Today’s challenge:
Write about rebellion.
That can mean whatever you need it to mean for the context of the story. Any genre is doable. As personal or as impersonal as one cares to make it.
You’ve got the standard 1000 words.
It shall be due by noon EST, on Friday, February 3rd.
Post at your online space, then give a link below. Do not post the story in the comments, and please do not email me the story. Just find a place to deposit it online, and drop a link for the rest of us.
Please to rebel.
110 responses to “Flash Fiction Challenge: Acts Of Rebellion”
“At times we must purge things from this world because they should not exist”
https://medium.com/@FarkleUp/at-times-we-must-purge-things-from-this-world-because-they-should-not-exist-a2ef40c49467#.aqh09e6ct
Can’t figure out how to respond on your site, but: excellent meter, imagery and rhyme! Reminiscent of the raw emotion behind RATM lyrics. Definitely makes me feel a little more rebellious. Now, excuse me whilst I go get my pitch-fork out of the garden shed…
Thanks, TUS!
Wow. Much respect on getting that out in poetry, something I find terribly hard. Keep it up!
Thank you, Rachel. I wrote it for the Occupy movement. I repurposed it for today. Now more than ever…
I do not have the wherewithal to write like that. Excellently done! Feels a bit like The Purge in poetic form.
Thank you, Doug.
467 words, “The Rebel Writer”. Or, “The Urban Spaceman Cheats Again”
https://theurbanspaceman.net/2017/01/27/the-rebel-writer/
An act of rebellious refusal and acceptance! An “I won’t play by your rules,” while playing by the rules, ruse! Well done!
But, errrr, I’m wondering if you still have a copy of that other masterpiece you wrote? The one about the unlikely (likely) lovers? The sexy-not-sexy one? For the sake of art, I feel it should be given another shot. Perhaps be evaluated by some like-minded creatives? No, no, no, no — I’m not just grossly curious! Anyway this was a friend’s idea. I have friends.
Okay, I’ll go now.
Good story, BTW.
tee hee!
Your friend is a very worrying person. Very worrying indeed. Alas, the work of romantic *coughcough* fiction is well and truly gone. These are the things man was not meant to know.
This had me snickering.
Brilliant! Too bad we shall never see the, uh, plot-less masterpiece…
Nothing wrong with some meta now and then. Good stuff!
Well, aren’t you the rebel! Writing about deletion. Well played, sir 🙂
Cheers, Doug (and everyone!) Glad you all enjoyed it.
I love this kind of wit and subtle layers of meaning. Great story.
Sorry . . . I don’t understand the submission rules for Acts of Rebellion. Do I (fer instance) post my rebellious content on FB page or on my webpage? Where do I “drop a link for the rest of us”? This election has clearly addled my brain. Clarification, please. Thanks a lot.
Usual procedure is to post your story on your blog site or personal website (of which I see you do have one). So, WordPress, Blogspot, whatever. Some people use Tumblr. If “FB” means Facebook, then unless everyone is able to view your profile/content, there’s not much point posting it there.
Once you’ve created your story about Rebellion, copy the URL from the address bar and paste it here into the comments. See previous posts from fattymoon and myself (in the comments above) for examples on how to achieve this.
The Great Fast Food Uprising
https://www.facebook.com/duane.ullery/posts/10210741711493210
Well played. Cleverly done.
Thank you!
This is a really funny story, cleverly written.
Definitely clever and a little silly, but I loved it.
I combined this prompt with a prompt for a 99-word story.
https://allisonmaruska.com/2017/01/27/flash-fiction-the-rebel/
There’s so much more I want to learn about this story…do you plan on continuing it?
I hadn’t planned to, but sometimes I revisit short story scenarios. This one was inspired by Irena Sendler’s story, which I find especially touching. I would love to do some other pieces from the perspectives of those she saved.
I noticed my post seems to have vanished. Was the piece it linked to not acceptable?
Great hook, DS. Try posting it again. Might be a glitch, Still, please send me the link to your piece. Thanks! fattymoon@comcast.net
Is it sitting in the moderation queue? It can take posts hours or even days to appear, depending on how long it takes the blog owner to approve comments with links on them. I wouldn’t worry just get. Give it 24 hours and if it’s still not here, try reposting.
Good point..it may well be. I haven’t posted on this blog very often, so I’m unfamilair with how it works. Thanks for the informative reply!
My primary concern in asking was to make sure I didn’t inadvertently do anything offensive by going for a comedic approach with my piece. I don’t want anyone to think I take rebellion or what prompts it as joke. I just wanted to have some bizarre levels of fun with it.
I don’t think Chuck goes to that level of checking/censorship when approving comments on these challenges. The man must have a time machine, if he does.
Unless I see something weird, most posts make it through — though on weekends moderation is slower because I’m not at the computer.
too true. Mine take up to 3 days to appear here sometimes because of the time difference.
Wise women. Still rebellious . . . Then and Now.
http://www.ozzienogg.com
Can’t figure out how to comment on your blog without Facebook (I don’t Facebook), so here it is:
Lovely poem! I like how Rebellion comes across as a prevalent undertone, rather than a direct theme. It’s a feeling of a lifelong struggle to be accepted and not shunned because society is increasingly aimed at the young. I could definitely hear the voice of rebellious old Crones throughout the entire piece.
Dear Urban Spaceman — Thanks for your kind words about my Rebellion post. Frankly, I think you should keep writing about Ronald Hump and Alamir Rasputin. I suspect they’ll give you plenty of material over the coming years. Fifty Shades of Hump, indeed. (Not sure how to use the REPLY function here, so you might see this twice. Oh, well.)
Hey, been a while since I did one of these. I like the prompt. Fits the times.
OK, so here it is: Post-Mortem Rebellion. Enjoy!
http://jaxlemon.com/index.php/2017/01/28/post-mortem-rebellion/
Absolutely loved this. It’s so easy for rape revenge stories to pornify the victim or damsel her to the point of being overly broken. This is extremely well done in my opinion. Keep it up!
Well, that was worth the read. Loved the payoff 🙂
Thanks you guys! You made my day! 🙂
The payoff is perfect! Well done, Jax.
Challenge…. accepted!
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2017/01/reaping-death.html
enjoy!
Guys, when you read mine, if there’s some idiot on there called ‘Anonymous’ who is bagging my work and my comments out. Ignore him… don’t reply to him, or any of his banter.
He’s been stalking me on my blog for over a year and I can’t get rid of him. The reason being that he doesn’t have a blog for me to report him to Blogger or Google about. So, if we don’t talk to him – and I keep deleting his comments as they show up – he’ll eventually get bored and leave.
Ugh, that sucks, Mozette. Can’t you blacklist his attempts to comment? I’m sure WP has a function to block comments from certain users, though I’m not sure if Blogger has the same. And I guess if it’s a ‘guest’ reviewer, it’s hard to implement.
yeah it is. I’ve had to up the ‘security’ of my blog comments. I hate doing it – as I want people to be able to comment as easily as possible. Last year, I asked him to keep his voice to himself if he hates me so much, or – like television and radio – if he doesn’t like the show, he’s doesn’t have to watch. It seems he’s glutton for punishment; and just loves to indulge himself in my writing; even when I do admit it’s not my best. I have noticed that he reads Chuck’s blog here… as he’s mention this blog before… and he’s politically minded (so he’s not stupid). He’s just a shit-stirrer and wants to stir the pot… but I’m not going to let him this year. If he does return, and makes life hard again, I’ll report him (because that means he’ll have an OpenID address; something Google can work with).
I’ve yet to understand the mindset of ‘internet troglodytam vulgaris.’ Fingers crossed for some peace and quiet for you!
Great story. I love the conflict.
As for the commenter – there’s no way to block him?
Ooooh…that was delicious.
You wouldn’t believe it, but I did dodge my reaper in 1996… and he was pretty pissed with me. I was 6 months from dying from a major Melanoma and had a huge operation to stay alive… and you know? When you do survive something like this, life is like you’re crashing a party you don’t belong at.
An Act of The Tyrone Power Pound Cake Society in the Sky
A story of White House levitation.
https://cheesywriterblog.wordpress.com/2017/01/28/an-act-of-the-tyrone-power-pound-cake-society-in-the-sky/
Irreverent and awesome. Thanks for sharing.
[…] For the prompt ‘rebellion’ in Chuck Wendig’s latest flash fiction challenge. […]
The Girl With Two Shadows
https://crazyinkslinger.wordpress.com/2017/01/28/the-girl-with-two-shadows/
This made me cry. Is this an excerpt from something bigger? I’m curious to find out what happens.
Aww, thank you! Now that I’ve written it I’m thinking of expanding it to be a prequel for the novel I’m almost finished with. Thank you for reading!
That was beautiful and disturbing. Love it!
Thank you!
I like it.
Thank you!
Really enjoyed this. The overwhelming shadows were marvelous.
Thank you!
Dear Urban Spaceman — Thanks for your kind words about my Rebellion post. Frankly, I think you should keep writing about Ronald Hump and Alamir Rasputin. I suspect they’ll give you plenty of material over the coming years. Fifty Shades of Hump, indeed.
Rebellion it is:
https://allenalien.wordpress.com/2017/01/29/rebellion/
That’s my kind of rebel.
It probably won’t end up as flash, but this definitely inspired me to write SOMETHING. *types frantically away*
I hope this isn’t too “rule breaky”. This week I’m working on paid work so I uploaded the first 12 pages of a comic I wrote, art and all, that I’ve been shopping around for years and fits this week’s theme. I hope the Tumblr works ok for ya’ll. Here’s a story about Pearl Hart.
http://racheldpanda.tumblr.com/post/156537855598/rebel-girl
Some beautiful illustration work there; alas, the majority of the speech was too small/blurred for me to make out. 🙁 Though, I am reading on a rubbish work PC monitor… I’ll give it a try at home, I might be able to make more out.
Hey, I sat behind my computer to write a short story about rebellion, but I ended up writing about the situation in my country Turkey, and the qualities required for a rebel. It is around 1300 words. Criticism and comments are most welcome. http://yigitcakar.com/rebellion/
Very riveting stuff. Thoroughly enjoyed reading about a very real battle of pessimism v optimism… but I really don’t want to believe there is so much oppression in Turkey that nobody dares (or has dared) to rebel in such a testing time. I like your writings though. Looking toward to reading more from you.
Thank you very much. Actually, we tried to rebel against Erdogan once; you might want to search “Gezi Park protests”, if you are interested. It was short lived and unsuccessful because that movement failed to produce its leaders and alternative solutions to the problems the country was facing. The movement even failed to pose important problems to tackle. They(we) just wanted Erdogan to step down. Erdogan suppressed the movement with a huge police force and occasional violence. The movement relieved the cumulative stress that has been rising since his reign, and afterwards Erdogan took precautions to prevent future conflicts.
He suppressed almost every person who opposes or might oppose him using law enforcement. Most of the intellectuals our country has, have been imprisoned for long periods of time with false accusations. Terrorist attacks and the political trend towards dictatorship made regular people search for solutions to leave the country. People with means to live in another country, has already left. Moreover, a financial crisis is lurking at the horizon and people are just trying to survive.
Things have to change at some point, but nobody knows the answer to the questions: when, where and how.
Thanks for the fascinating insight! I have friends in Turkey, so I’m aware of how the slow erosion of personal liberties and the suppression of secular sentiment and ideals affects many in Turkey, but it was interesting to see this viewed more clinically, with thought overruling emotion.
Thank you for your feedback! And I think you shouldn’t have deleted Fifty Shades of Hump!
Haha. People generally seem disturbingly interested in Fifty Shades of Hump. 😛
So, in an entire week I cannot come up with a single story about hope in the face of hopelessness, but it only takes me a day to write a torture scene for the rebellion prompt. Clearly there is something wrong with me. Anyway, hope you like it: http://runnerskye.ca/flash-fiction-challenge-rebellion/
I like how the character is willing to sacrifice himself to protect the one he loves. A very selfless act of rebellion here.
Thanks! Now just have to get writing to get to this scene…
Rebellion against the Morningstart? Fabulous. Well done, Skye!
Thanks!
Shit, I meant MORNINGSTAR. Derrrrrr.
363 words this week, really short. “Bleak Bluffs”
https://dcxli.wordpress.com/2017/01/29/bleak-bluffs/
Critique welcome!
Certainly bleak! I’m left wanting to know more about their reasons for rebellion. Will you be expanding it more? Regardless, I like it as it stands.
I’ll likely leave it as is, but it’s great to hear that I could leave you still interested!
[…] words, prompts: Inspiration Monday, Terribleminds, Sunday Scribblings2, #SoCs, […]
I used both the theme and the actual words in chapter 38 of Moonrise: https://article94.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/moonrise-ch38-noise-mirage/
[…] week’s challenge: write about rebellion. Fury (and Crowe) are old friends I’m looking to pick back up again, probably a similar […]
My contribution: https://mxgomez.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/no-redemption-for-the-fallen-a-chuck-wendig-challenge/
[…] here’s my entry for Chuck Wendig’s “Acts of Rebellion” flash fiction challenge. It’s part of the Wrath universe, any may be part of a longer […]
Here’s my entry, 964 words according to Scrivener: https://chaospunk666.wordpress.com/2017/01/31/prelude-to-grand-theft-flash-fiction-challenge/
Some amount of rebelling going on, and it might become the beginning of a longer story, kinda sounds like it to me anyway.
P.S.: Excuse my French in that one…
This got a little more personal than fictional….
http://nicolesharpwrites.com/rebellious/
[…] Chuck Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge “Rebellion” 1,117 words His voice was thunderous in the high ceiling room. […]
“Untitled” 1,117 words
https://jakashadows.wordpress.com/2017/02/01/flash-fiction-challenge-rebellion/
This is my first time doing this challenge. Here is my story: https://curioushart.wordpress.com/2017/02/01/rebellion-at-sea/
I hope I followed directions correctly. It’s 719 words plus 27,951 unwritten ones.
[…] http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2017/01/27/flash-fiction-challenge-acts-of-rebellion/ […]
[…] story was written in response to a Flash Fiction Challenge issued by Chuck Wendig at his blog Terrible Minds. You can check out the other entries in the comments […]
A little rebellion is fun for all ages.
https://cornedbeefhashtag.wordpress.com/2017/02/01/night-watching/
Silence became rebellion in my story (entitled Tinnitus), found after the intro in French. http://www.campagnonades.com/fiction-rebellion/
[…] Chuck Wendig Flash Fiction Challenge for this week is Acts of Rebellion. 1,000 words about rebellion in any shape, form, or context. I had intended to keep my story […]
I turned out a 995 dialogue that unintentionally wound up on the fringes of the current political situation. Please to enjoy “How Does Your Garden Grow?”
https://sambrady.wordpress.com/2017/02/01/chuck-wendig-how-does-your-garden-grow/
Oops. I wrote this last night and posted it… only I forgot to add it here.
“Remember, Remember”:
https://medium.com/@VicenteLRuiz/remember-remember-2e485ed52c9#.fnu71q6hn
Early rather than too late with my story. https://wordpress.com/post/kim153.wordpress.com/1752
Rebel
http://aliceekeyes.blogspot.com/
[…] week’s challenge, courtesy of Chuck Wendig, is to write of an act of rebellion (in less than 1000 […]
Here is my act of rebellion; one very close to my home that happened 200 years ago called the Pentrich Revolution. I’m hoping to retrace the steps of this mob in June this year, however I thought it as a good way to brush up on my local history, and share it with you too.
https://hikelylads.wordpress.com/2017/02/02/flash-fiction-acts-of-rebellion/
I wrote last week’s story, but didn’t post it due to scheduling. I’m happy to say, that the story works as an act of rebellion, and not just because I’m posting in the wrong week. So here it is.
http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2017/02/flash-fiction-friday-lost-hope.html
So, not quite a thousand words, but this is different kind of rebellion.
https://scotchfullyyours.wordpress.com/2017/02/02/the-seventy-year-war/
What happens when the Aristocrats Joke goes terribly wrong.
http://fictioncondition.thoughts.com/posts/can-t-trump-the-smiths
Posted!
I struggled with this one a bit, but I am enjoying the heck out of these challenges. Thank you, Chuck.
I hope you enjoy. Please feel free to comment, I appreciate the feedback – still learning and practicing.
https://michelle-wordplay.blogspot.com
A short-cut with this one, for reasons explained. http://jemimapett.com/blog/2017/02/03/fridayflash-excerpt-how-not-to-start-a-rebellion/
Here is a little rebellion
http://mywrite.martinperlin.com/2017/02/rebellion.html