Chuck Wendig: Terribleminds

Flash Fiction Challenge: Must Contain Psychic Powers

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:

  1. Clairvoyance
  2. Pyromancy
  3. Cryomancy
  4. Telepathy
  5. Psychometry
  6. Faith or Psychic Healing
  7. Precognition
  8. Telekinesis
  9. Mediumship
  10. Levitation
  11. Astral Projection
  12. Bilocation
  13. Teleportation
  14. Aura Reading
  15. Divination
  16. Retrocognition
  17. Past-Life Regression
  18. Mind Control
  19. Dream Control
  20. Psychic Empathy (aka an Empath)

terribleminds

185 responses to “Flash Fiction Challenge: Must Contain Psychic Powers”

Newer Comments »

  2. I love your flash fiction challenges… and I was waiting for this weeks’ challenge to come along! What fun we’ll all have! 😀

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

      • 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. 🙂

        Reply

        • 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. 😀

          Reply

  10. 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!

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

  18. 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/

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  37. 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!

    Reply

  46. 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.

    Reply
Newer Comments »

Speak Your Mind, Word-Nerds

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

%d bloggers like this: