Flash Fiction Challenge: Superheroes Plus
Last week’s challenge: Oh, We’re Gonna Use These Photos, All Right.
First up — a point of administration. I never picked the random winners from the three-sentence challenge, so I’m doing that — *checks watch that doesn’t exist on my wrist* — right now.
Three winners:
Brenda (sleepingseeker)
mandybroughton
Taylor Johnson
You three — email me at terribleminds at gmail dot com.
Now, onto this week’s challenge.
I want you write a superhero story.
Except — then I want you to mash it up with another subgenre.
You can choose one on your own, or roll randomly from this list:
- Splatterpunk Horror
- Locked Room Mystery
- Space Opera
- Urban Fantasy
- Erotica
- Epic Fantasy
- Cyberpunk
- Dieselpunk
- Noir
- Haunted House
You’ve got 1000 words.
Post at your online space, link back here through the comments.
Due by next Friday.
UP UP AND AWAY, WORD NERDS.
Stephen
November 21, 2014 at 12:47 PM //
Hello, that’s a really good one! Question: superhero – do we have to create our own or we pick an existing one? thanks!
terribleminds
November 21, 2014 at 1:18 PM //
I’d prefer you invent your own, but really, you do as you like.
serendipitousmc
November 21, 2014 at 1:56 PM //
Can I post something from my NaNoWriMo work in progress? (It’s YA science fiction.)
terribleminds
November 21, 2014 at 2:40 PM //
Sure?
Mark Gardner
November 21, 2014 at 2:47 PM //
Here’s a 1600-word continuation of 16Sunsets, the story birthed from the last superhero challenge: https://article94.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/16sunsets-two-six-seven/
smkay70
November 21, 2014 at 2:56 PM //
Superhero Erotica? Awwwww Yeahhhhh.
ZonieMama
November 21, 2014 at 3:08 PM //
Not to be dumb … just ignorant? so — 1000 words MAX?
*wants to be a good little doobie & follow the rules*
mat
November 22, 2014 at 6:07 PM //
Yeah generally flash fiction isn’t over 1000 words but if you don’t stick to it Chuck isn’t going to come round your house with a chainsaw to chop off the excess growth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_fiction
Personally speaking if you’ve got a cool story I want to read it…
lynnacfrost
November 25, 2014 at 2:54 AM //
Thanks mat 😀
David Blackstone (@DavidWriting)
November 21, 2014 at 4:28 PM //
I’m taking this opportunity (having picked Locked Room Mystery) to start a sequel to my just-released Project Dreamland. This opening salvo is 1000w and is called “BVR”
http://www.agincourtdb.com/2014/11/bvr.html
lynnacfrost
November 25, 2014 at 2:39 PM //
Cool – I’m hooked already.
underastarlitsky
November 21, 2014 at 4:30 PM //
This is awesome timing because for my Nanowrimo story, i’m actually writing about superheroes! so i’ll write 1000 words that i can slot straight into the story AND also use for this challenge! Whoo!
ajbauers
November 21, 2014 at 4:52 PM //
I rolled Cyberpunk and created a superhero origin story called “Reality Checks In”.
https://ajbauers.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/reality-checks-in/
Fun challenge!
ajbauers
November 29, 2014 at 11:24 PM //
So I loved this world so much, I decided to write a part two to my above story. This may become a running series for me.
https://ajbauers.wordpress.com/2014/11/30/reality-checks-in-part-2/
Aspen Gainer
November 21, 2014 at 5:31 PM //
I didn’t really follow the rules so much as walk beside them and wave a little.
anyway, inspired me to write a little something, here it is.
http://inthewildspaces.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/flash-fiction-challenge-superheroes-plus/
totallynotwillis
November 21, 2014 at 6:08 PM //
Here is mine. Urban Fantasy is what I have. Not really, a typical superhero piece but I think it fits in.
http://yetanotherwritersblog.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/superhuman-not-superhero/
smithshack71 (@SmithShack71)
November 21, 2014 at 6:30 PM //
Oh motherfuck. I forgot the picture deal. Just forgot all about it.
I aggravate the shit outta myself sometimes.
I gotta set an alarm on my phone or something.
Mozette
November 21, 2014 at 7:52 PM //
Okay!! Superhero crossed with Erotica….
I’ll come clean… I’ve got new man in my life… he’s kinky in all kinds of way… and he asked me to include him in one of my stories and if I get the chance… this was a good one to include him in. His name is Mark Davey (google him, he’s there and look at the images), and this is very much like him. 😀
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/super-kinky-man.html
milkaholicclown
November 22, 2014 at 2:22 AM //
I Googled the name and like 100 different men showed up in Google images. Rugby player, rotund businessman, 90 year old man, guy with many tattoos and gauged ears and so forth.
Mozette
November 22, 2014 at 2:36 AM //
no probs… here’s his In Your Art Facebook page 😀
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Davey-In-Your-Art/287292091329160?fref=ts
lynnacfrost
November 25, 2014 at 2:55 PM //
I enjoyed the twist. 😉
Mozette
November 25, 2014 at 10:48 PM //
Thank you. Mark – the artist in the piece – does exist. He’s got a kinky, twisted way of thinking; and he doesn’t stop thinking about kinky ways of painting, working and looking at life. This is probably why we get along so well… 😀
…and why he suited the part of this piece so well too. 😀
andreablythe
November 22, 2014 at 1:15 AM //
Here’s my attempt at superhero plus fairy tale – http://www.andreablythe.com/2014/11/bluebeard/
I think it comes in at about 900 words.
smkay70
November 23, 2014 at 6:04 PM //
Wow! That was unexpected, what was that guy’s deal, anyway? Intriguing story and characters, thanks!
addy95
November 24, 2014 at 7:31 AM //
a very good twist on the fairy tale. the order is very interesting, what more do they do i wonder. 😀
Matt Black
November 24, 2014 at 12:10 PM //
Wow good job! Best fairy tale I’ve heard in a while!
ryanjamesblack
November 24, 2014 at 6:22 PM //
Cool story!
alreadynotpublished
November 22, 2014 at 2:00 AM //
What does Batman do when Alfred gets a better offer and hands in his notice? He places a help wanted ad.
Not quite what the wendig ordered but I’m way behind on nano so don’t have 1000 words to spare 🙂
Enjoy – ‘Must like bats’
https://alreadynotpublished.wordpress.com/2014/11/22/must-like-bats-flash-fiction/
chriswhitewrites
November 22, 2014 at 3:24 AM //
Here’s mine, it’s only half the length but is (hopefully) twice the goodness…
Claws Red, Fangs Snapping
Splatterpunk/Superhero – that’s awesome.
smkay70
November 23, 2014 at 10:02 PM //
Loved the detail, the action and the concept. Very visual and compelling.
chriswhitewrites
November 30, 2014 at 6:10 PM //
Thank you! I’ve been working on being more visual in my words, glad it’s working!
the story hive
November 22, 2014 at 12:26 PM //
This was fun! Some superhero with cyberpunk on the side. – Here you go: SUGAR FUEL, 990 words.
http://thestoryhive.wordpress.com/2014/11/22/sugar-fuel/
ryanjamesblack
November 22, 2014 at 1:33 PM //
Here goes mine….The Supremes
http://ryanjamesblack.com/2014/11/22/the-supremes/
the story hive
November 22, 2014 at 1:53 PM //
I really like this one. Supremely funny! Well done!
ryanjamesblack
November 22, 2014 at 3:59 PM //
Thanks! Glad you liked it
addy95
November 24, 2014 at 7:49 AM //
ok this one is hilarious.
Matt Black
November 24, 2014 at 8:47 AM //
Very nice!
ryanjamesblack
November 24, 2014 at 10:37 AM //
Thanks!
Mikey Campling
November 22, 2014 at 3:35 PM //
After the fun I had with the Noir story last week, I just had to give my grizzled gumshoe another outing. Thank you to all the cool people who’ve visited my site and to the even cooler people who’ve left kind comments. I hope you enjoy this story just as much.
A Mysterious Case of Bourbon:
http://mikeycampling.com/free-story-flash-fiction-challenge-mysterious-case-bourbon/
Matt Black
November 24, 2014 at 9:19 AM //
Good job! I always find it hard to set the mood for noir, but you nailed it.
Mikey Campling
November 24, 2014 at 3:01 PM //
Thanks Matt. I was just feeling a bit despondent and tired, so I checked in here and your comment made my day.
Matt Black
November 25, 2014 at 1:30 PM //
Happy to be of service!
Jemima Pett
November 27, 2014 at 5:39 PM //
Ah, you be careful with characters who start out in Chuck’s challenges… some of us are hooked on them and writing novels and even series starring them now!
Matt Black
November 22, 2014 at 5:13 PM //
Here’s mine. It’s kind of a Superhero/Weird West/Fantasy/Sci-fi mash-up. 409 Words.
Matt Black
November 22, 2014 at 5:14 PM //
Oops, forgot the link – http://alfalfamargaritas.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-goddamned-chosen-one.html
smkay70
November 24, 2014 at 12:54 PM //
Fun! I like the whole sarcastic and reluctant superhero type.
Mikey Campling
November 24, 2014 at 3:04 PM //
Cool. I enjoyed reading that. I especially like the way you mashed up so many different genres.
ryanjamesblack
November 24, 2014 at 6:24 PM //
Nice! Good job!
Matt Black
November 25, 2014 at 1:30 PM //
Thanks everyone!
angelacavanaugh
November 23, 2014 at 5:41 AM //
Here’s mine: Cyberpunk Superhero: http://angelacavanaugh.com/2014/11/23/flash-fiction-cyberpunk-superhero/
smkay70
November 24, 2014 at 12:59 PM //
Ooh, creepy concept. I enjoyed your take on the virtual superhero. Well done!
Brandon O'Brien
November 23, 2014 at 3:59 PM //
Here’s mine: “Ghosts.” http://wickedflagon.wordpress.com/2014/11/24/chuck-wendigs-flash-fiction-challenge-superheroes-plus-ghosts/
Whirlochre
November 24, 2014 at 10:28 AM //
I decided to use moderate horror for my mashup subgenre, mainly because it can normally be relied upon to generate plenty of liquid. The result is “Cosplay The 13th” — which is here:
http://bit.ly/cosplay13th
Marvin the Macabre
November 24, 2014 at 7:46 PM //
Canary
by Marvin the Macabre
I went the splatterpunk horror route for this challenge, with a bit of black comedy thrown in. I managed to cut about 300 words, but couldn’t pare it down to less than 1700. Slightly reminiscent of Batman and Robin, but with a psychotic twist.
http://montanamancavemassacre.blogspot.com/2014/11/canary-mmm-original-short-story.html
the story hive
November 25, 2014 at 12:14 PM //
nauseatingly good, I guess
magicant2000
November 25, 2014 at 1:52 AM //
Locked room mystery. In hindsight, it’s way too “Powers”-ish, but fun to write.
http://theblogwon.blogspot.com/2014/11/deadbeat.html
lynnacfrost
November 25, 2014 at 2:38 PM //
Dieselpunk-noir-superhero … Done at 1000 words. Can’t believe I did this during NaNo but it was fun.
I’m a total newbie at all 3 genres so hope it worked.
http://lynnacfrost.wordpress.com/2014/11/25/secretary-a-dieselpunk-noir-superhero-tale/
hpetterson
November 26, 2014 at 10:43 AM //
Nice flow, smooth…well done.
hpetterson
November 26, 2014 at 10:32 AM //
Dr. Chaos. Super Hero and Space Opera.
O.K. So I fugged it up bad …1500 words…..50% off target. I just couldn’t tell it in less. Fun exercise.
Cheers Hank;
https://hpetterson.wordpress.com/2014/11/26/dr-chaos-super-hero-space-opera-for-terrible-minds-f-f-contest/
Russ Linton
November 26, 2014 at 1:24 PM //
Rolled “Noir” (What? Nobody else broke out a d10?) The result is a superhero short story set in the same universe as my current novel, Crimson Son. In that world superheroes are state-sponsored, weaponized human beings. In the spirit of the season, I was glutinous with the word count – hope you don’t mind.
Fat Man and Little Boy
http://russlinton.com/2014/11/26/fat-man-and-little-boy/
addy95
November 27, 2014 at 10:00 AM //
Done. took me a while to get hold of an idea that i liked. Here is a sci-fi super power story.
hope you like it!
https://adamskistoryblog.wordpress.com/2014/11/27/flash-fiction-challenge-superheroes-plus/
Jemima Pett
November 27, 2014 at 5:43 PM //
I was all geared up to write something this Friday… and then realised it fit Superhero-Cyberpunk perfectly.
Split Second
(will be live in ninety minutes i.e. Friday in the UK. Hope your Thanksgiving is going well)
http://jemimapett.com/blog/2014/11/28/friday-flash-fiction-split-second/
Rebecca Douglass
November 28, 2014 at 4:54 PM //
Great story! Wish more could do that (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang lives?)
milkaholicclown
November 28, 2014 at 11:17 AM //
Ok, I got mine. 700 words. It’s called Cabbage Head and I had more of a comic book idea, but I can’t draw that well etc so this is what I got. It’s also horror with vegan themes.
http://milkaholicclown.com/2014/11/28/cabbage-head/
momdude
November 28, 2014 at 12:35 PM //
I rolled a “1” and got splatterpunk horror. My entry is not only a half-hour late (I blame Thanksgiving) but fairly short, barely 800 words.
http://pauljwillett.com/2014/11/28/flash-fiction-flashing-steel/
Toni J
November 28, 2014 at 12:36 PM //
Superheroes + haunted house = Haunted Origin Story
http://tonij.net/2014/11/haunted-origin-story/
addy95
December 3, 2014 at 10:39 AM //
the ending, you monster…
tonijnet
December 3, 2014 at 4:23 PM //
Thanks? Sorry? Ooh, no, I’ve got it… Muahahaha!
Rebecca Douglass
November 28, 2014 at 4:49 PM //
Okay, I not only didn’t quite do the challenge, but I totally missed the deadline because I didn’t know what day it was. Sort of a (super) hero fantasy…
Evolet Yvaine @ Wet Panty Stories
November 28, 2014 at 8:15 PM //
First time participating. First time writing in the erotica genre (in my Non Pen Name Life, I was writing YA fiction, but have taken a hiatus to write erotic romance). Third time writing flash fiction (normally do novellas, so this has been quite the challenge). Comments and feedback welcome. http://wetpantystories.com/2014/11/28/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge-1-remys-storm/
dangerdean
November 28, 2014 at 11:58 PM //
Late, but here’s an untitled Superhero Noir.
https://dangerdean.wordpress.com/2014/11/28/superheroes-plus/
C.S. Walker
November 29, 2014 at 1:21 AM //
OH CRAP IT’S STILL FRIDAY SOMEWHERE RIGHT?!?
Breach at the Lighthouse, a superhero horror story:
http://illegiblechickenscratch.blogspot.com/2014/11/breach-at-lighthouse.html
Ridley Kemp (@MrRidleyKemp)
November 29, 2014 at 1:49 AM //
I bought a stack of comics today and wound up discarding everything I’d written and re-writing my entire story. My old City of Heroes toon, the Marxist, faces his strangest foe yet: Yanndar!
http://www.ridleykemp.com/stories/2014/11/29/the-marxist-versus-the-thing-called-yanndar