Flash Fiction Challenge: Five Random Words
Last week’s challenge: Ten Little Chapters
I have chosen ten random words.
Your goal: to choose five of these and incorporate them into a single piece of flash fiction.
The words:
Whalebone
Foxglove
Djinn
Orphan
Lollipop
Casket
Hermit
Hound
Acid
Topaz
There’s your list.
Choose five.
Write 1000-word short story.
Post at your blog or online space.
Give us a link to the story in the comments below.
Any genre will do.
Due by April 4th, noon, EST.
March 28, 2014 @ 6:40 AM
Hmmmm interesting, plus a slow day at work to write this in. Hoorah!
Not, that I was just sitting here drinking crap office coffee, waiting for this.
March 28, 2014 @ 10:18 AM
Haha! I am doing the exact same thing. Can’t wait to attempt this flash fiction.
I mean….I am working so hard. I love my job!
March 28, 2014 @ 1:43 PM
Well, naturally. We all do… :p
March 28, 2014 @ 1:42 PM
Here it is. After several scum-laden cheapo coffee’s, I can bring you the surprising child-like tale of “Foxglove, Lollipop and the Djinn”. Hope you like it.
http://www.thezombiechimp.com/2014/03/28/flash-fiction-foxglove-lollipop-djinn/
March 28, 2014 @ 5:50 PM
See, now I want to know who their father is!
March 29, 2014 @ 2:38 PM
Once upon a time, in an old forest, there lived… THE MOST BADASS DAMSEL IN THE HISTORY OF BADASSITUDE!!!! This was fantastic.
March 29, 2014 @ 4:17 PM
*like*. great story!
March 29, 2014 @ 9:36 PM
Thanks for the nice comments. Glad you liked it.
March 30, 2014 @ 8:33 AM
Ooh! I’d love to read lots more about Lollipop and her family.
March 28, 2014 @ 7:00 AM
Hehe…Whalebone
March 29, 2014 @ 6:39 PM
Came in under budget as a penance for last weeks. Enjoy (well, try)
http://joetblogs.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/terriblemds-flash-fition-challenge-five-random-words/
April 3, 2014 @ 12:08 PM
Creepy but nice
April 3, 2014 @ 7:45 PM
Thanks, I wasn’t too sure about it, but I started, and it developed by on its own. I should probably monitor my subconcience :s
March 28, 2014 @ 7:39 AM
Hey, that’s a coincidence – my name is Topaz! 😉
Nice prompt. I think I’ll use this, actually…
March 28, 2014 @ 7:40 AM
Okay. “The Acid Orphan,” coming up! … Except probably not.
March 28, 2014 @ 8:45 AM
NO! You are now committed to that concept! (Kidding, but I would actually like to read what you could do with that).
March 29, 2014 @ 4:22 PM
don’t tease us! that sounds awesome! please write it! we (as in the royal we, I don’t have a split personality disorder lol) want to read that! 😀
March 29, 2014 @ 8:29 PM
I have serious mixed feelings about “One Award”. I got it done in just over 800 words and worked in six of the ten.
It’s here: http://pavorisms.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/one-award/
And I just may go back and write “The Acid Orphan,” for reals. It occurred to me several hours after I burped up the title that it actually might fit in with another novel I want to write, someday.
March 30, 2014 @ 8:16 AM
See, this just goes to show that I should trust my instincts. This idea just wouldn’t go away, much as I tried to reach for something less “silly,” and I had a lot more fun writing this one than I had with my first stab at this challenge.
Meet the Acid Orphan: http://pavorisms.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/the-acid-orphan/
Double-dipping on these challenges: this writing bug I’ve caught must be serious.
April 1, 2014 @ 6:46 PM
Awesome! My favorite so far.
April 3, 2014 @ 12:13 PM
I’d like to read more and then some more.
April 3, 2014 @ 3:45 PM
Thanks!
April 4, 2014 @ 9:12 PM
I think your heart was in this one. Different idea, I like it. Could lead to a much longer bit of prose I suspect…
March 28, 2014 @ 8:48 AM
Great prompt – I think I will actually have to get up off my duff (or sit down on it) and churn something out for this!
March 28, 2014 @ 9:00 AM
Yay! I like the random word challenges.
March 28, 2014 @ 12:49 PM
I finished up at 450 words. I misread the prompt and worked in all ten. See if you can spot any that don’t belong:
http://article94.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/five-random-words/
March 28, 2014 @ 1:15 PM
The first challenge I did was ‘pick any 1 from each of these 2 lists of ten’ — I nearly tried to use all 20 because I was so weirdly excited.
Nice job; complete scene in less than 500. Impressive!
March 30, 2014 @ 7:00 AM
By that rationale, there are about 440 words that don’t belong, right? I kid…
Enjoyed the smash-mouth pace – it fits the challenge and the feel of your piece. If anything, it’s over too quick for me – I’d love to see more of what the hero sees. But it’s got a nice arc and a good turn. Spot on!
March 31, 2014 @ 11:11 PM
I’m glad you liked it! Fitting each scene into a tiny “100” box was crazy difficult. I probably wrote 1800 or so, but the bearded one decreed 10×100, so it was done.
March 31, 2014 @ 11:30 PM
Apparently I’m in the Cat Jones category and also can’t grasp the replying thing.
Anyway, what is a smash-mouth pace? I had intended to write another 500 words, based on the capture, but classes and work killed that.
April 1, 2014 @ 7:03 PM
If you were a little dude about to tussle with a much bigger dude, your best bet might be to take your first opportunity to smash him in the fargoing mouth, and not give him the chance to draw things out. 🙂
April 4, 2014 @ 9:37 PM
Mark, I have to say, your new(er) blog layout is so much easier to read! It looks good too.
Love what you did with the story. Not every quest is heroic! Awesome.
March 28, 2014 @ 9:06 AM
Done. It’ll show up on my site at 9:30am. Here’s a link, anyway:
http://catastrophejones.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/clever/
March 28, 2014 @ 1:14 PM
Nice work. I’m always a fan of a proper comeuppance.
March 29, 2014 @ 2:26 PM
This was a great story. I love the dark talk and savage tones throughout. It reminded me of what Wednesday Addams would have to contend with, where Pugsly not such a willing participant.
March 29, 2014 @ 9:24 PM
Thank you! Haha — that’s an awesome thought. 🙂
March 30, 2014 @ 7:02 AM
You’ve a nice way with dialogue and character voice. The things they say tell us everything we need to know about them.
April 4, 2014 @ 9:40 PM
Nicely done with your unlikeable protagonist.
April 4, 2014 @ 9:50 PM
Thank you much!
Friday Flash Fiction - Kirk Jolly
March 28, 2014 @ 9:13 AM
[…] Friday, Chuck Wendig poses a flash fiction challenge at his website/blog http://www.terribleminds.com. I’ve wanted to take part in the challenge for a while now and I’m finally doing it. […]
March 28, 2014 @ 9:16 AM
Here’s mine. It’s my first attempt to meet your challenge. I hope you enjoy.
http://www.kirkjolly.com/friday-flash-fiction/
March 28, 2014 @ 12:26 PM
Dark and sad. Thanks for sharing.
March 29, 2014 @ 6:35 PM
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it.
April 2, 2014 @ 11:11 PM
Oh this is heartbreakingly good.
April 5, 2014 @ 1:21 AM
Thanks Trine.
April 3, 2014 @ 12:17 PM
I liked it tho’ it’s not my usual cup of tea.
April 5, 2014 @ 1:25 AM
Yeah it’s very dark and sad even by my own standards but I’m glad you liked it.
April 4, 2014 @ 9:43 PM
Well done Kirk. That is a really good plot-line and a wicked ending.
April 5, 2014 @ 1:32 AM
Thanks Smoph. Glad you enjoyed it.
Clever | Catastrophe Jones
March 28, 2014 @ 9:38 AM
[…] was for a fiction challenge from Terrible Minds. Choose five words, then construct the story, 1000-word limit. This one is 1000, precisely. TELL […]
March 28, 2014 @ 10:19 AM
It’s amazing what you learn on Supernatural… simply amazing. 😀
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/the-djinns-spell.html
Enjoy. 😀
March 28, 2014 @ 12:26 PM
I remember those episodes — nice tie in! 🙂
March 28, 2014 @ 8:01 PM
Thanks! I just watched them a week or two ago. I knew buying the box set was well worth it! 😀
April 4, 2014 @ 9:46 PM
Dark, Mozette. I like it. It’s got good pacing and the plot is interesting.
March 28, 2014 @ 10:35 AM
Last week I had a failure to launch, but this week, something’s already sparked! Stay tuned.
March 30, 2014 @ 6:10 PM
I linked further down, but it occurred to me it might be useful to link with my original comment. Sorry for the duplicate!
http://authorizedmusings.blogspot.com/2014/03/flash-fiction-klara-and-clockwork-djinn.html
March 28, 2014 @ 10:54 AM
I don’t often do flash fiction – too hard to write so little. :-). This, though, was too tempting to ignore.
http://charlieray45.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/unintended-consequences/
March 28, 2014 @ 12:19 PM
Damnit, now I want to know what comes next!
April 3, 2014 @ 12:23 PM
Maybe your Djinn would get along with mine.
March 28, 2014 @ 12:23 PM
I remember those episodes! Nice tie-in.
March 28, 2014 @ 12:27 PM
…obvs I don’t know how to comment correctly. Time for more caffeine.
Friday flash: Foxglove | Erin M. Hartshorn
March 28, 2014 @ 12:28 PM
[…] inspiration for today’s flash came from Chuck Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge, Five Random Words. The words I chose from his list were foxglove, orphan, hermit, hound, and […]
March 28, 2014 @ 12:29 PM
My contribution, “Foxglove”: http://www.erinmhartshorn.com/friday-flash-foxglove/
March 28, 2014 @ 1:19 PM
Enjoyed it — I think it would also work well as part of a much larger piece.
March 28, 2014 @ 1:36 PM
Thank you! I get that a lot with my flash. 😉
Five random words | Article 94
March 28, 2014 @ 12:47 PM
[…] random words By Mark Gardner Chuck did “5 random words.” I finished up at 450 words. We were supposed to chose five of the ten words provided and […]
The Blue Stone – A Flash Fiction Piece | Observations of The Urban Spaceman
March 28, 2014 @ 12:54 PM
[…] Wendig sets challenges via his blog. Sometimes, people take up those challenges. Today, I did just that. Admittedly, I […]
March 28, 2014 @ 12:54 PM
Sorry, broke the word-limit! http://mrurbanspaceman.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/the-blue-stone-a-flash-fiction-piece/
March 28, 2014 @ 1:05 PM
Your extra words will find balance in my efficiency. Great post, Mr. U. Spaceman.
March 28, 2014 @ 1:26 PM
Very well done. Definitely enjoyed reading this one.
April 3, 2014 @ 12:28 PM
It’s got a lovely sense of location and a chilly atmosphere. I liked it lots.
March 28, 2014 @ 12:59 PM
Under word limit but this was a lot of FUN!
http://mfourlbyhfourepoetry.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/mavlos-education/
March 28, 2014 @ 1:30 PM
Can tell you enjoyed writing this one. Easy to follow, and entertaining. Thanks for sharing!
Flash Fiction : Foxglove, Lollipop and the Djinn » The Zombie Chimp
March 28, 2014 @ 1:40 PM
[…] week’s Flash Fiction challenge is a bit of a flash back to earlier challenges, The five random words challenge. Chuck has given us […]
March 28, 2014 @ 1:43 PM
And here we are:
http://coffeekeys.quora.com/Flash-Fiction-Tribute
March 28, 2014 @ 5:44 PM
I have no clue how you managed to make the name ‘Dorphus’ elegant, and yet, you did. This was brilliant. I loved reading it.
Flash Fiction : Supposed Injustice » The Zombie Chimp
March 28, 2014 @ 1:50 PM
[…] I still have some time left over so I thought I’d have another go at Chuck Wendig’s flash fiction challenge. First one is here and it has all the details of the contest, so I won’t bore you with it again. […]
March 28, 2014 @ 1:51 PM
Well, seeing as I had soooo much extra time I couldn’t resist writing another one, using the other five words. Hound, Hermit, Acid, Whalebone and Orphan.
Hope you like it… Supposed Injustice
http://www.thezombiechimp.com/2014/03/28/flash-fiction-supposed-injustice/
March 28, 2014 @ 5:51 PM
Ohhh, Jeremy. I may have even liked this one better!
April 1, 2014 @ 11:13 AM
aye, me too. 🙂
March 28, 2014 @ 6:13 PM
This one ended pretty short, but I usually end of over shooting the 1,000 words by a smidgen, so I’ll cut myself a break here. I really like how it turned out, it has a dream-like quality.
Effort and Result
http://www.fatmaalici.com/2014/03/28/challenge-five-random-words/
April 4, 2014 @ 9:48 PM
Interesting supernatural story Fatma. I wanted to know what the significance of those figures was, and the events that they wrought on others.
April 4, 2014 @ 10:38 PM
The woman in the story pops in my stories on occasion. Almost leads to some reality bending weridness that i don’t entirely get.
March 28, 2014 @ 6:40 PM
Here’s mine. I’ve never tried this before, but it seemed serendipitious that I created a blog and up came Chuck’s Challenge, so I went for it. I used whalebone, foxglove, orphan, acid and hermit in 968 words … http://inkoherent.wordpress.com/
April 4, 2014 @ 9:52 PM
Welcome and good job! I love the ending phrase of the first paragraph. It’s perfect for the story.
Also interesting idea, and a complex protagonist, which is pretty difficult to do in 1000 words.
March 28, 2014 @ 6:41 PM
I haven’t read anyone else’s story yet. I wanted to write mine first. Here it is, scheduled to post next Friday (April 4th) at 0300 Arizona time. http://wp.me/p2AyuM-jE Now I can enjoy your stories.
March 28, 2014 @ 7:53 PM
I couldn’t help it, I used all 10 words! it’s got a twist, might be a bit evil…
Orphan
http://angelacavanaugh.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/flash-fiction-friday-orphan/
March 28, 2014 @ 9:22 PM
I had to hunt down half of them which means you did a good job using them.
FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE: FIVE RANDOM WORDS | Writing and other forms of suffering
March 28, 2014 @ 10:35 PM
[…] Chuck Wendig’s flash fiction challenge– a 1000 word story using five words out of the following list– […]
March 28, 2014 @ 10:38 PM
Here’s my piece. It’s probably a failure.
http://douglasdanieldotcom.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/flash-fiction-challenge-five-random-words/
April 3, 2014 @ 7:41 PM
I thought this was very good. I like how your Topaz handled the General.
March 29, 2014 @ 5:31 AM
I’m a mom. This is based on a true story that happens to me everyday. Don’t judge me’http://kissmetoomanytimes.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/flash-fiction-challenge-five-random-words-2/
April 3, 2014 @ 12:37 PM
This is the best story I’ve read so far. It came alive.
Djinn Without A Cause | Billy Peery
March 29, 2014 @ 12:54 PM
[…] A short story for Chuck Wendig’s “Five Random Words” Flash Fiction Challenge. […]
March 29, 2014 @ 1:10 PM
“Djinn Without a Cause,” using the words Djinn, Orphan, Hermit, Hound, and Acid:
http://billypeery.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/djinn-without-a-cause/
April 3, 2014 @ 12:39 PM
Very funny and well told.
March 29, 2014 @ 2:23 PM
Here’s my wildly childish, ridiculously over the top, silly litle piece:
“Once upon a Desert Dream”
Find out what a lollipop, a djinn and a camel are all doing at a circus in London…
http://writesomethingsmidge.blogspot.ie/
March 31, 2014 @ 12:18 AM
That was good fun to read! 🙂
March 29, 2014 @ 4:01 PM
I must say, I’m still not sure what to think of what I came up with…although I did find a way to set the story in Lovecraft’s Mistakonic Valley. That’s always a plus 🙂
The Lake Offering
http://www.ramblingbeachcat.com/2014/03/flash-fiction-friday-five-random-words.html
Terriblemds Flash Fition Challenge: Five Random Words | JoeTblogs
March 29, 2014 @ 6:37 PM
[…] This week: Five Random Words. […]
One Award | pavorisms
March 29, 2014 @ 8:21 PM
[…] Award This week’s challenge from Chuck: Five Words. In short, write a short story of under 1000 words using 5 words out of a list of 10. I used […]
The Skill List Project: Comfort in Your Own Skin at SF Novelists
March 29, 2014 @ 8:53 PM
[…] basis. Maybe you’ll decide to knock off some flash fiction. (Chuck Wendig throws out a flash fiction challenge every Friday; you might find that a good starting place.) Or maybe you’ll come up with your […]
March 29, 2014 @ 10:51 PM
I rolled myself a tale consisting of foxglove, orphan, lollipop, casket, and acid.
I present… “By the Time I Am Home”
http://www.jdstoffel.com/2014/03/by-the-time-i-am-home-flash-fiction/
March 30, 2014 @ 1:44 AM
Good lord that was heart breaking. Nice work.
March 30, 2014 @ 12:28 PM
Thanks, and I’m sorry 🙂
March 31, 2014 @ 11:23 PM
I hadn’t planned on reading any more FFC tonight, but based solely on Nick’s comment, I did. I’ve always believed that writing sjouke illicit some kind of emotion – anger, fear, happiness – whatever. I seem to enjoy sadness-evoking stories, and yours did it wonderfully. Great work!
April 2, 2014 @ 1:14 PM
Thanks for the feedback. Glad you enjoyed it!
March 30, 2014 @ 8:07 AM
My first attempt at one of these challenges. Whalebone, Foxglove, Hound, Acid, Orphan…
and the result… “Waste not.”
http://idreamofgypsies.blogspot.com/
The Acid Orphan | pavorisms
March 30, 2014 @ 8:09 AM
[…] is my second bite at the apple for Chuck’s 5 random words challenge. If anything, it teaches me that I should trust my instincts. This title occurred to me […]
Little Orphan Ivy | Under a Starlit Sky
March 30, 2014 @ 12:04 PM
[…] track with this week’s Chuck Wendig fiction challenge – to choose 5 random words from this random list of words. I chose orphan, casket, whalebone, acid, and hermit. So here you go. It’s 1,000 words […]
March 30, 2014 @ 12:05 PM
Here’s mine. my words: whalebone, acid, orphan, casket, hermit. I call it, Little Orphan Ivy http://wp.me/pBqgu-9O. 1,000 words on the dot.
March 30, 2014 @ 1:30 PM
Ooh, lots to read!
All right, here’s mine (I suck at titles most of the time):
Klara and the Clockwork Djinn; or, Matchmaking at the Museum
http://authorizedmusings.blogspot.com/2014/03/flash-fiction-klara-and-clockwork-djinn.html
March 30, 2014 @ 7:31 PM
Ooh I liked this, kind of want to see what happens next! Are you going to do any more with it?
March 30, 2014 @ 9:33 PM
Thanks so much! I’ve toyed with the idea of doing a serial piece on the blog, and a steampunk pulp-serial would be a lot of fun, I think.
March 30, 2014 @ 7:23 PM
I picked whalebone, topaz, orphan, acid and foxglove. Although I decided to go for a more literal interpretation of the word foxglove: my story has foxes wearing gloves. I had a lot of fun writing this one!
http://celineslouchelounge.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/flash-fiction-the-orphan-seeker/
FIVE RANDOM WORDS: FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE | Brent McGuffin's Blog
March 30, 2014 @ 8:32 PM
[…] New Flash Fiction Challenge found here: […]
March 30, 2014 @ 8:41 PM
I used 5 words and hinted at three more.
My girlfriend read it and asked for more. I guess that’s a good thing.
Here’s, The Hermit: http://wp.me/p4u5GE-6
March 31, 2014 @ 12:38 AM
I finished mine today. It’s called, ‘The Hermit has a Visitor’.
http://www.reader-writer.com/?p=114
By the Time I Am Home – flash fiction | THIS IS
March 31, 2014 @ 2:30 PM
[…] flash fiction challenge from Chuck Wendig. Take a random selection of five words and incorporate them into your story. I […]
Hound on the Hill » Misadventures in Strange Places
March 31, 2014 @ 8:37 PM
[…] challenge over at Chuck Wendig’s Terribleminds blog this week is a pick five. The idea, pick five words from the ten words offered and incorporate them […]