Aaaaand, FINAL ROUND.
Go, visit the page for Part Three of this challenge.
Once again we return to the four-part story you’re all choatically cumulatively writing. Your task is to go to the comments of that link above, find the third part of a continued story, and then continue it by writing the fourth and final part of that story. Meaning: it’s time to write the ending.
You have another 1000 words to do this.
Make sure to identify which story you are continuing and who the writer was.
Do not continue your own story.
Definitely do end this story — you’re writing the final of four total parts.
You can partake in round two even if you didn’t participate in round one.
You must finish your next and final entry by noon, EST, next Friday (the 6th of March).
If you can and the original author approves — please compile all the stories into the single page, and credit the original author. (That may save folks from having to track back through multiple links to get the whole story so far.)
Time to stick the landing.
83 responses to “Flash Fiction Challenge: The Four-Part Story (Final Part)”
Okay! I ran around looking at a few of them… and chose a nice one… well, until I got a hold of it… BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAAAA! 😀
Enjoy!
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/love-story-part-iv.html
Yay! I was hoping Part IV would ramp it up even more. 😎
I’m so happy you enjoyed it! 😀 Thought to bring a bit of Supernatural, real life and James’ broken heart into it… as well as Liz’s… and it worked out so well! 😀
This one really went in a different direction, but I have to say I really enjoyed it. 🙂
This is the first time I’ve tried this and I must admit to being a touch confused. I picked a part one and wrote a part two. I never heard back from the part one writer and it appears no one wrote a part three. May I back track and continue a part three or is that story dead and I need to find a new part three for which to write a part four?
I’m sorry to hear (well, read) that no one picked up your part three. It happens, don’t take it personally. Officially the part three challenge has expired (but you’re free to write it and finish the story if you want, obviously). For this week’s challenge you should pick someone else’s third part and finish that story, though.
I’m sure you posted the part two you wrote to your blog or website, did you remember to post a link to your site here on this blog? The reason I ask is I don’t recall seeing your name here, and it would be an easy detail to overlook. And John is right, a lot of stuff in this exercise doesn’t get picked up, it’s not a negative commentary on your writing
As far as back tracking, I break the rules here all the time. Chuck hasn’t killed me yet (although I’m sure his minions are searching for me)
The exercise is about taking somebody else’s ideas and continuing them with your own flair. If it didn’t get picked up, I wouldn’t take it as a knock — it’s *really* difficult choosing work by another author that you “click” with enough to take up their mantle and run with it.
So, taking your own part 2 and continuing its part 3 would be outside the rules of the challenge as such, and kind of defeats the purpose of working with new material, yeah? That said — if you feel your part 2 *needs* a part 3 — I’m pretty sure Chuck isn’t going to materialize out of the shadows behind you and knife you in the neck.
I’m *pretty* sure.
I chose to end a story begun by Peter MacDonald, continued by J M Beal, and further continued by LizAskew. I’ve taken the liberty of compiling the entire tale here for easy reading, and have cleaned up a couple of what I assumed to be typos along the way. No changes of any consequence to the story have been made or intended.
I hope I took it to a place that my predecessors hadn’t intended, but that will be satisfying nonetheless. At any rate, I hope you enjoy it.
Here, then, is “Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening” : https://pavorisms.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/stopping-by-the-woods-on-a-snowy-evening/
I replied on your post too, but it certainly didn’t go where I was heading. And it’s probably vastly more interesting for it.
Something about driving a car that didn’t belong to me made it easier to take it offroading, lol…
This was really good. Great job everyone!
[…] The riveting conclusion to Chuck Wendig’s Four-Part Story Flash Fiction Challenge! […]
I’ve also ended “Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening”, but a different version of it (pretty cool how that turned out). Part 1 by Peter MacDonald, part 2 by Poor Dick, and part 3 by Casondra Brewster.
https://johnfreeter.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/stopping-by-the-woods-on-a-snowy-evening-part-4/
Heh. Moving.
I love the twists you took it over at the end, how you integrated the poem, and the pithy ending.
Now that’s interesting. I didn’t realize this one had two iterations. Cool.
Yeah, you and I tended to chose to work on the same stories.
I wonder what that says about the universe.
If you are anything like me, probably nothing good.
Thanks. I wasn’t acquainted with Robert Frost, so reading his poems was something of a bonus for me.
Robert Frost is one of my favorite US poets. I’m glad you got a chance to read his work!
Also, I’ve updated my blog with your addition to our story (https://poordicks.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/flash-fiction-challenge-stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening-parts-one-and-two/)
I’m from El Salvador and I’ve never really been into poetry, so most of the authors I’ve read are from Latin America and a few brits. I really enjoyed expanding my horizons a little!
Nice ending, bringing us back to realty. Good integration of the poem. well done. Thanks.
I opted to finish off Wasteland. You can find it here: https://mxgomez.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/wasteland-a-chuck-wendig-challenge-part-4-of-4/ along with links to the other three parts.
I’m honored that you chose to continue my iteration of Wasteland. I read Pavowski’s part 3 (https://pavorisms.wordpress.com/2015/02/21/wasteland-pt-3/) after writing mine and thought he totally outclassed me.
That said, I like how you handled the story – from where I left off to where you finished. Where I to have written a 4th part, it would have followed the same path. In particular, I enjoyed the economy with which you handled the board – it brought a smile to my face.
Thank you again. I’ve added your part of the story to my blog as well (https://poordicks.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/flash-fiction-challenge-wasteland-parts-one-to-three/)
[…] week’s challenge is to stick the landing on what three people did previous. I chose Wasteland more or less at random, […]
I’ve got part four of Never Goes Smooth, a low-fantasy story of ne’er-do-wells with blades up against a situation that is fundamentally fucked. When all you’ve got is a knife, everything looks like exposed kidneys? Read it here:
http://fistfulofwits.com/2015/03/02/flash-fiction-never-goes-smooth-44/
Part one by Probably False can be found here:
http://probablyfalse.tumblr.com/post/110439966340/untitled-for-now
Part two by Matthew Gomez can be found here:
https://mxgomez.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/never-goes-smooth-part-2-of-4-of-a-wendig-challenge/
Part three by Peter MacDonald can be found here:
http://pikabot.tumblr.com/post/112206433555/never-goes-smooth-part-three
http://aliceekeyes.blogspot.com/p/cease-said-third-woman-while-she.html
I was intrigued by this story from the get go but it kept being added to by others. It appears that it was a favorite. Well, I am adding my Part Four to the others. It is interesting how many directions a story can go.
Oops, I forgot to add the title of the story;
Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening
And for clarity – this is the line of story I followed with mine
Peter MacDonald -Part 1
Poor Dick – Part 2
Casondra Brewster Part 3
Oh, dear the links didn’t copy so here they are to the other blogs and parts of the story.
http://pikabot.tumblr.com/post/110862120470/stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening
https://poordicks.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/flash-fiction-challenge-stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening-parts-one-and-two/
http://www.casondrabrewster.com/?p=2113
Here’s another ending if you’re interested. I find all these different paths people are taking to be so enlightening about the power of storytelling: https://johnfreeter.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/stopping-by-the-woods-on-a-snowy-evening-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-88
I’ve also updated my blog with your addition:
https://poordicks.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/flash-fiction-challenge-stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening-parts-one-and-two/
I was really, really trying to figure out a way to work Birches into the story when I decided to work on it – but I couldn’t figure out how to meld the long poem and the story. Kudos.
Loved where you took it. Left it open for part 5, too. 😉
Yes, there could be more. Mr MacDonald made a great start.
I wrote an ending for I’ll Take Monday (by caszbrewster and elctrcrngr). Enjoy? http://tonij.net/2015/03/ill-take-monday-parts-1-4/
Just read your ending Toni. I loved it! Thank you so much for finishing the story, it’s much better when several people collaborate. Not to mention that I was having trouble writing the last part I had already done 3000 words, and still wasn’t at a resolution.
Did you do both part II and III?
Yeah, I did Part Two per the instructions. Then, when it looked like no one was going to do a part three, I went ahead and wrote that, too. I was working on an ending for Part Four, and not doing too well, when Toni J rescued me, and wrote a wonderful conclusion. Thanks again to Toni, I really liked how you brought in a bad guy at the end who wasn’t really a bad guy, he was a very real person in that he didn’t mean to harm anyone, but ended up killing poor Saul.
Oh Thanks! I was wondering if anyone was going to finish it.
It was too good not to! I was surprised somebody else didn’t beat me to it.
Oh man, Poor Saul. He ended up a Red Shirt. hehe. Loved the ending. Thanks guys. What fun!
Toni, you and ElctrcRngr might be interested to see this continuation of the story, too: http://redfire389.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/ill-take-mondays-flash-fiction-challenge.html
[…] Chuck’s challenge this week was to close the gap – write part four of a four part story. I picked one on Sunday and as much as I wasn’t going to admit it, I had a hard time with it. I thought the ideas were flowing and it was going to be a quick thing, but it’s turned into a three-day long slog of just trying to get the words down. I’m still hoping the finished product is up to par though and that everyone who participated will enjoy how I finished the story. This has been an exciting project and I’m happy I participated! […]
I wrote the ending for The Fortune (JW Rapa, John Freeter and Lauren Greene). I hope you enjoy.
https://helenespinosa.wordpress.com/2015/03/04/flash-fiction-the-fortune-part-4-of-4/
Helen, I love what you did with this! I felt so connected to this story, and thought your ending was so appropriate.
Awww, thanks. I liked this story a lot and enjoyed the twists and turns it took. Everyone did such a great job with it.
A very satisfying and intense ending. Well done verybody!
This one really inspired me and I enjoyed it. I loved what everyone else did with it before I finally finished it. So I agree. Well done!
Great job. This is one of the stories I have been very interested in and following closely. All four parts were awesome.
I saw that you were interested in writing the fourth part and I was interested to see your take on it. But I know that once I pick one, I have to see it through. 🙂
I wrote the conclusion to “The Time Keeper.” http://carolynastfalk.com/2015/03/04/flash-fiction-challenge-part-four/
Pt 1:https://article94.wordpress.com/2015/02/07/the-timekeeper/ by Mark Gardner
Pt. 2: http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/the-time-keeper-part-two.html?zx=aebfd7adf55c874f by Mozette
Pt. 3: http://angelacavanaugh.com/2015/02/21/flash-fiction-friday-the-time-keeper/ by Angela Cavanaugh
I finished The Time Keeper, originally penned by Mark Gardner, then picked up by Mozette, and continued by Angela Cavanaugh.
This is one of those stories that could have so many more episodes. TV series anyone?
Thanks for the fun!
http://www.casondrabrewster.com/?p=2118
I’m afraid to say you got the sections mixed up… go to mine and you’ll see who’s is whose…
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Flash%20Fiction%20-%20The%20Time%20Keeper%20-%20Part%20Two
It’s 1,000 words each, not 500… just thought to let you know. 🙂
I took Time Warp for week 4. The links for part 1(Lauren Green), 2(Simon), and 3(CJ) are all at the top of mine.
http://www.jmbeal.com/blog/flash-fiction-friday-part-4-time-warp
I loved the ending! Favourite line: “I don’t want tea.” I laughed. And I love that you tied it all up but still left it open (my favourite way to end things…) I hadn’t a clue what was going on when I wrote Part 3 so nice work on explaining it and having it make sense so even I could figure it out!
This was a reply to J M Beal but it didn’t go where I asked to go. On purpose probably.
And for the final week, I took on The Virus and ended the mission. Links for the different authors, Addy, Eva & Toni, are with each new part!
http://imagination.cjreader.com/the-virus.html
This has been really fun, especially as slogging through rewrites was killing my creative drive. I’ve really looked forward to Fridays!
amazing. thank you very much for concluding the story, i think this part of the challenge holds the most pressure and i loved what you did all the way to the end.
Thanks.
Thank you! I’m usually bad at letting an ending end so I thought I’d go with something that didn’t seem to have a to be continued attached to it! I really liked how cold you made Weir and I debated having her be that cold at the end… But since she had started to thaw, I thought I would continue it.
same here. i loved here development. even if it was brief 🙂
I have made a wee compilation of the virus as well as a thank you for being part of it. thanks again!
https://adamskistoryblog.wordpress.com/2015/03/05/flash-fiction-4-part-conclusion-conclusion-the-virus/
I managed to find a Part I, Part II and Part III to “Love Story” that I hadn’t had my fingers in yet, so here is my Part IV.
https://lisacle.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/love-story-part-iv/
Loved the way this particular “strand” took. Thank you for finishing it. It’s great.
I have to say, this one was my favorite too. Great job! 🙂
I finished Time Warp by Lauren, Simon and CJ. If I managed to do this properly, there are links to their blogs with each new part. https://evathereseebert.wordpress.com/2015/03/05/the-four-part-story-final-part
I like where you took it! Really interesting to see her play double agent and loyal company man and the shift between them. Such a good explanation to wrap things up!
[…] you all know, I’ve been participating in Chuck Wendig’s four part story challenge for the last month. I have to say, I have had SO much fun. It’s definitely challenged me, but […]
If you’re still looking to pick a story to finish, here’s my totally unofficial, guaranteed to be only semi-accurate, and sans capitalization or punctuation list of the Week Three stories I found that don’t yet have Week Four finishes posted (along with the author of last week’s part three):
thicker than water (ElctrcRngr)
cold blood (helen espinosa)
bart luther freelance exorcist (henry)
unlocking godhood (matthew gomez)
unlocking godhood (addy)
meticulous tie fling ranger (alice keyes)
the prize (jm beal)
bart luther freelance exorcist (eva therese)
the dare (ElctrcRngr)
on a poet did the baron ride (john freeter)
beach road (wildbilbo)
miranda (grymmlock)
the hand that wields (cameron)
the sheriff the priest & the killer (momdude)
beach road (wombatony)
I can’t believe no one has finished “bart luther freelance exorcist” yet. I almost did, but I figured lots of people would pick it as well. Ironically the one I chose to end–“Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening”–has been ended by at least three people now.
I’m working on that as we speak!
I wrote up an ending for The Hand That Wields (The Final Cut). I’ll post it a little bit before noon EST Friday. (I’m currently 9pm PST.)
I was also surprised that “Bart Luther, Freelance Exorcist” hadn’t been taken by someone, but I was happy to finish what Josh Loomis, Pavowski, and Henry started. Twas fun – fitting it into (more or less) 1,000 words was less fun.
http://pauljwillett.com/2015/03/05/flash-fiction-bart-luther-freelance-exorcist-act-four/
I didn’t do parts 1-3, because I’m awful at remembering to come back, but! I did attempt to ‘stick the landing’, as it were.
Here’s my attempt for “Cold Blood” also written by Pavowski, Lauren, and Helen!
https://catastrophejones.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/flash-fiction-cold-blood-part-4-of-4/
Loved this ending! Thanks so much for sneaking this in at the last second. I went to bed last night kind of bummed that no one had picked it up! Great job everyone! 🙂
Thank you! And you’re welcome — I am the Queen of the Last Hot Procrastinators. Don’t know what today’s challenge will be, but I loved this one. Chuck’s DAMN awesome for giving us this playground.
Right on, definitely glad to see an ending for this one. Really satisfying one, too.
Thanks so much!
[…] This blog post was created for Chuck Wendig’s FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE: THE FOUR-PART STORY (FINAL PART). […]
The Hand That Wields (The Final Cut)
by
Matthew X. Gomez
lisoeta1
Cameron Mount
Richard, aka Poor Dick, aka poorerdick
https://poordicks.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/flash-fiction-challenge-the-hand-that-wields-the-final-cut/
Otto was in a sticky situation, and I got him out the only way I knew how. Find out how, with the Final Cut.
Part One by Matthew X. Gomez may also be found on his website here:
https://mxgomez.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/the-hand-that-wields-a-chuck-wendig-challenge-in-four-parts/
lisoeta1 posted both Part One and her Part Two addition on her website, which you can find below:
https://catarinadeobidos.wordpress.com/2015/02/26/flash-fiction-challenge-the-four-part-story-the-hand-that-wields-part-2/
And lastly, Cameron Mount posted both previous parts along with his own Part Three on his blog, which is linked to below:
https://cameronamount.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/well-now-its-been-a-while/