Flash Fiction Challenge: Random Title!
Last week’s challenge: 100-Word Stories.
Once again: the title challenge rears its gorgeously weird head.
I love this challenge and it usually get a lot of play, so let’s do it.
Way this works is: you’re gonna randomly throw together a title for your story.
Use a d20 or a random number generator to consult the table at the bottom of the document to roll for a story’s title. It’s a two-part title (meaning, two random numbers 1-20) and whatever title you get must fit the story you write for it. (Examples: “The Dead Boy’s Doghouse,” “Shotgun Promise,” “A Key For Helix.”)
You’ll have 1000 words, par usual. Post at your blog, link back here. Due in one week — June 6th, Friday — by noon EST. And so, the title tables are (note that you’re free to put the word “The” in front of your title or pluralize words as appropriate):
Column One
- Whispered
- Mirror
- Junkie’s
- Amaranthine
- Diamond
- Shotgun
- Labyrinthine
- Bloody
- Seven-Year
- Crown of
- Starship
- Betrayer’s
- Scarlett
- Ugly
- Unlucky
- Dead Boy’s
- A Key for
- Grave Robber’s
- Castle
- Cackling
Column Two
- Murders
- Worlds
- Helix
- Beetle
- Dowager
- Gunslingers
- Firestorm
- Promise
- Sea
- Kevin
- Doghouse
- Pelican
- Breakfast
- Curse
- Coinpurse
- Rider
- Bastards
- Diary
- Souls
- Jackals
bassplyr5150
June 1, 2014 at 10:52 AM //
I give you “Junkie’s Promise”
I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.
The end.
Mr Urban Spaceman
June 1, 2014 at 12:25 PM //
Very succinct. For some reason I was expecting robots. I can’t really say why.
bassplyr5150
June 1, 2014 at 12:32 PM //
Well, there’s no reason I can’t do a second take. I was in bed last night and that just kind of hit. I’ve been binge watching “The West Wing” lately… 🙂
Mr Urban Spaceman
June 1, 2014 at 1:25 PM //
Ah yes, West Wing. I’ve… heard of it. A bit lacking in robots, I believe. Well, if you do go ahead and use the other 964 words Chuck’s allowed us for this challenge, I wish you luck! (this should have been posted here, but my ability to post replies was temporarily disrupted by robots, and it got posted to the main comments)
E. P. Beaumont
June 4, 2014 at 11:37 PM //
OK, internets have been won and it’s only the first entry. *hands them over*
Mr Urban Spaceman
June 1, 2014 at 1:24 PM //
Ah yes, West Wing. I’ve… heard of it. A bit lacking in robots, I believe. Well, if you do go ahead and use the other 964 words Chuck’s allowed us for this challenge, I wish you luck!
SmithCassidy
June 1, 2014 at 11:40 PM //
I love the idea that nearly everyone who reads this blog has a d20 (or 10) within reach for a little rollin’ pleasure. 8)
Jim Franklin
June 2, 2014 at 8:37 AM //
I rolled Diamond and Firestorm, here is the unsurprisingly titled tale called Diamond Firestorm.
Hope you enjoy it.
https://keyboardpizza.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/flash-fiction-diamond-firestorm/
E. P. Beaumont
June 4, 2014 at 11:42 PM //
First, awesome title (here announcing my intention to steal it for future use, particularly if I ever start a band). Meanwhile, on to the story: a huge amount of plot compressed into a tiny space, and like all good narrative the major plot-turn lives at the dead center of the tale. Brava/o!
Jim Franklin
June 5, 2014 at 11:02 AM //
Thank you very much, much appreciated. The title is rather wonderful, though I can’t claim any responsibility for that.
Hopefully, it’s not too Star Trekky… 🙂
Rose Red
June 2, 2014 at 8:59 AM //
Amaranthine Bastards!
Ha!
I’ve never done one of your challenges but I read them every week. I am a hesitant participant and a watcher. I am too curious to see where this goes so I’m in.
KVeldman
June 2, 2014 at 11:37 AM //
Mirror Bastards. Ha.
physicsjenn
June 2, 2014 at 2:19 PM //
I got “Bloody Jackals,” and wrote this short piece: http://jennwritesstories.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/terribleminds-flash-fic-challenge-bloody-jackals/
E. P. Beaumont
June 4, 2014 at 11:45 PM //
The implication in the final line is really chilling… not to mention the line right before that. A pleasant retirement … for an old god. Arrrgh.
Jon Stoffel
June 2, 2014 at 4:20 PM //
Rolled my 2d20 and came away with “Unlucky Jackals.” Wrote this Friday, for various reasons only got around to posting it today. Hope you enjoy!
http://www.jdstoffel.com/2014/05/flash-fiction-unlucky-jackals/
AE Smith
June 2, 2014 at 5:00 PM //
I got ‘Shotgun Diary,’ and decided to go with a pretty literal interpretation: http://gigantocellularis.tumblr.com/post/87627326672/flash-fiction-shotgun-diary
Jon Jefferson
June 2, 2014 at 8:12 PM //
The Grave Robber’s Coin Purse
http://www.10thdaypublishing.com/grave-robber-coin-purse/
Jen Donohue
June 2, 2014 at 8:19 PM //
I got Scarlett Promise.
http://authorizedmusings.blogspot.com/2014/06/flash-fiction-challenge-scarlett-promise.html
pathaydenjones
June 6, 2014 at 6:40 PM //
This was a good read, well crafted, atmospheric and thoughtful, a soliloquy and reflective piece which distills a good deal of emotional impact into those scarce 1K words
Jen Donohue
June 6, 2014 at 11:34 PM //
Thank you, very much.
Kate Loveton
June 2, 2014 at 10:20 PM //
I wound up with ‘Diamond Breakfast’ – well, that might be fun. I will have to think about this!
Zuri
June 2, 2014 at 10:36 PM //
A Castle of Souls.
http://boldfaceletters.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/flash-fiction-a-castle-of-souls/
Allison Maruska
June 2, 2014 at 11:02 PM //
Diamond’s Promise
http://allisonmaruska.com/2014/06/02/flash-fiction-diamonds-promise/
Helen Espinosa
June 2, 2014 at 11:38 PM //
I rolled Mirror’s Curse.
https://helenespinosa.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/mirrors-curse/
Josh Loomis
June 3, 2014 at 9:52 AM //
Come aboard, and sail the Ugly Sea. If you dare.
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2014/06/02/flash-fiction-the-ugly-sea/
joeturner87
June 3, 2014 at 4:13 PM //
10 & 17: Crown of Bastards…interesting.
stephenseibert
June 3, 2014 at 7:48 PM //
The Junkie’s Soul
http://stephenseibert.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/the-junkies-soul/
Free Jack Klugman
June 3, 2014 at 10:06 PM //
Rolled an 18 and an 18, which netted me “The Grave Robber’s Diary.”
You can find the result here: http://freejackklugman.com/shorts/the-graverobbers-diary/
I was surprisingly pleased with the result.
Enjoy!
KL
June 4, 2014 at 2:19 PM //
Loved the tone, created a great feeling of authenticity. The diary format really works as well!
pathaydenjones
June 6, 2014 at 6:27 PM //
I’m not seeing many comments on the blog yet so will get things kicking as I wrap my workweek. The Diary is an entertainingly creepy read, which you might think is following a bit of formula in the midpart, but as my old English teacher used to say, thre is nothing new under the sun, and my old LT would say, it’s all about execution. The ending of a story is hard to nail and I really liked the way FJK wrapped this up. Don’t read late at night 🙂
Free Jack Klugman
June 6, 2014 at 9:02 PM //
Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed it!
KL
June 4, 2014 at 2:10 PM //
Well, I’ve lurked for long enough, I guess. Time to give things a try, so….
I rolled “Starship Unlucky”, resulting in:
http://randodad.blogspot.com/2014/06/flash-fiction-challange-starship-unlucky.html
epbeaumont
June 4, 2014 at 6:50 PM //
The crown of creation … is the Crown of Bastards.
http://epbeaumont.com/2014/06/04/flash-fiction-random-title-crown-of-bastards/
pathaydenjones
June 4, 2014 at 10:59 PM //
I got a good one, and yes I was honest! The Bloody Helix
http://pathaydenjones.com/stories/the-bloody-helix/
E. P. Beaumont
June 4, 2014 at 11:50 PM //
Must say I enjoy your process notes (and so does my partner, who looks over my shoulder in some of my writerly endeavors). This one was a particular treat, as I love creation stories. I like the resonance of the last line, too, with its promise of score-settling apocalyptic Jackals vs Cats action (hmmm… sounds like an otherworldly West Side Story kinda setup.)
Doug Daniel
June 5, 2014 at 1:05 AM //
“Starship Souls”
http://douglasdanieldotcom.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/flash-fiction-challenge-starship-souls/
Kate Loveton
June 5, 2014 at 7:42 AM //
“Diamond Breakfast”
http://kateloveton.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/diamond-breakfast/
William Grit
June 5, 2014 at 1:53 PM //
http://williamgrit.com/2014/06/05/karate-class-a-key-for-bastards/
underastarlitsky
June 5, 2014 at 2:07 PM //
Here’s mine. a bit later than hoped cuz i’m on vacation…I got a 7 and 3, so here’s my The Labyrinthine Helix http://wp.me/pBqgu-ak
Adan Ramie - Author Blog
June 5, 2014 at 2:10 PM //
It was hard to stick to 100-or-less on this one, but I just made it.
“Junkie’s Bastards”
https://adanramieblog.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/junkies-bastards-by-adan-ramie/
Jasmine I.
June 5, 2014 at 2:39 PM //
“Labyrinthine Promise”
http://jasminei.com/caffeinated-awakenings/labyrinthine-promise/
Jim Bentley
June 5, 2014 at 5:11 PM //
Oh great Taco Lord Wendig, I offer unto you this 1000 word entry with a taco cat and some whiskey.
http://mrjimbentley.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/the-bloody-diary/
Jesse
June 5, 2014 at 9:15 PM //
I netted myself ‘Grave Robber’s Dowager’ and that was fun
http://mertus.deviantart.com/art/Graverobber-s-Dowager-458848225
Rebecca Douglass
June 7, 2014 at 12:58 AM //
Good story! Fun, in a way, and at the same time grim!
M.J. King
June 5, 2014 at 10:23 PM //
This is awesome. But you knew that.
I rolled Grave Robber’s Promise
http://mjkingwrites.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/grave-robbers-promise/
Matthew X. Gomez
June 5, 2014 at 10:34 PM //
Betrayer’s Bastards here. http://mxgomez.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/betrayers-bastards/
Rebecca Douglass
June 6, 2014 at 12:13 AM //
Cackling Murders. That’s the last time I ask my boys to help out by picking a number between 1 and 20. Still, it ended up being fun to write!
http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2014/06/friday-flash-fiction-cackling-murders.html
LittleBlackDog
June 6, 2014 at 1:06 AM //
“A Key for Jackals.” I’m over the word count, but thought I might post it anyways since I did finish it. Also, I am terrified because I haven’t written anything in a long time. Ack!
https://lilliangordontaylor.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/a-key-for-jackals/