Okay, last week, you got to pick a song lyric you really liked, and you wrote a story based on that bit of song poetry. Right? Right.
Cool.
This week, I’m giving you the lyric.
It’s from Sza’s “Drew Barrymore.”
The lyric in question is this line, the opening line the song:
“Why is it so hard to accept the party is over?”
The song has a lot of great lines, but that’s the one we’re going with. Take from it whatever inspiration you choose. Base a theme on it. Make it literal or figurative. Any genre will do.
Length: ~1000 words
Due by: Friday, January 26th, noon EST
(Note: I’m gone next Friday so there may not be a flash fiction challenge. Lately I’ve been getting a WordPress error when I try to schedule posts, and they don’t actually show up when they’re scheduled? I assume a variety pack of gremlins is to blame.)
Post at your online space.
Give us that sweet sweet link.
Go write.
emily Miles says:
*Sits down, cracks knuckles*
*Pauses*
*Cracks Neck*
*pauses*
*Cracks your knuckles and/or neck*
Ok. Let’s get this party started.
January 19, 2018 — 8:27 AM
P.J. Cherubino says:
Thanks, Chuck. I’m enjoying these challenges and also the exposure to new (to me) music.
January 19, 2018 — 9:28 AM
The Urban Spaceman says:
I call this one, A Better Party. 988 words exactly! https://theurbanspaceman.net/2018/01/19/a-better-party-flash-fiction/
January 19, 2018 — 9:31 AM
legreene515 says:
Really well done. I liked how you used the prompt. Sad and happy all at once.
January 25, 2018 — 2:32 PM
Mark Gardner says:
I went a little overboard at 2150 words, but since chuck is gonna be gone next week, a double dose makes sense…
https://article94.com/2018/01/19/interruptions/
January 19, 2018 — 10:00 AM
The Urban Spaceman says:
It may be over the count, but awesomely so! I think it’s great how well your writing had developed… and I thought you were an amazing writer back when we were finishing each other’s flash fiction prompt stories! 😮 Don’t mind saying that I’m a little envious of that first chapter you have there. It’s slick and polished to perfection. And the way you establish the character’s back-story… it’s like I’ve read it in a novel already!
January 19, 2018 — 2:04 PM
Mark Gardner says:
Thanks, TUS. I’ve had my share of being envious of you work too, so let’s keep writing and improving! As an aside, Score of Silence (the first novel in the series,) will be out the first quarter of this year, published by Amber Cove! Shoot me an email if you’d like to read an ARC.
January 22, 2018 — 4:53 PM
The Writer says:
Noir anyone? https://atcrump.com/2018/01/19/luke-benson-p-i-episode-1-green/ –>>Enjoy!
January 19, 2018 — 5:48 PM
legreene515 says:
Some great lines in that story. I’m interested to read the next installment!
January 25, 2018 — 2:46 PM
The Writer says:
The next two parts are already up. Every Tuesday and Thursday until the story’s done. —> https://atcrump.com/2018/01/23/luke-benson-p-i-episode-2-thumbs/<-
Enjoy! and I hope that you stay tuned. Thanks again!
January 25, 2018 — 2:52 PM
legreene515 says:
Thanks! I’ll read them.
January 26, 2018 — 9:22 AM
Mozette says:
https://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2018/01/the-party-is-over.html
Mine’s over a little too – to make up for next week as week. 😀
enjoy.
January 19, 2018 — 9:10 PM
Miri Baker says:
I’ve been incredibly unhappy with my productivity lately, and I took this as a sign. And you know what? It was really fun, and I feel better. So thanks, y’all.
https://miribaker.com/2018/01/19/flash-fiction-why-is-it-so-hard-to-accept-that-the-partys-over/
January 19, 2018 — 9:28 PM
YourFriendlyNeighborhoodSpidey says:
Hi!
First-time commenter, long-time lurker. I just graduated, though, so hopefully I’ll have time to participate regularly.
January 19, 2018 — 10:53 PM
YourFriendlyNeighborhoodSpidey says:
Here’s my story: your friendly neighborhood Spidey.blogspot.com/2018/01/30.html
January 22, 2018 — 11:24 AM
legreene515 says:
I couldn’t get your blog to pull up. Try posting it with the http or https. Even when I copy and pasted I got an error.
January 25, 2018 — 3:14 PM
Frédéric Meurin says:
Okay, I tried something : combining both themes from your challenge and The Writing Cooperative’s one.
Hope you’ll like it. Forgive my English, though !
https://medium.com/@Frederic_Meurin/the-partys-over-7438e21c2a3c
January 22, 2018 — 11:42 AM
legreene515 says:
I’m sitting over here in Alabama watching our democracy fall apart. Democracy works in theory, right? But does it work in real life? And what if it’s not a true Democracy like ours (Democratic Republic). I think our Democracy is tainted the most by capitalism. Praise to the almighty dollar. I loved your piece. Thanks for posting. I wish I could respond on your actual blog but I have a problem with my Medium account!
January 25, 2018 — 3:19 PM
Sarah Elkins says:
I managed to make something! I hope you enjoy this short!
http://shortstoriesinprogress.blogspot.com/2018/01/flash-fiction-challenge-from.html
January 22, 2018 — 5:16 PM
legreene515 says:
I loved this. I left a comment on your blog too.
January 25, 2018 — 3:32 PM
Sarah Elkins says:
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it and I managed to preserve the mystery in the story until the end! 😀
January 25, 2018 — 3:34 PM
Sam Brady says:
998 words of classic sword-and-sorcery fantasy goodness. Please to enjoy!
https://sambrady.wordpress.com/2018/01/24/chuck-wendig-three-for-the-road/
January 24, 2018 — 7:27 PM
Anne Bohannon says:
A lovely fantasy bar scene.
January 25, 2018 — 3:18 PM
The Urban Spaceman says:
Your story gave me an awesome idea for a story concept… hopefully I’ll get a prompt soon that’ll let me try it out. If not, I might just write it anyway 😀
January 26, 2018 — 6:44 AM
Sam Brady says:
Glad to be of service! Good luck!
January 26, 2018 — 7:07 AM
Vicente L Ruiz says:
I started by considering the party wasn’t a real party and somehow ended up with… an odd crime story, clocking in at 1000 and change words.
Here’s Self-control: https://medium.com/@VicenteLRuiz/self-control-5cf5766b949
January 25, 2018 — 6:56 AM
Carla Robertson says:
I really enjoyed this one. Thanks!
January 26, 2018 — 6:13 AM
Vicente L Ruiz says:
Thank you. I just replied to yours over on medium.
January 26, 2018 — 7:54 AM
The Urban Spaceman says:
Great story! I tried to clap you, but Medium doesn’t like me. In fact, yours is the only Medium-hosted story I’ve been able to access, so far. I really enjoyed the mystery and the suspense, and the whole secret society vibe. You should make this into television!
January 26, 2018 — 6:50 AM
Vicente L Ruiz says:
Whoa, thank you. I don’t know that I’d be able to pitch this (or anything else!) as a TV series of any kind… 😉
I think Medium requires you to sign in If you want to clap or answer. It also has audience settings; it’s easy to hit the wrong button and set a story as private instead of public.
January 26, 2018 — 7:34 AM
The Urban Spaceman says:
Well, it’s definitely my kinda TV-thing (not that I watch much TV) so I’d be there if your story made it to the little screen.
January 26, 2018 — 7:37 AM
Carla says:
This was pretty challenging, but fun. Thanks Chuck!
https://medium.com/@carlarobertsonwriter/progress-3ffa47e44f21
January 25, 2018 — 7:02 AM
Vicente L Ruiz says:
Your story is really powerful in its depiction of the characters. And then that ending. Fantastic!
January 26, 2018 — 7:55 AM
Carla Robertson says:
So glad you enjoyed it. I found it to be very challenging to have the narrator and audience, but not the character, realize that the party was over. I really liked the way you tackled that aspect as well. Cheers.
January 26, 2018 — 8:16 AM
Sophie Austin says:
863 words, my story is called ‘A Good 57’ : https://sophie-writes.com/2018/01/25/flash-fiction-challenge-why-is-it-so-hard-to-accept-when-the-partys-over/
January 25, 2018 — 9:52 AM
Anne Bohannon says:
Happy National Irish Coffee Day. Drink up.
Autocorrect originally changed that phrase to “drunk up,” which, I believe, still gets the point across.
https://wp.me/p9hOCx-du
January 25, 2018 — 10:12 AM
legreene515 says:
Interesting take on the prompt. I left you a comment on your website.
January 26, 2018 — 1:59 PM
legreene515 says:
When a party probably should be over! (Unrequited Love). https://laurengreenewrites.com/2018/01/25/party-over/
January 25, 2018 — 2:16 PM
Anne Bohannon says:
Bittersweet! Nice job!
January 26, 2018 — 10:39 AM
legreene515 says:
Thanks for reading, Anne!
January 26, 2018 — 12:37 PM
mdflyn says:
Why Is It so Hard to Accept the Party Is Over? by M D Flyn http://mdflyn.com/2018/01/25/party-is-over-original-flash-fiction/
Squeezed under the wire. I haven’t posted a new story since September and boy is it nice to think I haven’t lost my spark.
January 25, 2018 — 6:47 PM
Emily Miles says:
775 words. This isn’t precisely a story, but more of a scene.I somehow took away the idea of a party and got a post apocalypse. Oops? https://www.tumblr.com/blog/sketchystormwritesgarbo
January 25, 2018 — 10:26 PM
Diedra Blackmill says:
Exposed Roots, published on my blog. http://www.diedrablackmill.com/2018/01/26/exposed-roots/
Be kind. I’m rusty.
January 25, 2018 — 11:58 PM
Andrea Kowaleski says:
Here’s my first ever attempt at writing flash fiction. I hope it doesn’t suck! https://moodynewts.wordpress.com/2018/01/26/chuck-wendig-flash-fiction-challenge/
January 26, 2018 — 10:09 AM
Bryan says:
Party
https://bryanaiello.com/2018/01/26/party/
January 26, 2018 — 12:04 PM