Flash Fiction Challenge: The Subgenre Smash-And-Grab
Last week’s challenge: Random Song Title.
First, a bit of housekeeping — I still gotta go through the rest of the 300+ entries on “horror in three sentences” contest. So many good options there it’s actually hurting me internally to try to choose. Goal is to have the winners chosen by the end of the weekend!
Now, onto the challenge.
This week, I wrote a thing about how I fucking love me some genre fiction.
So, you know, it seems appropriate that we enter into this next flash fiction challenge by enacting my favorite challenge: the subgenre mash-up.
Gander upon the list of 20 subgenres below. Roll a d20 or fiddle with your favorite random number generator and choose two subgenres.
From there, write ~1000 word short story that mashes up both.
Post at your online space. Link back here so we can read!
Due by next Friday, November 1st. Noon EST.
Given that Halloween is coming up, you’ll note more of these are horror than usual.
To the subgenremobile!
- Slasher Horror
- Space Opera
- Lovecraftian
- Erotic Fantasy
- Post-Apocalyptic Horror
- Mythology
- Haunted House
- Fairy Tale
- Occult Horror
- Alien Invasion
- Vampires
- Hardboiled
- Psychological Horror
- Technothriller
- Southern Gothic
- Dieselpunk
- Zombies
- Superhero
- Bizarro
- Artificial Intelligence
October 25, 2013 @ 11:46 AM
19: Bizarro
02: Space Opera
Right…Thanks random number generator *rolls eyes*
October 25, 2013 @ 12:52 PM
Erotic Fantasy.
Erotic Fantasy. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Re-rolled to Artificial Intelligence. :p
October 26, 2013 @ 3:15 AM
But an erotic fantasy’s erotic fantasy could be so fun… 😉
FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE: THE SUBGENRE SMASH-AND-GRAB | Jen's Pen Den
October 25, 2013 @ 1:19 PM
[…] FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE: THE SUBGENRE SMASH-AND-GRAB […]
October 25, 2013 @ 1:23 PM
Here we go again!
October 25, 2013 @ 2:24 PM
I rolled an eleven and a twenty, so I get “Superhero Artificial Intelligence.” I had an idea when I started writing this, but quickly went off track and now I don’t know what the heck I have. After 881 words I decided to stop since I really don’t know what’s going on…
http://article94.blogspot.com/2013/10/superhero-artificial-intelligence_7861.html
October 25, 2013 @ 1:54 PM
Rolled a 4 and an 8… and the first thing that popped in my mind:
Jack & His Beanstalk
FTW
October 25, 2013 @ 3:18 PM
Now THAT’s funny…
October 26, 2013 @ 11:41 AM
Haha, that’s hilarious.
October 30, 2013 @ 5:16 PM
I can see it now. Which is good or bad depending.
October 25, 2013 @ 2:00 PM
I rolled and first got 5 (Post Apocalyptic Horror) and 9 (or 17 on the 20 list) which is zombies. Post apocolyptic zombie horror wasn’t REALLY a mash-up…so I re-rolled and got 8 (Fairy Tale) and 19 (Bizarro). Now that’s more of a mashup!
October 25, 2013 @ 7:55 PM
I got the same thing – Post-apocalyptic horror and zombies… not a mashup at all. Now I have hard-boiled and slasher horror. Jackpot.
October 25, 2013 @ 2:02 PM
Fairy Tale Zombies. Score!
October 25, 2013 @ 4:50 PM
damn, I was hoping for that!
October 28, 2013 @ 9:42 PM
Me too! Actually, I cheated a little, because my first roll was someplace I wasn’t willing to go. This I can keep PG, or at least PG13.
October 25, 2013 @ 2:54 PM
Space Opera and Mythology. Fuck yeah
October 25, 2013 @ 2:58 PM
20 and 17: Artificial intelligence and zombies. Robots vs. zombies??
October 25, 2013 @ 3:20 PM
I got Southern Gothic and Haunted House. Sweet.
October 25, 2013 @ 4:09 PM
Mythology + Vampires. Hm. It’s been done before. Let’s see if I can make it work with a pantheon that doesn’t play nice with dead things.
October 25, 2013 @ 6:58 PM
Dieselpunk Bizarro. Suddenly I am very uncomfortable.
October 25, 2013 @ 7:52 PM
Artificial Intelligence and Fairy Tale. I think I can work with that.
October 26, 2013 @ 2:12 AM
i rolled the same thing
October 25, 2013 @ 8:06 PM
I ended up with bizarro mythology, so I may have to skip this challenge. I’d never even heard of bizzaro before and after looking it up, I’m pretty sure I have no idea how to write such a story.
October 25, 2013 @ 8:21 PM
You could reroll, of course. Or just choose two. Nobody will chase you around with crowbars for doing that.
October 26, 2013 @ 7:48 AM
Okay. I didn’t want to go breaking any rules, because frankly you’re a little bit scary. So this time I rolled post apocalyptic horror in place of bizzarro. I think I can run with that.
October 26, 2013 @ 10:17 AM
Haha, trust me, the goal is TO WRITE, not to ABIDE BY ARBITRARY RULES. 😉
October 25, 2013 @ 8:27 PM
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/lovecrafts-dinner-party.html
I saw Lovecraftian… and this one just flowed from my brain to the fingertips. 😀
October 28, 2013 @ 3:48 AM
Enjoyed it. Good lively voice and build up of tension.
I’ve only just discovered this fine site and I was wondering – is it alright to discuss specific details of a story here? I had one very minor thought on the plotting, but it would involve spoiling the story for anyone who hasn’t read it. Do you use spoiler alerts or anything?
October 28, 2013 @ 7:41 AM
You can always leave a comment about finer details about my story on my blog if you don’t want to spoil it for the rest of them. 🙂
October 25, 2013 @ 8:29 PM
Here’s this week’s offering. I hope you’all enjoy.
Space Opera and Psychological Horror. One, I write, the other I’m not sure I can swing. here’s how it went:
http://cmsimpson.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge.html
October 30, 2013 @ 5:38 PM
You painted a scene extremely well. I don’t fully understand what was going on, but I wanted to know more.
Flash Fiction 10-25-13: Jackals are Faeries Too! | Musings, Mutterings, and Acts of Mental Mayhem
October 25, 2013 @ 9:37 PM
[…] This weeks TerribleMinds flash fiction challenge is another SUBGENRE MASHUP! […]
October 25, 2013 @ 9:38 PM
Psychological Terror and Fairy Tale.
Happy Halloween!
http://swsondheimer.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/flash-fiction-10-25-13-jackals-are-faeries-too/
October 30, 2013 @ 6:08 AM
This was brilliant swsondheimer. I loved the tension and the wondering about where this sweet story was heading. Thank you!
October 30, 2013 @ 7:36 AM
So glad you enjoyed and a million thanks for your kind words.
October 25, 2013 @ 11:00 PM
Sci-fi, apocalyptic, artificially intelligent zombie slasher horror.
http://markmatthewsauthor.blogspot.com/p/a-day-at-park.html
October 26, 2013 @ 1:16 AM
Now that’s just greedy…
October 26, 2013 @ 1:27 AM
I tease… 😛
October 26, 2013 @ 9:41 AM
And the best teases are partly true.
October 26, 2013 @ 10:30 AM
Well then… Alien Invasion Fairy Tale. I’m quite curious to the see direction I take here.
October 26, 2013 @ 11:43 AM
Huh, erotic fantasy and vampires. As if that hasn’t been done before, ha ha. Well, maybe I can do something different.
Flash Fiction Challenge! | Write Back to the Basics.
October 26, 2013 @ 1:31 PM
[…] Flash Fiction Challenge: The Subgenre Smash-and-Grab […]
The Doll (Post-Apocalyptic Fairy-Tale) | Get Writing!
October 26, 2013 @ 1:51 PM
[…] http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2013/10/25/flash-fiction-challenge-the-subgenre-smash-and-grab/#comm… Share this:TwitterFacebookGoogleLike this:Like Loading… […]
October 26, 2013 @ 1:53 PM
Post-Apocalyptic Fairy-Tale here. I had a lot of fun drawing on my current reading material. I hope you enjoy it!
http://kzorn1989.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/the-doll-post-apocalyptic-fairy-tale/
October 28, 2013 @ 10:35 PM
Wasn’t expecting this at all. Like it a lot.
October 30, 2013 @ 8:26 AM
Thanks a lot!
October 30, 2013 @ 6:18 AM
Really enjoyed it kzorn!
October 30, 2013 @ 8:27 AM
Thanks, I like that Chuck’s prompts get me out of my writing shell.
October 30, 2013 @ 4:21 PM
Great story, I really like its quiet approach to post apocalyptic and its got some great imagery.
October 26, 2013 @ 5:30 PM
Slasher horror Artificial Intelligence. Oooh. Funzies!
Flash Fiction Challenge: The Subgenre Smash-And-Grab | Write about now
October 26, 2013 @ 5:40 PM
[…] This weeks flash fiction challenge, as always, courtesy of Chuck Wendig and can be found here. […]
October 26, 2013 @ 5:43 PM
My random number generator is in Halloween mode, so I got Slasher Horror and Zombies. Seems a bit like overkill. Got it? Overkill? Ahem… Anyway, this is my piece: http://evathereseebert.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/flash-fiction-challenge-the-subgenre-smash-and-grab/
October 27, 2013 @ 7:58 AM
Good story.
October 26, 2013 @ 6:15 PM
Mythology (Attis and Cybele) and Fairy Tale (Cinderella)
http://cutsnaketales.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/albert-and-arabella.html
October 26, 2013 @ 6:55 PM
Love it.
October 26, 2013 @ 6:49 PM
Here’s mine. Artificial Intelligence and Fairy Tale.
http://wingedfrogbookreview.blogspot.com/2013/10/flash-fiction-subgenre-smash-and-grab.html
October 28, 2013 @ 11:03 PM
Waaahaha that was great!
October 29, 2013 @ 12:52 PM
Great story!
October 29, 2013 @ 8:07 PM
Changed my URL and didn’t think it all the way through. Reposted story below.
October 26, 2013 @ 7:13 PM
Here’s mine. Post Apocalyptic Horror/Mythology
http://theshadowportal.blogspot.com/2013/10/flash-fiction-challenge_26.html
October 26, 2013 @ 7:55 PM
Great story!
October 27, 2013 @ 7:52 AM
Thanks K. Zorn
October 27, 2013 @ 1:42 AM
11 & 10 Alien invasion vampire, let’s see what I can do with that…
» Flash Fiction: Mission to Sirius Blue Ink Alchemy
October 28, 2013 @ 9:00 AM
[…] week, for The Subgenre Smash-And-Grab, the d20 Ring picked Space Opera and […]
Air Raids and Other Hanky Panky | Misadventures in Strange Places
October 28, 2013 @ 12:20 PM
[…] writing prompt from Chuck Wendig’s blog Terrible Minds this week is another mash up. I rolled up a doozy. This has had my stymied for the past few days. […]
October 28, 2013 @ 12:24 PM
Intersting mash up this week. Erotic Fantasy and Dieselpunk. come to think of it that seems like an obvious pairing…
https://jonjeffersonauthor.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/air-raids-and-other-hanky-panky/
Lovecraft Hardboiled « Feigning a Fine Fettle
October 28, 2013 @ 12:46 PM
[…] surprise, another writing exercise: the subgenre smash-and-grab, courtesy of Chuck Wendig at […]
October 28, 2013 @ 5:32 PM
Ooh.This was hellish hard!
Feedback very welcome 🙂
http://emeaso.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/the-righteous-one.html
October 29, 2013 @ 7:55 AM
That was kind of cool. Good job.
October 29, 2013 @ 12:43 PM
Thanks Kyra. Cheque’s in the post 😉
October 28, 2013 @ 8:53 PM
Here’s mine. So as not to cheat, here’s what I rolled the first time – a 5 and 7 (Post Apocalyptic Horror and Zombie). I’m really not a zombie fan (they scare me!) so this was really a challenge for me in that…I was kind of scaring myself writing this story (Yes, I’m a total wimp! haha). I was facing a ‘fear’ of mine, so to speak. Anyways, here’s my story the City of Lost Hope: http://arrawyn.wix.com/caitlinmccoll#!blog/ckky feedback welcomed! 😀
Flash Fiction – terribleminds.com prompt | swimming with ghosts
October 28, 2013 @ 9:32 PM
[…] I may have failed at this prompt, but I like the story so I’m keeping it. I was supposed to mix two genres – dieselpunk and superhero – but I’m not well versed in dieselpunk, and my superheroes usually end up villains (sorry). The prompt is here, if you’re interested: http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2013/10/25/flash-fiction-challenge-the-subgenre-smash-and-grab/ […]
October 28, 2013 @ 9:39 PM
I didn’t do the best job at mixing dieselpunk and superhero. I don’t really know dieselpunk, and superhero turned into villain. But I like my story. I’m calling it ‘The Little Mermaid’ (because I STEAL).
http://adelinekay.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/flash-fiction-terribleminds-com-prompt/
October 29, 2013 @ 12:44 PM
Awesome!
October 29, 2013 @ 1:47 PM
Thanks!
October 29, 2013 @ 8:04 PM
What Emily said – Awesome!
October 29, 2013 @ 8:22 PM
That was a great story. I really liked it.
October 30, 2013 @ 7:18 AM
I like it too 🙂 thanks!
October 28, 2013 @ 10:21 PM
The d20 ring gave me Space Opera and Technothriller.
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2013/10/28/flash-fiction-mission-to-sirius/
October 29, 2013 @ 1:12 AM
Totally loving these flash fiction challenges! Here’s mine: “H.P. Lovecraft, Private Eye.”
http://www.thewilyfilipino.com/blog/2013/10/28/hp-lovecraft-private-eye-flash-fiction-subgenre-smash-and-grab/
October 29, 2013 @ 11:25 AM
Loved everything about it, including the ‘how not to’ afterward.
October 29, 2013 @ 2:41 AM
The relationship between prompt and story doesn’t matter if the story turns out as good as this one – great fun, and really good quality writing. (And it’s homage, pastiche, post-modern irony – but never “stealing”)
October 29, 2013 @ 2:43 AM
This was supposed to be a reply to adelinekay’s Little Mermaid story link.
October 29, 2013 @ 11:00 AM
Thanks Victor!
October 29, 2013 @ 11:18 AM
Yeah, no kidding — that Little Mermaid story was pretty fantastic!
October 29, 2013 @ 1:06 PM
Thanks, I really appreciate the feedback.
October 29, 2013 @ 2:52 AM
Another awesome challenge, but I think I got carried away on this one. I rolled and got 18 and 13 (superhero and psychological horror), but my idea of psychological horror turned into a little erotic fantasy (or erotic horror) mixed in…so I’m not sure about this one. Maybe I got it wrong, maybe I didn’t. Dunno. You tell me. 🙂
http://davidgearing.blogspot.com/2013/10/flash-fiction-challnge-subgenre-smash.html
Sorry about any typos…it’s past my bedtime. 😛
October 29, 2013 @ 4:55 AM
I rolled occult horror and alien invasion.
Presenting:
The Creaking House
Ownership | Fatma Alici
October 29, 2013 @ 10:32 AM
[…] week the Chuck Wendig challenge was a genre mash up. I got Dieselpunk and Vampires. I keep getting the undead in […]
October 29, 2013 @ 10:33 AM
I got Vampires and Dieselpunk. Eh, the undead. Though, I kind of fell in love with my character as much as I didn’t want too.
Ownership
http://naharavensari.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/ownership/
October 30, 2013 @ 8:01 AM
Oh… yeah… I liked him… yummo! 😀
Great story and I want to read more….. please? 😀
October 30, 2013 @ 5:05 PM
I wasn’t really excited to write this story. I’m not a big fan of dieselpunk or vampires. But, I really started to like this character. Way more than I thought I would.
October 29, 2013 @ 1:03 PM
I got Technothriller and Dieselpunk, neither of which I think I’ve managed.
Heroics (just around the 1030 word mark)
http://www.trinetoftschmidt.com/2013/10/flash-fiction-subgenre-smash-and-grab/
October 29, 2013 @ 2:43 PM
I liked your storyline, but I’ve never read anything in either genre.
October 30, 2013 @ 4:23 PM
Thank you Ashley.
October 29, 2013 @ 2:34 PM
I got Vampires and Zombies…
http://ashleymkwrites.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-choice.html
This is my first attempt at first person present. I would love feedback if anyone is willing.
October 29, 2013 @ 3:33 PM
I submitted a story called Bitches Brew this morning, by shoving my thousand words into a comment box. Damn that H.G. Wells. Now it’s not there. I have no idea how things work in this time and place. I’m going to go make applesauce instead. Perhaps the story will reappear. Otherwise the smell of cinnamon will soon erase the memory of not making it in the door. Thanks for the recipe.