You pretty much nailed it.
Thanks for sharing!
December 20, 2012 — 12:20 AM
Lindsay Mawson says:
Howdy. Been way too long, but that’s how it goes sometimes. Here’s my submission:
Jack vs. Christmas
http://lindsaymawson.blogspot.ca/2012/12/flash-fiction-challenge-49-war-on.html
December 14, 2012 — 9:52 AM
Jenn Collins (@MBJunction) says:
Weird. I actually feel dirty after writing this one. I don’t know how to feel about that. That’s actually kind of awesome.
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1908446-The-War-on-Christmas
December 14, 2012 — 10:09 AM
Tami Veldura says:
Wow, that was a major twist Jenn! I like it 😀
December 14, 2012 — 12:38 PM
Jonathan Bray says:
I’ll second Tami on that! Had to read the last part twice!
December 14, 2012 — 6:58 PM
E.Maree says:
That was brilliant!
December 16, 2012 — 12:40 PM
gregmulka says:
That was delightful.
December 17, 2012 — 1:48 PM
whirlingnerdish (@whirlingnerdish) says:
Wow. That was dark, but brilliant. Great job!
December 19, 2012 — 8:35 PM
Tami Veldura says:
http://www.tamiveldura.com/2012/12/winter-war.html?zx=a933fc4fbb1761e2
I present Jack Frost’s Winter War.
December 14, 2012 — 12:35 PM
Jules says:
This was beautiful! I really loved it 🙂
December 19, 2012 — 3:40 AM
David Grigg says:
It wasn’t written specifically for this challenge, but this story I wrote a couple of weeks ago seems to fit the theme.
http://narratorium.com/2012/12/06/good-tidings/
December 14, 2012 — 5:30 PM
Jonathan Bray says:
http://instoryland.wordpress.com/2012/12/14/the-santa-nik-flash-fiction/
The Santa Nik, we all need someone to believe in.
December 14, 2012 — 6:56 PM
Jenn Collins (@MBJunction) says:
That’s my kind of story. I enjoyed it.
December 15, 2012 — 4:04 PM
Jules says:
I liked this, quite alot 🙂
December 17, 2012 — 6:16 PM
Jeremiah says:
This wasn’t the story I’d intended to write, not by far. But after today it was the one I needed to write, so I scrawled it out. Maybe I’ll put another one together later in the week how I’d planned this morning. For now I’m satisfied with this one.
http://www.jqpdx.com/2012/12/15/the-mission/
December 14, 2012 — 11:21 PM
Jonathan Bray says:
I really enjoyed reading The Mission. Great work!
December 15, 2012 — 3:31 PM
Jules says:
This was great, I really loved the sense of mystery. Very nice job!
December 19, 2012 — 3:51 AM
Blue Lynx says:
This is the first writing I have done for years. I had forgotten how extraordinarily pleasurable it is when all the words come together. I already want to do it again…
http://bluelynx.blog.com/2012/12/15/the-list/
December 15, 2012 — 12:22 AM
Jules says:
That was great, thanks for sharing!
December 17, 2012 — 6:21 PM
Decaying Orbits says:
That was excellent. Well done!
January 5, 2013 — 9:37 AM
Lynna Landstreet says:
I wrote a story a couple of years ago that fits that theme pretty well — not with Christmas, but with another winter holiday. I’m sure it’s not eligible for the gift draw since it wasn’t written specifically for this, but I thought I’d share it anyway for anyone who’s interested: http://lynnalandstreet.com/stories/disablot
December 15, 2012 — 1:21 AM
Andy Decker says:
I went a little off topic so I probably won’t win. But I should get a button for showing up.
http://www.jonah2eight.blogspot.com/2012/12/time-for-birch.html
December 15, 2012 — 11:19 AM
Jules says:
Off-topic or not, that was brilliant. I loved it!
December 20, 2012 — 12:09 AM
oldestgenxer says:
I’m back–by popular demand!
Or maybe it was popular demand that caused me to disappear ever so briefly. In any event, I truly am best in small doses, which also explains why I like to write short fiction.
I have two entries here for your reading…pleasure. I want to tell you that I come at this from the perspective that there really is a war on Christmas, and it will only escalate.
Tell Santa What You Want
This second one doesn’t count, I wrote it about 2 years ago, and tweaked it a bit for this, but this is the first time I’ve published it on my blog. If you like it, you are as wrong in the head as I am.
One Night During Kwanzaa
So…Merry Christmas.
December 15, 2012 — 8:23 PM
Jenn Collins (@MBJunction) says:
You and I had a similar take, @oldestgenxer. I like it.
December 15, 2012 — 10:00 PM
oldestgenxer says:
I make it a rule to never read any of the stories until AFTER I have posted mine. When I read yours, my jaw actually dropped open. I could have used your character–
Too funny, too awesome.
December 16, 2012 — 7:45 AM
Jim Franklin says:
Here’s mine, hope you like it. I feel a little out of practice.
Where Elfs Dare – http://writewayround.wordpress.com/2012/12/16/flash-fiction-where-elfs-dare/
Thanks
December 16, 2012 — 5:30 AM
John Vise says:
Hmmm… I should thank you. Inspiring something truly giggly sick.
Peter’s Pains
http://wp.me/pJy7b-4O
December 16, 2012 — 8:43 PM
Phil Norris says:
Here’s my entry – Christmas Is Hell!
http://philnorris63.wordpress.com/2012/12/17/chuck-wendig-flash-fiction-challenge-war-is-hell/
December 17, 2012 — 8:16 AM
Josh Loomis says:
“War on Christmas.” They keep using that word. I don’t think it means what they think it means.
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2012/12/17/flash-fiction-the-war-on-christmas/
December 17, 2012 — 8:21 AM
Jules says:
I liked that a lot. It was very evocative and (I mean this in the BEST way) it put in my a bit of a World of Warcraft space for a bit there!
December 20, 2012 — 12:00 AM
Tia Kalla (@tiakall) says:
This one spoke to me immediately. Somewhat hilariously, I was thinking literal just from the title before I read the challenge. So here’s my attempt, “For the Greater Good”: http://itt.ymakadomain.com/?p=46
December 17, 2012 — 5:53 PM
Beth L. says:
A winter campaign, waged every year. Here’s “Jinglebell” for your reading pleasure.
http://knotachance.tumblr.com/
December 17, 2012 — 11:09 PM
Greg Mulka says:
What will the displaced do to survive? “Old Gods, New Faces”
http://wp.me/p2WVLl-1C
December 18, 2012 — 9:36 PM
whirlingnerdish (@whirlingnerdish) says:
The first thing I thought when I read your writing prompt was “We always expected the fall of Christmas to come from the secularists. We never expected the real trouble to come from within.” So that became the first line. And so “The Civil War on Christmas” was born.
887 words. I didn’t do bad reigning it in this time.
http://whirlingnerdish.blogspot.com/2012/12/flash-fiction-challenge-civil-war-on.html
December 18, 2012 — 10:58 PM
Jules says:
That was frickin’ great! Very clever and I LOVE the last line!
December 19, 2012 — 4:08 AM
Jules says:
Yikes. Long-time visitor, first-time ‘Flasher.’ (You know what I mean.)
I won’t say, “be kind,” or anything. I’ll only say, it’s a couple-hundred words too long and it’s my first one and I hope it’s not offensive.
NERVOUS.
K, here t’is: http://itsfamilyjules.wordpress.com/2012/12/19/flash-fiction-challenge/
December 19, 2012 — 3:13 AM
Jenn Collins (@MBJunction) says:
Jules. That was awesome. Great concept, fun execution. I’m so glad I came back to read this.
December 19, 2012 — 11:02 AM
Jules says:
Thanks! Yours was wonderfully written and kinda freaked me out, lol!
December 20, 2012 — 12:05 AM
Josh Loomis says:
Nicely done! I greatly enjoyed it.
December 19, 2012 — 11:11 AM
Jules says:
Thanks!
December 20, 2012 — 12:05 AM
Ian Brown says:
Okay, this sort of felt like a disaster but I’m going to roll with it anyway. Not my best flash fiction, but I had fun writing it. The challenge prompt itself is absolutely wonderful!
War on Christmas in the Streets: http://www.humming-rain.com/2012/12/19/flash-fiction-war-on-christmas-in-the-streets/
December 20, 2012 — 1:23 AM
Jules says:
That thing down there, about “cute,” and “smile?” That was meant for you. 🙂
December 20, 2012 — 2:38 AM
Ian Brown says:
Aw, thanks so much!
December 26, 2012 — 4:08 PM
Jules says:
I thought it was very cute! Totally made me smile 🙂
December 20, 2012 — 2:37 AM
chriswhitewrites says:
Written at the end of November – Christmas Lights:
http://chriswhitewrites.com/2012/11/26/christmas-lights/
December 20, 2012 — 4:11 AM
Tim says:
Mad Santa and Mistress Claus: http://www.pendemon.com/flash-fiction-operation-double-wrap/
December 21, 2012 — 3:44 AM
Daniel says:
can’t remember how to do this but I get it right.
At first didn’t have a clue what write but this is what I came up with.
Enjoy.
http://dreinmiller.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-war-before-christmas.html
December 21, 2012 — 3:57 AM
Eva T says:
My take on it. http://evathereseebert.wordpress.com/2012/12/21/flash-fiction-challenge-the-war-on-christmas/
December 21, 2012 — 9:04 AM
Tom Wells says:
The Once-White Cloak: http://www.thewanderingstag.com/2012/12/the-once-white-cloak/
December 21, 2012 — 9:35 AM
lisefrac (@lisefrac) says:
My first time posting, and I’m coming in just under the wire.
The Battle on Christ’s-Mass: http://captainecchi.livejournal.com/668460.html
December 21, 2012 — 11:41 AM
Daniel says:
Okay, a little rough but this is what I’ve got.
dreinmiller.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-war-before-christmas.html
December 21, 2012 — 11:52 AM
Samuel Schultz says:
http://razorwiretightrope.wordpress.com/2012/12/21/christmas-war/
December 21, 2012 — 11:58 AM
welltemperedwriter says:
Is it after noon? I’m in Fairbanks, Alaska and I can’t tell anymore. (Though it may not matter since this technically isn’t finished anyway: The Battle for Christmas: http://welltemperedwriter.wordpress.com/2012/12/22/the-battle-for-christmas/)
December 21, 2012 — 8:00 PM