Apple-Obsessed Author Fella

Flash Fiction Challenge: Choose Your Motif

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

  1. Birds
  2. Skulls
  3. Blood
  4. Eyes
  5. Snakes
  6. Swords
  7. Water
  8. Storms
  9. Mirrors
  10. The Moon

Subgenre

  1. Dystopia
  2. Erotic Fantasy
  3. Noir
  4. Paranormal Romance
  5. Comic Fantasy
  6. Cozy Mystery
  7. Transhumanism
  8. Ecothriller
  9. Wild West (In Space)
  10. Mythpunk

Setting

  1. A train
  2. A virtual reality world
  3. A king’s bedroom
  4. A labyrinth
  5. Inside the mind of another character
  6. An amusement park
  7. A restaurant in space
  8. A villain’s volcano lair
  9. In the chamber of the gods
  10. Route 66