“Plucked From The Pages Of History” is the prior week’s challenge, and I ask — nay, demand! — you go check it out. Right now. No, no, I’ll wait.
Revenge. Powerful topic, innit? To strike back. To give what they got comin’.
To pay a debt that burns deep in the heart like a smoldering coal.
So, that’s what I want you to write about.
Revenge.
Here’s the trick, though — it is such a potent subject, and yet I want you to increase its potency by compressing the story’s density like the aforementioned coal until a sharp and deadly diamond is formed.
You do not have 1000 words.
You only have 100.
And again, we’re talking a complete story in 100 words, not a poetic exercise, not a vignette captured in time, not the beginning of a story or just its ending. The whole kaboodle. An entire tale.
Doesn’t matter what genre. Crime is an easy one, but don’t feel married to that. Fantasy? Sci-fi? Erotica? Whatever you want, throw it at the wall, see what sticks.
From that bunch I’ll pick a favorite and that winner will get a copy of my newest writing-related e-book in PDF format. REVENGE OF THE PENMONKEY. Chock full of inkslinging goodness.
I still prefer you post the 100 words at your own site, but if you don’t have one, you can deposit the tale in the comments below. Make sure to link to your story if posted elsewhere.
You’ve got the usual week. September 9th, by noon EST.
Now, get to sinning. It’s time to enact your vengeance.
EDIT:
AHEM.
I have chosen.
Not one, but five favorites. As always,a hard choice, but that’s life in the big city.
The five (all of whom need to contact me to procure a free copy of ROTPM):
Bob Bois
Samantha Mathis
Jess Hartley
CY Reid
Amber (she of “Raising The Stakes”)
Hit me at terribleminds [at] gmail [dot] com or use the Contact form above.
Thanks, peeps!
Kirsten Aurelius says:
Sidewalk Cracks
http://kirstenaurelius.wordpress.com/2011/09/03/sidewalk-cracks/
September 3, 2011 — 6:11 PM
Sean C/John R says:
“Falls”
http://namelesshorror.com/post/9762078013/chuckwendigs-100-word-challenge-falls
September 3, 2011 — 6:22 PM
John says:
I give to you- Fired UP
http://johnwhinzeii.com/2011/09/03/fired-up/
September 3, 2011 — 10:30 PM
Brandi says:
Here’s my entry!
http://brandiauset.wordpress.com/2011/09/03/chuck-wendigs-flash-fiction-contest/
September 3, 2011 — 11:05 PM
mythago says:
My word processor and WordPress don’t count words the same, but both agree this is no more than 100:
http://www.mythago.com/blog/2011/09/03/story-minute-revenge-ht-chuck-wendig/
September 4, 2011 — 3:00 AM
Dan Wright says:
Sometimes you don’t need to kill someone to get the best revenge.
Finger Fucked.
http://8thage.blogspot.com/2011/09/finger-fucked.html
September 4, 2011 — 3:25 AM
Anna/FranGipani6181 says:
Not in it to win it but thought I would have a go anyway. Here is the link to my 100 words on revenge flash fiction 🙂
http://100wordsperday.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/random-word-revenge/
September 4, 2011 — 8:42 AM
Remy van Ruiten says:
Here’s mine. Hope it’s short and sweet enough.
http://remyvanruiten.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/abandoned/
September 4, 2011 — 8:48 AM
Michael says:
http://innocentsaccidentshints.blogspot.com/2011/09/terrible-minds-challenge-they-call-this.html
September 4, 2011 — 9:44 AM
Jeff Macfee says:
See here for the flashing:
“A Measure of Proportion”
http://macfee.net/a-measure-of-proportion/
September 4, 2011 — 2:42 PM
Toni says:
Bloodthirsty Mary (Lincoln):
http://www.toniransom.com/2011/09/04/bloodthirsty-mary/
September 4, 2011 — 3:54 PM
John says:
There are a lot of great entrants to this challenge, best of luck to all.
September 4, 2011 — 5:21 PM
Kathlyn Hawley says:
Just changing the link on my earlier submission as I changed the name of my blogspot after I found out my full name was available.
http://kathlynhawley.blogspot.com/2011/09/this-weeks-friday-flash-fiction-is-to.html
September 4, 2011 — 8:02 PM
Louis Bertrand Shalako says:
I’ll deal with you later, Mr. Wendig.
September 4, 2011 — 8:08 PM
Joshua Ens says:
“The Sweetest Kind”
http://litvoid.com/2011/09/04/thesweetestkind/
Preview: It was a final betrayal of trust; the brushes, subtle gropes against other men were nothing to this, the moans from our bed as I listened….
September 4, 2011 — 8:24 PM
Don Sullivan says:
He touched the careworn handle of the bat he had carried since the day she’d left, taking everything with her. He stepped out of the car (her car), and walked up the path (her path) and knocked, his teeth grinding, on her door. His door.
When she didn’t answer, the vinegar started to go out of him. He didn’t shout. He moved around to the living room window, and looked inside. She was eating dinner with their son. Smiling, and laughing at some unseen television show. Something inside him died when she smiled. Apparently, the best revenge is living well.
September 4, 2011 — 11:31 PM
Tony Southcotte (@tsouthcotte) says:
I’ve lurked these challenges for too long, here is a quick sci fi entry:
http://tsouthcotte.blogspot.com/2011/09/flash-fiction-challenge-100-words-on.html
September 5, 2011 — 2:04 AM
Jacob says:
Here’s mine!
http://blackfireonwhitefire.blogspot.com/2011/09/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge.html
September 5, 2011 — 2:36 AM
Charlie Wade says:
Best Served Cold
http://spiesliesandpies.blogspot.com/2011/09/100-words.html
September 5, 2011 — 6:07 AM
Snellopy says:
I like this little ones, it’s much easier to read everyone else’s great entries.
http://snellopy.blogspot.com/2011/09/flash-fiction-bloodfeud.html
September 5, 2011 — 9:46 AM
Ben K. says:
100 words is tough.
Please enjoy:
http://warnerkirby.blogs.com/clintonaut/2011/09/without-mercy.html
Thanks as always, Chuck.
September 5, 2011 — 11:33 AM
Josh says:
Scratch.
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2011/09/05/flash-fiction-scratch/
September 5, 2011 — 11:56 AM
Amber Keller says:
Simply titled, “Revenge”.
http://adiaryofawriter.blogspot.com/2011/09/revenge.html
September 5, 2011 — 1:27 PM
Roger Kilbourne says:
Stiff competition, as usual. Here’s mine:
http://rogerkilbourne.wordpress.com/2011/09/05/flash-fiction-good-dog/
September 5, 2011 — 2:13 PM
Gary Swaby says:
I’m new to this blog, but I love the content and I especially love the writing style.
Here is my entry, and very first flash-fiction.
http://garyswaby.tumblr.com/post/9858319815/terribleminds-100-word-flash-fiction-challenge
Hope it’s good enough.
September 5, 2011 — 8:41 PM
eva dolan says:
Brotherly Love – http://wp.me/p1LWw8-2B
September 5, 2011 — 9:23 PM
Mark says:
Hey Chuck,
I’m throwing my entry into the mix…..thanks!
http://leftandwriteblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/ive-started-following-author-and-self.html
September 6, 2011 — 2:17 AM
Sparky says:
I suspect my take was a little different, hope you enjoy.
http://sparky29252.blogspot.com/2011/09/100-on-revenge.html
September 6, 2011 — 2:53 AM
Lara says:
100 words! Shit, that was difficult. Well, here’s my wee lump of coal.
http://lara-p.tumblr.com/post/9871649069/terribleminds-and-revenge
September 6, 2011 — 4:16 AM
Brian D. Buckley says:
First person to click gets a free puppy.
Whoops, you missed it! But damn, was that puppy adorable.
http://briandbuckley.com/2011/09/06/flash-fiction-system-log/
September 6, 2011 — 6:41 AM
Jo Eberhardt says:
Who can resist writing a story in 100 words? No one, by the looks of all these entries!
Here’s mine. It’s called: Meta What
http://wp.me/p1teED-f8
September 6, 2011 — 9:17 AM
Gary Swaby says:
@Brian D. Buckley I clicked it first, where do I claim my free puppy?
September 6, 2011 — 10:09 AM
Brian D. Buckley says:
@Gary Swaby: It’s, uh, in the mail? *frantically tries to find a puppy and a box with airholes*
September 6, 2011 — 10:37 AM
Nadia says:
Hi Sorry I don’t have a website. Below is my entry.
He was late home again. Probably still at the pub, wasting their money while she came straight home after a nine hour day, cleaned the kitchen and prepared his meal.
They had been married for fourteen years and rarely exchanged a cross word.
She reached into the spice drawer and pulled out a bottle of laxative formula then poured a generous helping into the soup, followed by a dash of basil. He would probably wonder why he was getting sick so often.
She stirred the soup and left it to simmer. In this case her revenge was best served warm.
September 6, 2011 — 11:19 AM
Albert Berg says:
The Bitter End: a story of revenge at the end of the world.
http://wp.me/p1e5Wo-sX
September 6, 2011 — 12:03 PM
Shoshana K. says:
Here’s the link to mine – this is the first 100 word short story I’ve ever tried!
http://wisdomlivesinsilence.wordpress.com/2011/09/06/flash-fiction-contest-revenge/
Enjoy!
September 6, 2011 — 12:26 PM
Malmo says:
Try number 7. Seriously, why cant i submit this damn story. different email address this time.
‘Fight not flight’
http://malideas.wordpress.com/
September 6, 2011 — 1:07 PM
Drew Diaz says:
Please and Thanks-
Here’s my attempt
http://standup2p.wordpress.com/2011/09/06/terrible-minds-flash-fiction-challenge/
I wear an XL T-Shirt if that is the prize.
September 6, 2011 — 1:08 PM
Katie T. says:
“Cuts”
The tip of the knife digs down into the flesh of his chest. A little scratch, barely deep enough to draw blood. Enough to make him flinch as sweat begins to drip. Fear writhes in his gut.
Another and another. Deeper and deeper. The knife digging it’s slow way down.
‘Please. Don’t.’
She leans in close. ‘You took my heart from me.’
A flash of memory. A little girl’s body, so still on the road.
‘A pain that grows worse every day.’ Another little cut. ‘You’ll know what that feels like soon enough.’
September 6, 2011 — 1:49 PM