Last week’s challenge: Somethingpunk!
This week’s challenge is simple in description, but perhaps complex in execution.
It is about pacing and arrangement.
A piece of flash fiction is usually treated in a certain way — it’s short, so it uses the brevity of the form to often capture a snapshot in time.
We’re going to open that up a little bit.
You still have 1000 words.
But you’re going to break that up into 10 chapters.
Now, ostensibly that works out to about 100 words per chapter, though variation on that is fine. However you see fit to make it work. The goal here is to maintain brevity but increase scope. Can you tell a larger story in a smaller space? Does breaking it up make that easier — or harder?
Otherwise, standard rules apply.
Any genre will do.
Post at your blog, then drop a link in the comments here to that blog.
Due by next Friday, March 28th, noon EST.
1000 words, split into ten chapters. Now write it.
Jeff Keir says:
One for the word-nerds:
http://jeffnkeir.com/2014/03/24/flash-fiction-…ittle-chapters/
March 24, 2014 — 4:47 PM
Jeff Keir says:
Now with fewer dots…
http://jeffnkeir.com/2014/03/24/flash-fiction-challenges-ten-little-chapters/
…
…
March 24, 2014 — 4:56 PM
curleyqueue says:
Well, that certainly went not where I was expecting. I have to admit, the rhythm of the writing at first threw me, but by a couple chapters in I was enjoying the weirdness. Thanks for the story!
March 26, 2014 — 10:53 PM
Jon Stoffel says:
In the blog corner, weighing in at a lean 930 words, it’s…. BLOODBOUND! Ding. Ding. Ding.
I opted to eschew numerical chapter markings for this. Did it work, or make it more confusing?
http://www.jdstoffel.com/2014/03/bloodbound/
March 24, 2014 — 7:11 PM
Catastrophe Jones says:
Definitely worked. I really enjoyed the back and forth. I love how it’s part of something larger, only hinting at all the ominous horror. Mind you, I also hate that, because I WANT TO READ MORE.
March 25, 2014 — 11:44 AM
AM Gray says:
way less than 1,000 words… but *shrugs* it’s here
‘Teach yourself everything’
http://amgray.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/teach-yourself-everything.html
March 24, 2014 — 8:09 PM
Smoph says:
So mine’s a little over 1000 words. I do want to do more with it though.
It’s called Brave the Storm. http://prose.smoph.org/2014/03/25/brave-the-storm/
Love any comments/criticisms, etc.
March 25, 2014 — 3:05 AM
Josh Loomis says:
A thousand words, broken up into 10 chapters? Intelligence assets behind enemy lines? Hardened fortifications, booby traps, and money-hungry guides?
No problem for Extraction Team Seven.
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2014/03/25/flash-fiction-extraction-team-seven/
March 25, 2014 — 9:05 AM
Catastrophe Jones says:
I think this fit my writing style to a T. I’m posting this here, though the time machine that is WordPress may technically not let you see it until 3/27 at 9:30am EST, which is its listed publication time. If you can see it, enjoy. 1000 words, precisely.
http://catastrophejones.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/ten-little-chapters/
March 25, 2014 — 11:33 AM
Kathryn Goldman says:
Cat, I’ve been waiting for your link to go live and I’m so glad I came back to read your story. You, darlin’, can turn a phrase.
March 27, 2014 — 11:24 AM
Catastrophe Jones says:
Aw, shucks, ma’am. 🙂 Mighty kind of you!
March 27, 2014 — 11:29 AM
chriswhitewrites says:
Am I too late to go in for this challenge? I used an idea from the hyphenpunk challenge (which I missed): soulpunk. And I only managed 8 chapters. But I thought, meh, near enough is good enough. It’s called Number 17. Let me know what you think! http://chriswhitewrites.com/2014/03/26/number-17/
March 25, 2014 — 9:33 PM
Mike Berkey says:
I like this! I could actually see someone in DARPA designing a military drone to smile so it’s less terrifying. Which somehow makes it even worse. “Share and enjoy” and all of that. 🙂
March 26, 2014 — 6:57 AM
Rob Sadler says:
I’ve been staying away from these challenges for a while, in favor of working on my novel, but I couldn’t resist this one. Turned out to be a much-needed break from the story I’ve been dedicated to for six months now. Feedback greatly appreciated. Enjoy.
Water Walkers: http://www.andablankpage.com/water-walkers/
March 25, 2014 — 10:14 PM
amarynkary says:
http://amarynkary.wordpress.com/2014/03/26/tenlittlechapters/
All done! Feel free to read it and hopefully you’ll like it. Feedback and comments much appreciated. Dedicated so much into this one.
March 26, 2014 — 6:29 AM
robertmckay says:
I decided to take a stab at it this week. As usual I made my task a little harder and decided to kill 10 people in my story as well. I decided to call it Ten Little Deaths. I hope you enjoy it.
http://robertmckay.net/ten-little-chapters-flash-fiction-challenge/
March 26, 2014 — 11:57 AM
curleyqueue says:
This was my first time trying an exercise like this. Found it to be a great way to trim the fat, but a tough way to progress the story. Here’s To Come Undone.
http://agcurleyart.wordpress.com/2014/03/26/many-chapters-not-many-words/
March 26, 2014 — 1:23 PM
curleyqueue says:
And now for a link that actually works. Grrrrrr.
http://wp.me/p44qkj-1h
March 26, 2014 — 1:28 PM
john freeter says:
It was supposed to be a story about writing, but a plot-device character took over. It still works…in an odd sort of way.
http://johnfreeter.wordpress.com/2014/03/26/forgotten-dreams/
March 26, 2014 — 6:13 PM
curleyqueue says:
The internal dialogue had me chuckling, and I liked how you managed to generate detail and great imagery while still writing spare. Enjoyable!
March 26, 2014 — 11:13 PM
john freeter says:
Thanks! I’m always nervous when I try to be funny, since a bad joke is a lot worse than no joke, but I’m glad you liked it.
March 27, 2014 — 10:33 AM
Rebecca Douglass says:
Funny in a way–and depressing as all hell!
March 28, 2014 — 12:30 AM
Adam Hughes says:
What comes in tens? A “Minyan”, for one : http://adamhughes.in/minyan/
March 26, 2014 — 8:31 PM
Dana Alyce-Schwarz says:
http://contrastsolution.blogspot.com/2014/03/friday-fictionearly.html
March 26, 2014 — 8:53 PM
Jess says:
Here’s mine! Thanks for the challenge. http://waitingonaword.wordpress.com/2014/03/26/woaw-fiction-ten-little-chapters-challenge/
March 26, 2014 — 10:55 PM
Kathryn Goldman says:
Very real. Nice build up to the ending.
March 27, 2014 — 11:14 AM
Mark A. Sargent says:
Hey everybody! I just found this blog a little while ago and thought this would be a fun challenge. Here’s my go at it: http://markasargent.com/2014/03/26/roland/
March 27, 2014 — 12:45 AM
Kathryn Goldman says:
Well done. Great pace, perfectly timed. I moved right through it.
March 27, 2014 — 10:59 AM
Mark A. Sargent says:
Thanks, glad you liked it. 🙂
March 27, 2014 — 9:23 PM
Tony Kelly says:
Very good.
March 27, 2014 — 10:44 PM
R.T. Wilder says:
Damn good story.
March 28, 2014 — 6:45 PM
dangerdean says:
Excellent story.
March 28, 2014 — 11:49 PM
physicsjenn says:
I literally went to Amazon to buy your book after reading this story.
April 21, 2014 — 3:07 PM
Jim Franklin says:
Well, finally managed to get this thing out. Hope you think it’s worth it. Writing this in ten chapters was certainly trickier than I thought.
This is ‘Hunted’…
http://www.thezombiechimp.com/2014/03/27/flash-fiction-flash-ten-chapters/
March 27, 2014 — 3:08 PM
AE Smith says:
Haven’t attempted anything like this before but here’s mine: http://gigantocellularis.tumblr.com/post/80905896459/flash-fiction-a-promised-land
March 27, 2014 — 4:35 PM
Tony Kelly says:
Not sure why I went with “Western.” Maybe a little steampunk hangover from last week. A bit of an homage to The Gunslinger.
http://wombatspouch.blogspot.com/2014/03/ten-little-chapters.html
March 27, 2014 — 6:11 PM
Jemima Pett says:
This bit of weirdness dates from a genre mash-up last May – the protaganist was born then!
http://jemimapett.com/blog/2014/03/28/friday-flash-fiction-lois-stretches-out/
(live in just under one hour)
March 27, 2014 — 7:02 PM
Rebecca Douglass says:
Good story. Just when it was getting too nice, the last line happened. . .
March 28, 2014 — 12:30 AM
Rebecca Douglass says:
As usual, sneaking in at the last minute.
http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2014/03/flash-fiction-friday-under-oak.html
I rather like this one.
March 28, 2014 — 12:16 AM
john freeter says:
A very sweet story. The cover for “Death by Ice Cream” is fantastic by the way
March 28, 2014 — 11:21 AM
lucy.ditty says:
I don’t blog… But I do like to write. This is the first time I’ve ever published something on the internet, but this seemed interesting. Hope a non-blogger site counts :/ apologies for weird formatting and a mangled story, this really was a challenge.
You will see hundreds of thousands of faces in your life. To they they are only nameless faces in a crowd. But they are tangible, and who is to say that you have not met them before… once a year… you’d never know… he never knew…
https://www.fictionpress.com/s/3189663/1/Fragments
March 28, 2014 — 1:23 AM
Julian D Greene says:
Here’s my offering–in the genre of Magic Realism. Thanks for the challenge! You just broke my flash fiction cherry, Chuck.
http://juliandeagreene.com/2014/03/27/aha-a-novel-in-10-chapters-in-the-whole-of-1000-words/
March 28, 2014 — 1:40 AM
momdude says:
I loved this one, very fun and challenging to execute. And yes, I was listening to the ball game while writing it. Enjoy! As always, comments and constructive criticism is appreciated.
http://pauljwillett.com/2014/03/27/flash-fiction-ten-hands/
March 28, 2014 — 3:00 AM
zebrarage says:
First time trying something like this. Had fun.
Let me know what you think.
http://numbcentgriff.wordpress.com/
March 28, 2014 — 3:22 AM
tmrezzek says:
I hate college.
http://tmrezzek.wordpress.com/
March 28, 2014 — 10:20 AM
R.T. Wilder says:
http://rtwilder.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/solange/
March 28, 2014 — 11:59 AM
R.T. Wilder says:
That’s my entry above, and with only one minute to spare. A women’s prison, a successful medical procedure gone horribly wrong. Gothic-ish.
March 28, 2014 — 12:01 PM
Canby says:
First time doing this, and I know. I’m late. My apologies. Anyways, here’s the thing:
http://sta.sh/0251a38fpbyt
March 28, 2014 — 2:30 PM
dangerdean says:
I’m late, but figured it wouldn’t hurt to post it anyway. This was tough, at least going into it with a preconceived story idea. Fun, though.
http://dangerdean.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/terminal-city-nightfall/
March 28, 2014 — 11:15 PM
underastarlitsky says:
okay, okay, i know i’m late (again! argh!) but I thought hey, there’s no harm in posting it, right? (right?! or am i going to be smited (smote?) by some angry God-creature?). Anyways, here’s my story. It was a challenge writing it in such short chapters, but i got it 1,000 words on the dot (100 words per chapter). Bring Back The Sun (now you hate me because you have that song in your head, right?) http://wp.me/pBqgu-9H
March 29, 2014 — 2:21 PM