This week, we return to a classic. I will give you 20 subgenres. You will pick two from the list either using a d20 or random number generator (or use tea leaves or falcon guts or something), then you will write a short story that mashes up those two subgenres. (So you might get Kaiju Noir, or Superhero BDSM, or Parallel Universe Whodunit!)
This time, you’ll get 1500 words.
This is due by next Friday (2/12), noon EST.
Post at your online space.
Link to it in the comments below. So we can all read it!
THE SUBGENRE LIST:
- Kaiju
- Cli-Fi (Climate Change Fiction)
- Southern Gothic
- Zombie
- Weird West
- Mythology
- Body Horror
- Grimdark Fantasy
- Whodunit?
- Military Sci-Fi
- Comic Fantasy
- Technothriller
- Superhero
- BDSM Erotica
- Heist / Caper
- Magical Realism
- Parallel Universe
- Noir
- Time Travel
- Alien Horror
115 responses to “Flash Fiction Challenge: The Subgenre Tango”
Here I go again. I got Alien Horror (20) and Noir (18) as my two rolls (which will never happen in game, when I could really use them). Here is the result, I would have liked to edit more, but I won’t be able to get back to it this week. Besides, I think the idea is solid, even if the writing is a bit rubbish.
https://tmpierson.squarespace.com/config#/|/
Hey Thomas, I don’t think that link is working as intended.
Fixed: here is the correct link: https://tmpierson.squarespace.com/
Sorry about that.
The idea’s awesome, and the writing isn’t rubbish, but I’m not getting as much Noir out of this as I was imagining — but then again, I’m not ACTUALLY as familiar with Noir as I imagine, either. 😉
Thanks for sharing — it was an enjoyable read; definitely rooting for the protag.
I must have been very good to the gods. They gave me comic fantasy and whodunnit. Which pretty much combines my last two books.
I was surprised to find Grimdark Fantasy and BDSM Erotica on my plate for the day. But I sure did run with it: https://fistfulofwits.com/2016/02/10/flash-fiction-her-touch/
Enjoy!
Ha! This was a fun read. All hail the subgenre tango.
[…] written since before our oldest child was born. However, this Flash Fiction Challenge by Chuck Wendig inspired him to write his first story in years. I am super excited to share […]
This flash fiction challenge inspired my husband to write for the first time in over 5 years.
https://betheredragons.wordpress.com/2016/02/10/guest-post-undead-gumbshoe/
Your husband’s damn good, Ms. Thistle — I’d read more of this, most definitely.
[…] Chuck Wendig is at it again. 2 random subgenres, mashed up. I got ‘Technothriller’ and ‘BDSM Erotica’ and 1500 words. […]
AND HERE WE GO:
http://catastrophejones.com/archives/5525
Since my categories were ‘TechnoThriller’ and ‘BDSM Erotica’ — this is a NSFW link.
Then again, most of the shit I write is, sooo… have fun?
I’m jumping into this at the last minute, but I’m going to try to write something tonight! And it appears, based on some of the other comments, that I’m the lucky(?) one–the randomizer gave me Kaiju and BDSM/Erotica. I’m so out of my depth, it’s not even funny.
I love the subgenre mash-up! This time I got Zombie Technothriller. Just not sure I got the thriller thrilling enough!
http://jemimapett.com/blog/2016/02/12/friday-flash-fiction-zombie-technothriller-mash-up/
Oh, this was fantastic! I loved the idea.
[…] for another Chuck Wendig Flash Fiction challenge. This week he gave us a list of twenty different subgenres of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. Using a d20 or […]
I got Kaiju and Southern Gothic, Not a real expert in either one, but I gave it my best shot. Please to enjoy.
https://sambrady.wordpress.com/2016/02/11/chuck-wendig-dickie-metter/
Well worth the read. Wryly humorous, and I definitely found myself picturing the scene.
Thanks so much! Glad you liked it.
Here’s my effort:
http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2016/02/friday-flash.html
Hee — I super enjoyed reading about Bovrell; the editorializing was funny, and you totally mashed the genres right the hell up. Well done!
Thanks–he’s a minor character escaped from one of my novels. Total idiot 😀
[…] This last week’s prompt was based on mashing up genres. I got Weird West Kaiju. […]
Looking forward to reading all of these this weekend! Way to go Pen Monkeys!
[…] wasn’t going to do it, you know, this here challenge at Chuck Wendig’s house. But I came down to use the bathroom and instead of going back to […]
For a change, I actually stayed under the word count and wrote it as a “flash” fiction story in one sitting. On the other hand, I’m not sure it’s entirely a story, but it does involve some military sci-fi and a very modern mythology.
http://www.ridleykemp.com/stories/2016/2/12/every-man-builds-a-world-in-his-image
Hope I’m not too late–been wrangling a tiny Gremlin all day who really likes to bang on computer keyboards. I rolled the random number generator and got “GrimDark/Whodunit”.
http://infamous-scribbler.com/blog/2016/02/12/the-case-of-the-subgenre-tango/
[…] went a little further back in Chuck Wendig’s Terrible Minds blog to find another writing prompt from Feb 5. This was a randomized prompt that gave me two literary subgenres: grimdark and […]