Last week’s challenge: Sci-Fi/ Fantasy Open Swim.
A couple days ago I said something hasty and insane about “killing genre,” and in there I hit on something I really quite liked — giving fiction aspects or elements instead of genres. So, instead of searching for “epic fantasy,” you can search for stories that have “fantasy” and “politics” together. Or “jetpacks.” Or “detective / mythology / death in the family.” Whatever.
So, that’s (er, kinda) what I’m doing here, today.
I’m going to give you three columns.
You have to pick one from each column.
And from that, write a 1000-word story.
In addition, I’ll pick three random winners from this pile of participants and give away some free e-books. I don’t know what, yet, so let’s just say it’ll be a surprise. Kay? Kay.
As always, the details remain the same. You’ve got one week (due by noon EST, Friday the 14th). Post at your blog, and link back here so we can all swing by and have a look-see.
(If you really want to get crazy, roll a d10 or pick random number between 1 and 10 from this Random Number Generator. In other words, let fate pick your choices in each category!)
The three columns (pick one from each) are:
One (Subgenre)
Noir
Erotica
Dystopian
Steampunk
Mythology
Detective
Sword & Sorcery
“Weird”
Body Horror
Romantic Comedy
Two (Element To Include)
Dinosaurs
Serial Killer
Gladiators
Insects
Climate Change
Hotel Bar
Geology
Graveyard
Surgery
Terrorism
Three (Theme / Motif / Conflict)
Love Triangle
Revenge
Divorce
Childbirth
On The Run
Fated To Die
Man Versus Himself
Addiction
Imprisoned
Ticking Clock
Richard says:
Romo and the efficient cockroach: A tale of revenge
http://byrichardlake.blogspot.com/2012/09/romo-and-efficient-cockroach-tale-of.html
September 10, 2012 — 11:59 PM
Jon Stoffel says:
Stepping well outside my comfort zone, I RNG’d myself into a Body Horror / Hotel Bar / Addiction story.
“Blood Orange”
http://inspirandomonium.blogspot.com/2012/09/flash-fiction-blood-orange.html
September 11, 2012 — 12:48 PM
Eliza says:
I managed to land the ‘weird’ genre, which I have next to no experience with. Definitely felt my writerly muscles stretching.
http://exploringeliza.com/2012/09/11/quick-fiction-of-flesh-and-love/
September 11, 2012 — 6:15 PM
Erin Zulkoski says:
Sorry about eating the cake I made for you, Chuck. Here’s this to hopefully make up for it. http://polishsnausage.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/852/
September 11, 2012 — 10:27 PM
Michael says:
Okay, here’s my first go at flash fiction. My aspects: Detective/Graveyard/Revenge.
Cemetery Dance
http://michaeldwoods.com/2012/09/11/cemetery-dance/
September 11, 2012 — 11:01 PM
C.M. Simpson says:
Thank you for this challenge, Mr. Wendig 🙂
Blood and Iron – a 1,000-word story that is probably more sword and sorcery than either of the other two categories. Aspects: sword and sorcery/serial killer/man versus himself. I’m not too sure how much of the third aspect survived the cutting room floor, but enjoy 🙂
Link: http://cmsimpson.blogspot.com.au/
September 12, 2012 — 7:30 AM
Jessica Burde says:
Here’s my piece. Steampunk/Gladiator/Love Triangle
Much fun, thanks.
September 12, 2012 — 9:55 AM
Jessica Burde says:
Ya know, adding the link would probably help:
http://jessicaburdesblog.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/writing-challenge-steampunk-gladiators-and-love-triangle/
September 12, 2012 — 9:55 AM
Lilith-Elina says:
I saw this a bit late, but flash fiction can be done in a hurry, if needed. Just one question, since I’m new to this: exactly 1000 words or max?
September 12, 2012 — 11:05 AM
David Grigg says:
*Groan!* I made a mess of this one. I’ve been battering my head against it all week, and now I feel like I haven’t stopped writing it, just stopped typing. Too long again (1290 words). I think it actually feels like part of a much larger story, perhaps the first chapter of a novelette?
Anyway, here it is. The aspects were (supposed to be): Dystopia / Climate Change / Fated to Die.
It’s called “The Empire of the Sea” and it’s here: http://narratorium.com/2012/09/13/the-empire-of-the-sea/
September 12, 2012 — 8:42 PM
David Blackstone (@DavidWriting) says:
(mythology/gladiators/fated to die)
“Hubris”
http://www.agincourtdb.com/2012/09/hubris.html
September 12, 2012 — 10:49 PM
J.M. Dow says:
Didn’t think I was going to find the time to get to this, but I did, by golly.
I got “Dystopian,” “Surgery,” and “Love Triangle.”
The result is weird.
At 989 words, here’s “Cut It Out.”
http://whirlingnerdish.blogspot.com/2012/09/flash-fiction-challenge-cut-it-out.html
September 12, 2012 — 11:07 PM
E. Camfield says:
herp derp i wrote a story
I got “Erotica >> Graveyard >> Addiction”
http://echopalimpsest.blogspot.com/2012/09/flash-fiction-challenge-1-game-of.html
September 13, 2012 — 2:01 AM
E. Camfield says:
Correction: Thanks to Blogger’s ridiculous spam filter, my blog is locked until they are done reviewing it in two days. Please read my offering here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Nc80xk2lJGD0nHoLjkejSfpP05lHE8E8YM6AhJHePuU/edit
I apologize in advance for any “irrelevant, repetitive, or nonsensical text.”
September 13, 2012 — 10:19 AM
The Liz says:
This is my first attempt at Flash Fiction! YAY!
Okay, I wound up with Noir / Graveyard / Love Triangle.
I’ve never done Noir, so I hope it still portrayed that sort of ambiance.
“Mixed Messages” Can be read here: http://writingismadness.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-flash-fiction-story-mixed-messages.html
Hope you like it. Sorta scary to put my work ‘out there’ for public consumption. I’m gunna go hide under a rock now.
Twitter: @TheLiz13
September 13, 2012 — 11:52 AM
Lilith-Elina says:
Well, it’s all I can hope for with only one day to write erotica with serial killers on the run…
http://24flashes.blogspot.de/2012/09/a-game-of-aspects.html
September 13, 2012 — 12:04 PM
C.T. TruLove says:
Rolled an 8…
What the hell kinda genre is “weird”
Rolled a 5, then a 7…
weird + climate change + Man vs Himself
…and just like that, I know what kinda genre “weird” is.
http://ohkabaka.blogspot.com/2012/09/me-vs-earl-vs-his-mother-vs-himself-vs.html
September 13, 2012 — 3:49 PM
Jason Heitkamper says:
Well, I opted for a detective tale this time around. Surgery is something I’m familiar with and imprisonment is just plain horrible so I made a stew of it all and I present you with The Wrong Man.
http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=180748901229825479#editor/target=post;postID=3362366873672057910
September 13, 2012 — 4:29 PM
Jason Heitkamper says:
Odd, that link is way off. Here’s a better option.
http://writinword.blogspot.com/2012/09/terrible-minds-flash-fiction-challenge-3.html
September 13, 2012 — 4:32 PM
Johnny Murdoc says:
My entry takes the “erotica” from column one, as it’s pretty much my trade, so beware of NSFW content:
http://www.johnnymurdoc.com/2012/09/free-flash-fiction-hotel-bar.html
September 13, 2012 — 5:11 PM
ChiaLynn says:
Noir. Geology. Revenge.
http://chialynn.com/post/31479805382/noir-geology-revenge
September 13, 2012 — 5:20 PM
Annabelle M. Ramos says:
My first entry 🙂
DYSTOPIAN. CLIMATE CHANGE. ADDICTION
http://annabellemramos.blogspot.ca/2012/09/terrible-minds-flash-fiction-challenge.html
September 13, 2012 — 5:50 PM
James Clark says:
Here’s my entry for Dystopian/Serial Killer/Fated to Die
http://thelongestwayup.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-last-street-samurai.html
September 13, 2012 — 6:39 PM
Jessica McHugh says:
From “erotica,” “dinosaurs,” and “addiction” came “HANK, THE LAST.”
http://mcnito.blogspot.com/2012/09/hank-last.html
September 13, 2012 — 7:16 PM
Logan Riley says:
Okay. So i took Noir/Surgery/Child birth.
Am I proud of what I came up with? I’m not sure. But now my stomach hurts, so maybe I did it right.
“Taking and Giving”
http://literarybandit.wordpress.com/2012/09/13/taking-and-giving/
September 13, 2012 — 9:15 PM
Jon says:
For some reason this one doesn’t feel like it quite works, and I’m not sure why. Any insight you lot of wordslingers have would be welcome.
I’ll see if you can figure out how mine was blended from the story, no hints. Except maybe the title. Which might give just a little bit away.
A Clockwork Vengeance
September 13, 2012 — 11:28 PM
Mark H says:
Sword and sorcery, hotel bar, and love square. One of the three aspects is based on a true story.
It had begun so innocently, with just a bit of kissing. Now the tavern was on fire.
http://www.amanforallseasons.ca/2012/09/13/flash-fiction-based-on-a-true-story/
September 13, 2012 — 11:37 PM
L. C. Szafranski says:
Story doesn’t have a name, but as I said earlier, my 3 were dystopian, surgery and divorce.
http://livingasbest.blogspot.com/2012/09/chuck-wendig-flash-fiction-challenge.html
September 14, 2012 — 12:03 AM
Lillie H says:
First time I’m doing this. Went with random.org to determine and came up with steampunk/serial killer/addiction. Posted at my Figment.com page, cause my blog doesn’t feature my personal writing.
Some Things Don’t Go Quietly
September 14, 2012 — 2:09 AM
Laina says:
An oracle and her sword-wielding brother are trapped in a catacomb after following one of her premonitions. When they meet the necromancer awaiting in the heart of the tomb, they must fight against a far more terrifying kind of imprisonment — being trapped within your own body.
In Two
sword & sorcery, graveyard, imprisoned
September 14, 2012 — 8:32 AM
Drew Bittner says:
I posted my story “Meebs” on FB…
https://www.facebook.com/#!/drewbitt
September 14, 2012 — 10:29 AM
Jeff Xilon says:
Sheesh, look at me. The first to post in this thread and probably one of the last to actually get a story in. Luckily I did get around to it and here it is:
http://www.jeffxilon.com/flash-fiction-genre-aspects-mishmash/
September 14, 2012 — 10:39 AM
Mike Manz says:
Coming in under the wire, Mythology, Insects, childbirth.
I give you,
http://msmanz.com/2012/myth-insects-childbirth/
Enjoy.
September 14, 2012 — 11:50 AM
Mike says:
Took me a while to come up with an idea, then it just flowed. I like it when the writing process is as enjoyable as the end product.
http://www.ravensview.ca/ravens/2012/09/as-time-goes-by.html
September 14, 2012 — 11:52 AM
Brianna says:
Not sure if I made it, but here it is http://creativebrianna.wordpress.com/
Noir, Serial Killer, Addiction
September 14, 2012 — 12:01 PM
Amber J. Gardner says:
Yeah, ignore the comment above (actually if you can delete it, that would be great).
Let’s not complicate things. Keep everything in one place.
Here’s my entry: Addict http://amberjgardner.com/2012/09/14/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge-addict-a-savior-story/
Noir, Serial Killer, Addiction.
September 14, 2012 — 12:59 PM
Scott Zachary says:
I missed the deadline (bah) and couldn’t figure out a good way to shave off the last 300 words (double bah). But I thought I’d post it anyway, you know, for shits and giggles, since I did use a D10 to generate the aspects, and it was a fun story to write.
Chuck, please don’t beat me about the head and neck with the +5 Double-Headed Dildo of Obviousness for borking the submission guidelines.
Anyway, here it is:
Gossamer Wings: A young boy and his trained butterflies seek vengeance against a corrupt genetic researcher.
http://blog.scottzachary.com/2012/09/14/gossamer-wings/
Dystopian, Insects, Revenge.
September 14, 2012 — 3:03 PM
Sarah O'Hara says:
http://authorsarahohara.blogspot.com/2012/10/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge.html
October 2, 2012 — 10:13 AM