And we’re back.
Once again, with last week’s challenge (The Hotel), you crazy emmereffers came out of the woodwork and did up some amazingly cool stuff. And, once again, it’s time to re-up the stash. I mean, re-up the flash fiction challenge. Ready for another go?
Okay, so, as you may know, the wife and I are expecting our first progeny — Der Wendigspawn — in the next few months. Which means my life has become suddenly and swiftly baby-focused. Everything is crib-nursery-Pooh-poo-bottle-milk-breast-how-many-centimeters-dilated-diaper-Nuk-Bjorn-Boppy-headasplode. On this subject I’ve been commiserating with fellow expectant father-dude, Anthony “Pulptone” Schiavino. We half-joke that, come summer, people are going to see us online at 3AM, drunk, delirious, feeding our respective infants. We will be the protagonists in some crazy baby-related stories.
Then, he said this:
Oh, snap.
And a flash fiction challenge was born.
Your challenge, should you choose to accept it:
BABY PULP FLASH FICTION.
It must be baby-centered.
It must be pulp. Pulp is, of course, a kind of lurid, cheap, fastly-produced genre fiction. Men’s Adventure! Noir! Space opera! Superhero! Detective! And so on, and so forth. So, in other words: baby noir! Baby superhero! Baby space opera! Baby adventure! Detective baby!
Baby Pulp.
And that’s it.
Please, no porny baby stories. I just — I mean — c’mon, no. These tales don’t need to be in good taste, but I don’t want any visits from PedoBear, you hear me?
Once again, you have 1000 words.
You have one week (let’s say next Friday, 9AM EST).
Post at your own blogs, drop a link in your blog to here, and drop a link to your blogged fiction in the comments below. Then at the end of the week I’ll tally it all up right here in this post.
Now get that pacifier out of your mouth. It’s time to fill the flash fiction diapers.
BOOM.
[EDIT, Friday 3/25/11: So, this week I’m going to not compile the links — feels like the links found in the comments work okay for most people. Plus, it gets erm, unusually time-consuming to compile all those links. Between baby class Thursday night and trying to hit Friday morning’s writing deadline, it’s a bit of a time-kill for what may be dubious value. That said, if you would rather I continue to compile them, drop a comment below and let me know. If it’s something you prefer, I’ll make sure to revive the practice with next week’s challenge.]
Michael LaRocca says:
There’s only one thing wrong with the Wendig baby… IT’S ALIVE!!
March 18, 2011 — 7:39 AM
Brandy says:
I’m a newb, lured over here by the urging of some folks at Flash Fiction Friday. I have to say that even though I didn’t get to participate in the the last two challenges, I thought the prompts were great. I’m looking forward to reading what everyone came up with, and if I can find a few minutes of quiet time (hahaha, riiiight…) I might be able to whip something up for the current challenge.
March 18, 2011 — 8:25 AM
terribleminds says:
@Brandy:
Do it! The spirit of pulp is, in many ways, to stick your hands into the mess without thinking too much about it. 🙂
— c.
March 18, 2011 — 8:27 AM
Anthony Laffan says:
Any quickie guides for someone with very limited experience with pulp? Hell, I probably have more than I think…but would hate to break genre.
March 18, 2011 — 8:50 AM
Geoff Skellams says:
Having three kids of my own (with the youngest having turned one a couple of weeks back), this sounds like fun. I’ve even written pulp before.
I’m in. Now to come up with an idea…
March 18, 2011 — 9:08 AM
shree says:
HAHAHA! When I first read the title of the challenge I thought “Oooh, so it has to be about babies and something ground up resulting in pulp?”
I have to now wiki and google what pulp genre is all about…though I am guessing its nothing sweet and baby-like 😉
March 18, 2011 — 9:14 AM
Lindsay Mawson says:
Okay, I’ve never written pulp before, but I have had a kid, so I thought I could try and wing it. Here’s my attempt!
http://lindsaymawson.blogspot.com/2011/03/flash-fiction-challenge-2-baby-pulp.html
March 18, 2011 — 9:23 AM
Earl Davis says:
Ohhhh baby-noir! I’m sooooo on this.
March 18, 2011 — 9:52 AM
Anthony Laffan says:
Never done pulp before either. It’s a micro flash, at just under 500 words, but does feature a certain bearded man named Chuck. I present: The Lair of Dr. Babile!
http://www.realityrefracted.com/2010/01/lair-of-dr-babile-terrible-minds-flash.html
March 18, 2011 — 9:58 AM
Anthony Schiavino says:
I am so on this.
March 18, 2011 — 10:34 AM
Casz Brewster says:
Your challenges are making me realize I write too damn slow. I’m still working on Hotel.
March 18, 2011 — 10:57 AM
Jamie Wyman says:
Totally in. I’ve never written pulp before but I’ve been wanting to play with it for a bit. Awesome!
March 18, 2011 — 11:43 AM
Stephanie Belser says:
Babies, eh?
http://downrange-impact.blogspot.com/2011/03/import-export.html
March 18, 2011 — 1:00 PM
Elizabeth says:
This has the potential to go so wonderfully sideways.
March 18, 2011 — 2:26 PM
Matt says:
For some reason, I automatically thought about Baby Head, a playable character in the beat ’em up game, Captain Commando. 🙂
March 18, 2011 — 3:04 PM
Anthony Schiavino says:
Here’s my entry: The Consequences of Responsibility
http://sgtzero.wordpress.com/2011/03/18/the-consequences-of-responsibility/
March 18, 2011 — 3:06 PM
Madison says:
more addictive than episodes of ‘Hoarders’, the weekly(?) flash fiction challange is here again! Thanks for checking out my entry:
http://chrysalisnow.blogspot.com/2011/03/where-is-baby.html
under 300 words.
March 18, 2011 — 3:31 PM
MKS says:
“Try it.”
“it’s delicious! What is it?”
“Baby Pulp.”
March 18, 2011 — 4:04 PM
CY says:
You’ll find my submission here, though it’s a tad shorter than the usual so-close-to-a-thousand-it’s-almost-rude length. Enjoy! http://bit.ly/hKEvaF
March 18, 2011 — 7:50 PM
KDJames says:
Oh. My. God. Wendig, you really are the weirdest person I don’t even know. Schiavino, I’m including you in that category. Your wives must have a highly developed sense of— the bizarre.
The closest I’ve ever come to reading pulp is listening to the “Guy Noir” episodes on Prairie Home Companion. I have no idea, is that pulp?
Hell. Now I’ve got a baby noir story foaming up in my head. Must. Get. It. Out.
March 18, 2011 — 8:58 PM
Anthony Schiavino says:
KDJames…whatever do you mean? Wait. Look. Over there! A SQUIRREL!
Get it out. It’s the only cure.
But just wait. If you think this is bizarre I can only imagine what the summer will bring.
March 18, 2011 — 9:44 PM
Tara Tyler says:
I didn’t get to last weeks. I’ll have to read the entries.
Here’s something to teethe on.
http://taratylertalks.blogspot.com/2011/03/psghetti-western.html
March 18, 2011 — 10:15 PM
KDJames says:
Probably WordPress has already tagged you with the link, but here it is anyway:
Tonight’s mental calisthenics: The most ridiculous thing I’ve ever written: http://wp.me/pDGdR-jJ
March 19, 2011 — 1:55 AM
MKS says:
These challenges are fun. I am definitely being confronted with unfamiliar subject matter.
Here is mine.
http://marlanesque.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/redacted-pulp-noir-flash-fiction-challenge/
March 19, 2011 — 3:11 AM
Albert Berg says:
Madman Maverick vs. THE BABY FROM HELL
http://unsanityfiles.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/madman-maverick-vs-the-baby-from-hell/
March 19, 2011 — 8:42 AM
Patti says:
Greetings – thought I’d give this a go – my first attempt – please be gentle.
http://tishipoo.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/samanthas-spade/
March 20, 2011 — 1:55 AM
Joyce Juzwik says:
I can’t thank you enough for this. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun writing a story. I hope everyone enjoys reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Here’s On the Job.
http://jfjuzwik.blogspot.com/2011/03/on-job.html
March 20, 2011 — 12:50 PM
Tim Kelley says:
Once more into the breach.
http://tailwindstimemachines.blogspot.com/2011/03/flash-fiction-baby-pulp.html
March 20, 2011 — 1:25 PM
Julia Madeleine says:
Baby noir….hmmm. You know Chuck, this could get ugly fast. I would recommend you do not subject your lovely wife to any of these stories. She might be a wee tad sensitive. At least don’t let her read the story I’m going to submit. lol!
March 20, 2011 — 2:41 PM
LettersBloodyLetters says:
I guess being a baby can get a lot creepier than we could imagine.
http://lettersbloodyletters.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/the-thing-in-the-dark/
This weekly challenge is becoming an addiction :).
March 20, 2011 — 5:33 PM
Amber Keller says:
Baby Noir
http://adiaryofawriter.blogspot.com/2011/03/baby-pulp.html
March 20, 2011 — 10:58 PM
shree says:
This my attempt, though I am highly doubtful it can be considered Baby Pulp!
http://callmeshree.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/flash-fiction-damien/
March 21, 2011 — 6:04 AM
Rob Abrazado says:
I’m sure this scene looked a lot cooler in my head. 😉
“Adventure in the Sky!”
http://flatvurm.livejournal.com/358987.html
March 21, 2011 — 8:40 AM
Julia Madeleine says:
Ok, I’ve got my story posted. First, let me just apologize in advance to Chuck and his wife. LOL! Please don’t let her read this, Chuck. I’ve given you fair warning. This is all your fault! Here’s my entry: http://juliamadeleineauthor.blogspot.com/2011/03/another-fun-flash-fiction-challenge.html
March 21, 2011 — 11:38 AM
Dave Turner says:
@ Rob Abrazado,
That was killer. 😉
Dave
March 21, 2011 — 12:30 PM
Rob Abrazado says:
@Dave Turner, thank you kindly!
March 21, 2011 — 7:18 PM
Sean Preston says:
I present “A Dream of Camelot”.
Sort of baby pulp. There is (at least) a baby… http://tinyurl.com/4tzlxco
Take care,
Sean
March 22, 2011 — 1:40 PM
Bika says:
Sorry, world. Sorry, Portland. Sorry, hipsters. Sorry, everyone.
http://bikacentral.wordpress.com/2011/03/23/blue-saves-the-day/
March 23, 2011 — 1:01 AM
Rob Abrazado says:
Earlier comment attempt failed…just a quick test to pimp my friend Janie’s submission to the Baby Pulp extravaganza!
http://rustywagonwheel.blogspot.com/2011/03/baby-pulp.html
March 23, 2011 — 10:24 AM
Athena McCormick says:
Here’s mine, “Let Sleeping Babes Lie”
http://devereauxcourt.blogspot.com/2011/03/flash-pulp-baby.html
March 23, 2011 — 1:04 PM
Jamie says:
Here’s my shot: “Weird Science”. Not sure I like how it turned out, but one of my personal rules of flash is minimal edits. Write it, do a quick sculpt on it and send it out. Also, first shot at writing pulp.
http://jamiewyman.blogspot.com/2011/03/baby-pulp-flash-fiction-challenge.html
March 23, 2011 — 2:19 PM
Paul Vogt says:
Finally completed my little adventure titled “Space God Baby” and it’s the adventures of a newborn Merlin after the end of the universe. Pulpy enough for ya?
http://paulvogtwrites.blogspot.com/2011/03/space-god-baby.html#more
March 23, 2011 — 9:28 PM