Do check out the stories from last week’s challenge, in which writers torment their protagonists.
This week? I’ve got a book to give away.
An actual, honest-to-Jeebus physical book.
I know! Those do still exist. I may even decide to send it in a package made of dodo bones.
Anyway, this week, I’ll pick one story that I do love oh so very much, and the writer of that story will earn the above book — CRIMES IN SOUTHERN INDIANA, stories by Frank Bill. Let me be clear when I say that these stories represent a ragged, saw-toothed collection of mean-ass crime fiction — country noir set in the Heartland. Frank’s prose is equally gnarly, and represents a very distinct voice. Writers this good don’t come around all that often, so trust me when I say, you want this collection.
This is an advanced copy, too. Isn’t out until next month.
That should juice your trousers.
(Though be advised, I can only send it to folks in the US of A. That’s not to say international peeps can’t still contribute fiction, only that they ain’t up for the book.)
One thing I noticed when reading this collection is, HOLY SHIT, GUNS. See, I’m a bit of a gun nut. Sure, sure, I may be socially liberal, but like it or no, I’m a gun guy. My father was a gun collector, a gunsmith, and a gunseller, and as a result I grew up around guns. Mostly long-arms with the occasional pistol. Hell, to clear out carpenter bees my father loaded CCI .22 shotshells into a piece of shit Italian .22 revolver and had me shoot the bees one at a time as they swarmed up around our barn. There I was, 12-years-old, executing bees with a .22 revolver in our driveway.
Probably not legal. But whatever. Those were good times.
Anyway, on damn near every page of Frank Bill’s collection: guns. 12 gauge. H&K .40. A .38 snubnose. Another 12 gauge. Again and again: gun porn. And I like me some gun porn.
So, that’s your job.
GUN PORN.
Well, really, all I ask is that you write a piece of crime fiction that features — and c’mon, this is so easy — guns as a feature. That’s like a present to you, from me. Mmmm. Guns.
You have 1000 words.
Short flash fiction. Not a vignette but a complete story.
Due by Friday, August 19th.
I’ll pick a favorite in the week after.
Post at your online space. Link back here. Direct us to your tale in the comments of this post.
Crime + Guns = Awesome.
Get to work.
EDIT:
Whyooo!
We have our winner.
Some good stuff, here. Tricky, though, because some stuff a) wasn’t crime or b) was over the limit. Further, I’ll still note that it’s hard to read some stories because of the blogs — in particular, busy backdrops hiding behind white text. Had to copy/paste into a WORD doc just to read without getting headachey.
Anyway. Winner?
CM Stewart.
For this disturbing and well-written gem:
http://cmstewartwrite.wordpress.com/2011/08/19/kiss-the-gun-a-flash-fiction-tale/
Kiss The Gun.
Or what I would call, “Harvey Gets The Shot.”
67 responses to “Flash Fiction Challenge: “Must Love Guns””
[…] Flash Fiction Challenge: “Must Love Guns” […]
Nice one! Definitely going to have to jump into this little turkey shoot! Guns=awesome. I think it has to do with where we grew up, in good ol’ Western PA. The first day of Buck Season is a school holiday, for chrissakes! Turning twelve was a *huge* deal, since that’s when you could finally get a license and carry a boomstick yourself.
Mmm, gun porn. Just what I needed for a Friday Fix. Thanks Chuck!
Okay, so I know I’m from good ol’ Ontario, so I can’t participate in the winning, but I can’t not participate in the challenge.
I just spent a day last week doing gun research with my brother for my book, Dissecting Dallas… so it’s all fresh in my head.
Chuck, your Vignette/Story phrase inspired me (if you want to know how, you just have to read it). I know I’m guilty of vignettes. What can you do, I’m not a short story writer 🙂
Some sarcasm to start your morning.
http://lindsaymawson.blogspot.com/2011/08/flash-fiction-challenge-21-must-love.html
Guns. Got it. Good one…
“I’ll be back” as they say.
There’s a reason “gun” rhymes with “fun”. You’re on.
Well, I could recycle this one, which I wrote just for grins. Probably not fair, though, so I’ll work on it.
[…] http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/08/12/flash-fiction-challenge-must-love-guns/ […]
Here’s mine. It’s a bit twisted.
Hot Steel:
http://mikecooleyfiction.dyndns-blog.com/?p=40
Damn! Link fail.
Here’s the right one:
http://mikecooleyfiction.dyndns-blog.com/?p=406
I would love that book.
Is killing a cat a crime? Yes, yes it is.
http://darlene.underdahl.net/?p=85
My offering: http://lesannberry.blogspot.com/2011/08/presidential-collection.html
Gracie’s Gun
Or http://downrange-impact.blogspot.com/2011/08/gracies-gun.html if you want the naked link,
All right, I have to try. Here’s my shot.
http://mozambique-drill.blogspot.com/2011/08/trap-line-saturday-2-pm-and-fine-if-not.html
Eck!
Here’s mine: http://mandarific.com/blog/the-thief/
Being no expert in writing crime fiction, nor do I know a lick of anything about guns, I figured I’d do something sort-of fun with it. 🙂
[…] decided to try my hand at another one of Chuck Wendig’s Friday Flash Fiction Challenges – the prompt: A short story of 1000 words or less. Must be crime fiction. Must include […]
I have failed in this effort, and would certainly understand that this takes me out of the running for the prize (though know I’ll likely buy it on my own), but wanted to submit my story nonetheless:
http://warnerkirby.blogs.com/clintonaut/2011/08/the-fall-of-the-hemlock-gang.html
I went over 369 words. Couldn’t cut it down. Couldn’t do it. Could. Not. Do. It. But it was way too much fun to write not to submit.
Thanks as always, Chuck.
Yee-haw. Blammo! Blam! Blam! Bang! Ka-pow!
my submission for this week.
http://lilycooper61.wordpress.com/2011/08/14/insignificant/
Dear all
Sam and Rick are taking a break this week. So let me instead introduce you to Stan Weller in “The Motherload”
http://www.michaelstuarttrimmer.co.uk/the_motherload.html
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and reading everyone else’s work!
Michael Trimmer
[…] This is another in the series of flash fiction from Chuck Wendig’s site “Terrible Minds.” The theme this week was to write something about guns. That’s a little open-ended, if you ask me. To find out the details and read more entries, go to his website: Chuck Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge: Must Love Guns […]
Didja know I’m a speed reader? True story. Anyway, I read the requirements for this week’s challenge, and what I got out of it was “Gun Porn.”
Happiness is a Warm (Yes it is!) Gun
Bang! Bang! Here’s my entry.
http://anothernightchainsmoking.blogspot.com/2011/08/tale-of-gun.html
[…] For the TerribleMinds flash fiction challenge, Must Love Guns. […]
The Gunsmith.
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2011/08/15/flash-fiction-the-gunsmith/
[…] by a challenge over at Chuck Wendig’s blog. (Can’t win the prize being in Canada so I’m not worried about being late or over the […]
It’s late and a bit over the limit and from Canada but what the hey. If anybody likes it, thats great.
http://jerrybloomfield.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/the-gun/
Well, take a peak. See if it’s in the right vein.
“Coins”
http://larryhutson.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/coins/
I’m not sure whether this is crime-y enough, but it’s definitely got a gun. A nice, shiny one.
Six Inches Under
[…] This is my submission for Chuck Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge: “Must Love Guns” […]
Here’s my go: http://cbroad90.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/self-help-for-the-sad-sack/
I don’t qualify for winning the book because I’m here in the UK, but what the hell. Enjoy!
Man, I’d love to have your pull. I’ve been running a writing challenge for almost 3 weeks to give away this great book.
*bows*
You’re got the goods.
This is a fun topic. Here’s Microchip which takes place in the Land of Smiles, Corruption, and Pederasts – Thailand!
In the unlikely event that I win, I would like Mr. Wendig to send Crimes in Southern Indiana to my Grandma in Michigan, who probably knows some of the people the book is based on.
[…] I had four people volunteer to read my short story last week, and have had two people come back to me with their thoughts and feedback so far. They’ve both been a great help, and I’m looking forward to getting all the feedback in so I can get started on some reworking. Yay for feedback! I also wrote another flash fiction story for Chuck Wendig’s weekly competition. […]
[…] to put a short story together for one of Chuck Wendig’s weekly flash fiction contests. This week’s contest is about guns and crime. Which is a nice fit for me. I can certainly get up to some fun with guns, […]
My story is up, “Ballad of A Well Known Gun”
Mine for the week! Lucky Number Seven! http://samanthajmathis.tumblr.com/post/9060366993/lucky-number-seven
[…] week’s Flash Fiction Challenge from Terribleminds: Must Love […]
Here’s mine.
http://wp.me/p1alyl-1I
Alright, here it is… Not Part of the Plan http://wp.me/p1AW5f-2a
The Backahasten featuring a Swedish Mauser 96
http://amytupper.net/2011/08/18/the-backahasten/
[…] flash fiction response to a challenge issued by Chuck Wendig at terribleminds.com. Crime fiction + gun porn = a challenge that pushed me out of my comfort […]
That was almost too much fun to be legal! Bonus points if you know the origins of the BFG-9000 🙂
http://rogerkilbourne.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/flash-fiction-show-of-force/
[…] the adrenalin rush of writing within specific limitations, and one of the places I seek it is Chuck Wendig at Terribleminds. His challenge for this week […]
[…] is a flash fiction entry for Chuck Wendig's Must Love Guns flash fiction contest, and my own flash fiction challenge, Teeth. […]
The Gunshoe, the Judge, and a Tooth Fairie
http://wp.me/p1e5Wo-s7
Hello friends.
Is it cheating if I had something laying around from last week and stumbled onto this challenge now, or would that serendipity?
Five Down. “Punish in Return.” Six Letters
http://wp.me/pseya-oh
First fiction I’ve written since early June. Be gentle. “The Colt” http://jamiewyman.blogspot.com/2011/08/must-love-guns-flash-fiction.html
This is my first Flash Fiction Challenge submission. I went over the word count, so no prize for me (even though I really wanted it), but I just couldn’t shave it down any more. I am really looking forward to some feedback though, so please give it a read and tell me what you think.
http://latent-ambiguity.blogspot.com/2011/08/flash-fiction-must-love-guns.html
Here is my story; The Collector http://wp.me/p1BAlV-16
WordPress was a little uncoordinated > had one sentence in the original arial font, and the rest in its basic Times New Roman.
[…] past week’s Frankie Bill-themed challenge — “Must Love Guns” — is ready for your […]