The holidays are a fun time, yeah?
From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, a stretch of joyous merriment! Tinsel and blinky lights! Snow and elves and great meals and good cheer and magic all around.
Which sounds to me like a phenomenal recipe for horror.
The holidays are in fact ripe with horror — meat and candy, mythological creatures who spy on you, winter hellscapes, animated toys. So many options for terror!
And so, that is your job, this week. To write a flash fiction — let’s up the story length to 2000 words — where you write a holiday horror story. Theme it to this time of year and to the holidays nestled in over the next month, and have fun with it. You can be gory or reserved, you can aim for psychological horror or more mythic madness. Lovecraftian? Slasher tale? Ghost story?
YOUR MOVE.
Your story is due by next Friday, noon EST.
Post at your website and link back here.
Ho ho ho horror! On monster, on necromancer, on vomit, on cancer!
Ahem.
Oh! And this is also the time when I recommend the EROTIC HORROR CLASSIC —
Santa Steps Out.
By Robert Devereaux.
It is seriously fucking amazing.
No, I’m not kidding.
David says:
And I’ll go ahead and recommend Overtime by Charles Stross, which is on Kindle but also free to read on Tor.com. http://www.tor.com/stories/2009/12/overtime
Anywho. On with this bleak holiday scariment!
December 5, 2014 — 10:52 AM
Scott Roche says:
http://www.scottroche.com/index.php/blog/curse-christmas-christmas-horror-short/
December 5, 2014 — 3:34 PM
Horror Buddha says:
Horror Buddha here. How do I get my own website? I would like to enter this flash fiction contest. Thanks.
December 5, 2014 — 3:57 PM
terribleminds says:
Tumblr and Squarespace are both good places to look!
December 5, 2014 — 4:00 PM
Horror Buddha says:
Thanks Chuck. I have your seven point ” put your muse through the meat grinder a centimeter at a time” encouragement one sheet. 350 words a day has made it much easier to face. Enjoy the daily mental cattle prod to the mind! Thanks again.
December 6, 2014 — 4:27 PM
Mikey Campling says:
Visit wordpress.com – all free but with extra features you can add on if you wish.
December 7, 2014 — 3:42 PM
Horror Buddha says:
Thanks Mikey. I tried Tumblr and have had nothing but problems with getting something started so I will go with wordpress. And than kyou Raven as well.
December 8, 2014 — 11:01 AM
Raven Blackburn says:
Or you head over to wordpress and get your own blog. WordPress is free too.
December 5, 2014 — 6:14 PM
Mozette says:
I’m using Blogger… it’s also good.
December 6, 2014 — 10:10 PM
Brandon O'Brien says:
Here’s mine: http://wickedflagon.wordpress.com/2014/12/06/chuck-wendigs-flash-fiction-challenge-holiday-horror-extravaganza-eternal/ Hope you guys like it!
December 5, 2014 — 4:09 PM
Allison Maruska says:
All dialogue! I’m impressed!
December 7, 2014 — 11:06 PM
Brandon O'Brien says:
Thanks! Sometimes it’s easier to write that way! 🙂
December 8, 2014 — 10:35 AM
Miriah says:
http://miriah.net/2014/12/01/a-frosty-transaction/
This may be cheating, because I actually put this Christmas-Horror flash up on my blog on Monday. (I’ve been angst-ing all day over whether or not it was okay to post the link here. If not, I’m happy to delete:)
December 5, 2014 — 4:43 PM
ssuehler says:
This will be fun! Years ago I brought my three sons to see Santa. Santa’s Elf was a young girl dressed as an elf. She was also 9 months pregnant. Not a horror story, but I had to sit down because I was laughing so hard. Santa got up a chimney? Ho ho ho!
December 5, 2014 — 6:24 PM
Mozette says:
I’ve loved Christmas each year… and this year, I’ve heard a lot about Krampus… Santa’s evil cousin… so I thought to give it a go at writing about him. 😀
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/krampus-all-way.html
December 5, 2014 — 7:20 PM
mark matthews says:
“The Snow Was Falling Christmas Eve” Dark back-story to Dan Fogelberg’s song “Same Auld Lang Syne” about meeting that old lover of yours at the grocery store on Christmas Eve. The story’s a retread, so I am not eligible to win the chocolate factory.
http://www.markmatthewsauthor.com/p/wrote-following-short-storyflash.html
December 5, 2014 — 10:19 PM
angelacavanaugh says:
Mine might only be horror if you’re forced to live it. lol. plus, it rhymes.
http://angelacavanaugh.com/2014/12/06/flash-fiction-friday-holiday-horror/
December 6, 2014 — 1:34 AM
Allison Maruska says:
Love that! Great job with the rhyming. 🙂
December 7, 2014 — 11:08 PM
Horror Buddha says:
Thanks everybody. Will get to it right away.
December 6, 2014 — 4:20 PM
Pavowski says:
I was at first delighted by this challenge, but now I feel a bit upset by what I’ve written. I guess even in my jaded, irreverent heart, there are still some things I hold sacred. Then along comes Chuck and shatters my holiday happiness.
Santa takes a turn in this one. It ain’t pretty. Here’s “All in One Night”.
http://wp.me/p4p1YR-jh
December 7, 2014 — 12:48 AM
smkay70 says:
I see what you mean, lol. Great story, didn’t see that coming!
December 8, 2014 — 10:15 AM
Pavowski says:
Right on. Thanks!
December 8, 2014 — 1:41 PM
ryanjamesblack says:
Great story!
December 8, 2014 — 11:34 AM
Pavowski says:
Glad you liked it 🙂
December 8, 2014 — 1:40 PM
bathoryssecret says:
I loved this one though I wasn’t too sure which route to take initially. Here goes: https://bathoryssecret.wordpress.com/2014/12/07/chuck-made-me-do-it/
December 7, 2014 — 9:43 AM
Byron Vonbleck says:
http://byronvonbleck.blogspot.com/2014/12/flash-fiction-challenge.html
Amateur horror? I’m not sure what I’ve written to be honest.
December 7, 2014 — 10:03 AM
Mikey Campling says:
I don’t know if this is horror, but I hope it’s macabre. I also hope you enjoy it. I present to you:
Christmas Comes but Once a Year
http://mikeycampling.com/free-short-story-christmas-comes-year/
December 7, 2014 — 2:37 PM
thehatandfat says:
Don’t know if this is a story, but there’s certainly a story to it. Enjoy. http://ericcposts.tumblr.com/post/104616207194/my-holiday-gift-to-you
December 7, 2014 — 5:27 PM
Suzie says:
Oh, I do love a bit of horror. Here’s my entry:
http://suziehunt.co.uk/fiction/flash-fiction/good-goodness-sake
December 7, 2014 — 5:37 PM
Adam S says:
Oh brilliant – loved this concept! I grinned at “we knew he would not be stopping at this house.”
December 7, 2014 — 7:34 PM
Suzie Hunt says:
Thank you! I had a lot of fun writing this one XD
December 8, 2014 — 5:41 AM
ryanjamesblack says:
Nice! Very spooky!
December 8, 2014 — 11:27 AM
Suzie says:
Thank you 🙂
December 9, 2014 — 5:27 AM
Mikey Campling says:
I’ve just left a comment on your site. Really enjoyed the building tension. Nicely horrific.
December 8, 2014 — 4:10 PM
Suzie says:
Thanks! It was a lot of fun to write.
December 9, 2014 — 5:27 AM
ryanjamesblack says:
This was fun! Here goes mine….ELFPOCALYPSE NOW
http://ryanjamesblack.com/2014/12/08/elfpocalypse-now/
December 7, 2014 — 9:18 PM
Suzie says:
This was hilarious! Loved it.
December 9, 2014 — 5:40 AM
ryanjamesblack says:
Thanks!
December 9, 2014 — 7:11 AM
Allison Maruska says:
I think this is the strangest thing I’ve written. But I think it’s adequately horrifying. http://allisonmaruska.com/2014/12/07/flash-fiction-tinsel-lights-and-spirits/
December 7, 2014 — 9:53 PM
britestarlites3 says:
New here and not sure how to link back, so I hope it’s okay to post this on my blog and present my story below.
December 8, 2014 — 2:04 AM
addy95 says:
just copy and paste the URL (website address) and it will automatically make a link to your story.
December 8, 2014 — 7:38 AM
addy95 says:
have you done your christmas shopping yet?
if not watch out for two smiling men in festive ties.
https://adamskistoryblog.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/flash-fiction-challenge/
i think i’ll go finish my shopping now…
December 8, 2014 — 8:06 AM
Alissa says:
This is my first attempt at Flash Fiction. I hope you like it! http://alissareads.tumblr.com/post/104680736006/i-know-this-blog-is-still-in-its-infancy-but
December 8, 2014 — 11:59 AM
litbandit says:
Used the Flash Fiction prompt to write a daily Strange News article.
Beware the Krampus!
http://strangenewsfromnowhere.wordpress.com/2014/12/09/december-9-2014-beware-the-krampus/
December 9, 2014 — 10:59 AM
smkay70 says:
Careful what you wish for….
http://sabrakay.com/flash-fiction-challenge-christmas-wish/
December 9, 2014 — 1:50 PM
smkay70 says:
Anybody else look at their submissions AFTER they have hit publish and think: Gosh, there’s a lot wrong here. Anyone ever go back post-publish and edit? Or do you just leave it alone and move on?
December 10, 2014 — 2:14 AM
Byron VonBleck says:
Yes, I had the same thought! It’s on my website, so I edit for things that are clearly wrong like spelling or if there’s an unreadable passage. But for me, the challenge of flash-fiction is sitting at my keyboard for the hours it takes to finish a story and then seeing what I’ve got. Others might have a different take, I don’t think there are any rules!
December 10, 2014 — 8:55 AM
Josh Loomis says:
What is Christmas without a gift?
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2014/12/09/flash-fiction-the-gift/
December 9, 2014 — 9:47 PM
M.J. Diedrich says:
It begins with the scratching…
http://mjdiedrich.com/2014/12/10/lonely-night/
December 10, 2014 — 4:17 PM
derrickd74 says:
Here’s mine http://authorderrickdavis.wordpress.com/2014/12/10/christmas-flash-fiction/
December 10, 2014 — 5:54 PM
Doctor Frank says:
Drive safe, my friends.
http://doctorfrankwrites.blogspot.com/2014/12/rodeo.html
My virgin blog post and my virgin flash fiction. Be gentle.
December 10, 2014 — 8:07 PM
andreaspeed says:
I love writing holiday horror – this isn’t my first time doing it – but this week and this story didn’t work like I wanted it to. But, here it is, and if you know what the title refers to, you probably know what this story’s about: Season’s Greetings From R’lyeh – http://andreaspeed.com/2014/flash-fic-challenge-seasons-greetings-from-rlyeh/
December 11, 2014 — 6:12 AM
addy95 says:
very good. i really liked the reveal of a certain old one. well done.
December 11, 2014 — 10:44 AM
andreaspeed says:
Thank you. I was afraid the ending was too abrupt. But I loved the idea of an attacking Christmas tree.
December 12, 2014 — 5:08 AM
nickolaskusen says:
My take on the Holiday Horror was “The 12 Days of Christmas” –
http://nickolaskusen.com/2014/12/11/flash-fiction-challenge-4-holiday-horror-extravaganza/
December 11, 2014 — 1:28 PM
G.G. Silverman says:
Thanks for the challenge, Chuck! Here’s mine, a surreal winter tale I call…THE RINGER.
http://www.ggsilverman.com/holiday-horror-flash-fiction-challenge-the-ringer/
BT-dubs, I really loved smkay70’s story above. Awesome! Gotta go read everyone else’s now. 😉
December 11, 2014 — 7:58 PM
darkvirtue1974 says:
I didn’t meet the 2000 words, but I am happy with what I came up with. I got the idea from the whole “War on Christmas” thing that’s been going around for the past decade.
https://darkvirtue1974.wordpress.com/2014/12/11/flash-fiction-challenge-holiday-horror-extravaganza/
December 11, 2014 — 9:26 PM
Rebecca Douglass says:
Coming in under the wire as usual. I was merciful and only used 1374 words. Including the title.
http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2014/12/friday-flash-fiction-christmas-horror.html
December 11, 2014 — 10:05 PM
amydrees says:
So I’ve never written a piece of flash fiction before but this one needed out of my head. http://akdrees.tumblr.com/post/104978591814/all-i-want-for-christmas
December 11, 2014 — 10:37 PM
Jemima Pett says:
I’m not really a horror person. So this isn’t really horror. More ‘slightly weird’. But I give you “The Yule Log of Doom” and hope you enjoy it!
http://jemimapett.com/blog/2014/12/12/friday-flash-fiction-the-yule-log-of-doom/
December 12, 2014 — 2:18 AM
Rebecca Douglass says:
I enjoyed it!
December 12, 2014 — 12:42 PM
Jemima Pett says:
Thanks!
December 12, 2014 — 1:38 PM
yeyeright says:
here is my entry, a dark tale from the North Woods of Canada, titled Le Loup de Garou.
http://yeyeright.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/have-a-horrible-horrible-christmas/
December 12, 2014 — 3:50 AM
Beth Turnage says:
Very short: Merry’s Christmas Tale
http://bethturnage.com/?p=299
December 12, 2014 — 11:24 AM
Andy says:
Well it’s in under the wire but here it is. I hope you enjoy “Greensleeves”.
http://wp.me/p3l9OS-8a
December 12, 2014 — 12:57 PM
Catkins says:
goshdarnit this is good.
December 17, 2014 — 1:35 PM
Catkins says:
That’s what it reminds me of! Dreams and Shadows by C. Robert Cargill
December 17, 2014 — 1:38 PM