Last night, I had a dream — no, no, not the one with Mrs. Butterscotch and the strap-on dildo covered in spray cheese. This one was a dream in which a phrase figured prominently:
There is no exit.
I don’t know why.
I don’t know what it means.
It probably doesn’t mean anything, because dreams are just your brain’s way of pooping.
Anyway.
I thought it would make a very good flash fiction challenge.
So, incorporate that phrase —
“There is no exit”
— into the story. Either as a title, a line of dialogue, a theme, whatever.
Go forth and tell the story.
Length: ~1000 words
Due by: July 14th, Friday, noon, EST
Post at your online space, then give us a link so we can read it.
75 responses to “Flash Fiction Challenge: There Is No Exit”
You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.
[…] Wendig had another prompt that gave me some inspiration. The prompt was ‘There is no exit.’ This is what I came up with. I tried something different and wrote in 2nd person present tense. […]
Blue Alice: https://crazyinkslinger.wordpress.com/2017/07/07/blue-alice/
“Blue Alice will always be in the corner of the pub, draining mugs of rum and ale, telling stories of past glory to anyone who will buy another round.”
Love this take. Reminds me of “Other People” by Gaiman, just not quite so dark.
Thank you for reading! I haven’t read that Gaiman story, I’ll definitely have to check it out.
Found it online:
http://fuckyeahgaiman.tumblr.com/post/1463212256/a-story-from-fragile-things-short-fictions-and
🙂
I’m always suspicious of a story told in second person, and the payoff is huge when I realize at the end that, of course, the story had to be told that way.
This was satisfying and really well done. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Thanks for sharing it.
[…] This story was written for Chuck Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge “There Is No Exit.” […]
The opening line of this that came up in my blog feed was too good to scroll past without reading the whole thing. An interesting prompt–I will be back with a link for sharing.
My feeble attempt: http://thebloggingofanaspiringwriter.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/writing-prompt-there-is-no-exit.html
Here is my submission:
http://larissahammond.com/2017/07/08/chuck-wendigs-flash-fiction-challenge-there-is-no-exit/
Sleep well, my pretties.
It’s gripping, and horrifying. The most terrifying line in the whole thing, though, is “Based on true events.”
I hope the girl is better off now. I’m glad she got out, and that she got to have her story told. Thanks.
Thanks. This really means a lot to me. And she is. She is me. <3
Wow, what a story.
Thank you. <3
I wish I could remember more of my dreams. But being trapped in some rambling building, and trying to find my way out, is a common theme. Another one is clinging onto something at great height and wondering what all these other people are doing here…
https://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/hotel-california.html
enjoy!
Here you go, Chucklets, my short story, “No Way Out.” It’s password protected. The happy word is: NoWayOut. Enjoy.
Actually, from above the name has changed to Two at the Door (www.lpstribling.com). Thanks.
[…] I’m trying to write a 1000 word story with the words: There is no exit.… for this website and I’m drawing a blank. It’s such a great line and I can use it as a title or a line […]
[…] *Writing prompt from terribleminds […]
My first time posting. This was fun. https://writingupsidedown.wordpress.com/2017/07/10/the-door/
This is really good – it reads like a prologue, and I want to dig into the rest of the story. Left me wanting in the right ways. Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you, Kevin! I definitely felt like this was the beginning to something larger while I was writing it.
I really enjoyed the story too. I would read a longer version of it.
Thank you, Anna!
I loved this! You have such a strong voice.
Thank you!
[…] Chuck Wendig had a dream with a recurring phrase: There is no exit. […]
A situation with no escape can only be a nightmare, can’t it?
https://enkinanthem.wordpress.com/2017/07/11/no-exit/
I came expecting a nightmare, and was sorely disappointed.
That was sweet and brave and maybe even a little chaotic. It’s amazing how differently people can interpret the same four words.
Mine is entitled creatively, “There Is No Exit”.
http://blog.kevinja.com/there-is-no-exit/
“She awoke.
Maybe it was an awakening, or maybe she was always there. She couldn’t remember.”
Great story. Definitely hooked me. Reminded me a little of WestWorld. What’s real and what’s not real. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Danielle! I hadn’t put together that connection (and I *really* need to see Westworld), but I can definitely see it.
Awesome, really enjoyed the blurring of the two worlds.
Thanks a lot, David. I had fun with that part.
[…] Wendig has another writing challenge. This time it is to use “There is No Exit” in the story. Here is my […]
Here’s my attempt. One thousand words more or less. Mine’s also title “There is No Exit” as well.
“There is no exit, no way out, enjoy what time you have left.”
Here’s the link I left out.
https://annanyms.wordpress.com/2017/07/11/there-is-no-exit/
This was so beautifully sad.
Oops left out the link, here it is:
https://annanyms.wordpress.com/2017/07/11/there-is-no-exit/
This was great! I was hooked for the beginning. Thanks for sharing.
Here’s my attempt. https://thewritingsoflc.wordpress.com/2017/07/12/flash-fiction-there-is-no-exit/ –The phone rings and mom runs downstairs to get it. Pretty early, must be family. I wait for her to call me, instead she comes upstairs and looks a little pale.–
Wow! (I wish I had more words.)
Here’s my story. It’s a dialogue between a father and a son, only they’re a bit special.
I decided to keep the title.
Here’s “There Is No Exit.”
https://medium.com/@VicenteLRuiz/there-is-no-exit-f876608fc128
Enjoyed your story!
Sorry, catching up with old comments. Many thanks!
[…] again, thank you to the great bearded sage for this weeks writing promt “There is no […]
Well, this went dark… https://evathereseebert.wordpress.com/2017/07/12/there-is-no-exit/
[…] This is another 3-hour-session flash fiction, based on a prompt from Terrible Minds. […]
Bloody Fine Print – An overworked succubus seeks a vacation, only to find out that she signed up for more than she bargained for. http://www.mdflyn.com/bloody-fine-print-original-flash-fiction/
Kind of a YA thing:
Just Desserts
http://cheeseandglory.com/2017/07/12/flash-fiction-just-dessert/
I hope you decide to expand the story!
[…] first Chuck Wendig Flash Fiction Challenge for July is called There Is No Exit. The assignment was to interpret that phrase however we wanted to in 1,000 words or less. I did […]
I took it on the road. Exactly 1,000 words. Please to enjoy!
https://sambrady.wordpress.com/2017/07/12/chuck-wendig-e/
The pacing was awesome. You hand them a ticking time bomb at the start, and the momentum propelled me right through to the end. Well done.
First time joining in, I hope no one minds a new face! I wrote a thing to try and get me back into the swing of writing and this is what came out. https://howsweetthewords.wordpress.com/2017/07/13/flash-fiction-there-is-no-exist/
Welcome!
Wow, two second-person stories this week. This one felt to me like a teaser trailer, like for a game (my inner narrator read it in his announcer voice). The draw was there.
My attempt 🙂
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W8mb8Er_NKW3a_h1HWvfMSu3RFBbMhPCd97P_IxNenE/edit?usp=sharing
“There is no exit, but here I am. I escape without escaping. I am free in the inch they could not reach. I am a bird in a cage all my own.”
Great story! Very creative.
Hey guys, here’s my offering. It’s a little late…but better than never. Enjoy!
https://atcrump.com/2017/07/13/same-drugs/
Here is a story about Exits and the not exiting thereof in superhero form. It’s part of the flash fiction series I’ve been doing here every Friday.
https://wormholelesstraveled.wordpress.com/2017/07/13/there-is-no-exit/
Enjoy!
Hello,
I’m back to contribute after a little time away working on other projects. I’ve missed contributing and managed to come up with a story for this week. I hope you enjoy it.
https://michelle-wordplay.blogspot.com/
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MqyUgAz2tWCxjXrAaKW10_Jade_UHg2zNaHm8sEYQfE/edit?usp=drivesdk
My story.
My first post, cranked out for no good reason upon realizing there were merely hours left before deadline. Please excuse the resulting steaming pile of half baked writing that is The Land of Block.
http://nosetokeyboard.blogspot.com/2017/07/i-was-scrolling-mister-wendigs-terrible.html
I’ve been watching a lot of Twin Peaks lately.
http://darylnash.com/fiction/there-is-no-exit-flash-fiction/
[…] This week’s flash fiction, for the challenge found here. […]
I wrote this in a rush tonight, and I’m afraid it feels like it. But here you go anyways! Back, Again.
https://aimeethere.wordpress.com/2017/07/14/back-again/
My first attempt (at writing any kind of prose in about 15 years).
https://incognitoscribblings.tumblr.com/post/162966349045/there-is-no-exit
Squeaking under the wire. “No Exit?”
http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2017/07/flash-fiction-friday-there-is-no-exit.html
A bit late because of life, but here is my attempt: A pulpy film noir type story: http://davidralphlewis.co.uk/there-is-no-exit/
here’s my contribution this week! sat on it literally until tonight, wasn’t super feeling the prompt, but i tried to push something out regardless.
https://iseeyoureyesiknowyoureyes.tumblr.com/post/162969427146
This turned into something like a Saturday morning cartoon, but slathered in blood.
The Ritual of Souls:
https://www.matthewmarchitto.com/blog/2017/7/13/flash-fiction-challenge-the-ritual-of-souls
[…] bit of flash fiction for Chuck Wendig‘s challenge: There is no exit. 1,000 words. Mine is 983 […]
Here’s mine, that was fun!
https://pamtanzey.wordpress.com/2017/07/14/friendly-fannys-pies-and-such/