Flash Fiction Challenge: “The War On Christmas”
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
December 14, 2012 at 9:32 AM //
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
Jules
December 20, 2012 at 12:20 AM //
I loved that, especially the part about “…communication itself becoming decorative and ornamental?” You pretty much nailed it.
Thanks for sharing!
Lindsay Mawson
December 14, 2012 at 9:52 AM //
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
Jenn Collins (@MBJunction)
December 14, 2012 at 10:09 AM //
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
Tami Veldura
December 14, 2012 at 12:38 PM //
Wow, that was a major twist Jenn! I like it
Jonathan Bray
December 14, 2012 at 6:58 PM //
I’ll second Tami on that! Had to read the last part twice!
E.Maree
December 16, 2012 at 12:40 PM //
That was brilliant!
gregmulka
December 17, 2012 at 1:48 PM //
That was delightful.
whirlingnerdish (@whirlingnerdish)
December 19, 2012 at 8:35 PM //
Wow. That was dark, but brilliant. Great job!
Tami Veldura
December 14, 2012 at 12:35 PM //
http://www.tamiveldura.com/2012/12/winter-war.html?zx=a933fc4fbb1761e2
I present Jack Frost’s Winter War.
Jules
December 19, 2012 at 3:40 AM //
This was beautiful! I really loved it
David Grigg
December 14, 2012 at 5:30 PM //
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/
Jonathan Bray
December 14, 2012 at 6:56 PM //
http://instoryland.wordpress.com/2012/12/14/the-santa-nik-flash-fiction/
The Santa Nik, we all need someone to believe in.
Jenn Collins (@MBJunction)
December 15, 2012 at 4:04 PM //
That’s my kind of story. I enjoyed it.
Jules
December 17, 2012 at 6:16 PM //
I liked this, quite alot
Jeremiah
December 14, 2012 at 11:21 PM //
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/
Jonathan Bray
December 15, 2012 at 3:31 PM //
I really enjoyed reading The Mission. Great work!
Jules
December 19, 2012 at 3:51 AM //
This was great, I really loved the sense of mystery. Very nice job!
Blue Lynx
December 15, 2012 at 12:22 AM //
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/
Jules
December 17, 2012 at 6:21 PM //
That was great, thanks for sharing!
Decaying Orbits
January 5, 2013 at 9:37 AM //
That was excellent. Well done!
Lynna Landstreet
December 15, 2012 at 1:21 AM //
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
Andy Decker
December 15, 2012 at 11:19 AM //
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
Jules
December 20, 2012 at 12:09 AM //
Off-topic or not, that was brilliant. I loved it!
oldestgenxer
December 15, 2012 at 8:23 PM //
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.
Jenn Collins (@MBJunction)
December 15, 2012 at 10:00 PM //
You and I had a similar take, @oldestgenxer. I like it.
oldestgenxer
December 16, 2012 at 7:45 AM //
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.
Jim Franklin
December 16, 2012 at 5:30 AM //
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
John Vise
December 16, 2012 at 8:43 PM //
Hmmm… I should thank you. Inspiring something truly giggly sick.
Peter’s Pains
http://wp.me/pJy7b-4O
Phil Norris
December 17, 2012 at 8:16 AM //
Here’s my entry – Christmas Is Hell!
http://philnorris63.wordpress.com/2012/12/17/chuck-wendig-flash-fiction-challenge-war-is-hell/
Josh Loomis
December 17, 2012 at 8:21 AM //
“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/
Jules
December 20, 2012 at 12:00 AM //
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!
Tia Kalla (@tiakall)
December 17, 2012 at 5:53 PM //
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
Beth L.
December 17, 2012 at 11:09 PM //
A winter campaign, waged every year. Here’s “Jinglebell” for your reading pleasure.
http://knotachance.tumblr.com/
Greg Mulka
December 18, 2012 at 9:36 PM //
What will the displaced do to survive? “Old Gods, New Faces”
http://wp.me/p2WVLl-1C
whirlingnerdish (@whirlingnerdish)
December 18, 2012 at 10:58 PM //
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
Jules
December 19, 2012 at 4:08 AM //
That was frickin’ great! Very clever and I LOVE the last line!
Jules
December 19, 2012 at 3:13 AM //
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/
Jenn Collins (@MBJunction)
December 19, 2012 at 11:02 AM //
Jules. That was awesome. Great concept, fun execution. I’m so glad I came back to read this.
Jules
December 20, 2012 at 12:05 AM //
Thanks! Yours was wonderfully written and kinda freaked me out, lol!
Josh Loomis
December 19, 2012 at 11:11 AM //
Nicely done! I greatly enjoyed it.
Jules
December 20, 2012 at 12:05 AM //
Thanks!
Ian Brown
December 20, 2012 at 1:23 AM //
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/
Jules
December 20, 2012 at 2:38 AM //
That thing down there, about “cute,” and “smile?” That was meant for you.
Ian Brown
December 26, 2012 at 4:08 PM //
Aw, thanks so much!
Jules
December 20, 2012 at 2:37 AM //
I thought it was very cute! Totally made me smile
chriswhitewrites
December 20, 2012 at 4:11 AM //
Written at the end of November – Christmas Lights:
http://chriswhitewrites.com/2012/11/26/christmas-lights/
Tim
December 21, 2012 at 3:44 AM //
Mad Santa and Mistress Claus: http://www.pendemon.com/flash-fiction-operation-double-wrap/
Daniel
December 21, 2012 at 3:57 AM //
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
Eva T
December 21, 2012 at 9:04 AM //
My take on it. http://evathereseebert.wordpress.com/2012/12/21/flash-fiction-challenge-the-war-on-christmas/
Tom Wells
December 21, 2012 at 9:35 AM //
The Once-White Cloak: http://www.thewanderingstag.com/2012/12/the-once-white-cloak/
lisefrac (@lisefrac)
December 21, 2012 at 11:41 AM //
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
Daniel
December 21, 2012 at 11:52 AM //
Okay, a little rough but this is what I’ve got.
dreinmiller.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-war-before-christmas.html
Samuel Schultz
December 21, 2012 at 11:58 AM //
http://razorwiretightrope.wordpress.com/2012/12/21/christmas-war/
welltemperedwriter
December 21, 2012 at 8:00 PM //
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/)