First and foremost, I still have to award my favorite 100-word story from the last challenge (“Frog Powder Seagull Tower Scissors“).
I’ve chosen three, actually, because I had too many good ones from which to choose!
My favorites:
yojimbojapan
Paul Tevis
Albert Berg
I loved all three because they took me places I did not expect to go, and did so with great brevity, weirdness, and feeling. Kudos, you three. Contact me at terribleminds at gmail dot com. I’ll get you your e-books!
Now, onto today’s challenge —
And, let’s put this upfront, you’re playing for a signed copy of DOUBLE DEAD in paperback, by yours truly. I will pay for shipping if you’re in the United States. If not, you’ll either have to pay for shipping or be happy instead with an e-book version gifted from Amazon. Diggit? Diggit.
Here’s what I want:
I don’t want stories about vampires. That’d be too easy.
I instead want to play off the title — Double Dead — and have some fun with alliteration.
Alliteration is, of course, the repetition of a singular sound at the beginning of two or more connected words: “Tiny Trees,” or “Ten Tin Typewriters” or “Fez-Fuckers From Fort Frances.”
I want you to come up with a title that uses alliteration. Two or more words.
Then write a story — no more than 1,000 words — to go along with that title.
Seriously, now: no stories about vampires. None. Bzzt. Don’t do it. Otherwise: any genre is a-okay.
Write your stories online somewhere — your own blog, perhaps, or Tumblr, or G+ — and link back here so we can all see it. Feel free to link back to here from that post, too.
You have one week.
December 10th.
Noon EST.
Get writing. One of you gets the tales of Coburn the vampire.
EDIT:
I had to go with: Because Baby, Everything’s Exercise.
http://veryeasychoices.com/2011/12/06/because-baby-everythings-exercise/
Chris Stonebender went apeshit with language and, given the challenge being one *about* language, well, I went with it.
It’s a twisted tale of — well, I don’t even know what to call it.
Chris –
contact me at terribleminds at gmail and we’ll get you set up with a copy of DOUBLE DEAD.
Amber J. Gardner says:
This one is going on the To-Do List.
I want that book…lol
December 2, 2011 — 8:10 AM
Lindsay Mawson says:
Okay, I had WAY too much fun writing this, and I’m sorry to say I went well beyond the 1000 words, so I don’t expect to be part of the contest. I plan to buy Double Dead anyway, it’s in my list of ‘to buy’.
Please enjoy.
SATAN SANTA – http://lindsaymawson.blogspot.com/2011/12/flash-fiction-challenge-30-affliction.html
December 2, 2011 — 10:18 AM
Nicole Wolverton says:
Unlike Lindsay, mine came in way below 1,000 words. Blame my short attention span.
The Title: Trickster Tractibility
http://nicolewolverton.com/?p=506
December 2, 2011 — 10:56 AM
Darlene Underdahl says:
I give you Miller Moth Madness:
http://darlene.underdahl.net/?p=109
December 2, 2011 — 11:34 AM
Philip Athans says:
I’m just going to paste mine here–a story of a writer named Wilson, refusing to heed Mr. Wendig’s advice:
WRITE WRONG
Wilson’s words whipped, willy-nilly, wherever Wilson wandered. Would Wilson work watchfully? Would wastrels worldwide wonder why words washed widdershins without wasting worried wishes? Wherever women wrote, war-torn windows wrapped warily, wry wasps were wasted. When Wilson weakened, war-ravage Warsaw woke with wiser words. Why warn weak works? Why wash worthless wares? Why wrestle wireless warhorses worrying works woefully wanting? Why, Wilson, various vacuous vampires?
December 2, 2011 — 2:53 PM
Lesann says:
My offering: http://lesannberry.blogspot.com/2011/12/ghoul-on-graveyard.html
December 2, 2011 — 4:46 PM
Casz Brewster says:
I’m with @Amber J. Gardner. Writing now.
December 2, 2011 — 8:05 PM
Baliseth says:
My sacrificial lamb: Silent Singer’s Sorrow.
http://anthologymind.blogspot.com/2011/12/flash-fiction-challenge-silent-singers.html
December 2, 2011 — 8:24 PM
Philip Overby says:
I need that Double Dead action for real!
http://philipoverby1.blogspot.com/2011/12/world-wide-wandering-wendigo-wrestler.html
December 3, 2011 — 12:27 PM
Alexa Muir says:
My entry: Bullshit Bulldozer Bonus. Really enjoyed writing this one.
http://awannabewriters.blogspot.com/2011/12/bullshit-bulldozer-bonus-terribleminds.html
December 3, 2011 — 12:48 PM
Dan says:
Ressurection Reset, over at http://www.makingitupasigo.com/2011/12/03/flash-fiction-fun/
It’s possibly the first short fiction I’ve written in three or four years.
December 3, 2011 — 4:38 PM
Philip Overby says:
http://philipoverby1.blogspot.com/2011/12/world-wide-wandering-wendigo-wrestler.html
Here’s mine!
December 3, 2011 — 7:35 PM
Philip Overby says:
http://philipoverby1.blogspot.com/2011/12/world-wide-wandering-wendigo-wrestler.html
December 3, 2011 — 7:41 PM
Adam Weber says:
Here is my humble entry. Bend Back.
http://bonefather.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/bend-back/
December 4, 2011 — 6:49 PM
oldestgenxer says:
It felt really good to do a thousand-word challenge. I’d been too busy slacking off on NaNoWriMo to do any of them. But I’m back. By popular demand.
And I’m still working on my novel, even though November is over. Or perhaps BECAUSE November is over.
My Mommy Made Me
December 5, 2011 — 1:28 AM
Josh Loomis says:
To tackle this tiny tale-telling trial, try Mind Mangles Matter.
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2011/12/05/flash-fiction-mind-mangles-matter/
December 5, 2011 — 7:17 AM
BJ Kerry says:
my story Warring Women
Enjoy
http://kerry-mutterings.blogspot.com/2011/12/warring-women.html
December 5, 2011 — 9:43 AM
Denise Hinson says:
Here’s my story, called “Killing Cousins.”
http://pdhinson.com/?page_id=123
December 5, 2011 — 8:01 PM
Kaity Lynn says:
Here’s my contribution, though it’s quite curt (470 words) — and contagious. Anyway, enjoy.
http://thatonegirl-ohthehorroranexperiment.blogspot.com/2011/12/flash-fiction-double-dead-contest.html
December 5, 2011 — 9:01 PM
Kaity Lynn says:
Here’s my contribution and first flash fiction, Happy Harlequin. Enjoy.
http://thatonegirl-ohthehorroranexperiment.blogspot.com/2011/12/flash-fiction-double-dead-contest.html
December 5, 2011 — 9:08 PM
Daniel Coleman says:
One Weird Wake-up
About a guy who wakes up in a strange situation
http://thedanielcoleman.com/blog/shortstories/one-weird-wake-up/
clocks in at – 982 words
Hope you enjoy it
December 6, 2011 — 12:25 AM
Chris Stonebender says:
Because Baby, Everything’s Exercise.
http://veryeasychoices.com/2011/12/06/because-baby-everythings-exercise/
fun stuff up here, guys.
Had a great time doing it. Learned I can go some dark places. Not a bad gig.
December 6, 2011 — 12:40 AM
Snellopy says:
Here’s my entry, rather petite.
Scenes from a Stellar Skirmish
http://snellopy.blogspot.com/2011/12/scenes-from-stellar-skirmish.html
But that prize, wow, hot-damn that’s sexy. So I’m cooking up a plan B…
December 6, 2011 — 9:23 AM
Jim Franklin says:
Here’s my entry. This is under the word-count at around 600 words but I just couldn’t stop that crazy alliteration train once it had started.
Here is ‘Peter Piper and his Pickled Pepper Picking Palaver’
http://www.thezombiechimp.com/2011/12/06/peter-piper-and-his-pickled-pepper-picking-palaver/
December 6, 2011 — 10:57 AM
Louise Sorensen says:
I see there have been more stories added. My reading is cut out for me.
Here’s my story.
Sinker, Sailor, Soldier… http://wp.me/p1BAlV-1C
December 6, 2011 — 12:12 PM
Max says:
http://kaptinkaiju.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/crazy-cannibal-catastrophe/
Crazy Cannibal Catastrophe
December 7, 2011 — 8:31 AM
Samantha J. Mathis says:
Alright! Throwing mine into the pot!
http://samanthajmathis.tumblr.com/post/13871740194/sunny-side-soiree
December 7, 2011 — 8:34 AM
S. Hubris says:
Innocent Incest
http://subtlehubris.blogspot.com/2011/12/flash-fiction-alliteration-apologies.html
December 7, 2011 — 10:38 AM
yojimbojapan says:
I offer up, “Jimmy’s Job”
http://yojimbojapan.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/flash-fiction-challenge-alliteration/
December 7, 2011 — 12:16 PM
Chris Mackey says:
Ruthless Resurrection
http://hauntedchurches.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/terrible-minds-flash-fiction-an-affliction-of-alliteration/
December 8, 2011 — 7:59 PM
Snellopy says:
Using bribes and blandishments, I bludgeoned the children under my care into creating a second entry. After all, alliteration is educational, and enjoyable. Broaching the topic with a bout of brainstorming, the tiny tykes took to it with great gusto – displaying the Double Dead dust-cover roused roars of approval (graphically you’re good in the 8 – 9 group). The little fella’s had fun, and found that they could ignore irritation enough so that illustrators (such as girls and others of that icky ilk) were worth working with without worry. Wendig Education: Easing the educators load with lively lessons.
http://snellopy.blogspot.com/2011/12/in-which-i-exploit-my-students-for-my.html
My plan B is complete! Teach my kids alliteration, get them to draw pictures, and try playing the cute angle
December 8, 2011 — 11:35 PM
Paul Tevis says:
I might have had too much fun with this one.
The Five Four O’clock Flashers of the Great Garden
Or, The Elector and the Exhibitionists
http://paultevis.com/blog/2011/12/9/an-affliction-of-alliteration.html
December 9, 2011 — 9:11 AM
Sarah E Olson (@saraheolson) says:
Here’s my story: The Evasive Existence of Ernestine Eaton
http://saraheolson.com/2011/12/09/evasive_existence_of_ernestine_eaton/
December 9, 2011 — 10:43 AM
Ben K. says:
Just in under the wire, with all of 25 minutes to spare. Here’s mine, utilizing a favorite old family gag. Involves hit men and diner food.
Enjoy, and thank you as always, Chuck:
http://warnerkirby.blogs.com/clintonaut/2011/12/kousin-karls-kountry-kitchen.html
December 9, 2011 — 11:37 AM
Rabbitz says:
I give you Seeking Simple Solutions:
http://bit.ly/w2RxDi
December 10, 2011 — 1:32 AM
F. A. Real H. says:
My submission to the challenge: “The Change Channeler”
http://theshatteredlands.blogspot.com/2011/12/change-channeler.html
Hope you enjoy it!
F.
December 10, 2011 — 3:31 AM
Alisha Miller says:
Worst entry ever. It’s been a LONG week with baby. -.-
Fanciless Firefight: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150411273071244
December 10, 2011 — 7:30 AM
Alisha Miller says:
@Snellopy OMG I giggled quite a bit. That’s so awesome. Kids are so fantastic!
December 10, 2011 — 7:40 AM
Laith Preston says:
Here is my response, “Round Rhea’s Rings”
http://laith.wordpress.com/2011/12/10/round-rheas-rings-flash-fiction-challenge-response/
December 10, 2011 — 9:20 AM
Laith Preston says:
well, didn’t expect the pingback to show up so fast… oh well.
December 10, 2011 — 9:22 AM