Flash Fiction Challenge: Fairy Tales, Remixed
Last week’s challenge: The Who, The Where, The Uh-Oh
Pick a fairy tale.
Go on, do it.
I’ll wait.
If you don’t know your fairy tales — Google is your friend, of course.
Hell, here’s a pretty good list of the Grimm’s tales.
I want you to pick one — I’ll let you do that — and rewrite it.
Except, wait now, hold on.
I want you to also roll to choose a random subgenre. You will then apply said random subgenre to the fairy tale you have picked for maximum awesome. Get it? Got it? Rad.
You have 1000 words.
You have one week — due Friday, January 31st, noon, EST.
Write it at your online space. Link back here.
Do tell us which fairy tale you’re using by making it the title of your story.
Subgenre
(roll a d20 or go to a random number generator)
- Cyberpunk
- Dystopian
- Erotica
- Spy Thriller
- Southern Gothic
- Satire
- Urban Fantasy
- Space Horror
- Space Opera
- Young Adult Contemporary
- “Grimdark” Fantasy
- Psychological Horror
- Hard Sci-Fi
- Slasher Film
- Ecothriller
- Sword & Sorcery
- Lovecraftian
- Zombie Apocalypse
- Superhero
- Detective
jralbert
January 26, 2014 at 8:52 PM //
I decided on Sleeping Beauty and rolled Space Horror. Lovely! I have to admit that I haven’t read much (or really any) Space Horror, but I figured it was pretty self explanatory. I tried, and boy was it fun!
http://www.jenniferralbert.com/short-stories/sleeping-beauty-the-space-horror/
Rebecca Douglass
January 31, 2014 at 11:02 AM //
It’s horror, alright! Ugh. Well done.
Jessica
January 26, 2014 at 10:45 PM //
Hansel and Gretel as an urban fantasy?
…huh. Okay, let’s see what happens.
nathanael garvison
January 26, 2014 at 11:49 PM //
Goldilocks as a grimdark fantasy. Well, here goes nothing.
Claire
January 27, 2014 at 3:47 AM //
Fantastic challenge! Was inspired and had fun with it. 🙂
Fairy tale: Little Red
Sub-genre: Dystopian
http://raceagainstthelaze.weebly.com/1/post/2014/01/flash-fiction-challenge-fairy-tale-remixed.html
Josh Loomis
January 27, 2014 at 8:30 AM //
Remixing fairy tales is so up my alley, it’s not even funny. When the d20 of Destiny gave me ‘hard sci-fi’ it felt like Christmas all over again. Hope you enjoy reading this one as much as I enjoyed writing it!
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2014/01/27/flash-fiction-rapunzel-in-orbit/
Mildred Achoch
January 27, 2014 at 12:20 PM //
Definitely sci-fi, definitely brilliant. I did enjoy reading it!
Jon Jefferson
January 27, 2014 at 11:14 AM //
Mixed in some southern gothic (maybe) in my retelling.
http://www.10thdaypublishing.com/path-hunter/
Adam Hughes
January 27, 2014 at 8:21 PM //
I rolled a “20,” so …
“The Ugly Duckling” with a tiny bit of gumshoe mixed in:
http://adamhughes.in/quality-food-home-delivery/
Jeremy Podolski
January 28, 2014 at 9:50 AM //
Hansel and Gretel: The Aftermath
A satirical remix
http://jeremypodolski.com/2014/01/28/hansel-and-gretel-the-aftermath/
Had a blast with this challenge.
Kait
January 28, 2014 at 6:42 PM //
Hilarious! I loved it!
That was a cool take, going with aftermath angle.
Jeremy Podolski
January 28, 2014 at 8:45 PM //
Thanks Kait – this challenge is turning out some crazy stories.
Rebecca Douglass
January 28, 2014 at 1:20 PM //
Ha. Take One on Rapunzel as Space Opera is about 1600 words. I’ll be working on it and post later in the week, but I don’t know if it will lend itself to being told at 2/3 the length.
Rebecca Douglass
January 31, 2014 at 12:28 AM //
I forgot and posted below, but here it is: http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2014/01/flash-fiction-friday-trapped-aboard.html
Jim Franklin
January 28, 2014 at 1:54 PM //
I’ve chosen The White Snake, and I got Super-hero as the genre, and wrote a curious tale of super-hero, super-crime and auditable government policies.
Here we go with… The White Snake (well, Adder)
http://www.thezombiechimp.com/2014/01/28/flash-fiction-white-snake-well-adder/
Eva Therese
January 28, 2014 at 2:44 PM //
Don’t remember the title of the fairy tale, that I mixed up with the Detective genre. Yay for lousy memory! http://evathereseebert.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/flash-fiction-challenge-fairy-tales-remix/
Jemima Pett
January 31, 2014 at 7:32 AM //
Beauty and the Beast, perhaps? I really enjoyed it… I ike noir too.
Eva Therese
January 31, 2014 at 4:55 PM //
Actually I think it was called ‘Hans, my hedgehog’. At least that was the title of the Jim Henson adaptation.
Mildred Achoch
January 31, 2014 at 7:45 AM //
Oh I enjoyed reading this! You’ve captured the genre very well. Great first paragraph!
Eva Therese
January 31, 2014 at 4:56 PM //
Thanks!
Jemima Pett
January 28, 2014 at 2:57 PM //
I’ve been obsessed with a revised version of The Princess and the Pea ever since I invented the Narrathon – a story telling event and trade – in my books. Here at last is a chance for Willoughby to do his stuff. Maybe I included satire, maybe I didnt. It’ll be live around midnight UK time Friday, 7pm New York Thursday. If the server doesnt go down again…
http://jemimapett.com/blog/2014/01/31/flash-fiction-friday-willoughby-does-the-princess-and-the-pea/
Rebecca Douglass
January 31, 2014 at 12:32 AM //
I’m not sure it’s satire, but it’s a good story, and an improvement on the original.
Jemima Pett
January 31, 2014 at 7:33 AM //
Thanks!
Courtney Cantrell
January 28, 2014 at 3:51 PM //
I chose Grimms’ fairy tale “Brother and Sister,” one of my faves as a kid. Can’t resist a yarn that includes someone getting boiled alive in the bath. #morbid #therapy
The random number generator gave me CYBERPUNK, which dismayed me at first. I’ve never even read that — how by all of Wendig’s beard hairs am I supposed to write it?!?
But I pulled out my vorpal sword and went to slaying the beast. I like the carcass. I mean, the result. I’d be happy for y’all to let me know how I did. : ) Thanks!
http://courtcan.com/writing/free-short-story-a-grimms-fairy-tale-cyberpunk/
Rebecca Douglass
January 31, 2014 at 12:37 AM //
I think you did pretty well, though I don’t know the original story and wasn’t completely clear on exactly what happened at the end.
Courtney Cantrell
February 1, 2014 at 11:31 PM //
Well, the original story takes at least 2,000 words to recount. ; ) Lemme see if I can summarize:
Sister and brother are tormented by wicked-witch stepmother and stepsister. Sis & bro run away. Witch turns bro into deer. Sis meets king, gets married, lives with king & deer-bro in palace. Witch cooks sis to death in hot bath. Stepsis takes sis’s place. Sis returns as ghost to nurse her baby at night. King finds her, recognizes her, expresses undying love. Sis returns to life, stepsis is unmasked. Witch is burned at stake, stepsis gets torn to pieces by wild animals. Deer-bro becomes a real boy again. Happily ever after.
To simplify, I made witch and stepsister over into a single character, the “false Queen.” So at the end of my story, sis & bro & deer get to play the role of wild animal killing their nemesis. The hybrid threesome then escapes, with the hint that they’ve stolen the microchip containing the plans to “cure” them and return them back to normal.
Wendy Christopher
January 31, 2014 at 2:57 AM //
This, right here, is why fiction is such a wonderful thing; it has the power to take you to crazy worlds where, even if you don’t entirely understand everything that’s going on, you’re THERE, right in the middle of it… and I was definitely there in your world. Being more than a little bit scared, but in a good way.
A gripping tale with some fantastic imagery going on – although next time I might try not to be eating my tea when I’m reading the end 😉
Courtney Cantrell
February 1, 2014 at 11:34 PM //
Thanks, Wendy! I’m glad you enjoyed it so much, and I’m blushing at the compliments. I’m sorry about the problem with eating/drinking while reading…and yet, I’m not sorry. That makes me feel like I did my job! ; )
Jemima Pett
January 31, 2014 at 7:47 AM //
I really like your style! Great vorpal-work there 🙂
Courtney Cantrell
February 1, 2014 at 11:36 PM //
Ah, you’re speaking my language. ; ) Thanks so much, Jemima! Glad my writing connects with you.
dangerdean
January 28, 2014 at 5:03 PM //
Okay, I finally got this done. This was the toughest challenge I’ve done to date. I’m not entirely sure it counts as “grimdark fantasy”, but it is a world where life is crap and nobody is happy for long, so I guess it counts. Also, I thought it would be fun to tell it not from the POV of or with the focus on the “heroes” but on the princess who is offered as a prize, and usually has no agency in the story. Anyway, I hope it doesn’t suck. 🙂
http://dangerdean.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/the-singing-bone/
Now I can read the other ones, as I’ve been avoiding them until I finished this.
mikes75
January 29, 2014 at 9:29 AM //
That is definitely dark, and really wonderfully done!
dangerdean
January 29, 2014 at 6:01 PM //
Thank you!
John Rickett
February 1, 2014 at 8:28 PM //
I love the voice on this one, and think you did a fantastic job writing opposite gender.
Kait
January 28, 2014 at 5:05 PM //
This was my first flash fiction. So fun!
Snow White – Southern Gothic
http://blackcatdragon.blogspot.com/2014/01/snow-white-flash-fiction-remix.html
Jemima Pett
January 31, 2014 at 8:05 AM //
Fascinating! I haven’t a clue about Southern Gothic, so I was really interested in your take on it. Well done!
Kait
February 1, 2014 at 8:33 PM //
Thank you for reading my story and taking the time to comment on it. This was my first public post of anything I’ve written – so you were my first ever feedback from a stranger. 🙂
Rick Cook Jr
January 28, 2014 at 8:21 PM //
The Rose – Space Opera becomes “Rose Petals Spinning in Space”
I was sad after writing it.
http://panningforclouds.com/2014/01/28/rose-petals-space/
Kait
January 28, 2014 at 8:51 PM //
Wow.
I need a moment to regroup.
Mildred Achoch
January 29, 2014 at 4:46 AM //
I agree with Kait. Wow! I especially enjoyed the first six paragraphs. In very few words you painted a very comprehensive picture of the situation (and the genre). And yes, the ending was sad but a beautiful sad which is the best kind of sad 🙂
Jeremy Podolski
January 29, 2014 at 9:03 AM //
Great imagery. I also especially was drawn in by the opening paragraphs.
Wendy Christopher
February 1, 2014 at 3:53 PM //
I was also sad after reading it – but in a good way (if that makes any sense..?) Beautifully, heartfeltly written (I know heartfeltly isn’t a proper word, but it’s the closest I could find to what I mean.)
Fatma Alici
January 28, 2014 at 9:50 PM //
Okay, I picked Bearskin, because I love that particular fairy tale. And, I rolled space opera. Which, honestly is just mean. Anyway, it came out kind of weird. A good weird, I think.
http://wp.me/p2Oiy2-7d
BockClocker
January 29, 2014 at 4:26 AM //
I got satire, and chose (without considering word count) Faithful John. For what it’s worth: http://springloadedcats.wordpress.com/2014/01/25/faithful-john/
Francesca Carrillo
January 29, 2014 at 4:35 AM //
Late entry here. Its been awhile since I’ve done any flash fic challenge. Gotten ‘The Lambkin and the Little Fish’ in the “Grimdark” Fantasy genre.
Here we go:
Lamb & Fish, Revisited
Kate Sparkes
January 29, 2014 at 8:43 AM //
This is my first entry into a flash fiction challenge… eek! I had fun with this one. I chose Cinderella (my favourite when I was a kid), and Random.org gave me lucky seven- Urban Fantasy. I can’t say I envy my Cinderella…
http://disregardtheprologue.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/cinder-ella-flash-fiction-challenge/
Mira Day
January 29, 2014 at 11:04 AM //
That was awesome! I loved everything about it 🙂 Great job!
Kate Sparkes
January 29, 2014 at 11:07 AM //
Thank you! And thanks for reading!
Mira Day
January 29, 2014 at 10:48 AM //
3rd challenge I’ve done and I’m loving them more and more each week! Friday’s are more then just the start to the weekends and payday now 🙂
I picked Sleeping Beauty and rolled psychological horror. O.o I had a ton of fun with it!
http://www.miramichelleday.com/flash_fictions_and_short_stories/sleeping_beauty_the_remix/
Mildred Achoch
January 29, 2014 at 12:39 PM //
Nice! 🙂
dangerdean
January 29, 2014 at 10:51 PM //
Well done!
Wendy Christopher
January 30, 2014 at 1:48 PM //
Woah! Nicely done – and a brilliant twist on the original story. I was hooked right to the end.
Mira Day
January 31, 2014 at 11:54 AM //
Thanks everyone! ^.^
Rick Cook Jr
January 29, 2014 at 11:06 AM //
I think it had the intended effect, then. Thank you for reading!
Rick Cook Jr
January 29, 2014 at 11:07 AM //
Buh. This wasn’t supposed to go here.
J.J
January 29, 2014 at 12:19 PM //
OMG I finished it, yay for me. Rapunzel, Young Adult Contemporary, called Hiding in the Tower with a Boy/
http://growingasawriter.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/terrible-minds-flash-fiction-challenge-remixed-fairy-tales/
mikes75
January 29, 2014 at 1:05 PM //
OK, my first foray into erotica! I started with “The Boy Who Drew Cats,” changed the protagonist to a woman, and kinda ran from there. Lemme know what you think!
http://untitledunited.com/2014/01/29/fairy-tale-remixed-drawn-out-of-need/
Wendy Christopher
January 30, 2014 at 1:40 PM //
…And now I’m going to take a cold shower! This was really well-written – not a single porn cliche in the whole thing, which takes A LOT of skill. Not that I’m any kind of expert in this field of course – I’m just GUESSING that this is how good erotica writing should be IF I’d ever read any in my life, which of course I HAVEN’T… *looks away, whistles innocently…*
mikes75
January 30, 2014 at 2:38 PM //
This is by far the best compliment I’ve ever gotten, Thanks!
LO
January 29, 2014 at 5:39 PM //
First challenge!
http://oondootwa.tumblr.com/post/74982180717/the-princess-and-the-pea-slasher-flash-fiction
Smoph
February 1, 2014 at 1:17 AM //
Wow! Dark! Seriously though… Go Princess.
Wendy Christopher
February 1, 2014 at 4:01 PM //
Woah…. Worst. Blind Date. Ever! But a really gripping slasher story with a fun, badass heroine. Great job 🙂
Katya de Becerra
January 29, 2014 at 7:19 PM //
Thanks for inspiration! Lots of good ideas here:) Here’s my Cyberpunk take on Hansel and Gretel – http://katyabecerra.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/hansel-und-gretel-13.html
Smoph
February 1, 2014 at 1:22 AM //
Good idea Katya. Nice execution of your idea.
Katya de Becerra
February 1, 2014 at 3:36 PM //
Thank you! Thanks for reading:) btw I loved that you chose The Firebird fairy tale for your story – nice writing there!
joe petty
January 29, 2014 at 8:25 PM //
I had started out the challenge trying to write satire, but I’m just not funny enough. Then whilst working my job, where I get paid, my co-worker and I devised a steampunk version of Briar Rose. I can’t promise it’s all that great, but it’s in at 999 words.
http://www.bastardgenres.net/briar-rose-steampunk/
caszbrewster
January 29, 2014 at 8:40 PM //
Southern Gothic. Woah. Made me stretch. My take on The Red Shoes. http://www.casondrabrewster.com/?p=1578
Wendy Christopher
January 30, 2014 at 1:26 PM //
Holy moley, that was dark! But really well done – great job! I found myself reading it in a Scarlett O’Hara accent from the first paragraph, so you did a fine job on capturing the feel of the piece too.
J. S. Collyer
January 30, 2014 at 6:10 AM //
This was great! Dystopian SciFi, all teh win! Here’s my response ‘Foam’. I’d be interested to know if people can tell which fairy tale I chose… http://wp.me/pail1-eV
Siddhartha
January 30, 2014 at 8:12 AM //
Awesome. Here is my slasher take on a beloved fairy tale. I’d rather not say which one to preserve a little bit of mystery.
http://ssbasu.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/fairy-tales-remixed/
I went a bit over on the word limit, with more than 1350 words. It is also an amalgam of traditional slasher and straight-up horror. Hope you like it.