Last week’s challenge: “Choose Your Random Sentence.”
So, the mighty Stephen Blackmoore (whose book Dead Things is so good it’ll make you poop rainbows) suggested a challenge last week, and I’m inclined to try it out.
Have you ever been to THEY FIGHT CRIME?
Well, go there now.
You can refresh it all you’d like.
It’ll keep giving you new partnerships of the absurd and amazing.
And it always ends with, “they fight crime.”
Click until you find one you like.
That will be the basis of your story this week.
As always, 1000 words to you.
Post at your space, link back here.
Due by next Friday (3/22) at noon EST.
Michael J. Martinez says:
I’d never heard of They Fight Crime before. Now, I can’t stop clicking. And lo, there goes my morning.
March 15, 2013 — 11:35 AM
danielrdavis says:
It’s been floating around out there for a while. I think the first time I was introduced to it was several years ago on an RPG listserv. One of the cooler random generators out there.
March 15, 2013 — 3:01 PM
onethemis says:
ehe he… I got mine in three clicks…
He’s a suicidal drug addicted werewolf looking for ‘The Big One’. She’s a chain-smoking kleptomaniac queen of the dead with the soul of a mighty warrior. They fight crime!
I mean how could I NOT?
March 15, 2013 — 12:30 PM
onethemis says:
Its a tad bit long but I honestly didn’t want to cut anything. So at 1,133 here is ‘This One Night’ (for lack of creativity haha 🙁 )
http://onethemis.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/this-one-night/
March 20, 2013 — 1:03 AM
Stephanie Lormand says:
On a normal day my stalker, uh, youngest child, forces me away from my OCD tendencies. Today he is obsessed with my old Parliament Funkadelic CD, leaving me free to click. And click.
Annnnddd, click again.
Then it serves up: “He’s a time-tossed Amish inventor with a robot buddy named Sparky. She’s an artistic red-headed stripper from beyond the grave They fight crime!”
How can I deny that story?
But wait, lemme click just one more time…
Greatest time suck. Ever.
March 15, 2013 — 12:45 PM
thatjeph says:
You must include Parliament in any flashfiction results! Moral imperative.
March 15, 2013 — 4:35 PM
Robert T says:
I can’t stop clicking. They’re all making my writerly juices flow. I can’t decide.
I’ll just have to write them ALL.
March 15, 2013 — 1:15 PM
danielrdavis says:
So many of these could be expanded into full novels… Tough for 1000 words, but This has always been one of my favorite sites. Still choosing.
March 15, 2013 — 2:03 PM
danielrdavis says:
I think I’ve narrowed it down to three sub-genres: Weird West, Urban Fantasy, Or Urban Fantasy Romance, though the third would need too many words…and would be too much like Castle… 😉
March 15, 2013 — 3:18 PM
danielrdavis says:
And glad I could contribute, even if I’m not awesome-sauce…
March 15, 2013 — 7:36 PM
Laura Libricz says:
I think I found a new addiction!!!
He’s a maverick guitar-strumming romance novelist with nothing left to lose. She’s a virginal extravagent politician who inherited a spooky stately manor from her late maiden aunt. They fight crime!
March 15, 2013 — 2:50 PM
amyskennedy says:
Oh my God! I want to stay on this site forever. Just like everyone else. Holy crap, it’s fun.
March 15, 2013 — 3:32 PM
amyskennedy says:
Plus, it makes me want to fight crime!
March 15, 2013 — 3:32 PM
cbame13 says:
He’s a notorious drug-addicted astronaut whom everyone believes is mad. She’s a cosmopolitan punk nun living homeless in New York’s sewers. They fight crime!
This may be the best story ever told!
March 15, 2013 — 4:16 PM
jreinmiller says:
Aha! Suspicions (well mine anyway) were proven true about this week’s challenge. I sense a tremendous decrease in productivity directly ahead. Off to click!
March 15, 2013 — 9:13 PM
waymon says:
He’s a suicidal guerilla dwarf trapped in a world he never made. She’s a cynical paranoid hooker with an evil twin sister. They fight crime!
March 15, 2013 — 10:23 PM
RTAllwin says:
I’m not sure I have time write anything, but this sounds like it could really be something: “He’s a hate-fuelled white trash firefighter haunted by memories of ‘Nam. She’s a pregnant foul-mouthed journalist fleeing from a Satanic cult. They fight crime!”
March 16, 2013 — 12:02 AM
RTAllwin says:
Best one I managed to get: “He’s a jaded Amish photographer in drag. She’s a sarcastic bisexual research scientist descended from a line of powerful witches. They fight crime!”
March 16, 2013 — 12:06 AM
Haze says:
‘He’s an underprivileged umbrella-wielding shaman on the run. She’s a time-travelling goth pearl diver from a secret island of warrior women. They fight crime!’ My first flash fiction challenge, and I can already tell it’s going to be awesome!
March 16, 2013 — 1:07 AM
Andys says:
I LOVE the They Fight Crime site! And here’s my first one, although I may do more: He’s a time-tossed guerilla cat burglar living undercover at Ringling Bros. Circus. She’s a bloodthirsty snooty mechanic on the trail of a serial killer. They fight crime!
And here’s the story: http://andreaspeed.com/2013/flash-fic-challenge-they-fight-crime/
March 16, 2013 — 4:12 AM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
An enjoyable read! I loved the comment about the Kia… so very true…
March 16, 2013 — 5:38 AM
danielrdavis says:
Cool. And I like the bit of back story…err…forestory?…that she’s an underground legend in his time. Be cool to see more of these two.
March 16, 2013 — 4:46 PM
jreinmiller says:
I really liked the opening, thought it was quite funny. The time travel was well also used.
March 17, 2013 — 1:27 AM
Ogla says:
Nice! I love the Kia bit and you wrote both characters very well. The only part I wonder about is the Google. If he were truly a time traveler, I don’t know if he’d name drop such a 21st century invention. He may have been more likely to say he’d look it up. Just a thought. 🙂
March 17, 2013 — 3:07 PM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
My entry for this crime-fighting literary spree: http://mrurbanspaceman.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/they-sold-me-a-dream/
Based off the text: He’s an underprivileged arachnophobic boxer with a robot buddy named Sparky. She’s a cynical paranoid angel from a family of eight older brothers. They fight crime!
(Sorry for the lame paragraphs, wordpress, in its infinite wisdom, butchered my formatting and this was the best fix I could do)
March 16, 2013 — 4:42 AM
danielrdavis says:
Fun read. This storyline could get dark depending on how black and white they decide to go. Awesome characters.
March 16, 2013 — 4:49 PM
jreinmiller says:
Really liked the opening about deception and Avril’s past. Good stuff.
March 17, 2013 — 1:21 PM
Ogla says:
This is awesome. Avril’s a really cool character. I’m glad you spent the majority of the 1k describing her. Think you’ll continue the story? The robot is a neat touch, too!
March 17, 2013 — 3:15 PM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Thanks! I really enjoyed writing her, too. I have no plans to continue the story at the moment, but it’s something I very well may come back to in the future, as I like to stew on things a little and play around with ideas in my head before committing them to paper (or wordprocesser, as the case may be).
March 18, 2013 — 1:13 PM
authorleannedyck says:
Such a cool link. I did…um…er…could spend my day clicking. Writing. Writing? Um, oh, yeah. : )
March 16, 2013 — 2:06 PM
danielrdavis says:
Alright. Done. I took: “He’s a jaded disheveled dog-catcher fleeing from a secret government program. She’s a virginal gold-digging snake charmer fleeing from a Satanic cult. They fight crime!”
Could have added more, but too pumped right now, as I just received an acceptance email for one of my works. 😀
Shifter’s Charmer: http://www.danielrdavis.com/2013/03/16/the-fight-crime-wendig-challenge/
March 16, 2013 — 4:18 PM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Fantastic flash-fic. I love the inclusion of Abaddon, the demonic/angelic (depending on which side you look at it from) figure from days of yore. Good cult name; it could have gotten silly, but you kept it real. The setting reminded me a little of Dark Angel, of escaped experiments and tenuous alliances forged during times of great need. Dillon, in particular, was easy to empathise with.
March 16, 2013 — 5:32 PM
jreinmiller says:
Cool characters and use of their attributes. I especially liked the interactions between them. Came across smooth. And congrats on the acceptance.
March 17, 2013 — 1:22 AM
Cassandra Benedicte Rabbich says:
Love love love it! Characters well-done and plot flowed! Nice interaction. Many times congratulations on the acceptance.
March 17, 2013 — 8:13 AM
danielrdavis says:
Thanks, all! Still taking some stun over the acceptance.
March 17, 2013 — 6:34 PM
Ogla says:
REALLY cool. Good action and back story.
March 17, 2013 — 3:19 PM
Dev says:
How could I possibly refuse this little gem?!
He’s an unconventional guitar-strumming sorceror searching for his wife’s true killer. She’s a man-hating motormouth socialite fleeing from a Satanic cult. They fight crime!
March 16, 2013 — 5:50 PM
mtr amg (@mtr_amg) says:
“He’s a suicidal voodoo cop with a winning smile and a way with the ladies. She’s a warm-hearted insomniac socialite married to the Mob. They fight crime!”
Done! 959 words. http://amgray.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/handbags-and-voodoo.html
Handbags and voodoo.
March 16, 2013 — 8:47 PM
jreinmiller says:
Well that was fun. That site is maybe the biggest time suck ever but I managed to escape it to write up my story. I went with:
“He’s a sword-wielding misogynist cyborg with nothing left to lose. She’s a tortured mutant mermaid prone to fits of savage, blood-crazed rage. They fight crime!”
Then I threw in a couple more characters. I like how it turned out.
http://www.jqpdx.com/2013/03/17/deadly-duo/
March 17, 2013 — 12:50 AM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Congratulations on making mermaids officially awesome. An excellent tale (no pun) of delicious, salty vengeance.
March 17, 2013 — 4:42 AM
jreinmiller says:
Thanks! And I’ll even take the pun.
March 20, 2013 — 7:56 PM
Dave Hughes says:
“That looks like fun,” I said.
My suggestion: “He’s an immortal flyboy senator haunted by an iconic dead American confidante She’s a provocative snooty vampire fleeing from a Satanic cult. They fight crime! ”
Four hours, a new blog, 997 words and an audio version later:
“Franklin Meant…”
http://bdavidhughes.com/?p=6
March 17, 2013 — 1:48 AM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Great idea with the cursed money. My favourite part was the “My informant is Benjamin Franklin…” line. It made me chuckle. I love the idea of a dead American president haunting someone, using them to fight crime from beyond the grave. I’d also like to know more about Stevens’ Prometheus-style powers of resurrection.
March 17, 2013 — 8:16 AM
jreinmiller says:
Wow, great job. Funny and action packed. I loved the undead using the unkillable as a literal weapon.
March 17, 2013 — 1:36 PM
Cassandra Benedicte Rabbich says:
First click:
He’s a war-weary chivalrous barbarian trapped in a world he never made. She’s a cynical junkie femme fatale from a secret island of warrior women. They fight crime!
March 17, 2013 — 7:55 AM
joeturner87 says:
This was fun, I’m thinking about making it into a serial. I got:
He’s a sword-wielding guerrilla paranormal investigator, searching for his wife’s true killer. She’s an artistic, snooty, research scientist, with a birthmark shaped like liberty’s torch. They Fight Crime!
I “adapted” the word guerrilla to; Gorilla. If this means I’m a cheat, I’ll wear the shoe.
http://joetblogs.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge-they-fight-crime/
March 17, 2013 — 10:51 AM
jreinmiller says:
Hah, excellent job. I wanted so bad for guerrilla to be gorilla myself, so good on for changing it. Very funny and well told. I definitely could see it done as a serial.
March 17, 2013 — 1:29 PM
Ogla says:
This is neat. I liked that you turned him into a gorilla and that the POV was from the night watchman. Great job!
March 17, 2013 — 3:28 PM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Though the sentence structure hurt my head a little, I loved some of your descriptions, like the morning sun announcing itself. A story that is both sad and funny… the last line really made me smile as it summarised this whole thing perfectly.
March 18, 2013 — 1:32 PM
joeturner87 says:
Agreed Spaceman. Structure was horrid. Thank you all for your comments, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
March 18, 2013 — 3:57 PM
Josh Loomis says:
He’s a fast talking guitar-strumming filmmaker looking for ‘the Big One.’ She’s a disco-crazy belly-dancing mechanic descended from a line of powerful witches. They fight crime!
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2013/03/18/flash-fiction-minerva-and-hawkeye/
March 18, 2013 — 10:10 AM
Ogla says:
That was SO cool. I love that she’s a belly-dancer and the murder of crows was really neat. This could really be something good, Josh. 🙂
March 18, 2013 — 12:12 PM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
One of the best stories I’ve read so far for this challenge. The action and pacing were great; not too much detail, not too much dialogue, and believable characters. As Goldilocks says about baby bear’s porridge, it was just right.
March 18, 2013 — 1:40 PM
jreinmiller says:
Good stuff.
March 20, 2013 — 8:04 PM
Trine Schmidt says:
“He’s an ungodly werewolf who wears drag. She’s a time-traveling stripper with an evil twin sister.” I struggled with this one, but here goes nothing.
http://www.trinetoftschmidt.com/2013/03/flash-fiction-time-again/
March 18, 2013 — 1:00 PM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Good characters! The world of crime and drama rolled into one. It’s great how different every story is for this challenge, and I enjoyed reading yours even if you found it difficult to write.
March 18, 2013 — 2:31 PM
Kristopher Neidecker (@Kris_Neidecker) says:
Hello all! I have posted a story on my blog at http://klneidecker.com/2013/03/18/they-fight-crime/
This is my first ever flash fiction piece, and I hope I got it dialed in right. Flash fiction sure is a good way to learn all about trimming the fat.
Any and all comments will be appreciated.
This is the concept – don’t read it if you wan’t to go in blind 😉
“He’s a suicidal crooked inventor with acid for blood. She’s a brilliant antique-collecting archaeologist with the power to see death. They fight crime!”
March 18, 2013 — 5:18 PM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Great story, especially considering it’s your first flash-fic! (I was a flash-fic virgin too before this challenge, so I know the feeling). I’ll leave you a bit of feedback here, as your blog wants my email address before I can comment, and I don’t like leaving my email address.
I thought your characters were brilliant, though I was unsure about Lacy’s response (shooting Frederick) as she doesn’t seem like the type of person to be shocked by somebody having a ‘superpower’ of sorts. So that seemed a little off. But Frederick was a really good, solid character, I thought.
Your blog seems to butcher the opening of your speech marks which makes it a bit harder to follow — makes the reader have to reach the end of a sentence before they’re fully aware someone’s talking. You might want to have a look at that and see if it’s a problem with the theme you’re using. Otherwise, good stuff, very enjoyable!
March 19, 2013 — 2:22 PM
Kristopher Neidecker (@Kris_Neidecker) says:
Thanks a million for your comments, and the blog-debugging 🙂 I see what was happening with the open quotes (had to do with a typography plugin), and I disabled the requirement for email for now.
You may be right about Lacy’s reaction. I figured things may have just brought her to that point, but it is something I will keep in mind if I continue this story.
Thanks again.
March 19, 2013 — 5:58 PM
jreinmiller says:
Really liked how you used the guy’s power by throwing him off the roof. Great idea. I’d say good job for your first flash fiction.
March 20, 2013 — 8:18 PM
Taylor Emblen (@Taylor_Emblen) says:
This, right here, is fantastic. That link is going in my bookmarks for sure! Thank you Mr. W.
So, on to business! I am gifted:
‘He’s an ungodly vegetarian cyborg on his last day in the job. She’s a chain-smoking nymphomaniac queen of the dead who inherited a spooky stately manor from her late maiden aunt. They fight crime!’
As always, all notes and comments appreciated; it’s how we learn.
Please read and (hopefully!) enjoy ‘The Pretty Odd Couple’ – http://goo.gl/I6ZRn
March 19, 2013 — 8:41 PM
Taylor Emblen (@Taylor_Emblen) says:
I have since decided that I hate the name. Oh well…
March 20, 2013 — 12:57 PM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Some interesting ideas here! Your characters were brilliantly fleshed out, I can picture them both perfectly. Well done for doing all that in less than a thousand words. The ‘terrorists’ did come a bit out of nowhere, it might’ve been nice to mention something about them a bit earlier, maybe put them in a bit of context. Other than that, the mahogany joke made me chuckle.
March 20, 2013 — 6:27 PM
Taylor Emblen (@Taylor_Emblen) says:
Hey! Many thanks for the comments, much appreciated.
I totally get you r.e. ‘the terrorists’; I found all of a sudden I hadn’t included any crime for them to fight!
March 21, 2013 — 12:45 PM
thatjeph says:
Props for “split tail”; misogynist yet apropos!
March 19, 2013 — 10:19 PM
thatjeph says:
Huh…that was supposed to appear in reply to jreinmiller ‘s mermaid story. Webfail!
March 19, 2013 — 10:23 PM
jreinmiller says:
Thanks, I got it anyway. Yeah was weird writing that perspective, but I tried to get the character’s view to fit the assignment.
March 20, 2013 — 7:57 PM
Lori Fetters Lopez says:
Took your challenge. The prompt I picked: “He’s an unconventional bohemian Shaman who hangs with the wrong crowd. She’s a time-traveling hypochondriac bounty hunter with a flame-thrower. They fight crime”
and my story…http://lostinthewriting.net/flight-round-the-rose-bush/
March 19, 2013 — 10:31 PM
jreinmiller says:
Really liked the small details, and descriptions and attitudes of the characters. Funny yet lots of action too.
March 20, 2013 — 8:25 PM
Beth L. says:
He’s a world-famous coffee-fueled werewolf in a wheelchair. She’s a green-fingered cat-loving Valkyrie with the soul of a mighty warrior. They fight crime!
And they fight it right here: http://knotachance.tumblr.com/
March 19, 2013 — 10:44 PM
Scott Zachary says:
“He’s a world-famous gay househusband with nothing left to lose. She’s a cynical belly-dancing cab driver operating on the wrong side of the law. They fight crime!”
Didn’t even need to refresh the page. It’s so beautiful, I might cry.
Think I’ll give this one a go.
March 20, 2013 — 3:24 PM
danielrdavis says:
Awesome! I can’t wait for this one.
March 20, 2013 — 3:31 PM
The Philosophunculist says:
I was given this: He’s a sword-wielding gay astronaut looking for a cure to the poison coursing through his veins. She’s a mistrustful belly dancing college professor living on borrowed time. They fight crime!
Here’s the story http://youngcleanlegit.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/the-gay-astronaut-and-the-college-professor/
March 20, 2013 — 6:06 PM
fakedtales says:
They Fight Crime is fantastic. Mine was, “He’s an obese zombie astronaut with nothing left to lose. She’s a sharp-shooting blonde socialite in the wrong place at the wrong time. They fight crime!”
Amazing. It pretty much wrote itself. Here’s my story, “Dulcie St. Clements and Astronaut Jones in… Spoiled Meat!
http://fakedtales.com/2013/03/20/spoiled-meat/
March 20, 2013 — 7:27 PM
jreinmiller says:
That was great. Very funny and quick paced with good dialogue. I could see that continuing on.
March 21, 2013 — 10:42 PM
Samantha J. Mathis says:
I did one this time! http://samanthajmathis.tumblr.com/post/45879142619/flash-fiction-they-fight-crime
“He’s a fast talking native American boxer with acid for blood. She’s a scantily clad tomboy barmaid from a secret island of warrior women. They fight crime!”
March 20, 2013 — 9:16 PM
Olga says:
I’m really pleased to present my short story. It’s my first time doing your FF challenge, Chuck. It was a lot of fun to write it. Thank you for the opportunity! It’s a bit longer than 1,000. Hopefully no one puts my feet in the fire for going over. 🙂
Link: http://punnery.wordpress.com/2013/03/21/they-fight-crime/
March 21, 2013 — 11:53 AM
Jamie says:
I’m cheating. This is the first in a flash serial I want to start. Meet Valkyrie Molotov and her undead companion Greyson. Step Right Up. http://www.jamiewyman.com/with-the-greatest-of-ease-flash-fiction/
March 21, 2013 — 4:11 PM
danielrdavis says:
Whut-WHUT? Chicken butt? Gotta check it out,
March 21, 2013 — 4:20 PM
danielrdavis says:
Love the poster/cover. Awesome job. 😀
March 21, 2013 — 4:44 PM
chelsearthompson says:
http://chelsearthompson.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/they-fight-crime/ Blah, I am done with you!
March 22, 2013 — 3:31 AM
Benjamin Adams says:
He’s an old-fashioned chivalrous werewolf from a doomed world. She’s a hard-bitten bisexual lawyer who hides her beauty behind a pair of thick-framed spectacles. They fight crime!
Mine always seem to be too long but here it is, over 2k words. Couldn’t help it. They fight crime is fantastic. http://ablogisagreatwaytoprocrastinate.blogspot.com/
March 22, 2013 — 6:18 AM
swordsoftheancients says:
“He’s a scarfaced Catholic stage actor on the hunt for the last specimen of a great and near-mythical creature. She’s a beautiful hip-hop college professor with an evil twin sister. They fight crime!” Who knew that I’d end up with an excuse to write a little bit of urban fantasy? Here’s mine. http://swordsoftheancients.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/they-fight-crime/
March 22, 2013 — 6:20 AM
lori lopez says:
Nice setup, but with so many flash fiction, I’m left wanting to know what happens next.
March 22, 2013 — 7:18 AM
swordsoftheancients says:
Well, who knows? Maybe I’ll pick it up again at some point. 😀
March 22, 2013 — 3:48 PM