Last week’s challenge: “The Random Fantasy Character.”
Right now I’m neck-deep in the next Miriam Black book, which of course features the aforementioned Miriam: a psychic girl who can see how and when someone is going to die just by touching that person. She’s angry and vulgar and dangerously proactive and — well, she’s a lot of fun to write.
Psychic powers are a hoot, really.
Hers is pretty subtle — lots of psychological horror.
It’s not like she’s setting people on fire with her mind.
But maybe you want to write about that.
So, here’s how this works. I’m going to list 20 psychic powers at the bottom of this post. Feel free to roll a d20 to pick a random one or just grab the one you think it most awesome (though let’s be honest: random is more fun). If you need to know what it is: well, Google is your best friend. And your prom date.
Your story must include one — and only one — of the psychic powers mentioned.
You have one week, as always. Due by May 31st, noon EST.
Write ~1000 words.
Post on your online space.
Link back here.
Ta-da.
And now, the list of psychic powers:
- Clairvoyance
- Pyromancy
- Cryomancy
- Telepathy
- Psychometry
- Faith or Psychic Healing
- Precognition
- Telekinesis
- Mediumship
- Levitation
- Astral Projection
- Bilocation
- Teleportation
- Aura Reading
- Divination
- Retrocognition
- Past-Life Regression
- Mind Control
- Dream Control
- Psychic Empathy (aka an Empath)
jdsfiction says:
This’ll be fun! I got 11, Astral Projection. Here goes nothing.
May 24, 2013 — 12:25 AM
jdsfiction says:
Here it is, enjoy. 🙂
http://jdsfiction.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/flash-fiction-challenge-may-24/
May 24, 2013 — 6:43 AM
Mozette says:
I love your flash fiction challenges… and I was waiting for this weeks’ challenge to come along! What fun we’ll all have! 😀
May 24, 2013 — 1:13 AM
Mozette says:
Here you go! Worked on it until late… and you know, I’m working from experience with this one; so if you don’t believe me, that’s up to you. 🙂
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/ambers-unpaid-work.html
I didn’t dream this exactly, but I have dreamed some really crazy things that have ended up coming true within a week or two – sometimes days – of me dreaming them. And Death? Yeah… he’s creepy-ass.
May 24, 2013 — 9:15 AM
Stephanie says:
Almost hesitate to comment, in case you dream about me! Was that #19? Good story!
May 25, 2013 — 9:35 AM
Mozette says:
Ohh… no… close, but no cigar… 😛
It was precognition… #16 😀
May 25, 2013 — 10:59 PM
Mozette says:
Gah! I’m having a crappy day! It was #7….
May 25, 2013 — 11:00 PM
jdsfiction says:
Good shot, that was fun. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
May 26, 2013 — 2:23 PM
Mozette says:
Thanks for you cool comment. Glad you enjoyed it! 😀
May 27, 2013 — 2:08 AM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Interesting story! I never would have guessed that Amber worked for Death. I do feel I have to mention your incorrect use of the word ‘isle’, though. I ignored the first one thinking it was a typo but when you did it again I suspected you might not know the difference between isle and aisle. Easy to confuse, but just be aware in case you use them again in future. 🙂
May 27, 2013 — 9:38 AM
Mozette says:
Oh, crap! I’m forever getting words like that confused! Blame it on my comprehension problems from decades of having brain damage (from an incident from when I stopped breathing aged 2 for 5 whole minutes… long story short, it happened, I scared the crud outa my folks and I started breathing again and my comprehension, co-ordination took holidays and my maths vanished permanently – think George Lucas got it to make Star Wars… hehehe). But yeah, I’m always getting things’ spelling confused… thanks for the pick-up. 😀
May 27, 2013 — 8:10 PM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Don’t worry about it, homophones trip me up on occasion too!
May 28, 2013 — 1:33 PM
Jim Franklin says:
I got Bi-location. Not exactly sure what that one is.
May 24, 2013 — 2:21 AM
Jim Franklin says:
Well, I didn’t leave this until the very last moment which I usually do, so yay for me. Anyway, this story is a cautionary tale for all those who think they can take advantage.
I bring you… ‘Falling for your boss’
Hope you like it.
http://www.thezombiechimp.com/2013/05/25/flash-fiction-falling-for-your-boss/
May 25, 2013 — 1:18 PM
jdsfiction says:
Well played, Sir. I enjoyed it a lot. Thanks! 🙂
Inventive way to deal with a perverted boss, and she was totally justified (at least I think so).
May 26, 2013 — 2:28 PM
Jim Franklin says:
Thanks, I figured it was a fairly apt response as well.
May 26, 2013 — 3:24 PM
Stephanie Belser says:
I loved it!!
May 31, 2013 — 9:09 PM
Rick Cook Jr says:
I landed Aura Reading. I’m not fond of it, but I’ll think on it for a day or two and see if anything promising shakes loose.
May 24, 2013 — 3:39 AM
Rick Cook Jr says:
My Aura Reading response, which I’m relatively happy with. I’m really happy with the opening lines, though.
http://panningforclouds.com/2013/05/26/shortstories-the-last-ride-1700-words/
May 26, 2013 — 2:48 PM
jdsfiction says:
Fun stuff. Good on you for using a device you don’t like much. Thanks for the read! 🙂
May 26, 2013 — 3:23 PM
Rick Cook Jr says:
Glad you enjoyed it! My response to the subgenre mashup was a combination of two genres I don’t like, so I’m sensing a pattern to how my writing prompts will go in the future, but that’s part of the promise that writing prompts have: to push you out of your element and see what happens.
May 27, 2013 — 3:18 PM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
Nice story Rick.
May 26, 2013 — 11:28 PM
Rick Cook Jr says:
Thank you, Trine! Part of me was pretty worried that I’d get a lot of flak for having a main character who has some sort of mild mental illness or anxiety disorder without going into great detail about it, but so far it hasn’t come up.
May 27, 2013 — 3:22 PM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Pretty cool story, with a very sympathetic character. It was interesting to see how somebody else handled Aura Reading—I enjoyed it!
May 29, 2013 — 7:58 AM
Rick Cook Jr says:
Thank ya kindly. I was hoping to see a few more Aura Readings than I think we ended up getting, so it’s nice to have at least one more.
May 31, 2013 — 8:16 AM
Matt Gomez says:
I got pyromancy for my random pick. Right, ok.
May 24, 2013 — 6:11 AM
jreinmiller says:
RNG reveals: 5, Psychometry. So …. *googles* aha, cool. Should be fun.
May 24, 2013 — 7:43 AM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
I was generated #14: Aura Reading. And I admit, I rushed this one, because my computer network is being taken offline in T-minus 35 minutes. Also, sorry I went over the word-limit a tiny bit; haven’t had time to edit it down.
Mirror Image: http://mrurbanspaceman.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/mirror-image/
May 24, 2013 — 8:54 AM
Mozette says:
Oooooh! I like this one! It’s great! 😀
May 24, 2013 — 9:42 AM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Thankya kindly!
May 25, 2013 — 4:53 AM
jdsfiction says:
Wow, man! Nice work Spaceman, you always give us something good. Thanks! 🙂
May 26, 2013 — 2:32 PM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Cheers!
May 27, 2013 — 6:03 AM
Rick Cook Jr says:
Not bad, not bad at all, Urban Spaceman.
I particularly liked the Dexter-ish quality that Langley can be perceived as having.
May 30, 2013 — 11:05 AM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Thank you! Although I’m aware that Dexter is a TV show, I’ve never seen it, so I hope that my nearly comparable protagonist is a good thing!
May 30, 2013 — 3:12 PM
Stephanie Belser says:
A bit eerie. I liked it.
May 31, 2013 — 9:15 PM
Dangarble says:
I’d actually argue that if you DO know what a d20 is, Google is your prom date. It’s okay, I’m not a writer, so somebody write me a book. Now. Write, write, write!
May 24, 2013 — 9:54 AM
Sylvia Van Peebles says:
I’m taking Psychometry. Should be fun!
May 24, 2013 — 12:08 PM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Great take on psychometry, and an enjoyable story. Kennet is an intriguing character!
May 29, 2013 — 8:05 AM
Serena Saint-Marceaux says:
My d20 gives me 2. Pyromancy. *giggles madly* This should be fun. . .
May 24, 2013 — 2:14 PM
Serena Saint-Marceaux says:
And my story is complete!
Fire Sight: http://archiveofourown.org/works/820990
May 28, 2013 — 11:07 AM
Wanderer says:
I enjoyed this–especially the name symbolism. The ending was chilling. Well done!
May 28, 2013 — 11:48 AM
Serena Saint-Marceaux says:
Thank you! I will definitely take chilling as a compliment. 😀
May 28, 2013 — 9:42 PM
jdsfiction says:
Very fun. I always appreciate a nod to the Gaelic language and the Celtic people- it’s my ancestry. Great read. Thanks!
May 28, 2013 — 2:10 PM
Serena Saint-Marceaux says:
Thank you! My ancestry as well, actually. 🙂 Gaelic is such a lovely tongue, and Celtic histories and legends are so fascinating, I couldn’t resist.
May 28, 2013 — 10:16 PM
jenniferw19 says:
Really enjoyed that! In fact, I enjoyed it so much I’ve gone to look for more of yours to read.
May 30, 2013 — 8:28 AM
Serena Saint-Marceaux says:
I’m glad, thanks! I hope you enjoy my other stories, too. 🙂
May 30, 2013 — 10:09 AM
Trine Schmidt says:
Past-life regression…. hmm I think I need to think about this one a bit.
May 24, 2013 — 4:10 PM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
Spent all of my day working on this one. If I never hear the words Past-LIfe Regression again I will be a happy woman.
http://www.trinetoftschmidt.com/2013/05/psychic-powers-flash-fiction/
May 26, 2013 — 3:13 PM
Amy says:
Creepy! I have shivers now.
May 26, 2013 — 9:37 PM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
I take that as a compliment since I was going for creepy 🙂 Thanks.
May 26, 2013 — 11:31 PM
Stephanie Belser says:
I agree with Amy, it’s pretty creepy. I’d have probably rolled the d20 again, for this “power” seems more like a curse than a real power.
May 28, 2013 — 10:05 AM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
Stephanie.. actually I did 😀 Twice more, but by that time my story idea was already taking root. So I figured that I’d just get it out of my head before it became something more than a 1000 word story.
May 28, 2013 — 2:35 PM
jdsfiction says:
Very entertaining, a touch disturbing. I liked the transcription style you chose to write in. Made for a very interesting read.
May 28, 2013 — 2:16 PM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
Thank you JD 🙂
May 28, 2013 — 2:36 PM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Very interesting transcription! The emotions were very raw, and I could actually hear the voices in my head. I must admit, I started off reading Antoine as a woman (I have a friend named Antoinette, so my mind just automatically goes to female at that point) which really made it all the more chilling, and I was surprised when I realised I’d misinterpreted the name.
A very chilling but entertaining tale, and an enjoyable read that kept me engrossed until the end.
May 29, 2013 — 8:30 AM
Greg says:
Telepathy…. I have an idea… hope its my own…
May 24, 2013 — 6:27 PM
Stephanie says:
The computerized d20 gives me 19: Dream control.
So I give you The Dream Weaver
May 24, 2013 — 10:14 PM
Mozette says:
This one made me laugh… very cool. 😀
May 24, 2013 — 11:26 PM
Stephanie says:
Thanks!
May 25, 2013 — 9:36 AM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
Nice story Stephanie. I think I want to be a dream weaver as well 🙂
May 27, 2013 — 10:41 AM
Stephanie Belser says:
It didn’t occur to me, until I began writing the story, that one could make a crap-ton of money as a dream weaver.
May 28, 2013 — 9:58 AM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
I loved how this story progressed, and how your protagonist used his skills. Enjoyable tale!
May 29, 2013 — 8:37 AM
Stephanie Belser says:
Thank you!!
May 31, 2013 — 9:10 PM
Reggie Lutz says:
Cryomancy, baby!
Here’s my offering… at 809 words, but I don’t know if it really counts. I continued last week’s story from last week’s challenge…
http://reggielutz.blogspot.com/2013/05/psychic-powers-flash-fiction-challenge.html
May 24, 2013 — 10:38 PM
Amy says:
Yay! Princess is back! Love the hula hoop bit.
May 25, 2013 — 7:54 AM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
Firstly I have to admit that I haven’t read the prequel to this story, but that said, I enjoyed your story very much. I love the slightly quirky feel to it.
May 28, 2013 — 2:49 PM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Interesting take on the power. I’ll admit, I didn’t get chance to read your story from last week (barely had time to read anybody’s stories, alas) but this instalment wasn’t bad and I don’t think it breaks the rules. It did have a little too much ‘telling’ for my likes, but I suspect that would be more natural if I’d read the prequel. If I get time, I’ll go back and read that too!
May 29, 2013 — 8:43 AM
awkwardtreed says:
So my random pyschic power was faith healing (which turns into dur helping if you’re not paying attention to the keyboard). There’s a bit of a preamble about the seasons on the blog post, so just ignore that if you like and find the juicy stuff half-way down.
The piece is called Atticus Saint: The Anti-Faith Healer.
http://awkwardtreedstrikesagain.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/this-is-a-story-all-about-how-i-stole-the-opening-lyrics-from-a-famous-tv-show-and-made-them-into-a-bad-title/
May 24, 2013 — 11:16 PM
Mozette says:
Wow…. um… just …. wow! o.O
May 24, 2013 — 11:40 PM
awkwardtreed says:
Shucksticles.
May 25, 2013 — 12:23 AM
Stephanie says:
Stunning work. And I enjoyed the preamble, as well.
May 25, 2013 — 9:28 AM
Amy says:
Definite wow. I like what you’ve done with this.
May 25, 2013 — 10:00 AM
jreinmiller says:
That was a creative and well written way of turning the ability on its head.
May 27, 2013 — 3:47 PM
Lori Fetters Lopez (@fetterslopez) says:
The preamble was enjoyable but the story, the way you twisted it was great. nice work, and over the word count… I forgot to count as I was drawn in.
May 28, 2013 — 12:00 PM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
I’ll just join the choir of people liking your story. Great one!
May 28, 2013 — 2:59 PM
awkwardtreed says:
Thank you everyone for all the lovely responses, it’s making the fight against the monkey of crippling self-doubt a lot easier this week…
May 28, 2013 — 11:38 PM
jenniferw19 says:
That was intense. I loved it – not what I was expecting at all.
May 30, 2013 — 8:37 AM
Elisa Nuckle says:
Done! I did bilocation, but I haven’t written flash fiction in a while so I’m worried it sucks. But it was interesting to write. http://elisanuckle.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/flash-fiction-illusion/
May 25, 2013 — 7:54 AM
Stephanie says:
Don’t worry, it doesn’t suck. 🙂 I liked it.
May 25, 2013 — 9:43 AM
Elisa Nuckle says:
Thank you! Glad to hear it. 😀
May 25, 2013 — 5:30 PM
mercyjm says:
Oo-er, newbie, dream control. Don’t hurt me..
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14ivoQivkfsfYt1_lktL7huUyrzQqLpKHCEkz0ZYh27g/edit?usp=sharing
May 25, 2013 — 1:55 PM
Amy says:
DSM 6, good one!
May 26, 2013 — 9:42 PM
Brennan says:
This is my first entry into one of these challenges, although I’ve been meaning to enter one for a while now. A number generator gave me 18, so I wrote about mind control. My story is called “The Demigod.”
Go easy, this is the first time I’ve tried 2nd person!
http://notesfromanightstand.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/the-demigod-a-flash-fiction-challenge-entry/
May 25, 2013 — 2:06 PM
Wanderer says:
Cool story! I don’t normally like 2nd person, but I thought it really worked. You handled the twist really well and kept me guessing.
May 28, 2013 — 12:12 PM
mtrox says:
This is my first attempt at one of these. Here goes nothing. I rolled a D20 and got a power that I thought would be pretty boring, so I tried to do something different with it. Not going to say what power I got though. Its supposed to be a surprise.
http://mtrox.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/stage-fright
May 25, 2013 — 3:48 PM
jreinmiller says:
Psychometry it was, so here’s what I came up with: http://www.jqpdx.com/2013/05/25/the-client/
May 25, 2013 — 4:55 PM
Lori Fetters Lopez (@fetterslopez) says:
Maybe I shouldn’t comment until I’ve read the whole thing and I swear I will later, but what I did read, very nior. Loving it. I like the way you bring the personality into it.
May 27, 2013 — 5:56 AM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Very nice! I wasn’t expecting the twist at the end. I spotted a tiny typo (to instead of too, after ‘clever’) but it was only a tiny distraction from the flow of the story. I’m intrigued by the characters you’ve created, and would definitely like to read more about them. As mentioned, it has something of a ‘noir’ feeling to it, with some subtle dystopian undertones.
May 27, 2013 — 9:53 AM
jreinmiller says:
Thanks. I was glad to see the tones I was going for came through.
May 27, 2013 — 11:56 PM
melsbabysis says:
I liked it — a lot!
May 31, 2013 — 4:41 AM
S.W. Sondheimer says:
Psychometry for me as well!
The Pen: http://swsondheimer.wordpress.com/2013/05/26/the-pen/
May 26, 2013 — 7:18 AM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
I love what you have done with this, the irreverence to the Norn and the Norse mythology. Great story!
May 28, 2013 — 11:25 PM
S.W. Sondheimer says:
Thanks, Trine! I’m a little behind on my reading but I’m going to catch up tomorrow and I can’t wait to read yours!
May 28, 2013 — 11:31 PM
marilawrence says:
Dream Control – http://mechanicalghosts.wordpress.com/2013/05/26/flash-fiction-challenge-virtual-control/
May 26, 2013 — 3:47 PM
Stephanie Belser says:
Muwha-ha-ha! I love it!
May 28, 2013 — 10:12 AM
marilawrence says:
Thank you!
May 28, 2013 — 6:07 PM
David says:
It’s been a long while since I’ve jumped at one of these prompts! But here’s mine for this week, called “The Other Side”.
http://narratorium.com/2013/05/27/the-other-side/
May 27, 2013 — 12:27 AM
jreinmiller says:
Wow, that was excellent. The descriptions were great, and a twist ending. I do love a good twist ending.
May 27, 2013 — 4:22 PM
Wanderer says:
The ending definitely caught me off guard, Great job!
May 28, 2013 — 12:37 PM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
Great story! Loved the ending.
May 29, 2013 — 10:16 AM
Eva T says:
I got Psychometry as well. The twist at the end is from another plot I’ve been kicking around, but I thought they fitted together nicely.
http://evathereseebert.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/flash-fiction-challenge-must-contain-psychic-powers/
May 27, 2013 — 7:44 AM
Ebonstorm says:
I violated the rules: I took two powers and used two thousand words. I couldn’t help myself. (Pyromancy and Mediumship) – Cryptic: Clifford Engram, Paranormal Investigator: http://wp.me/p1UgIB-tb
The list is so awesome, I am going to take it and write stories based around them using this character. It should make for some interesting investigations. Thanks again!
May 27, 2013 — 12:16 PM
jreinmiller says:
I liked the twist at the end. Cool idea.
May 27, 2013 — 3:09 PM
The Newbie says:
http://eccrouse.blogspot.com/2013/05/fiona.html
May 27, 2013 — 6:09 PM
The Newbie says:
Oh, yeah. I chose bilocation because who wouldn’t want to be in two places at once?
May 29, 2013 — 12:56 AM
Josh Loomis says:
The d20 of Destiny chose psychometry, and I wrote this: http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2013/05/28/flash-fiction-the-dagger-of-mcnally/
May 28, 2013 — 8:54 AM
Matt Gomez says:
Here’s my take on pyromancy: What Lies in Flames
http://www.writerscarnival.ca/what-lies-in-flames/
May 28, 2013 — 10:10 AM
Wanderer says:
Really liked the story, Matt. Great descriptions and the element of mystery was well written.
May 28, 2013 — 12:54 PM
Matt Gomez says:
Thank you!
May 28, 2013 — 8:19 PM
Wanderer says:
I got bilocation and this is what happened: http://secondstaronther.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/purge/
May 28, 2013 — 11:23 AM
Matt Gomez says:
Nicely done!
May 28, 2013 — 1:39 PM
Wanderer says:
Thank you!
May 28, 2013 — 2:06 PM
Mike Berkey says:
There were roughly four or five entries on that table that I was afraid I’d get because I’d have no idea what to do with it. Bilocation was one of them. 🙂 Pretty cool what you did with it.
May 31, 2013 — 6:20 PM
Wanderer says:
Thank you! It was definitely a stretch for me.
June 3, 2013 — 9:16 AM
The Famous Cash says:
Just to record the most important fact,
ANYONE claiming to be psychic is in one, or noth, of only two states.
1) A CON ARTIST.
2) MENTALLY UNWELL.
Join the campaign to change our stupid laws which actually condone LEGALISED THEFT!
Protect the feeble-minded.
Email your M.P. (or gov rep) to raise the issue to probit these thieves from advertising or performing.
May 28, 2013 — 11:50 AM
AM Gray says:
I rolled a 17 – past life regression. Besides remembering that wonderful line from Red Dwarf when Rimmer announced that he was Alexander the Great’s chief eunuch in a previous life, I didn’t have many ideas. Isn’t it amazing how many people who say they have previous lives were always someone rich and important?
http://amgray.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/sceptics.html
May 28, 2013 — 7:07 PM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
Great story 🙂 glad to see you found past life regression to be a power not a curse as I did.
May 29, 2013 — 10:44 AM
andreaspeed says:
Quick and dirty. Lots of powers mentioned, but only one used. Can you see it coming? http://andreaspeed.com/2013/flash-fic-challenge-conclusions/
May 28, 2013 — 7:35 PM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
I liked it 🙂
May 29, 2013 — 10:49 AM
Wanderer says:
Well done! The twist was really excellently written.
May 29, 2013 — 2:49 PM
rjkeith says:
Angry writing therapy. A whole room of people die. There’s DnD references, too.
http://accessoriesnotincluded.com/2013/05/09/wanted-must-use-fire/
May 28, 2013 — 8:01 PM
Lori Fetters Lopez says:
The write up had me intriqued, what happened to the link?
May 29, 2013 — 10:08 PM
rjkeith says:
I changed the date on the post and the link went all screwy. Sorry about that!
May 29, 2013 — 10:22 PM