Last week’s challenge: “Inspiration From Inexplicable Photos“
This challenge is a little different from all the others.
It plays off that oft-slung chestnut of writing wisdom, “Write what you know.”
In this case, I want you to do exactly that — but with a twist.
I want you to grab an event from your life. Then I want you to write about it through a fictional, genre interpretation — changing the event from your life to suit the story you’re telling. So, maybe you write about your first hunting trip between father-and-son, but you reinterpret that as a king taking his youngest out to hunt dragons. Or, you take events from your Prom (“I caught my boyfriend cheating on me in the science lab”) and spin it so that the event happens at the same time a slasher killer is making literal mincemeat of the Prom King and Queen.
Take true life.
Reimagine it through the lens of fiction.
You’ve got 1000 words.
Post your story on your site, link back here.
Due by Friday the 22nd, noon EST.
Casz Brewster says:
Any particular “event” you’d like to see fictionalized? Just curious.
February 15, 2013 — 10:24 AM
Shelly Tennyson Taylor says:
Fun, I enjoy these types of writing challenges. Forces our minds conjure up things.
Hope you enjoy.
http://oldmomsunite.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/tears-of-the-son/
February 15, 2013 — 10:38 AM
rachelhelie says:
My “true story” “Little Death” http://rachelhelie.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=355&action=edit&message=6
February 15, 2013 — 12:16 PM
rachelhelie says:
I think I formatted this wrong so I resubmitted below!
February 16, 2013 — 9:48 AM
darleneaubol says:
One afternoon, when I was a kid, my older brother took it upon himself to hunt and shoot some of our dogs. This Friday Flash Fiction is based on that incident.
Royal Families
http://darlene.underdahl.net/?p=214
aka Darlene Underdahl
http://www.VermillionRoadPress.com
February 15, 2013 — 2:13 PM
lacabeza says:
Done! http://www.lacabezagrande.com/2013/02/my-deadly-fate/
February 15, 2013 — 5:56 PM
rachelhelie says:
Fun stuff!…Submitting http://rachelhelie.com/?p=355
February 15, 2013 — 8:29 PM
Adam says:
I’m very new to creative writing, and terribly bashful, so this is great practice. Today, I learned I really struggle with word count limits.
http://letitwander.com/post/43187373727/the-farmhouse
February 15, 2013 — 9:13 PM
darleneaubol says:
Ah, yeah, old farms. Don’t be bashful, that was very good and I loved the picture.
aka Darlene Underdahl
February 18, 2013 — 9:19 AM
Tia Kalla (@tiakall) says:
When I saw this challenge, I thought “well, what’s the most interesting thing that’s happened to me?” and the first thing that came to mind was “that time when I hit a moving car.”
So here you are, “Look Both Ways”: http://itt.ymakadomain.com/?p=105
February 16, 2013 — 12:50 AM
darleneaubol says:
Chuck? Is my story coming back?
aka Darlene Underdahl
February 16, 2013 — 9:21 AM
darleneaubol says:
There it is, thanks!
February 16, 2013 — 9:22 AM
Alex Wren says:
This fable-esque story incorporates 2 events from my childhood. “Fire’s Daughter”: http://www.awrenwriting.com/?p=105
February 16, 2013 — 12:07 PM
crow365 says:
Just a smidge over 1000 words (~1200 and some change), here’s a mash-up of two events from my early 20s, involving my first love.
http://nickegelhoff.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/flash-fiction-challenge-write-what-you-know/
February 16, 2013 — 12:44 PM
Tracy Rowan says:
Thank you. It helped in a lot of ways: http://tracyrowan.org/persimmonfrost/?page_id=4794
February 16, 2013 — 5:20 PM
darleneaubol says:
That was powerful.
aka Darlene Underdahl
February 18, 2013 — 9:54 AM
Jan says:
A break-up turned into the personification of a balloon.
http://thestrangethoughts.blogspot.ca/2013/02/the-red-balloon-re-written-true-story.html
February 16, 2013 — 5:29 PM
David Grigg says:
This one is based on some real-life, totally unauthorized experiments from my high school years.
It’s called “The Fire Workers”: http://narratorium.com/2013/02/18/the-fire-workers/
February 17, 2013 — 10:32 PM
Josh Loomis says:
Decided to use the last time I wrecked a car as a jumping-off point.
“The Akubra”: http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2013/02/18/flash-fiction-the-akubra/
February 18, 2013 — 8:13 AM
Carl Bussler says:
Alan Quartermain. Indiana Jones. Jake Cutter. Josh Loomis. It’s a nice pedigree. And a nice piece of fiction!
February 18, 2013 — 9:16 AM
Carl Bussler says:
When I was about 8, my grandmother purchased an 1800’s melodeon (reed organ). The previous owners sold it because their little girl had died and no longer had a need for it. Although I learned to play on the melodeon, I had a suspicion it was haunted by the little girl’s ghost. Nightmares didn’t help assuage that fear. These shreds of truth spawned the story “A Song for Sarah.”
http://blackpowderblackmagic.com/flash-fiction-a-song-for-sarah/
PS. That scary-ass reed organ from Hell is still in the family.
February 18, 2013 — 8:49 AM
erchristensen says:
Here’s my real life story: when I was in the seventh grade, I had spinal meningitis. As part of the testing for it, I had to undergo a spinal tap.
Here’s my flash fiction blending of the truth and SF elements, “Famous in the Lab.” I hope you enjoy it.
http://www.eric-christensen.com/2013/02/18/famous-in-the-lab/
P.S. I did have a family friend in the lab, but he was far more helpful and far less creepy than the person in this story.
February 18, 2013 — 3:15 PM
keithbwalters says:
Thanks for another inspiring challenge, Chuck.
Based mine on a creepy old tower I had to climb inside whilst at work a few years back.
‘What we know…’ can be found here: http://wp.me/p2K3fC-2w
February 18, 2013 — 4:22 PM
jreinmiller says:
Here’s my story for this week.
I’ve fought in a few tournaments over the years so I tossed that into the mix with an old concept I’ve had and might do something more with one day and here’s what came out.
http://www.jqpdx.com/2013/02/19/first-time/
February 18, 2013 — 7:21 PM
Jim Franklin says:
A little later than usual, but here is the highly fictionalised epic tale of the first time I drank a little too much.
http://writewayround.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/flash-fiction-devils-advocaat/
Comments always welcome, hope you enjoy it.
February 19, 2013 — 9:18 AM
Jacqueline Hopkins-Walton says:
Great idea, here is mine: http://jacquehopkins.blogspot.com/2013/02/flash-fiction-challenge-write-what-you.html
February 19, 2013 — 9:21 AM
KELLY says:
It’s all about the dance moves – http://blueridgeandrv.blogspot.com/2013/02/flash-fiction-frances-and-larry.html
February 20, 2013 — 6:11 AM
jjtoner says:
Here’s mine. The Prince and the Dragon (inspired by the death of my father)
http://euclid-thoughts.blogspot.ie/2013/02/short-story-prince-and-dragon.html
February 20, 2013 — 6:46 PM
RebaSays says:
Misadventures on the farm: http://pushcomestoshove.blogspot.com/2013/02/down-on-farm.html Almost mostly true.
February 20, 2013 — 8:42 PM
Beth L. says:
This was oddly cathartic… thanks for the story-starter! Here’s “Judging By Your Looks”
http://knotachance.tumblr.com/
February 20, 2013 — 10:34 PM
entrebat says:
The First Day
I had become a number on a docket. My name was now ‘inmate.’
February 20, 2013 — 11:12 PM
Philip Harris says:
Cag: An Almost True Story.
http://www.solitarymindset.com/2013/02/21/cag-an-almost-true-story/
February 21, 2013 — 10:28 AM
Eva T says:
So I ended up using a conversation I had with a man at the library where I work. Filtered though dystopian alternate reality. And if you’re thinking that there’s a dash of wish fulfilment fantasy in there as well, let me just say that we get a lot of weirdoes in the library and sometimes my patience wears thin. http://evathereseebert.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/flash-fiction-challenge-write-what-you-know/
February 21, 2013 — 1:51 PM
Denise says:
Jacked up on adrenaline and nostalgia…
http://pdhinson.com/?p=842
February 21, 2013 — 4:26 PM
snellopy says:
This one was a lot of fun to write.
A progress report on research subject C1-MMA
http://snellopy.blogspot.com/2013/02/progress-report-on-research-subject-c1.html
February 22, 2013 — 12:33 AM
Anthony Martin says:
This prompt spoke to me, so I decided to participate. I look forward to reading what you think. More importantly, I look forward to reading everyone’s work
The Muse and the Minion
February 22, 2013 — 12:56 AM
Tim says:
Friend’s wallet was stolen at a popular theme park in Southern California:
http://www.pendemon.com/collab-8-royal-revenge/
February 22, 2013 — 1:25 AM
swordsoftheancients says:
Here’s my submission, a little sci-fi twist on my childhood.
http://swordsoftheancients.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/before-the-dawn/
February 22, 2013 — 2:55 AM
Jack Vanish says:
Ah-ha, here is mine. I’m new here.
http://flyknifecomics.com/terribleminds-flash-fiction/
Drunk night out reimagined as military sci-fi. Hurray!
February 22, 2013 — 8:04 AM
Carl Bussler says:
I totally dig the lingo and the slang. Four characters is usually quite a few for flash fiction, but with just a couple sentences you’ve given each of them a hook on which to hang their personality. Their nick-names, choice of gear, etc. I’d read more about this rat pack.
February 22, 2013 — 9:50 AM
Jack Vanish says:
In that case I will write more about them, if an appropriate Flash Fiction challenge arises. Their plights are numerous!
February 22, 2013 — 2:16 PM
Carl Bussler says:
Nice. It got me thinking back to Hammer’s Slammers and Razak’s Roughnecks. I’ll be on the lookout.
February 22, 2013 — 2:24 PM
Jeanne B. says:
http://jmboverthinking.blogspot.com/2013/02/flash-fiction-challenge-write-what-you.html
February 22, 2013 — 8:51 AM
Echo says:
Lovely. I really want you to continue.
Where will Sasha go? Will she go rogue?
I seriously hope you continue this adventure.
February 22, 2013 — 1:09 PM