You may note that, oops, last Friday, I didn’t post a flash fiction challenge.
It’s not because I don’t love you. But rather, because the timer on my wife’s uterine oven went off prematurely, signaling that the brownies we thought were still baking were now ready.
Which means our son was born two weeks early.
So, getting a flash fiction challenge up was not on my “to-do” list that day.
BUT WE’RE BACK. After all, the baby’s out, so he’s pretty much on his own now. What? Tough love, baby. It’s a hard world. I duct taped a little spear into his rubbery hands and painted him up like Braveheart.
He’ll figure it out.
In the meantime, let’s sign up a hot tasty new flash fiction challenge, one with a little extra juice on the line in the form of FREE E-BOOKS.
The Challenge
Flash fiction, 1000 words. The subject?
“An unexpected guest.”
Interpret that as you see fit.
Any genre is apropos.
You have one week. I’ll want all entries done up and linked to here by noon (EST) next Friday (6/3/11).
You know the drill: write it on your own blog, link back to here if you’re so kind, then drop a link to your blog here in the comments section of this very post. Ta-da!
The Free E-Books
Assuming we have more than 10 entries, I’ll pick my favorite 10 out of the bunch. Those writers can have a free copy of either IRREGULAR CREATURES or CONFESSIONS OF A FREELANCE PENMONKEY in PDF, Kindle, or Nook format. Just make sure to have your tales in under the deadline.
And that, squids and squallops, is all she wrote.
Julia Madeleine says:
Ooo, I like this one Chuck. I’ll see if I can conjure up an interesting guest over the weekend. I’m playing guest at my relative’s for the next few days. I’m bringing two large bottles of wine. I’m going to need it.
May 27, 2011 — 9:45 AM
Shauna Granger says:
Yeah, I totally posted after 12pm on the last Flash Fiction challenge. ::hangs her head in sahme::
May 27, 2011 — 10:37 AM
Jamie Wyman says:
When I’m done going insane at Phoenix ComicCon (running games and going to author panels! zombies!) this weekend, I’m so on this. Already have a few ideas.
‘grats again on the spawn.
May 27, 2011 — 10:47 AM
Darlene Underdahl says:
Got the jump on it!
http://darlene.underdahl.net/?p=61
Chuck, you have a very alert child. He’s going to be a handful (smile). But don’t give him a civit cat. Nor a skunk. They burrow. You don’t want a house full of burrows. People could fall in.
Does Taco Terrier accept the child? Our oldest grandson was allowed to root around on the floor with the dogs. When he got older, he requested a Rescue Cat for his birthday. I think the “pack” experience made him a better person.
May 27, 2011 — 11:08 AM
Lauren says:
I’ve had the first line of a short story/flash piece gathering dust for probably a year now, and it’s all about an unexpected guest. Guess this means I ought to write the rest of it. 🙂
May 27, 2011 — 12:51 PM
Kristen Lamb says:
LOL…good to hear you aren’t being an irresponsible parent and leaving your baby unarmed. Congratulations and have loved the baby crack…um, pics. Yes, baby pics.
May 27, 2011 — 1:34 PM
Lindsay Mawson says:
Sorry if this posts twice… Not sure what happened.
http://lindsaymawson.blogspot.com/2011/05/flash-fiction-challenge-11-unexpected.html
Enjoy!
May 27, 2011 — 3:37 PM
amy kennedy says:
This scares the crap out of me. So, I’ll do it. I think.
May 27, 2011 — 4:58 PM
Amber Skye says:
Oops, wasn’t quite ready, but it went anyways. So here goes:
http://amberskye.net/2011/05/27/an-unexpected-guest/
May 27, 2011 — 5:34 PM
Yojimbojapan says:
Hello,
I stumbled across this site through an article about drinking and bees and why drinking kills the pain of said stinging bees. Because of that I chose to bookmark this page and then promptly forgot to check it regularly. But I came back to it on a whim and saw this flash fiction topic which I could not resist. So I would like to offer up my humble attempt at
http://yojimbojapan.blogspot.com/2011/05/unexpected-guest.html
And because I would be remiss in not trying to obtain followers that are not spambots I’ll go ahead and mention my rarely used twitter account @yojimbojapan here.
Thanks!
May 28, 2011 — 3:36 PM
Julia Madeleine says:
Oh, what fun! Here’s my story: http://juliamadeleineauthor.blogspot.com/
May 28, 2011 — 7:53 PM
Amber Keller says:
*keep your eyes on the prize, keep your eyes on the prize*
http://adiaryofawriter.blogspot.com/2011/05/chuck-wendigs-flash-fiction-challenge.html
May 28, 2011 — 10:20 PM
Bob Bois says:
Margo makes her triumphant return to Chuck’s FF challenge.
http://sittingindarkness.wordpress.com/2011/05/28/an-unexpected-guest/
May 28, 2011 — 11:35 PM
CJ Lemire says:
Ooh, sounds like fun. I’ll play. My genre is erotica, so please only click on the link if you’re 18+.
http://cjlemire.blogspot.com/2011/05/flash-fiction-unexpected-guest.html
May 29, 2011 — 7:42 AM
Aiwevanya says:
So this week I managed to come up with an idea I didn’t think sucked:
http://metamuse-aiwevanya.blogspot.com/2011/05/moon-under-water.html
May 29, 2011 — 1:01 PM
Michael says:
http://innocentsaccidentshints.blogspot.com/2011/05/terrible-minds-challenge-more-noodles.html
May 29, 2011 — 4:57 PM
Snellopy says:
I knew what I was going to write about the moment I saw this, but I was out in the boonies visiting the inlaws and wasn’t able to write it until today.
http://snellopy.blogspot.com/2011/05/uninvited-guest.html
You owe me, I’ve been having flashbacks to the incident.
It’s a bit of a fat porker, weighing in at 1600 words, but normally I’m short, so it balances out in the wash.
May 30, 2011 — 12:06 AM
Dan Wright says:
Not much to say here either than I hope you enjoy this take on a classic story.
“Harker’s Guest”
http://8thage.blogspot.com/2011/05/harkers-guest.html
May 30, 2011 — 2:49 AM
Mike Durant says:
First time entrant, but here goes nothing.
http://www.foxedproductions.com/2011/05/flash-fiction-unexpected-guest.html
May 30, 2011 — 9:54 AM
Patty Blount says:
Post is up. But it’s not 1000 words and it’s not fiction.
http://pattyblount.com/?p=1355
May 30, 2011 — 11:16 AM
Lesann says:
My offering: http://lesannberry.blogspot.com/p/unexpected-guest.html
May 30, 2011 — 1:46 PM
Bryce Daniels says:
Unexpected guests, eh?
Well, this may not count , as “A Kansas Epiphany” was posted before the contest officially began. May I just claim clairvoyance?
These things are certainly unexpected, but “guests” is a bit of a stretch.
http://brycedaniels.blogspot.com/2011/05/prose-and-poetry-prompts.html
May 30, 2011 — 11:32 PM
Sparky says:
I call it, the Doorman. Have fun with it.
http://sparky29252.blogspot.com/2011/05/doorman.html
May 31, 2011 — 4:40 AM
Tim Kelley says:
The Bogeyman’s Right Hand
http://tailwindstimemachines.blogspot.com/2011/05/flash-fiction-unexpected-guest.html
May 31, 2011 — 11:37 PM
Tara Tyler says:
Thanks for the prompt and CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS!!!
Here’s my flash.
http://taratylertalks.blogspot.com/2011/05/unexpected-guest.html
May 31, 2011 — 11:59 PM
Syd Gill says:
My entry is here: http://www.sydgill.com/flash-fiction-challenge/
Thanks for the opportunity! Hope you enjoy!
June 1, 2011 — 1:11 AM
Mercedes Chan says:
http://suicidarollomartillovolatil.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-post.html
theres mine. have mercy with me im just a little baby.
June 1, 2011 — 8:43 AM
Jamie Wyman says:
Here’s my bid. “Ante Up” http://jamiewyman.blogspot.com/2011/06/one-more-for-wendig.html
June 1, 2011 — 8:03 PM
Tony Lane says:
Here is my attempt http://wp.me/p1Btt3-8 hope you enjoy it.
June 2, 2011 — 2:44 AM
Shauna Granger says:
Yay! I’m on time this week! #btfo
http://shaunasspot.blogspot.com/2011/06/unexpected-guest.html
June 2, 2011 — 3:21 AM
Alexa says:
First time doing this and very pleased with how fun it was. Thanks for the inspiration Chuck.
http://awannabewriters.blogspot.com/2011/06/flash-fiction-unexpected-guest.html
June 2, 2011 — 12:37 PM
Tribid says:
As if anything that exciting ever happened to me, oh wait are we allowed to make shit up? Alas, http://tribid.livejournal.com/16060.html
June 2, 2011 — 4:33 PM
Ben Kirby says:
As usual, more fun than I deserve. I good one this time around, Chuck. Thank you.
http://warnerkirby.blogs.com/clintonaut/2011/06/the-unexpected-guest.html
And congratulations on the arrival on the kiddo. They’re a ton of fun.
June 2, 2011 — 9:26 PM
KDJames says:
I wasn’t going to participate this time. I’ve been busy. But there was a post from the past I wanted to drag out and dust off, partly because it fits the topic so well but also because now that Herr Wendig is a parent, it might be time to learn that “sure, no problem” are some of the best and wisest words you could ever say in response to a request from your child. Um, you know, once he can speak.
This certainly fit the “flash” requirement back when I wrote it, but it’s 50 words too long, it’s not fiction, and I already have both books. So I’m disqualifying myself from the competition. This one is just because:
http://kdjames.com/2011/06/02/flash-non-fiction-an-unexpected-guest/
June 2, 2011 — 11:32 PM
steve ward says:
Man that was rough but i got it done
http://www.bzemic.com/impossibleInstinct/an-unexpected-guest
June 2, 2011 — 11:48 PM
Jennifer V says:
That was fun
http://jenniferv.posterous.com/hoot
June 3, 2011 — 12:03 AM
Robyn says:
http://robynettely.blogspot.com/2011/06/take-down-lot-of-you.html
Now that’s done, I can bathe.
June 3, 2011 — 12:38 AM
BA Boucher says:
I literally started this five times, only to write it start to finish in about 30 mins. No real time to rewrite.
Thanks for the prompt, Chuck.
“Ugly Tits”
http://defconwhiskey.tumblr.com/post/6141160508/ugly-tits
June 3, 2011 — 9:24 AM
Puddin says:
I loved this theme! Beard the fuck on!
http://www.puddintopia.com/puddintopia/?p=2029
June 3, 2011 — 9:45 AM
Lauren says:
Finally whittled it down to 1,000 words exactly: “Company’s Coming:” http://www.falconesse.com/2011/06/03/flash-fiction-challenge-companys-coming/
June 3, 2011 — 9:58 AM
CMStewart says:
Based on a 13% true story!
http://cmstewartwrite.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/road-to-moab-a-flash-fiction-tale/
June 3, 2011 — 10:08 AM