Last week’s challenge — “A Game Of Aspects” — was so cool and so weird (and is still ongoing until noon) that I thought it was high-time to do another one. Or, at least, a similar one.
Once again, we’ve got three categories.
Slightly different this time:
Again, Subgenre.
Then: Setting!
Then: Element to Include.
We’ll leave theme/motif/conflict off the table for the time being, since some of these settings and included elements will have conflicts implicit.
This time, there’s a different prize.
Interested in attending the Crossroads Writers Conference in Macon, GA? October 5th through the 7th? Where I am, in fact, a speaker? (Who the hell let that happen?)
Well, I’m giving away — courtesy of the conference —
THE WORDSMITH MEGASUPREME PACKAGE.
Ahem. You get:
The full day of the Saturday conference with the Keynote Lunch, a swank room at the Marriott City Center, after hours access to Crossroads HQ, a T-shirt, a 2GB pre-loaded USB, a Crossroads travel mug, wristband, a reception on Saturday night and brunch on Sunday, plus they’ll throw in an extra night at the hotel (total of two) and a free pass to the Freelancers Summit on Friday.
Then there will be two runners up who can nab: a Pen & Paper registration package, which includes access to the Saturday conference, a Crossroads T-shirt and Keynote Lunch.
Here’s a link to the registration page and breakdown:
http://www.crossroadswriters.org/conference/?page_id=819
Further questions can be dropped into the comments or emailed to Chris -@- CrossroadsWriters.org.
Now, you can still participate in the challenge without throwing your name into the prize hat — after all, the prize won’t be useful to people who can’t make it to Georgia on those dates, right? Right. So, when posting your entry in the comments, please note whether you’re submitting to be included in the prize draw (which will be a random draw of those participating). If you don’t note your interest, I’ll assume you’re not.
If you know people who might like to take advantage of the potential prize, please send ’em here.
To play, you gotta write a story.
1000 words.
Host at your blog or online space.
Link back here.
Again, you can still participate in the flash fiction challenge without throwing your name into the prize hat, but the reverse is not true — you cannot throw your name into the prize hat without first participating in the flash fiction challenge. Dig? Dig.
You’ve got one week. Due by Friday, September 21st, noon EST.
Now, onto the categories:
Again, the coolest way to play this is to either roll a d10 for each category or to choose a random number between 1-10 using an online random number generator such as the one found at Random.org.
One from each, then write.
The categories:
Subgenre
Paranormal Romance
Cyberpunk
Splatterpunk
Ghost Story
Space Opera
Alternative History
Lovecraftian
BDSM Erotica
Murder Mystery
Superhero
Setting
A Brothel
A Space Station
Bottom of the Ocean
Inside a Massively-Multiplayer Game
Wal-Mart
Hell
The Hollow Earth
The Zoo
In a Vehicle Traveling Down the Highway
Paris, 1944
Element to Include
Weapons of Mass Destruction
A Funeral
Adultery
A Robot
Amnesia
A Fashion Show
A Dragon
Some Kind of Alien Virus or Parasite
Tattoos
Cloning
Rachel says:
Lovecraftian story set in Hell with Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Hmm….
September 14, 2012 — 9:45 AM
Phil Norris says:
I’m instantly drawn to superhero – a brothel – a robot. That’s my weekend sorted then.
September 14, 2012 — 10:07 AM
Anthony says:
Oh dear, I got BDSM Erotica, A Space Station, and Cloning….I’m going to have to ponder this…
September 14, 2012 — 10:34 AM
Travis cole says:
http://malefactorsrejoice.blogspot.com/2012/09/mom-mom-mom.html
Interested in prize.
September 14, 2012 — 10:43 AM
Amber J. Gardner says:
I want this so much I hate that it’s by random selection.
Wait. Is that website correct? Today is the last day to register for the conference (outside this giveaway anyways)?
September 14, 2012 — 11:09 AM
Raechel Hudson says:
http://raechelhudson.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/the-bruised-sky.html
I’m not really trying to win the comp here. My entry is probably a bit long anyway. I just have to thank this post for the spark of inspiration. I got Cyberpunk, the Hollow Earth and adultery, and this is the flame I created from that spark.
September 14, 2012 — 11:56 AM
Erik Mason says:
I got cyberpunk, Wal-Mart and a robot. I give you, “The Cause”: http://geekonablog.blogspot.com/2012/09/story-cause.html
I would love to go to the conference, but I’m afraid that I wouldn’t be able to make it down to Georgia.
September 14, 2012 — 2:04 PM
Willow Becker says:
Space Opera. In Hell. With a Dragon.
September 14, 2012 — 2:51 PM
SWSondheimer says:
I have no idea where this little slice of weird came from.
http://swsondheimer.wordpress.com/this-just-in/eels-sigh/
ghost story/bottom of the ocean/a dragon
apparently, adultery got thrown in for fun
No prize for me. First week back at work from maternity leave. Someday I’ll get to ditch this nursing thing for the writer thing. Right? RIGHT??????
September 14, 2012 — 4:02 PM
katfrench says:
I liked both these assignments so much, I built a quick HTML/javascript generator for this one. For those who are too lazy to look up the item that corresponds to a random number. 😉
http://thatdarnkat.com/second-game-of-aspects.html
This should be fun.
September 14, 2012 — 4:11 PM
Anthony says:
Splatterpunk, Brothel, Cloning. Should be interesting.
September 14, 2012 — 4:20 PM
Josh M. says:
3d10 yielded results of 5, 3, 4.
Space opera at the bottom of the ocean with robots. Kay. Here we go…
September 14, 2012 — 4:24 PM
Bronson O'Quinn says:
Wizards of the Coast official Dice Roller: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/dice/dice.htm
I’m drinking a Red Bull and about to punch this exercise in the face!
September 14, 2012 — 6:23 PM
David Blackstone (@DavidWriting) says:
“Like Binky’s Ghost”
(Ghost Story/Space Station/Robot)
http://www.agincourtdb.com/2012/09/like-binky-ghost.html
September 14, 2012 — 6:49 PM
Bronson O'Quinn says:
Yes, I want in on the contest with the prizes and stuff. I have family in Macon, which means free lodging!
I rolled: Space Opera, the hollow Earth, some sort of alien virus or parasite (I promise, I did not choose these. If I chose, I would have done Cyberpunk, Wal-Mart, Funeral)
All right everyone, the moment you’ve all been waiting for:
“KILLER CRABS FROM OUTER SPACE”!!!
http://www.disposabletea.com/2012/09/killer-crabs-from-outer-space.html
September 14, 2012 — 7:58 PM
Bronson O'Quinn says:
You might have said it and I just can’t read, but are you allowed to submit more than one entry?
September 14, 2012 — 8:21 PM
Michael Woods says:
I rolled 3d10 and got 10, 8, 7. Okay, Superhero/The Zoo/A Dragon. It’s gonna be hard not to fall into the obvious cliches, but I’ll give it a shot.
September 14, 2012 — 9:47 PM
Gary Weller says:
394 Splatterpunk/Vehicle/Amnesia.
I’m wondering if I got it easy or not? Will ponder and post back.
September 15, 2012 — 12:29 AM
Lindsay Mawson says:
I didn’t choose randomly, and I don’t expect to be in on the contest because mine’s too long, anyway, but it was good practice getting back into the swing of things after having my second kid (and a few free moments).
Had Superhero, Wal-Mart, and Tattoo. I give you “Super in Vain”
http://lindsaymawson.blogspot.ca/2012/09/flash-fiction-challenge-45-second-game.html
September 15, 2012 — 12:14 PM
Gary Weller says:
Here you go Chuck. Yes, I want to go to Georgia. We can have a drink.
Here’s Race Day
September 15, 2012 — 2:56 PM
Laura W. says:
A paranormal romance in Hell that includes adultery. This should be fun.
September 15, 2012 — 3:48 PM
ACP says:
Neall Raemonn Price told me to do it, so this is his fault. But I ended up using it as an excuse to finally create my Writer’s blog!
My roll: 2, 2, 1. I give you “Lucky Lot”.
http://electroweakstar.blogspot.com/2012/09/lucky-lot.html
~ACP
September 15, 2012 — 3:52 PM
ACP says:
Oh, and YES for being entered into the contest. Oops.
~ACP
September 15, 2012 — 3:57 PM
Anthony Elmore says:
I had hoped to attend Crossroads this year, but life, an accident and low cash flow has killed that hope. Maybe this is my chance.
Will a Paranormal Romance set in 1944 Paris with robots do the trick?
September 15, 2012 — 5:01 PM
Lori Campbell says:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/lori-campbell/game-of-aspects-entry/366112733464538
Definitely interested in the prize! I live close to Macon and it’s killing me that I might not be able to go to the conference…Ok, maybe a little dramatic but I really want to attend this conference. It’ll be my first 🙂
September 15, 2012 — 6:39 PM
David Grigg says:
So now you see, I have a dilemma. I picked, at random, three aspects, and came up with what I think is a great ghost story. But it’s over 2,000 words, and I actually think it’s good enough to submit to a magazine somewhere.
So, thanks (as always) for the prompts, Chuck, but this story could have legs and I won’t post a link to it here.
September 15, 2012 — 10:54 PM
Patrick O'Duffy says:
Oh Chuck, Chuck, you crazy bewhiskered Muse. I can never say no to you.
I did think about rolling for it, but the combo of murder mystery/highway vehicle/funeral was TOO POWERFUL for me to resist.
So buckle in and drop the brown acid for ‘Murder, She Rocked’:
http://patrickoduffy.com/2012/09/16/flash-fiction-murder-she-rocked/
(And since I’m in Australia, it kinda goes without saying that I’m not doing this for the nookie. I mean, um, the Wordsmith Package.)
September 16, 2012 — 4:30 AM
Liz says:
FYI, you’ve listed Hell twice under setting: #5 & #6
September 16, 2012 — 10:05 AM
Jim Franklin says:
I got Murder Mystery, Brothel and Cloning. So I’d like to introduce you to…
“Murder at the Orient Sex-press”
http://www.thezombiechimp.com/2012/09/16/flash-fiction-murder-orient-sex-press/
Hope you like it.
Unfortunately, I can’t get all the way to Georgia, so this is just for fun.
September 16, 2012 — 3:21 PM
Criss Walker says:
I rolled out BDSM Erotica, in Hell, with a Dragon. It’s gonna get a little dark. Strap in.
September 16, 2012 — 5:34 PM
Josh Loomis says:
The d10 of Destiny tells me this story will include: Lovecraftian, A Space Station, A Dragon.
… Is it my birthday already?
Be right back.
September 16, 2012 — 7:48 PM
Anthony Elmore says:
Subgenre: Paranormal Romance
Setting: Paris, 1944
Element to Include: Robots.
La résistance est futile!!
http://www.barelyok.com/terrible-minds-flash-fiction-challenge-a-game-of-aspects-ii.html
September 17, 2012 — 2:01 AM
The Random Blogger says:
My three random topics were Murder Mystery, In A Vehicle Traveling Down The Highway, and Adultery.
The result is Junk In The Trunk:
http://www.therandomblogger.com/fiction/junk-in-the-trunk
And although I’ve love to win the prize, I couldn’t attend anyway, unfortunately.
September 17, 2012 — 6:50 AM
Josh Loomis says:
Behold, the Outermost Gate.
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2012/09/17/flash-fiction-the-outermost-gate/
As much as I would love to win the prize, airfare is damningly expensive and there are obligations to fulfill on my end. Dammit. Good luck to those in the running for that sweet, sweet deal. I’ll be happy for you if you win. And also insanely jealous.
September 17, 2012 — 7:55 AM
Sandra Becker says:
Ghtost Story/Wal Mart/Tattoos
Enter me for the conference prize
http://sandypoet.blogspot.com
September 17, 2012 — 7:57 AM
Laura Libricz says:
I think I just blew a fuse here. Alternative History, phew!
http://lauralibricz.blogspot.de/2012/09/alien-virus.html
The other aspects are posted at the end of the story.
September 17, 2012 — 12:37 PM
Jessica Burde says:
Superhero story set in Walmart, with cloning. Tempted to re-roll on the basis of cliche, but the Walmart angle is odd enough that I think I can do something new with this.
September 17, 2012 — 2:21 PM
Sandra Oliver Becker says:
Lets do this again. I put in wrong blog spot the first time
Ghost Story/Wal Mart/ Tattoos
http://sandypoet2012.blogspot.com
September 17, 2012 — 2:47 PM
Scott Zachary says:
Resplendent: A teenage boy meets the girl of his dreams at a Wal-Mart fashion show.
http://blog.scottzachary.com/2012/09/17/resplendent/
940 words. Ghost Story, Wal-Mart, and Fashion Show.
Doubt I could make it out to the conference, should I win, so this is just for warm fuzzies.
September 17, 2012 — 8:06 PM
Beth L. says:
Waters of Lethe, in which paranormal romance, a brothel, and amnesia meet and greet.
http://knotachance.tumblr.com/
September 17, 2012 — 9:38 PM
Jeremy Jones says:
Drew Ghost Story, In a Vehicle Traveling Down the Highway with a Robot… ….
All righty then, I present the Infinite Loop:
http://alleywayrover.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-infinite-loop.html
And as much as I would like to go… probably couldn’t manage it. This is, as they say, for shits and giggles.
Mostly for shits.
September 18, 2012 — 12:52 AM
Casz Brewster says:
Oi, This is what I got:
Ghost Story
Paris, 1944
Tattoos
Hope I can create something by the deadline.
September 18, 2012 — 1:27 PM
Eliza says:
I was pretty psyched with my roll: Murder Mystery, Brothel, Alien Parasite. Huzzah!
http://exploringeliza.com/2012/09/18/quick-fiction-call-it-what-you-will/
And if I got picked to go to Georgia, I would be completely tickled pink. And green. And other colors.
September 18, 2012 — 11:41 PM