Last week’s challenge — “The Lady And The Swordsman” — demands your eyeballs.
The Apocalypse.
The end of the world. The end of days. The end times.
Armageddeon Ragnarok 2012, blah blah blah.
We know how the Apocalypse comes, how it all ends. Meteors, tsunamis, earthquakes, plague. It’s been done a thousand times before. Nobody’s really bringing anything new to the apocalyptic table.
Oh, except you.
Here’s your task: I want to see flash fiction set in a very unconventional, never-before-seen apocalypse. A Create Your Own End Times kinda story. Get as creative as you want. I want the world to end — or be in the middle of ending — in a way we’ve never seen before.
In this story, we want the characters to say, “Whoa, we didn’t see that coming.”
Humor, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, tragedy, literary, whatever. Go nuts.
Once again: 1000 words and one week to fill them. Get your tales done by Friday, July 22nd at noon EST. Post them at your blog, then share the link here in the comments.
Tell us how the world ends, will you?
Oh — and this week, we’ve got prizes again. This time, I’m going to pick my five favorite and toss them a PDF copy of my as-yet-unreleased e-book, 250 Things You Should Know About Writing, which is a collection of ten (well, technically eleven, shut up) of my 25 Things lists from this site.
Now: unveil the end of days as only you can write it.
EDIT:
Okay. Jinkies. I finally got through all the stories.
And I’ve picked my five.
It was difficult. I had about ten I really liked, but had to really carve ’em up.
Here, then, are the five —
Samantha J. Mathis
http://samanthajmathis.tumblr.com/post/7670809842/candy-coated-chaos
Brian Buckley
http://briandbuckley.com/2011/07/21/flash-fiction-scissors-with-running/
C.M. Stewart
http://cmstewartwrite.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/grey-goo-flash-fiction-plus-science-fact/
Albert Berg
http://unsanityfiles.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/salt-of-the-earth/
And Sean Riley!
http://jackslack.tumblr.com/post/7838270330/flash-fiction-challenge-shard-of-heaven
You guys, bounce me a message at terribleminds [at] gmail [dot] com or use the contact form here at the site and I’ll get you “250 Things You Should Know About Writing.”
Brian Buckley says:
This sounds like a righteous challenge, and my other writing projects are done for the moment. I’ll give it a shot. 😀
July 15, 2011 — 6:41 AM
Lindsay Mawson says:
I don’t think it’s true that nothing new is being brought to the table. I have written a novel called The Lothgoliar, which reached online bookstores in February, and it is, if not unique, definitely not overdone.
Therefore, I’ve chosen 1000 words in the “in the middle of ending”. You don’t have to include me in the prizes because I didn’t actually write anything new.
Anyway, here’s the link: http://lindsaymawson.blogspot.com/2011/07/flash-fiction-challenge-17-uncharted.html
Enjoy.
July 15, 2011 — 7:23 AM
James Hamilton says:
Excellent. I’m giving this a go right now. It’s not very good, but I’m giving it a go.
July 15, 2011 — 11:55 AM
Epicurean Inkblot says:
I think Douglas Adams would trump any idea anyone here came up with. That man is dearly missed.
July 15, 2011 — 1:07 PM
Darlene Underdahl says:
Here is my offering. It’s original, sort of.
http://darlene.underdahl.net/?p=73
Beat me again, Lindsay (grin).
July 15, 2011 — 1:31 PM
Travis Cole says:
Dinosaurs vs robots
http://porte.livejournal.com/405708.html
July 15, 2011 — 1:42 PM
Josh says:
Challenge Accepted.
July 15, 2011 — 1:47 PM
Joseph Devon says:
Why do I have the urge to incorporate Twinkies into this challenge?
July 15, 2011 — 3:31 PM
Amber J Gardner says:
I swear, even if there wasn’t a prize, I’d totally do this.
I have a story idea I want to try out…
July 15, 2011 — 4:14 PM
angie brooksby Arcangioli says:
Hi Chuck, I wanted to ad a link to your ebook but couldn’t find it. Maybe you can add that somewhere in your post so we can find it.`
These #flashfriday get quicker everytime.
Here mine story:
999 words
“Italian Apocalypse”
http://brooksbymemoirs.blogspot.com/2011/07/italian-apocalypse-fridayflash-fiction.html
July 15, 2011 — 6:00 PM
Samantha J. Mathis says:
Alright, I gave it a go this round! It’s my first time at one of these, so… you know… be gentle?
http://samanthajmathis.tumblr.com/post/7670809842/candy-coated-chaos
July 15, 2011 — 9:26 PM
AJ Hayes says:
Uh. Don’t know if this qualifies. It’s an old contest entry of mine. Didn’t place. It might work. Take a look? http://ajhayes2.wordpress.com/2010/05/09…
July 16, 2011 — 1:19 AM
Epicurean Inkblot says:
The end of the world comes about as most disasters do – the intern screws up.
http://epicureaninkblot.wordpress.com/2011/07/16/an-unconventional-apocalypse/
July 16, 2011 — 6:20 AM
AJ Hayes says:
E. Blot (hey that’s a great hip-hop name) points out that the addy for my story is a bit whonky. Here’s a better try: http://ajhayes2.wordpress.com/2010/05/09
Thanks Blot.
Your story rocks the house BTW.
July 16, 2011 — 11:08 AM
James Hamilton says:
Samantha, your story is easily my favourite so far. Brilliant stuff.
Mine’s nearly finished – I’ll probably upload it tonight.
July 16, 2011 — 12:29 PM
James Hamilton says:
Ah, what the hell. You can have it now. Here’s mine: Christmas Every Day.
http://jameshamilton.posterous.com/short-storyflash-fiction-the-end-of-the-world
July 16, 2011 — 1:01 PM
Louise Sorensen says:
Hi Everyone.
Here’s my story http://wp.me/p1BAlV-J The Last Goodbye
My version of wordpress doesn’t offer ariel, so my story is in Times New Roman.
July 16, 2011 — 2:08 PM
oldestgenxer says:
I may write another one–there’s an idea I have. But this is one of my favorite stories that I wrote several years ago. Cutting down to a thousand words is brutal. Dare I say it’s an apocalypse of words…
Whatever Happened to Mesopotamia?
July 16, 2011 — 2:15 PM
AJ Hayes says:
Just had to say Samantha’s flash put me in mind of two of my very favorite stories . Robert Rankin’s riotously funny novel, The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies Of The Apocalypse and Henry Kuttner’s brilliant short story, Nothing But Gingerbread Left. Both guys I think would have been off their chairs and barking like seals in delight as they read Samantha’s tale of slogans dreadfully gone wrong.
July 16, 2011 — 2:49 PM
Louise Sorensen says:
I read everyone’s story, and left a comment if the site alowed.
Very enjoyable stories. An incredible collection of talent!
July 16, 2011 — 3:15 PM
James Hamilton says:
Thanks for the lovely comments, guys!
July 16, 2011 — 5:48 PM
Stephanie M. Belser says:
“Under Construction”– hard SF
http://downrange-impact.blogspot.com/2011/07/under-construction.html
July 16, 2011 — 7:10 PM
Ryan A says:
This is my first ever submission for Friday Flash Fiction Challenge, and also the first ever story I’ve given to people I didn’t even know. So be nice. Please? Anyway, end of the world as delivered by Nazi Bees. I hope you enjoy it!
http://persagax-braindrops.blogspot.com/2011/07/zzzzzzeig-heil.html
July 17, 2011 — 12:09 AM
Epicurean Inkblot says:
@Samantha J. Mathis and other people with Tumblr accounts – we non-Tumblr people can’t tell you if your story rocks, is there something you can do? Using a generic discussion plugin like Disqus or something?
I love the community created by Chuck’s Friday Flashes (does that sound like a seedy bar to anyone else?). And for those of us whose writing is seeing the light of day for the first time here, it’s the bestest.
July 17, 2011 — 3:49 AM
Ryan A says:
Working my way through everyone else’s, but I wanted to stop and give a special note to Samantha J. Mathis (Since I can’t comment directly): That was awesome. Dark and silly is a hard line to walk, and you stayed on true! I’m reminded of Killer Klowns From Outer Space.
July 17, 2011 — 4:52 AM
oldestgenxer says:
EI–(Epicurean Etc)–it IS exactly like a seedy bar. What a great analogy. The kind where you might find ee cummings playing darts with Hemingway, and the prize is a piece of Dorothy Parker. Verne, Poe, Wells and Shelley are playing strip poker. Ellison is hitting on everything in a skirt. Maya Angelou is holding forth with a movie critic, and Jane Austin is dancing topless on a table…way too early in the evening. Oh, I’m there too. They looked at my talents and ascribed the appropriate task: the bathroom attendant.
July 17, 2011 — 8:42 AM
Darren G Miller says:
I’m on it.
July 17, 2011 — 1:21 PM
Marlan says:
Wow. Lots of posts already.
Here’s mine.
Young’uns
http://marlanesque.wordpress.com/2011/07/17/yunguns/
July 17, 2011 — 7:12 PM
Ben K. says:
A good one this time, Chuck, thank you. Enjoyed writing it.
http://warnerkirby.blogs.com/clintonaut/2011/07/amos.html
Please keep ’em going. Great reading what other folks are writing…
BJK
July 17, 2011 — 9:43 PM
tara tyler says:
i love this prompt!
here is my version, i’m sure it’s tamer than the rest… i will read amd see!
http://taratylertalks.blogspot.com/2011/07/mistification.html
July 18, 2011 — 11:23 AM
Josh says:
I give you “The Whimper”:
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2011/07/18/flash-fiction-the-whimper/
July 18, 2011 — 12:17 PM
Wil A. says:
First time caller here. Wrote this while stuck on a traffic jam on a bus:
http://wilamory.blogspot.com/2011/07/photo-finish.html
July 18, 2011 — 3:46 PM
oldestgenxer says:
I know I already have an entry, but I hadda, hadda, hadda write another story. Is that cheating? Who wants to bet me that I can’t write another one before the week is over? Who’s going to take that bet?
Your Call May Be Monitored
July 18, 2011 — 8:46 PM
Lesann says:
My offering: http://lesannberry.blogspot.com/2011/07/unforeseen-end.html
July 19, 2011 — 2:03 AM
Jo Eberhardt says:
This is the first time I’ve entered one of these flash fiction challenges, but I just coudn’t resist this theme.
Bite Me
July 19, 2011 — 9:14 AM
Samantha J. Mathis says:
Thanks for the feedback you guys!
As for the tumblr comments… Man, that’s a good question. I’ll poke around my more code-savvy friends and see if there’s a way.
July 19, 2011 — 11:54 AM
Michael Trimmer (@MichaelSTrimmer) says:
This is my offering. Entitled “A dusty office”. Looking forward to people’s thoughts!
http://www.michaelstuarttrimmer.co.uk/a_dusty_office.html
July 19, 2011 — 2:08 PM
James Patrick Schmidt says:
An early-stage end of the world, posted for your reading pleasure. “Tax Not Included.”
http://jamespatrickschmidt.com/blog/short-story-tax-not-included/
July 19, 2011 — 4:31 PM
Gareth says:
Started with a horrific concept, it turned into a way to torture my thesaurus.
==============
The End of the World was the En of the Worl
Zachariah was ten when the world ended.
Apocalypses don’t respect youth, even strange ones like this.
Something was excising concepts from the world.
Whole chunks of reality would go missing, and you couldn’t quite put your finger on what was lost.
Leaving nothing but a void.
Unsure of the best course of action, his parents took them all up to the hills.
Together, he and his siblings looked at the nothing rolling in.
A deep silence fell.
‘I’m alone’. Really alone; hills all abandoned.
A quill poked his shoe.
He looked at a hedgehog.
‘Po’ hedgehog’, shaking his head.
On he goed.
‘None for a hide.’
A blank, and behind a hedge.
Leaf, falling.
He: I be! I be!
Be! Be!
Aaaaaaaaa.
July 19, 2011 — 5:26 PM
NameMichael says:
My Slowpocalypse
July 19, 2011 — 7:56 PM
Sean Riley says:
I have no idea if this is an apocalypse or not. But it is none the less an earnest attempt at this challenge.
http://jackslack.tumblr.com/post/7838270330/flash-fiction-challenge-shard-of-heaven
July 20, 2011 — 4:28 AM
Bob Bois says:
Eat your vegetables!
http://sittingindarkness.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/all-the-way-around-the-world/
July 20, 2011 — 7:09 AM
Paul Salvette says:
This is my first time, so I hope you’ll still respect me in the morning.
Every blue-staters nightmare: Self-inflicted apocalypse by a democratically-supported Jesus freak – Proposition 132
July 20, 2011 — 10:25 AM