Last week’s challenge: And, Action!
By now, I suspect you know how this works.
But, just in case?
You will choose two random numbers.
(Use a d20 or a random number generator.)
Each between 1-20.
Then, those random numbers go to the items in the columns at the end of this post.
One for each.
That earns you your title.
You might end up with Elegant Alleyway.
Or the Black-Hearted Eight.
Or the Lupine Last Call.
You can add “The” to the fore of the title, and make the second part plural, if need be.
And that’s it.
You’ve got, ohhh, 1500 words this go around.
Due in one week — by next Friday, noon EST.
Post at your online space.
Link back here.
Now, get to pickin’.
Column One
- Serpentine
- Emerald
- Blood-Stained
- Interstitial
- Judas
- Lupine
- Reaper’s
- Merciful
- Elegant
- Ceaseless
- Black-Hearted
- Gravedigger’s
- Hissing
- Bewitching
- Dead
- Fifth
- Monkey’s
- Dressmaker’s
- Almost
- Endless
Column Two
- Precipice
- Alleyway
- Nursemaid
- Eschaton
- Confirmation
- Thunderhead
- Eye
- Pincushion
- Daughter
- Reward
- Beauty
- Locket
- Chasm
- Eight
- Quietus
- Beast
- Inquiry
- Last Call
- Coil
- Widow
169 responses to “Flash Fiction Challenge: Let Fate Choose Your Title…”
So many great stories and the wildest blast of imagination. Thanks for the reads!
I ended up with Interstitial Eschaton. I had no idea what to do with that … until suddenly, I did. Here’s the story of one post-apocalyptic rambler and her cat. http://andreaspeed.com/2014/flash-fiction-challenge-interstitial-eschaton/
A bit late to the party but I challenged myself to see if I could do it anyway… This is my first one of these, so please DO be brutally honest.
http://tanyamariebird.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/the-merciful-chasm.html
Left a comment on your blog, but this really read very well.
Thank you for that! It was my first time joining in on something of this nature and daunting to say the least.
I misunderstood the deadline (I blame the UK v US English debate) so could have (should have) put more time into it. Looking at it now, I am picking major holes in it, alas.
Thank you for your kind words, though. At least I know I have something that’s “not horrible” and that can be worked on.
I got Judas and Thunderhead…I ended up loving it. have a look!
http://literarybandit.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/judas-thunderhead-rock-goddess/
I liked this – I could picture her looking like Courtney Love, but talking like Janis Joplin. Very effective 🙂
Thanks a lot! that’s pretty much the image I had in my head as well. Either that or someone like 1980’s X-Men Storm.
My stories are often set in the distant past so I thought I’d go for something topical with
‘The Bewitching Chasm’.
Rory had to get there. It seemed easy enough………………………..
https://nanowrimoroman.blogspot.com/b/post-preview?token=xcZyPUgBAAA.0nopYMs0b6ODJSHja4vMGQ.JlHKyv59rLojMrmviPHyHg&postId=4231612871179138564&type=POST
Here’s the correct link: http://nanowrimoroman.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-bewitching-chasmtitle-courtesy-of.html
I liked the premise, and the visuals a lot! I also liked the crazy self-dialogue. Very vivid.
You’re very kind, thank you.
I got “Endless Eschaton”. It gets dark.
http://allisonmaruska.com/2014/09/03/flash-fiction-endless-eschaton/
Did NOT see that coming. Nice misdirect.
thanks!
Checked this out – delicious ending and completely unexpected. Nicely done.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading. 🙂
I’d say ‘it’s my first time, so be gentle’, but that didn’t work very well back in the dorms so I’ll just leave this here…
The Reaper’s Confirmation: http://manyfacesof.wordpress.com/2014/09/03/the-reapers-confirmation/
Nice job! I like that the Reaper has a routine existence.
Monkeys Alleyway is now a thing! First time trying this –– not only was it a blast but I really like what I came up with. Thanks, Chuck!
http://www.chrisgloom.com/monkeys-alleyway/
Great stuff, loved the claustrophobic atmosphere.
Thanks so much! Yeah I tend towards topics in which I can have mental breakdowns.
This one was interesting because it got really Are You Afraid of the Dark at the end for whatever reason. 😛
Awesome!
It’s been a while since I’ve had time for a challenge. Here’s my contribution, “Judas Locket”.
http://adanramieblog.wordpress.com/2014/09/03/three-prompt-challenge-judas-locket/
Nice job!
My goal here was to give an impression of somebody casually…not okay. In a very non-natural way.
Here goes… Dead Eights.
http://apromptripost.com/post/96586224419/dead-eights
wow
Whoa, this was really good.
Wow! That was awesome! Loved, loved, LOVED the edgy grit through it all. Really good stuff.
I actually finished something in the allotted time! Woot!
I give you: The Reaper’s Nursemaid.
https://dangerdean.wordpress.com/2014/09/04/the-reapers-nursemaid/
Oh, man, this was super creepy good!
Um…thanks? 🙂 I wasn’t aiming for creepy, but if it had an effect on you I must have done something right!
This had heart, and likeable characters.
I don’t think you need to be too worried about the cultural appropriation thing, because you weren’t trying to cheapen or distort anything, and you weren’t portraying any distasteful stereotypes. This was more culture homage than appropriation.
Good stuff!
Really well told, very ‘old school’ fable feel. Loved it.
Beautifully written. I love the line “I am Death.” It’s an evocative picture — what would the idea of death, personified, look like and act like and say?
Missed the past couple of these. Hit this one on time. Surprisingly, not a horror story. What’s wrong with me?
http://mxgomez.wordpress.com/2014/09/04/the-hissing-widow/
Really good Mathew. Great read!
Thank you!
This was really fun!
This is my first time doing this. My title is Gravedigger’s Coil. It’s a nod to the great Dashell Hammett novels of the twenties and thirties. Hope you like it! http://sia4215.blogspot.com/2014/09/this-is-my-1500-word-flash-fiction-for.html
Great atmosphere! I love this kind of noir feeling.
Thank you, Jemima. I appreciate the feedback.
Nicely done. I second the motion about liking the noir atmosphere, and I appreciate the unique voice your character has; it’s consistent and believable, which is something I’m always struggling with when I’m writing a scene with several characters.
Thank you, Eleanore. I think I must be a ham. I like to act out everyone’s part as I go along : ) I’m glad you liked my story.
I rolled double 16’s and wrote a transformative tale. I present… THE FIFTH BEAST. http://www.jdstoffel.com/2014/09/the-fifth-beast/
Well done.
Appreciate it. (As in the imperative: I demand that you appreciate it!) And, er, also, thanks! 🙂
Hmm Reaper’s Coil…. and at this time of year, very appropriate. Read what I made of it here… http://jemimapett.com/blog/2014/09/05/friday-flash-fiction-the-reapers-coil/
That was reaaly good, Jemima. So rich in detail and language. It was a really treat.
Thanks, Sia 🙂
I got Fifth Eschaton. It took me a while to decide what to do with the title, but I like what I came up with.
https://52lettersinthealphabet.wordpress.com/2014/09/04/short-story-fifth-eschaton/
I think you did a great job conjuring this story from a fairly cruddy title.You could develop this idea further and really make it zing.
I got “Serpentine Daughter” and I blew passed the 1500 word limit. I am not sorry. Clocking in at ~2100 words, I give you, The Egg. http://alexandrestone.com/post/96682502393/the-egg
I think you used every word well and that’s more important than word count. It’s what I’d call a moral tale and I loved it.
Thank you! And thank you for taking the time to read and respond.
Okay I tried it for the first time. My title is “The merciful pincushion”. I hope it is alright that I wrote it in german? (If not I’ll try and write in english the next time, though I am a lot more comfortable in writing in my native language)
http://schreibschaft.wordpress.com/2014/09/05/das-gutige-nadelkissen/
My german isn’t as good as I thought it was, so I couldn’t really appreciate your story, but I’m fairly sure it had a happy ending…..and I like happy endings.
I rolled a 14 and a 5, so “Bewitching Confirmation” it is. I particularly like the way about 2/3 of the way written I realized I wasn’t writing “Story A” at all, but instead “Story B,” which I liked much better. Where would we be without our muses?
http://pauljwillett.com/2014/09/04/flash-fiction-bewitching-confirmation/
Well, it doesn’t read as if you changed your mind on the way. It’s a good story and you’ve told it well and maybe it’s true?
Thanks!
I got ‘Endless Eschaton’ which required me to think outside of the box a little bit. I hope you all enjoy it!
http://pikabot.tumblr.com/post/96689148195/endless-eschaton
Your thinking was excellent and you have a good story. I think you also have a potentially enormous field for stories from the ‘Fiddler’s Green’. I’d enjoy reading more.
I don’t think I’m gonna make this in time since I just got my title and starting right now…and I only have 15 mins….and I work today.
But I will complete it regardless of hitting the 12pm deadline.
My title is pretty good one too:
The Gravedigger’s Reward
The Blood-Stained Chasm … http://bit.ly/1xkwNmG
beautifully written
Thank you!
Great piece Eleanore. You did a great job of not explaining too much,letting the tension build and having the pieces fall in place in a natural organic way. Terrific – really!
Appreciated — I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Finally giving these challenges a go! I got ceaseless and precipice. I had fun!
http://www.unfoldingepic.com/the-ceaseless-precipice/
Serpentine Quietus
It was an hour past nightfall and the moon was not yet up. My daughter, Lucie, pressed close to me in the shadows of the orchard. Eleven years old, and tonight would be her first kill.
http://blog.neidanwriting.com/serpentine-quietus/
Here’s mine…suuuper late. I got Merciful Beast http://underastarlitsky.wordpress.com
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