Last night, I had insomnia.
It’s not a usual problem, and I don’t expect it to continue, but last night — it indeed plagued me, and it was the kind that unspooled itself further every time I thought HEY I’M NOT SLEEPING AND I’D SURE LIKE TO SLEEP.
So, I think it’s appropriate to make today’s theme one of INSOMNIA.
Insomnia must figure in your story in some way. Feel free to be flexible or creative in how it applies. In fact, creativity and flexibility are desirable qualities for a fiction writer, mm?
Length: ~1000 words
Due by: July 8th, Friday, noon EST.
Post online somewhere.
Drop a link back here so we can read it.
DON’T SLEEP
GET WRITING
86 responses to “Flash Fiction Challenge: Insomnia”
The muses took me, on this one. (- https://atcrump.com/2016/07/01/the-dissociation-of-mitchell-hurd/ – ) It got kind of creepy, but I like it. Thanks Chuck.
Creepy. I liked the stream-of-consciousness.
Thank you. I tried to imitate the thought process of someone succumbing to a dissociation disorder. Seemed like a unique way to tell the story. Thanks again for reading.
Once again, I took one look at the prompt this week and immediately had to write something. This was fun!
Here’s my fic, “Liminal Probability”: http://dreamerinsilico.tumblr.com/post/146765949017/liminal-probability-flashfic
I liked this one! You did a great job creating a creepy ambiance.
Thank you! I don’t try to do creepy very often, so that makes me happy to hear.
Lovely writing, and great job portraying the line between reality and “something else” that the MC teeters on.
Thank you very much – I’m glad that came through 🙂
This is an older one, but it immediately sprang to mind when I saw the prompt. It’s called “29h, 41m, 12s” 500w, science fiction. http://www.agincourtdb.com/2014/05/29h-41m-12-s.html
I really like this; reading it made me realize how rarely the problems of sleep cycle adjustments ever get addressed in sci-fi.
[…] for the Flash Fiction challenge on Chuck Wendig’s blog. The theme was Insomnia, which is something I’m all too intimate […]
I struggled for years with insomnia, so I think I’ll have some fun with this one!
I hear ya! I’m a seasoned insomniac! 😀 Deal with it all the time.
Things That Go Bump in the Night, Should be the Least of Your Worries
http://mireles-musings.blogspot.com/2016/07/things-that-go-bump-in-night-should-be.html
Great stuff, but… wow. *shudder*. Yeah.
Thanks! I started to question my own sanity after writing that one. I guess that’s a good sign?
Heh, yeah. I felt a bit the same way after mine.
Looking at most of the other stories on here (mine included) I must say, things do not go well for insomniacs in fiction.
Well…. shit…. this is why I don’t like taking sleeping pills.
First time posting!
Insomnia is something I deal with all the time. I decided to take a fairy-tale bent on this one. I gave you “Once Upon a Witching Hour.” http://www.nickthewriter.com/2016/07/once-upon-a-witching-hour/#more-431
Never thought of what happened after that. Well-written.
Oh, I don’t do this often, but eep! http://insani-x.com/2016/07/01/s1-15-a-puzzle-piece/ This was inspired by insomnia and finished by a piece of found junk, found on a long walk because of insomnia.
I’m pretty good these days but I used to have pretty serious insomnia.
This was great! 😀
Well… I had fun with this one. It turned into something I didn’t expect – two myths coming together – what fun!
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2016/07/just-before-sunrise.html
Nice!
Thank you! I really didn’t expect it to turn out the way it did… and I had fun writing it. 😀
Last night we did the same, just not tired, till we saw the sunrising, I think it was in the stars. Makes for a strange day.
That was fun. I even did a little research for it.
https://lifeinmyshoesandsometimesout.wordpress.com/2016/07/02/ff-challenge-the-insomnia-project/
Here’s my go at it. The story just kind of burned it’s way out my brain onto the page.
https://fredgyost.com/2016/07/02/flash-fiction-challenge-chasing-the-things-we-run-from/
That was sad. Good, but sad. But then again, insomniacs aren’t usually upbeat, cheery types.
Thanks! Yeah, I noticed most of the early stuff is from insomniacs, and only one story has a good feeling to it.
This almost got titled “Realizing You’re a Minor Character in Someone Else’s Story”, but felt that was a little too on the nose.
That was really good. It had me hanging on every word, wondering what was going until the very end.
Glad you liked it! Most of my experiences with insomnia (from years back) involve long drives between towns, racing the sunrise. Added in a dash of “This is the Place” by Sims, and what I got was this pulsing, circular things. Fun to write, but draining.
Skillful use of stream-of-consciousness and suspense. Enjoyed this one.
Been a while since I partook.
Here’s “Overtaken,” inspired in part by the upcoming Olympics and a documentary I watched last night about literally insane CrossFit athletes.
https://accidentallyinspired.com/2016/07/03/overtaken/
Loved reading this, great flow.
http://itsthesedammedkids.com/index.php/2016/07/03/fear/ Here’s what I’ve got.
I’ve definitely had insomnia before, so I decided to take a go at this one.
http://emilyhowitt.blogspot.ca/2016/07/night-terrors.html
Enjoyed this, the madness and the unknown.
Well, I sat the last few out, but I thought I’d let my monkey typewriter theory loose on this one:
http://helveticasindiehorrorstories.blogspot.com/2016/07/insomniac-terrible-minds-writing.html
This theme tied very well into a tabletop game I’m currently playing in, so there’s a little fiction from my character’s point of view. Enjoyed this one a fair bit 🙂
https://princessofdragons.wordpress.com/2016/07/04/flash-fiction-challenge-insomnia/
Engaging. Is there more?
As of yet, no, but considering how invested I am in the game, there easily could be 🙂 Glad you liked it!
[…] Flash Fiction challenge this week: Insomnia must figure in your story in some way. Feel free to be flexible or creative in how it applies. Insomnia, described as ‘inability to sleep’ in the dictionary spread open on the table opposite him. It’s not that he is unable to sleep, it’s that he doesn’t want to go to sleep. He can’t. There’s a difference. How? Why? You have to sleep don’t you? The human body can go 11 days without sleep before it shuts down. He can’t afford to do that. See, the problem with sleeping is that it gives them the opportunity to… pray. They get satisfaction from the fact that you’re in another dimension, completely unaware of your surroundings, tucking and pulling on your limbs, throwing your furniture and hiding your blankets, dragging you around the house, making you feel like you’re going insane in your own mind, a prisoner in your own body trying desperately to escape but never can. […]
I had a cool idea and then I just blew it. Urgh – my story sucks! https://flowerprincessliz.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/flash-fiction-insomnia/
I wouldn’t say it sucks. It needs some work, but the idea is interesting, and the conclusion intriguing.
I hate the pink background on your blog, though. It does weird things to my eyes!
[…] week’s 1,000- word flash fiction challenge from Chuck Wendig at Terrible Minds was to involve insomnia in any way we want. I went with a straightforward […]
My story this week may or may not be heavily autobiographical. https://christopherslagle.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/flash-fiction-the-magic-touch
So true, trying not to think about things! (Love the ending)
Thanks!
Can’t sleep. Wrote this. Irony? Meh.
https://wormholelesstraveled.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/insomania/
You had me at DeathWorm. Awesome flash. Impressive dialogue exchange. Glad you couldn’t sleep this is great . Is this a part of something bigger?
It is in fact part of an ongoing series which takes place in the universe of my work in progress novel “Origin”. At some point I’m going to reorganize all of the stories so far into a more readable format but right now the links will have to do. Part one is here for anyone who cares:
https://wormholelesstraveled.wordpress.com/2016/06/12/kconk-kconk/
Thanks for reading and commenting, The Writer 🙂 Now for sleep……
QUILTBAG slice of life: Insomnicat http://www.mdflyn.com/insomnicat-original-flash-fiction/
[…] http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2016/07/01/flash-fiction-challenge-insomnia/ […]
Here’s my go:
https://swallowedbymonsters.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/light-nighttime-reading/
This is my story, “Sleepless”. I decided, as I always try to do, to give it a twist. So this is a… weird insomniac. I also tried to experiement a bit with giving it a tiuch of bitter humour.
https://medium.com/@VicenteLRuiz/sleepless-5fa8f16d161
Entertaining. Almost like a Judd Apatow take on vampirism. Nicely done.
Many thanks, your comment is appreciated.
(I just noticed: “experiment”, “touch”. Sorry!)
Enjoying these shorts! http://www.shyandretiring.weebly.com/too-much-to-ask
(Sorry if it’s not a proper link, still clueless)
Really enjoyed the main character’s emotional journey underlying the mystery of the upstairs neighbor. Great job!
Thank you, much appreciated.
I like your very precise language, the “economy” of your sentences. It’s a little thing, but I love the phrase, “,,,now he’d struck lucky.”
Thank you. I’m still practising so any feedback is very welcome.
Timely. I had insomnia last night (07/05). I rarely do either. Getting writing.
[…] week’s challenge- insomnia. That’s about it. Decided to go a bit different with the piece this time, not quite as […]
https://mxgomez.wordpress.com/2016/07/07/no-rest-for-the-righteous-a-chuck-wending-challenge/
I don’t suffer from insomnia, but my wife does. Pretty sure she doesn’t see demons though.
Very intriguing, and great writing! Feels like it could lead into something larger, too.
Thank you! Yeah, it does have that feel to it. Something to consider, anyway.
It definitely can. I would love to see more of this story. The transition between realities was encapsulating.
Hey there, glad you enjoyed the piece. I really enjoy that liminal moment, and maybe even a bit of confusion if the main character is delusional or not.
[…] Chuck Wendig Flash fiction challenge. The theme was Insomnia: “Insomnia must figure in your story in some way.” (1000 […]
Cubicle #6 was inspired by my stay in hospital on 4th July. Not my usual style. I hadn’t slept for two days due to pains in my back and arms. Heart issues were ruled out – pinched nerves, extreme muscle tension. Oh the joy of back issues and anxiety!
http://karenjcarlisle.com/2016/07/08/flash-fiction-friday-cubicle-6/
Interesting. This story made me feel anxious and claustrophobic, as if I were fighting the temptation to sleep myself. Well done.
thank you for the feedback. That is exactly how I was feeling. Glad it came across. This was an exercise outside my comfort zone. Thanks, Chuck.
I got that hospital feeling so clearly. The frustration and resistance were perfectly pitched.
Thanks for the feedback.
I decided to play with the terrible tricks our minds can play, making us stay awake when we are finally able to sleep. Being me, I made it humorous and put my old pal, Xavier Xanthum, Space Explorer, in a tricky spot.
http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2016/07/friday-flash-sleep.html
[…] aside, let’s do one of these again. It’s Chuck Wendig’s turn again, who this week asked for a story that features insomnia. Well, here it is. I went into this having no idea how dark it would get to just run with this […]
I skipped a lot of these challenges, but this time I got one again. So yeah, an insomniac utopia and the dystopia necessary to sustain it. I had no idea how dark this would get when I put down the first line. SF, somewhat on the short end: http://en.thomasdiehl.eu/?p=160
Here is my story. I am new, here, and my WordPress blog is new, so let me know if something doesn’t work right. I also went a little bit over the 1000 word thing, but this thing was actually twice as long to start with, so I did what I could. https://misterangstrom.wordpress.com/2016/07/08/insomnia/
Loved this. Different angle, and loved the writing.
Thanks! I appreciate your comments!
Here’s my offering: Night’s End
http://noarawle.blogspot.gr/2016/07/chuck-wendigs-flash-fiction-challenge.html
Just slightly past the deadline…but here it is. My current WIP has a theme of insomnia running through it, so this is sort of an excerpt from that:
http://theawkwardpterodactyl.blogspot.com/2016/07/flash-fiction-friday-insomnia.html
[…] Flash Fiction Défi: Insomnia […]