Last week’s challenge: “A Story In Three Haiku“
Gaze upon these Russian photos.
Some of them are pretty bizarre; some of them less so.
But there’s a lot of story in these images.
Today’s challenge is simple:
Choose one and use it as inspiration for your story.
You don’t need to set your stories in Russia, obviously. If one story somehow leads you to writing about a space station powered by two dogs “doin’ it” (seriously, look at the photos and you’ll see what I mean), hey, whatever. More power to you. These photos are jumping off points.
Make sure to tell us what photo you’re using. Write the story at your blog or other online space. Link back here in the comments.
You’ve got 1000 words. Any genre will do.
Due by Friday, 2/15, noon EST.
Ryan says:
for some reason, picture number 27 reminds me of my father. Not that he’s that ugly of course.
This story is inspired by that, and about him.
February 8, 2013 — 9:53 AM
Anthony Elmore says:
Number 11 reminds me of when I was young, dumb, horny and drunk in the Czech Republic. Not too innocent, not yet totally corrupted. Sometimes, the girl who’s name I forgot stands out in my memories.
February 8, 2013 — 11:11 AM
Louise Sorensen says:
Hot damn, those are weird. Look like vodka soaked nightmares. Only the dogs are sober.
I’ll see if anything sticks.
February 8, 2013 — 11:37 AM
Tami Veldura says:
This was a great one. I hit on number 17 right away. A lady dressed up like a dark faerie on what appears to be a subway train. Her wings are too big for the space. My response is… not exactly sunshine and rainbows. 🙂
We Are All Dust
http://www.tamiveldura.com/2013/02/we-are-all-dust.html
February 8, 2013 — 12:34 PM
Michael says:
We *are* all dust in the end. Thanks for your story.
February 9, 2013 — 1:23 PM
Tami Veldura says:
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
February 9, 2013 — 2:43 PM
Jon says:
The site those photos are from has a ton of gorgeous, storyful pictures…
http://petrosphotos.livejournal.com/
February 8, 2013 — 3:00 PM
darleneaubol says:
I’m glad you posted those pictures, but they come too close for comfort; bleak poverty, and sullen, snot-nosed children much like my little cousins. Also, alcoholic men like a couple of uncles, and everybody being irresponsible with their dogs. I’ve written about it, but I also ran away from it.
I do intend to read the submissions.
aka Darlene Underdahl
http://www.VermillionRoadPress.com
February 8, 2013 — 3:10 PM
jedthomas409 says:
These are incredible photos. I chose #3:
http://wp.me/2Mt3l
February 8, 2013 — 3:46 PM
Michael says:
Hilarious. I could see where it was going. After reading the last line, I looked at the photo. She could totally be saying that.
February 9, 2013 — 4:13 PM
jedthomas409 says:
Thanks for reading!
February 10, 2013 — 2:19 PM
Carl Bussler says:
I was tempted to use #3 as well. I enjoyed the read. Also, great title. Titles never come easy for me.
February 14, 2013 — 9:08 AM
Michael says:
I chose the first photo: An oversized pigeon, heavily-armoured riot police and panicky woman all star in a story I like to call Birds of a Feather.
http://michaelallison.blogspot.ca/2013/02/birds-of-feather-saturday-afternoon.html
February 9, 2013 — 3:56 PM
jedthomas409 says:
I had a hard time deciding between this photo and the one I used. Good job! Stone Roses, nice.
February 10, 2013 — 2:20 PM
decayingorbits says:
It’s hard to choose. All of them scream either “alcoholism” or “fetal alcohol syndrome.” Talk about scared sober. I’ll need to think about this for a while longer.
February 10, 2013 — 12:00 AM
ANGIE JOHNSON (@angiesuejohnson) says:
I’m in! I have chosen photo #2.
February 10, 2013 — 10:54 AM
Jim Franklin says:
I wasn’t feeling anything until I got to number 17, and then my brain shouted “Stop, for the love god. That’s the one.” What can I say, my brain always knows what it wants.
Here is my entry, simply called ‘Terminus’. Please let me know what you think.
http://writewayround.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/flash-fiction-terminus/
Cheers
February 10, 2013 — 12:26 PM
Josh Loomis says:
I don’t know why I got stuck on #8, but I did, and the result is called ‘The Departure’.
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2013/02/11/flash-fiction-the-departure/
February 11, 2013 — 8:16 AM
Andy Decker says:
I used photo 30. http://jonah2eight.blogspot.com/
February 11, 2013 — 1:16 PM
Andy Decker says:
I chose photo 30. http://jonah2eight.blogspot.com/2013/02/flowerman.html
February 11, 2013 — 1:22 PM
Anthony Elmore says:
This story went into an unintended direction. Based on photo #11:http://www.barelyok.com/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge-inspiration-from-inexplicable-photos.html
February 11, 2013 — 2:16 PM
Brian C Hall says:
After a two day bout of indecision and having to finally get off my butt and start my blog, I chose #11.
It’s called Glow and I hope you don’t hate it:
http://anunreadwriter.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge-8-feb-2013/
February 11, 2013 — 2:59 PM
Troy L says:
I took pic 12 but the other one would work too. Enjoy! https://troylefman.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/flash-fiction-d-o-g-gy-style/
February 11, 2013 — 5:25 PM
joeturner87 says:
Chose #17, had a lot of fun this week. Thanks Chuck. Oh, and apologies, I ran over the word count.
http://joetblogs.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge-inspiration-from-inexplicable-photos/
February 11, 2013 — 6:41 PM
Carl Bussler says:
The Gunman’s Choice, coming in at 973 words, is my supernatural Western based on #17. My first attempt at flash fiction. Thanks for the challenge Chuck!
http://blackpowderblackmagic.com/flash-fiction-the-gunmans-choice/
February 11, 2013 — 10:57 PM
Andys says:
I was going to go with a weird comedy piece for number 3, but I decided to go with a slightly supernatural love story for number 11 instead. A bit out of my comfort zone, since I generally prefer writing far weirder stories. http://andreaspeed.com/2013/flash-fic-challenge-fic-light/
February 12, 2013 — 3:55 AM
Curtis Edmonds (@Curtis_Edmonds) says:
I chose #17, not that it’s that weird, mind you. Average chick riding a subway, wearing a Goth outfit for Halloween. Unless, of course, she’s got enough supernatural energy to knock Thor Slaymaster on his ass.
http://www.curtisedmonds.com/thor-slaymasters-dark-angel/
February 12, 2013 — 1:33 PM
Carl Bussler says:
Go Team Slaymaster! I hate after-action reports and light beer too. Sign me up. Have you written about Thor before? Is he a character you’ll explore in the future? Or is this just an exercise?
February 12, 2013 — 1:46 PM
Curtis Edmonds (@Curtis_Edmonds) says:
I have written eight Thor Slaymaster pieces so far, most of them tied to various contests on this site: http://www.curtisedmonds.com/short-fiction#slaymaster
Thor Slaymaster is fun to write about, and he solves the main problem with flash fiction – that you never quite have the space you need to develop your characters. Thor Slaymaster is a walking apocalypse; what more character development do you need than that?
February 13, 2013 — 11:01 AM
Carl Bussler says:
I’ve come to appreciate flash fiction the way I appreciate a snappy 20-minute sitcom. The Slaymaster Chronicles fit nicely into my short lunch breaks.
February 14, 2013 — 9:33 AM
Sophie says:
Just realized I posted on the wrong one! Well, here it is again. “Jacklyn” So…Yeah. http://www.tumblr.com/blog/penmnky
February 12, 2013 — 3:48 PM
stephen matlock says:
#5
http://stephenmatlock.com/2013/02/yevgenyi-and-the-red-balloons/
Yevgenyi gets into a bit of trouble what with ruining the Parade of the Red Balloons
Flash fiction. Truly, just write-and-go.
February 12, 2013 — 10:58 PM
Casz Brewster says:
So glad to see you in these neck of the woods, Stephen!
February 14, 2013 — 8:33 PM
tommiaw says:
Great story, Stephen!
February 14, 2013 — 9:22 PM
Beth L. says:
Based on picture #30, here’s The Test. Good challenge!! The pictures are all certainly… food for thought.
http://knotachance.tumblr.com/
February 12, 2013 — 11:00 PM
tommiaw says:
#31, “Waves, Goodbye.” http://tommiastablet.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/woven-words/
February 14, 2013 — 12:36 AM
Casz Brewster says:
Oh yeah, Attack of the Cascade Foothills Writers. Love it.
February 14, 2013 — 8:34 PM
Valerie Valdes (@valerievaldes) says:
#16, Following the Leader
http://candleinsunshine.com/asthemoonclimbs/flash-fic/following-the-leader/
February 14, 2013 — 4:51 PM
Taylor Emblen (@Taylor_Emblen) says:
Ok, I have chosen #16 and I give you ‘The Spice of Life’
http://goo.gl/GB8BC
Apologies for the unappealing format, blog isn’t up and running yet!
February 14, 2013 — 5:50 PM
welltemperedwriter says:
Ta da.
http://welltemperedwriter.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/afterglow/
February 14, 2013 — 8:47 PM
jreinmiller says:
Went random and got 22.
Here’s the result:
http://www.jqpdx.com/2013/02/15/olga/
February 14, 2013 — 9:12 PM
Jeanne B. says:
Photo number 2 inspired this story.
http://jmboverthinking.blogspot.com/2013/02/flash-fiction-challenge-inspiration.html
February 14, 2013 — 9:58 PM
Casz Brewster says:
I wrote something, then found out that part of what I wrote was actually true. Spooky.
Dragons Dressing Down: http://www.casondrabrewster.com/?p=1123
February 14, 2013 — 11:40 PM
Carl Bussler says:
Nice! You have some very interesting hooks on which to hang other stories, or even a longer story. Thanks for sharing!
February 17, 2013 — 9:59 AM
Casz Brewster says:
Oh, it was Photo #17. I need to learn how to edit my comments.
February 14, 2013 — 11:41 PM
tommiaw says:
LOVE it, Casz!
February 15, 2013 — 9:09 AM
Casz Brewster says:
Thanks!
February 15, 2013 — 10:13 AM
Kevin George (@magell2) says:
I had to go with #1. How could I resist a guitar player in a bird suit?
http://magell2.blogspot.com/2013/02/bird-banded.html
February 15, 2013 — 12:58 AM
petr says:
here’s my contribution. i used photo # 11.
http://www.seeswhilesitting.com/2013/02/inexplicable-russian-photo-prompt.html
February 15, 2013 — 1:18 AM
Jason Beech says:
Here’s mine, from photo #4: http://jdbeech.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/wheres-my-money/
I’m glad somebody made a story for No. 3. What a face.
February 15, 2013 — 9:23 AM
dongdong32 says:
http://jordanretro11.sellittodaywithebay.com
January 20, 2015 — 2:49 AM