Flash Fiction Challenge: Find Your Favorite Opening Line
Last week’s challenge, I asked you to come up with an opening line for a story.
This week, you’re going to write a story based on one of those opening lines.
(Er, not your own, thanks.)
Look through them:
Choose one.
(Choose one that complies with the original mandate of keeping to 15 words or less.)
A lot of great options in there. (Though, to be fair, a surprising lot of not so great options in this batch. Lots of errors and over-the-limits. People: read your entries before you click SUBMIT. It’ll take you like, 30 extra seconds, I promise.)
Please identify in the comments below which opening line you’ll choose.
I’ll tally and, presuming there’s a winner, I’ll send that person The Kick-Ass Writer.
Then: you write 1000 words using your chosen line. Post at your online space and link back here.
I’ll choose one of the participants (by random) and toss you a copy of — well, I dunno what. I’ll grab something off my shelves and mail it to you. (Or, if you’re international, I’ll give you something digital.)
Due by noon EST on November 22nd.
Get your fingers tapping.
Terrible Minds Challenge – Read On If You Must, But The Risk Is All Yours | The Nitroglycerin Midget
November 18, 2013 @ 3:22 PM
[…] http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2013/11/15/flash-fiction-challenging-find-your-favorite-opening-line… […]
November 19, 2013 @ 1:30 AM
I chose Jan O’ Connell’s: “Appropriately enough, it was a shopping trolley that killed her.”
Death by Trolley
November 19, 2013 @ 5:40 AM
For a long while I was stuck on what to write in response to David Novack’s entry: “Well,” Jimmy muttered, “it was clearly a mistake picking this room to piss in.” but the words eventually cooperated and along came “The Dinabranki in Defeat”.
http://cmsimpson.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/flash-fiction-challenge-response.html
Enjoy 🙂
November 20, 2013 @ 11:05 PM
Oh i liked that very much 🙂
November 19, 2013 @ 8:02 AM
http://gekkegina.simplesite.com/298906585 , officially handed in before the deadline. Victory is mine.
November 20, 2013 @ 4:56 AM
I like this story – it’s truly intriguing, and unexpected. I was bewildered and satisfied all at once when it was through. But you need to edit! A solid block of text without any paragraph breaks is about as inviting to read as a clean brick wall (I know it sometimes formats like that when you copy-paste into a blog editor), and there’s some spelling/grammar mistakes in there too. There’s still a couple days before the week is out, plenty of time to tidy up.
Keep writing, and I’ll keep reading!
November 20, 2013 @ 5:19 PM
I liked it. I actually think the wall-of-text approach works very well in this particular case – it reads as a disorganised stream of consciousness from someone not quite sure what to make of his experience.
November 20, 2013 @ 10:16 PM
I know what you mean Simon – as uninviting as it looks, I had no problem following the story, and despite no breaks, it isn’t rushed or confusing. The words do all the work and carry all the weight. I do like a good rule-breaking, when it works.
Short fiction: Rules of Mortality | Jeremy Podolski
November 19, 2013 @ 2:31 PM
[…] there is more than one way to get into heaven. This short story is a response to a November 2013 flash fiction challenge posted by Chuck Wendig on his Terrible Minds blog. The opening line of my story was contributed by […]
November 19, 2013 @ 2:36 PM
My challenge offering begins with the line, “I won’t tell you how I died, and they can’t tell you why,” contributed by Allison Rose. Read RULES OF MORTALITY at http://jeremypodolski.com/2013/11/19/short-fiction-rules-of-mortality/
November 20, 2013 @ 6:41 PM
This is really good. I’d love to read more of it.
November 20, 2013 @ 7:19 PM
Thanks for reading! I’m definitely interested in doing more with this character.
November 20, 2013 @ 11:20 PM
I enjoyed this. The egg imagery worked really well.
November 20, 2013 @ 11:30 PM
I appreciate the note – thank you
November 23, 2013 @ 1:02 AM
I liked solving violence with logic. Good work!
November 25, 2013 @ 10:40 AM
I’m honored you chose my line! You’ve written an intriguing story; I’ve always been intrigued by death and the afterlife. I enjoyed reading your story.
November 25, 2013 @ 10:48 AM
Thanks, Allison, for your comments here and on my blog. It is a spectacular line, and I loved the opportunity to work with it!
November 19, 2013 @ 10:34 PM
I’m using zanzjan’s
His first mistake was burying it in his own backyard.
November 22, 2013 @ 7:59 PM
Half a day late, but done and posted. Separation Anxiety
http://brickhousepiggy.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/separation-anxiety/
November 25, 2013 @ 6:55 PM
I loved the tone, completely unexpected. I liked that there were a lot of unanswered questions.
November 20, 2013 @ 2:35 AM
I’m using Caitlin’s — “Everyone knows The 7 Deadly Sins. Y’think the others are the good guys? Think again.”
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-bSDMAmmS0H_fRY_QqhH2syVxxV-cuLTA1eVCpZmbXw/edit?usp=sharing
November 20, 2013 @ 9:15 AM
I’m using “Sam was puzzling over the hatch in the basement floor when he heard a knock.”, by boydstun215
November 22, 2013 @ 11:06 AM
Here’s the story: http://netmouse.livejournal.com/774909.html
November 20, 2013 @ 1:55 PM
Here’s my attempt. My opening line was “Every second Saturday Tom Pope had a beer with Devil.” It was contributed by Andrew Jack.
https://joebrewing.wordpress.com/2013/11/20/chess-with-devil/
Fiction Challenge: Hunter of Hunters | The Padded Castle
November 20, 2013 @ 4:11 PM
[…] For my first post, I’m going to participate in my first writing challenge. Woot! I hope to do many of these things from various people and places, but I have to start somewhere. This is for Chuck Wendig’s flash fiction challenge. […]
November 20, 2013 @ 4:15 PM
I chose Julia H’s “I flicked the lighter open and watched the flame dance in the wind.”
A bit short on the word count, but here it is:
http://thepaddedcastle.wordpress.com/2013/11/20/fiction-challenge-hunter-of-hunters/
November 20, 2013 @ 4:21 PM
Really good!
November 20, 2013 @ 8:10 PM
Good story.
November 22, 2013 @ 12:43 PM
That was a wild ride, I want to read more!
November 23, 2013 @ 10:22 PM
Wow! Thanks guys!
November 20, 2013 @ 4:59 PM
So I chose JD’s opening line: Nothing good ever happens after midnight.
Here’s the story
http://niftywords.weebly.com/1/post/2013/11/midnight-mission.html
November 20, 2013 @ 5:03 PM
Second time poster here.
I chose Ashley M. K.’s “Lock. Unlock. Lock. Unlock. Lock. He always locked doors three times. Everything in threes.”
I clock in just shy of 1,500 words, potentially disqualifying myself, but I was having too much fun to finish before seeing where it led.
http://probablyfalse.tumblr.com/post/67594574799/three-skidoo
November 22, 2013 @ 8:53 AM
I ended up doing another, shorter one, prompted by “At first it was just a tiny dot in the cool blue afternoon sky.”
http://probablyfalse.tumblr.com/post/67750253226/shell
It sort of wrote itself in the early hours of this morning and by accident. I thought I might as well put it up here. I’m hoping it’s not too… translucent.
November 24, 2013 @ 3:49 AM
Adrenaline rush! Loved it and would read more – this hints at a much larger story that needs to be told now you’ve tantalised us with this tidbit. What is ‘subbing’? What event set this in motion? I have to know.
November 25, 2013 @ 6:56 PM
Thanks for reading, Ilona, and thank you for the kind words.
On the inside | Smoph Writes
November 21, 2013 @ 2:56 AM
[…] challenge where we write a story based on a 15 word sentence another blog member wrote over at terrible minds. Mine was the following, from […]
November 21, 2013 @ 3:14 AM
I chose:
“It doesn’t mean death,” I told her.
From murgatroid98.
Here it is: http://wmontefiore.com/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge-find-your-favorite-opening-line/
Hope you enjoy!
November 21, 2013 @ 2:03 PM
I liked your line about his “mind’s ear” a lot.
Forgotten Bargain | Fatma Alici
November 21, 2013 @ 4:20 AM
[…] Chuck Wendig challenge. This time we had to pick one of last weeks opening lines and spin a tale. I went […]
November 21, 2013 @ 4:23 AM
I went with Murgatroid98’s “It doesn’t mean death,” I told her.
http://naharavensari.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/forgotten-bargain/
November 23, 2013 @ 8:42 AM
I liked your story. Now I’m wondering what happens to Max 🙂
November 23, 2013 @ 1:31 PM
To be honest so am I.
The Dot on the Sky | I Should Be Writing
November 21, 2013 @ 3:25 PM
[…] For Terribleminds.com’s flash fiction challenge Find your favourite opening line. […]
November 21, 2013 @ 3:44 PM
“At first it was just a tiny dot in the cool blue afternoon sky” – ZTS
http://ilonatherose.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/the-dot-on-the-sky/
November 21, 2013 @ 4:06 PM
Interesting.
November 21, 2013 @ 7:43 PM
This is really quite thought-provoking. It’s a great concept and you haven’t wasted a single word. I think you captured that sense of childhood intensity really well.
I *loved* the idea of Harold making a ‘gallant effort’ with his tea. It reminded me of fighting similar dinnertime battles against insurmountably yucky green odds as a kid, hating it but knowing it’d please my mum.
November 21, 2013 @ 8:09 PM
I like the story. I also like your art!
November 24, 2013 @ 5:09 AM
Cheers! I’ve been drawing a lot more than writing lately – people have begun telling me I should write a children’s book.
November 22, 2013 @ 9:36 AM
This took me to an unexpected place, and I thought your dialogue was very realistic.
November 24, 2013 @ 3:30 AM
Thanks all for your feedback! Much appreciated.
Short Fiction: The Last Job (Fate’s a Bitch) | Crazy Inkslinger, A Writer's Blog
November 21, 2013 @ 3:51 PM
[…] there’s this short fiction contest thingy-ma-bopper over at Terrible Minds Blog and I’m bored at work so I decided to give it a shot. I ended up writing an origin short […]
November 21, 2013 @ 3:56 PM
I chose ‘Annoyed, she stabbed him and finished her dinner,’ by marybelr.
http://crazyinkslinger.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/short-fiction-the-last-job-fates-a-bitch/
November 21, 2013 @ 4:48 PM
I chose the opening line ‘Annoyed, she stabbed him and finished her dinner,’ by marybelr.
http://crazyinkslinger.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/short-fiction-the-last-job-fates-a-bitch/
November 21, 2013 @ 11:21 PM
I really enjoyed the story and wanted more. I chose the same line form Marybelr, but went with a way different approach.
Along with the story, I also enjoyed your short, but concise descriptions that captured the events as they unfolded. Nicely done. I am including my version for your perusal. Thanks and happy writing.
http://taylormaderandomwrites.blogspot.com/2013/11/dinner-with-blind-hate-flash-fiction.html
November 22, 2013 @ 6:47 AM
Thanks for the read! I’m glad you enjoyed it. It ended up being an origin story for my current project, which worked out great.
Your version is awesome, I could see everything unfolding like a movie in my mind. The emotions were spot on, and I love the twist at the end. You built up to it nicely, it gave me the chills.
Happy writing!
November 22, 2013 @ 6:53 AM
I, in turn, would like to also thank you for reading. I am just now rediscovering my lost love for writing and I am hoping to continue as writing is the one thing that gives balance to my world at this moment. I am so thankful for this web site and the chance to share and interact with people who are as passionate about words, story and character as I am. Continued and happy writing. Best of luck with your future work. I look forward to reading them.
November 21, 2013 @ 6:46 PM
I chose Andrew Jack’s “Every second Saturday, Tom Pope had a beer with the Devil.” http://rtwilder.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/for-flash-fiction-challenge-find-your-favourite-opening-line-titled-care-bear-scare/
November 21, 2013 @ 11:16 PM
I used Mike Paul’s line: “Someone once told me bourbon was great for removing blood stains.”
http://brtwrites.com/2013/11/21/flash-fiction-thursday-the-kitchen-pantry/
November 22, 2013 @ 12:22 AM
I am eager to present my first flash fiction!
I selected the line “All she had to do was wait” by Nora.
http://girlbooksblog.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/the-last-noel/
Yay I actually finished something!!!
November 22, 2013 @ 1:50 AM
I loved it. The build of tension to the final line was perfect.
November 22, 2013 @ 12:28 AM
I’ve used the first line offered up by Kenneth Jobe (November 9th, 12:32 AM in last week’s comments) to produce “Zero To Hero”. As always, comments and constructive criticisms are appreciated.
http://pauljwillett.com/2013/11/21/flash-fiction-xxx/
November 22, 2013 @ 1:48 AM
I chose ZTS’s “At first it was just a tiny dot in the cool blue afternoon sky.”
http://mrdorough.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/the-shadow-in-the-valley/
November 22, 2013 @ 6:37 AM
Greetings! It’s been a while but I come to you now bearing (nearly) 1000 words of silliness. Hope you like it. 😀
http://lanigerbi.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/fiction-greg-and-dragon.html
November 22, 2013 @ 7:32 AM
Sorry forgot to mention. My opening line is tbianconi’s:
“You amuse me, human,” the Dragon said, swallowing several thousand Smarties in on gulp.
Blood and Bourbon | Heather Milne Johnson
November 22, 2013 @ 6:42 AM
[…] Terribleminds flash fiction challenge: Find Your Favorite Opening Line […]
November 22, 2013 @ 6:44 AM
I used mikepaul’s line: Someone once told me bourbon was great for removing blood stains. This was a lot of fun, I look forward to completing more challenges.
http://wp.me/p3McUV-1S
November 22, 2013 @ 7:30 AM
I loved your story! I used the same line but went in a different direction. I really liked the twist at the end. Nice job!
November 22, 2013 @ 7:21 AM
This is the first time I’ve done a flash fiction. Wicked fun! Thanks for the prompt Mr. Mike Paul (“Someone once told me bourbon was great for removing blood stains”)! I haven’t written in quite a long time.
http://nikki.io/archives/entry/20/
November 23, 2013 @ 8:26 AM
“their fists curled into angry wrecking balls” I loved that line and really enjoyed the whole story. Your character is such a bad ass.
November 22, 2013 @ 9:36 AM
I used Nora’s: “All she had to do was wait.”
November 22, 2013 @ 11:32 AM
Here it is, I call it “The Switch.” It’s my first flash fiction and I’m sort of new to this whole writing business. Tell me what you think, I’m open to criticism. http://juliaunheardof.blogspot.com/
November 22, 2013 @ 12:47 PM
Hi Julia – I really liked your piece. I want to know more of the backstory! Perhaps you’ll flesh it out into a longer story? Please let me know if you do.
November 22, 2013 @ 2:08 PM
Thanks! I hadn’t really thought much into the backstory besides what’s in the piece so far. Maybe I will expand it sometime in the future.
November 22, 2013 @ 12:29 PM
“Kill me with Kindness” 🙂 http://www.scribd.com/doc/186339528/Kill-Me-With-Kindness
November 22, 2013 @ 12:33 PM
Apologies for being half an hour late. I miscalculated EST.
November 23, 2013 @ 8:36 PM
Thanks for picking my intro, Mildred! I enjoyed the read. Who knew kindness had such a dark side?
Flash Fiction Challenge: 200 Words At A Time, Part One « terribleminds: chuck wendig
November 22, 2013 @ 2:46 PM
[…] Last Week’s Challenge: Find Your Favorite Opening Line […]
November 29, 2013 @ 5:54 AM
I’m doing some more of these in the lead up to Christmas. Today’s is here: http://jemimapett.com/2013/11/29/friday-flash-fiction-the-scottish-connection/
Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge - NIKKI.IO
December 7, 2013 @ 9:05 PM
[…] at Terrible Minds, Chuck Wendig held a Flash Fiction assignment to use an opening line from those submitted by […]
Flash Fiction Challenge: Find Your Favorite Opening Line | Half-Mad Rantings with Nick Egelhoff
December 16, 2013 @ 9:00 PM
[…] this week’s challenge was to pick an opening line from the previous week’s challenge and write a story from there. […]