Chuck is the author of the published novels: Blackbirds, Mockingbird, Under the Empyrean Sky, Blue Blazes, Double Dead, Bait Dog, Dinocalypse Now, Beyond Dinocalypse and Gods & Monsters: Unclean Spirits. He also the author of the soon-to-be-published novels: The Cormorant, Blightborn (Heartland Book #2), Heartland Book #3, Dinocalypse Forever, Frack You, and The Hellsblood Bride. Also coming soon is his compilation book of writing advice from this very blog: The Kick-Ass Writer, coming from Writers Digest.
He, along with writing partner Lance Weiler, is an alum of the Sundance Film Festival Screenwriter’s Lab (2010). Their short film, Pandemic, showed at the Sundance Film Festival 2011, and their feature film HiM is in development with producers Ted Hope and Anne Carey. Together they co-wrote the digital transmedia drama Collapsus, which was nominated for an International Digital Emmy and a Games 4 Change award.
Chuck has contributed over two million words to the game industry, and was the developer of the popular Hunter: The Vigil game line (White Wolf Game Studios / CCP). He was a frequent contributor to The Escapist, writing about games and pop culture.
Much of his writing advice has been collected in various writing- and storytelling-related e-books.
He currently lives in the forests of Pennsyltucky with wife, two dogs, and tiny human.
He is likely drunk and untrustworthy. This blog is NSFW and probably NSFL.
You may reach him at terribleminds [at] gmail [dot] com.
Related
john freeter
March 20, 2015 at 10:36 PM //
Alcohol’s bad for you, kids.
https://johnfreeter.wordpress.com/2015/03/20/mental-lagoons/
Tina Ellery
March 20, 2015 at 11:14 PM //
Be kind. I’m a greenhorn, a virgin and a neophyte when it comes to this flash fiction. https://tinaellery.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/flash-fiction/
amusedreams
March 21, 2015 at 12:35 AM //
I managed the 100 words!
https://amusedreams.wordpress.com/2015/03/20/word-accuracy/
StarNinja
March 21, 2015 at 1:35 PM //
Not an easy feat but you did it. Great job!
angelacavanaugh
March 21, 2015 at 5:26 AM //
I got it in under 100 words. Not completely sure it’s a story, tho…
http://angelacavanaugh.com/2015/03/21/flash-fiction-friday-mini-edition/
wildbilbo
March 21, 2015 at 6:25 AM //
Hi, I managed to get back on board, after a tough couple of weeks.
https://uncertaintales.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/snows-in-spring/
Cheers
KT
ElctrcRngr
March 21, 2015 at 4:20 PM //
Hey, KT, good to see you back. Fine writing, as always
wildbilbo
March 21, 2015 at 4:28 PM //
Thanks mate. Appreciate it.
colinjkeats
March 21, 2015 at 6:33 PM //
Hard times make masters of artistry, I think. You are.
angelomarcos
March 21, 2015 at 6:56 AM //
I was *determined* to not write something dark for mine, but, well, here we are…
https://angelomarcos.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/flash-fiction-wet-wood/
Libby
March 21, 2015 at 11:51 AM //
Enjoyed this – I’m impressed you managed to fit a story with a twist into 100 words!
angelomarcos
March 21, 2015 at 7:49 PM //
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it. 😉
donnaeve
March 21, 2015 at 8:24 AM //
Well shoot, if someone double dog dares me…
http://donnaeverhart.com/2015/03/21/chucks-challenge/
Kate Copse
March 22, 2015 at 10:50 AM //
Very nice story. Sad, but beautifully written. Thanks for sharing.
donnaeve
March 22, 2015 at 3:04 PM //
Thank you Kate, I really liked yours too. Like I said, gross but really good.
ryanjamesblack
March 22, 2015 at 3:39 PM //
Nicely done
B Tonksington-Smythe (@captainraz)
March 21, 2015 at 9:43 AM //
Hooray for drabbles! Here’s mine
http://www.captainraz.co.uk/2015/03/flash-fiction-challenge-theyre-coming.html
Agira
March 21, 2015 at 10:24 AM //
http://reapersconcept.blogspot.in/2015/03/the-midnight-hunter-terrible-minds.html
Maybe I should use a better title…..
LindaGHill
March 21, 2015 at 11:01 AM //
That was exhilarating! Please enjoy my twisted tale of 96 words here:
http://lindaghillfiction.com/2015/03/21/socs-death-wish-96-words/
ronitjadhav777
March 23, 2015 at 10:56 AM //
Ficticious relationship… described so powerfully… I really loved this. D
LindaGHill
March 24, 2015 at 10:24 AM //
Thanks very much! 😀
Libby
March 21, 2015 at 11:09 AM //
Exit Only http://libbyscribbles.com/2015/03/21/exit-only/
That was fun!
StarNinja
March 21, 2015 at 1:31 PM //
That was one of the best Bobos I’ve ever read. Well done!
Libby
March 21, 2015 at 1:36 PM //
Wow thanks!
spoonfedbyaliens
March 22, 2015 at 5:41 PM //
I really enjoyed this one! Good Work.
winterelise
March 21, 2015 at 11:12 AM //
First shot at 100-word flash
http://winterelise.com/2015/03/20/in-preparation-for-june/
Enjoy!
ronitjadhav777
March 23, 2015 at 10:42 AM //
Had a haunting effect to it. Loved it 😀
maqhem
March 21, 2015 at 12:12 PM //
This is my first time I’m participating in the weekly challenge.
100 words exactly. Enjoy.
For Love
http://maqhem.com/stories/for_love.php
StarNinja
March 21, 2015 at 1:29 PM //
What a twist! I was thoroughly impressed, maqhem. Nicely done.
maqhem
March 21, 2015 at 1:45 PM //
Thank you for reading and thank you for the kind words. I’ve got to admit it feels really good having someone say something nice about something I wrote – and on my very first try, too. This will not be my last time participating, I’m sure 🙂
StarNinja
March 22, 2015 at 1:21 PM //
Gosh I hope not. Keep on writing!
colinjkeats
March 21, 2015 at 6:04 PM //
Very nice!
maqhem
March 21, 2015 at 6:25 PM //
Thank you! I am glad you liked it.
L.K. Union
March 23, 2015 at 5:42 PM //
Now I’m scared. Great job with producing one spooky atmosphere!
maqhem
March 24, 2015 at 3:38 AM //
Thanks! It’s interesting to see how you are all left with very different feelings about what you just read. This is actually what I was going for but it’s even more amazing to see that it really can and does go both ways: kind of cute or straight up terrifying.
jacki214
March 23, 2015 at 7:46 PM //
Awww. I love it! You managed to capture a sympathetic part of this character in 100 words.
maqhem
March 23, 2015 at 8:26 PM //
An interjection? I’ll take it! I’m glad it worked well. Thank you.
Alice E
March 23, 2015 at 8:15 PM //
Nicely done. I think that will be my son in college.
maqhem
March 23, 2015 at 8:45 PM //
I was trying to come up with some funny remark comparing your son to Ted but it just wasn’t all that funny. Instead, I will leave you with a smile and a thank you.
Catastrophe Jones
March 25, 2015 at 10:14 AM //
Definitely like this. There’s sweetness, and horror, all at once, because of all the unknowns.
Super awesome first time — hope you keep coming back!
maqhem
March 25, 2015 at 2:26 PM //
Shoot. When I posted my reply the server was inaccessible and the response got deleted. The short version is this:
Thank you very much. I truly hope to be back with a new story for next week’s challenge. The responses to this one have all been so amazing! 🙂
alanhammond
March 26, 2015 at 10:05 AM //
Ok, you have to tell us more!! Develop that story on out, because I want to see what is going on there. Fantastic!
maqhem
March 26, 2015 at 12:11 PM //
Wow, thank you so much! I actually thought about developing it further. The earlier versions revealed more than this one does but I actually like it better when it only subtly hints at what is going on. The ambiguity is what makes it shine, I think. For now I will rejoice in these kind words, then perhaps for the next challenge I’ll take the opportunity to ruin a perfectly good story with a terrible ending.
Windy Mama
March 21, 2015 at 1:03 PM //
Barf’s the thing.
https://wutherornot.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/mal-de-mer
Alice E Keyes
March 23, 2015 at 9:05 PM //
barf indeed, stormy 100
Windy Mama
March 23, 2015 at 10:03 PM //
Better than barfing a 100 times. He’d need a bigger bucket.
Tina Ellery
March 21, 2015 at 2:29 PM //
My little story on greed. I think I got deleted the first time. Thanks for the opportunity.
https://tinaellery.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/flash-fiction/
cleefrost
March 22, 2015 at 8:24 PM //
Love the turns of phrase here–so much conveyed in imagery and emotion!
Alice E
March 23, 2015 at 8:23 PM //
Everything is temporal and has an ending especially in a hundred words.
Catastrophe Jones
March 25, 2015 at 10:15 AM //
Figurative champagne — *LOVE* it.
52lettersinthealphabet
March 21, 2015 at 2:37 PM //
Took a few tries to get going but I like where I ended up.
The Spoiled Child: https://52lettersinthealphabet.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/flash-fiction-the-spoiled-child/
ElctrcRngr
March 21, 2015 at 4:16 PM //
I liked the imagery in this. Good work.
52lettersinthealphabet
March 21, 2015 at 4:18 PM //
Thank you!
Geneza
March 21, 2015 at 7:23 PM //
I really enjoyed the twist. The last line is just perfect!
52lettersinthealphabet
March 21, 2015 at 9:32 PM //
Thank you! I was trying for a twist ending and I’m glad it worked 🙂
Kate Copse
March 22, 2015 at 10:47 AM //
Brilliant story, well written and entertaining!
52lettersinthealphabet
March 22, 2015 at 11:13 AM //
Thank you so much!
donnaeve
March 22, 2015 at 2:59 PM //
I read your entry yesterday and it was still with me last night. I think this is likely the best FF “drabble” I’ve ever read. That’s just me and my opinion, but I wanted you to know. Good. Really good.
52lettersinthealphabet
March 22, 2015 at 3:58 PM //
Oh my gosh! I’m glad you enjoyed it and thank you for the kind feedback 🙂
spoonfedbyaliens
March 22, 2015 at 5:22 PM //
I really liked the twist at the end! Good Drabble!
52lettersinthealphabet
March 23, 2015 at 10:49 AM //
Thank you!
Chris Taylor (@inspectorgothic)
March 23, 2015 at 11:08 AM //
Very nice, great little twist at the end.
52lettersinthealphabet
March 23, 2015 at 12:41 PM //
I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
L.K. Union
March 23, 2015 at 5:28 PM //
Add me to the list of people who thoroughly enjoyed this piece. Great job!
52lettersinthealphabet
March 24, 2015 at 12:36 AM //
Yay! I’m honestly blown away by the positive feedback I’ve gotten on this story. Thank you!
Andrew T
March 23, 2015 at 10:55 PM //
Wow. I did not expect that. Very cool. 🙂
52lettersinthealphabet
March 24, 2015 at 12:38 AM //
Thanks 🙂
Catastrophe Jones
March 25, 2015 at 11:49 AM //
Last line really gives it that oomph. Nicely done!
52lettersinthealphabet
March 25, 2015 at 6:41 PM //
Thanks 🙂
Mateja Klaric
March 21, 2015 at 2:48 PM //
Just posted on my Facebook wall> https://www.facebook.com/mateja.klaric.7
“In 100 words I need to express my gratitude for the 400 like at my Psihologija z Matejo Fb site, wait no, it was not about that, I was supposed to write a 100 words of flash fiction, guess what, who knows what is fiction and what a reality, who says that I’m not only imagining those 400 likes and that my life is anything more than a dream,” went through the head of a 100 year old creature on her deathbed just as the movie of her life kept rolling and was somewhere in the middle and then, snap.
ryanjamesblack
March 21, 2015 at 2:53 PM //
Here goes one more….hopefully a tad less goofy…
Space Oddity
https://ryanjamesblack.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/space-oddity/
Catastrophe Jones
March 25, 2015 at 9:50 PM //
I love this one! Absolutely excellent.
ryanjamesblack
March 25, 2015 at 10:23 PM //
Thanks very much
colinjkeats
March 21, 2015 at 6:02 PM //
Haven’t been back for a while. Here’s mine:
https://colinjkeats.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/larva/
Allison Maruska
March 24, 2015 at 9:18 PM //
Creepy. Nice work.
colinjkeats
March 25, 2015 at 1:50 PM //
Thanks!
Geneza
March 21, 2015 at 7:20 PM //
Panting, James snatched up the radio and replaced the batteries with the last new pair. In exactly two minutes fifty-five seconds, his contact would broadcast the message. His first and only chance of ever finding her again.
Twisting the battered knobs, James trembled as he remembered the code. They had devised it together for a situation like this. Single-use only.
“And now”, chirped the presenter, sounding muffled in the age-old speakers, “we pause our show to announce-”
James stared at the radio in shocked silence. The moment passed, and it dawned on him:
The batteries. He used the old batteries.
karla mena
March 21, 2015 at 8:02 PM //
Here is mine, great challenge…..
karla mena
March 21, 2015 at 8:05 PM //
Here is my rookie Blog: http://iwords1.blogspot.com
alanhammond
March 26, 2015 at 9:56 AM //
Yes, I want to know more about the backstory of the little girl and her mother. I’m guessing the protagonist is a child welfare worker? Great response to the 100-word challenge!
karla
April 11, 2015 at 5:35 PM //
Thanks and yes protagonist child welfare worker
Jenny Chou
March 21, 2015 at 8:41 PM //
Always enjoy 100-word Flash Fiction.
Here’s my link:
http://writenextchapter.blogspot.com
donnaeve
March 22, 2015 at 3:00 PM //
Great entry, Jenny!
Jenny Chou
March 22, 2015 at 9:06 PM //
Thanks! And thanks for reading!
Allison Maruska
March 24, 2015 at 9:21 PM //
Nice job! Kept me guessing til the end.
alanhammond
March 26, 2015 at 10:02 AM //
Loved it! That’s a vivid picture of a moment in time. Great response to the challenge!
angelomarcos
March 21, 2015 at 9:06 PM //
Ok, couldn’t resist doing another one…
😉
https://angelomarcos.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/flash-fiction-the-well/
alanhammond
March 26, 2015 at 9:52 AM //
I left a comment on your blog, Angelo. Great story. That woman is in some dire straits!
angelomarcos
March 27, 2015 at 7:29 AM //
Thanks! Am glad you liked it.
And thanks for the blog comment too.
🙂
alanhammond
March 22, 2015 at 12:50 AM //
Bam! 100 on the nose, brother!
An Unlikely Step
http://www.ahammondwriter.com/2015/03/22/flash-fiction-an-unlikely-step/
shelton keys dunning
March 22, 2015 at 5:06 AM //
My turn.
http://sheltonkeysdunning.blogspot.com/2015/03/and-she-sang-marseillaise.html
Thanks! This was fun!
alanhammond
March 26, 2015 at 9:48 AM //
Shelton, I left a comment on your post. I loved the story and subject matter and your writing is quite graceful. It wasn’t merely a simple “100 words.” You said a great deal in those 100 words. Fantastic.
mladne1012
March 22, 2015 at 9:12 AM //
Newbie here …
http://www.ilikemybubble.com/its-coming-from-the-ground/
alanhammond
March 22, 2015 at 9:52 AM //
Sorry, screwed up the link in my earlier post. Actually, had screwed up my website. That’s what I get for being DIY blogger!
Anyway, here’s my challenge contribution: An Unlikely Step
http://www.ahammondwriter.com/2015/03/22/flash-fiction-an-unlikely-step/
Andrew Hickey
March 22, 2015 at 10:12 AM //
http://andrewhickey.info/2015/03/22/the-rats-a-drabble/
Still haven’t got round to reading other people’s entries from last time, I’m afraid, but thought I’d join in again…
Kate Copse
March 22, 2015 at 10:30 AM //
I present unto you, my first drabble:
https://katecopse.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/beautiful-brains/
It was fun to try and tell something in so few words! I hope you like it.
StarNinja
March 22, 2015 at 11:04 AM //
I liked it. Curious about what comes next, what came before. Great job!
Kate Copse
March 23, 2015 at 4:30 PM //
Thank you very much 🙂 I really enjoyed thinking about the zombie world in this story. I may have to revisit it in future fics!
ronitjadhav777
March 22, 2015 at 12:57 PM //
I liked the way you have written this one. Just hundred words but keeps the read wanting. Good job 🙂
Kate Copse
March 23, 2015 at 4:31 PM //
Thank you so much! Drabble-ing was fun 😀
StarNinja
March 22, 2015 at 10:48 AM //
Ah what the heck, I gave it a shot. Got it exactly at a hundred words! Phew that was tough.
http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/dangomez87/1503327/
Pimion
March 22, 2015 at 4:06 PM //
Good try. I like it!
StarNinja
March 22, 2015 at 6:26 PM //
Much appreciated!
Kate Copse
March 23, 2015 at 4:36 PM //
Great writing! I especially liked the final sentence 🙂
StarNinja
March 28, 2015 at 10:18 AM //
Thank you for reading 🙂
lpstribling
March 22, 2015 at 11:25 AM //
Oops – I wrote way over. Thought you said ‘100 words (or more)’. Back soon.
Jenny Chou
March 22, 2015 at 11:47 AM //
Sorry if mine gets posted twice. The first attempt seems to have been lost.
100 Word Challenge:
http://writenextchapter.blogspot.com
K.Gman
March 24, 2015 at 5:09 PM //
Well done! Very good job conveying a whole story in such a short snapshot.
Agira
March 22, 2015 at 12:50 PM //
http://reapersconcept.blogspot.in/2015/03/the-midnight-hunter-terrible-minds.html
here is mine
StarNinja
March 22, 2015 at 6:30 PM //
Very Meta. I liked it!
Agira
March 22, 2015 at 8:46 PM //
arigato
lpstribling
March 22, 2015 at 1:44 PM //
Acid God, Chuck. 100 words. No more. https://lpstribling.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/acid-god-100-word-challenge/
StarNinja
March 22, 2015 at 6:38 PM //
I was entertained. Thank you.
lpstribling
March 22, 2015 at 7:36 PM //
Ninja – delightful comment. Thank you for reading.
spoonfedbyaliens
March 22, 2015 at 5:11 PM //
This is the first time I have posted a response to one of the Flash Fiction Challenges! My 100 word drabble, Breathe:
https://spoonfedbyaliens.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/breathe/
Jordan
March 22, 2015 at 8:39 PM //
I wrote an apocalypse story.
Here you go: http://www.jordankurella.com/blogreads/2015/3/22/fiction-the-side-of-the-road
Kate Copse
March 23, 2015 at 4:50 PM //
Dark! Good work 🙂
James Cheary
March 22, 2015 at 10:14 PM //
Here is my submission coming in a little short at 98 words. I’m thinking of adding to this and incorporating it into my novel in progress.
The Culling of Alistair Redding
http://www.convolation.com/flash-fiction-challenge-100-words-only-the-culling-of-alistair-redding/
Leena
March 22, 2015 at 11:29 PM //
http://www.wattpad.com/113422400-creatures-on-the-riverside
jacki214
March 23, 2015 at 7:57 PM //
I LOVE this. Please, write a short story. I loved the characters, the scariness and the bit of humor. I felt like I was there watching. Really great.
jacki214
March 23, 2015 at 4:14 AM //
My 100 words: Fortune Teller
https://jackiperrette.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/100-word-drabble-flash-fiction-challenge-fortune-teller/