Last week’s challenge: “Photos of Impossible Places.”
Motif.
What, is it, you ask? Besides someone explaining that they have plenty of chompers in their mouth? (Wait for it, you’ll get it. I’ll just stand here while you… ah, good, you got it.)
A motif is not a theme.
It is not a mood.
It is a recurring element. A repeated symbol or overarching image.
(Birds are a motif found in my novels Blackbirds and Mockingbird.)
So, today, I’m going to give you 10 motifs.
You will choose one. Randomly, either by d10 or by random number generator.
This motif will be a significant symbol or element in your story. Symbolically and/or literally.
I’ll also toss in two other categories: setting and subgenre.
Choose (randomly or otherwise) one from each.
You have, as usual, up to 1000 words. Post at your site, link back here.
Due by Friday, February 1st, noon EST.
Ready?
Motifs
- Birds
- Skulls
- Blood
- Eyes
- Snakes
- Swords
- Water
- Storms
- Mirrors
- The Moon
Subgenre
- Dystopia
- Erotic Fantasy
- Noir
- Paranormal Romance
- Comic Fantasy
- Cozy Mystery
- Transhumanism
- Ecothriller
- Wild West (In Space)
- Mythpunk
Setting
- A train
- A virtual reality world
- A king’s bedroom
- A labyrinth
- Inside the mind of another character
- An amusement park
- A restaurant in space
- A villain’s volcano lair
- In the chamber of the gods
- Route 66
colemorrissey says:
http://colemorrissey.wordpress.com Bird, Transhumanism, Trains
January 31, 2013 — 1:08 PM
joeturner87 says:
Well, this is last ditch, like the throwing up in the kids dolls house…sort of, anyway, here it is
http://joetblogs.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge-choose-your-motif/
January 31, 2013 — 7:27 PM
Sam Hume says:
Woo! I finally finished it, and it is way to long at 2,300 words! At this point its a shortish short story. I rolled storms, wild west in space, and in another characters mind. I really enjoyed writing this. comments and constructive criticism is appreciated. NSFW. The Operator. p.s. if anyone can come up with a better title leave a comment and I’ll change it. http://samuelhume.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-operator.html
January 31, 2013 — 9:45 PM
stillred says:
I rolled sword, dystopia, and a king’s bedroom for “Defiance”.
http://redwritingmuse.blogspot.com/2013/01/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge.html
January 31, 2013 — 11:27 PM
welltemperedwriter says:
Swords, comic fantasy, and restaurant in space: http://welltemperedwriter.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/thargra-the-barbarian-and-the-great-asteroid-fortress-adventure-prologue/
January 31, 2013 — 11:58 PM
Dave Scott says:
lol – I almost had what “welltemperedwriter” above me had.
My wife chose for me this week.
“Snakes : Comic Fantasy : A Restaurant in Space”
I had a blast with this one.
http://www.cf.frickbat.com/davescott/?p=373
February 1, 2013 — 2:24 AM
Bill Dezell says:
Better late than never, right?
http://billthescribe.blogspot.com/2013/02/chuck-wendigs-flash-fiction-challenge.html
February 1, 2013 — 5:01 AM
SigilSigil says:
‘Ascension’
(birds, transhumanism, inside another character’s mind)
http://imaginedrealms.typepad.com/writing/2013/02/ascension.html
February 1, 2013 — 8:19 AM
Anne says:
The Moon
Paranormal Romance
Amusement Park
My co-author and I managed to wrap this into the ongoing fiction of our blog. The portion of this post in blockquote is the flash fiction. The before and after just connects it to the rest of our work for our readers.
http://www.gaslightfantasy.com/a-titillating-find/
February 1, 2013 — 9:56 AM
Mike Young says:
Skulls
Comedy Fantasy
Inside the Mind of Another Character
I didn’t really do skull as a motif – more as a character – but this was a fun little story anyway. Good chance to use some of my Fairy Tale Folk again.
http://www.ravensview.ca/ravens/2013/02/the-skull.html
February 1, 2013 — 11:42 AM