Last week’s challenge: “Horror in Three Sentences.”
This week’s challenge:
Pretty easy.
Pull a random song from — well, wherever it is you like to grab random songs. iTunes! Spotify! Pandora! Some old man on the corner who randomly spouts song titles! Whatever. Get a random song title. That is now the the title of your flash fiction story this week, which should top out at ~1000 words.
Due by Oct 25th, noon, EST.
Post at your online space.
Link back here.
Now get writing, word-herders.
Mark Gardner says:
So, Who won the challenge from last week?
October 18, 2013 — 3:37 PM
C.L. Rozelle (@CLRozelle) says:
I was kinda wondering that. He’s probably still reading the five thousand entries.
October 20, 2013 — 6:00 PM
Mark Gardner says:
For the flash fiction challenge this week, I hit play on my iTunes and Welcome Home by Metallica was playing. I’m reusing my sentences from “horror in three sentences.” At exactly 1000 words here you are:
http://article94.blogspot.com/2013/10/welcome-home.html
October 22, 2013 — 12:51 AM
Fatma Alici says:
I like because, as a reader, I don’t know if the guy is crazy, or if what he thinks happening is. Pretty cool.
October 23, 2013 — 6:20 PM
Mark Gardner says:
Don’t tell anyone this: that was my plan!
October 23, 2013 — 11:11 PM
Kevin Veldman says:
HOLY SHIT I JUST FINISHED MY NaNoWriMo outline (1st draft). The song that was on when I finished: “Pay for What You Get”
So… That will be my story title… I’ll post it tomorrow. I have to clean this dirtbag apartment before I write it.
October 18, 2013 — 4:54 PM
Jenny Knox says:
Huh. “Hallelujah.” That has some serious potential.
Although I was really hoping for “I used to love her, but I had to kill her.” I hope someone pulls that one.
October 18, 2013 — 6:00 PM
Caitlin says:
I did a random shuffle on my MP3 player and got ‘Failing the Rorschach Test’ (by the Matthew Good Band). AWESOME. gonna have fun with this! 🙂
October 18, 2013 — 6:49 PM
Michala Tyann says:
My randomness came up with a song by Abba. Enjoy!
http://www.bitemybook.com/2013/10/flash-fiction-challenge-song-title.html
October 18, 2013 — 8:02 PM
zklimczak says:
Moved at a decent pace, easy descriptions which was nice. To be honest, I just didn’t understand what was going on too much upon a first read. A little disjointed in my opinion. Not bad though.
October 19, 2013 — 9:25 PM
michala tyann says:
zklimczak,
I appreciate your reviewing the story and your reply. 🙂 I do believe I can understand why you would say that. I had the same feeling and worked it over a couple of times. It does need some cleaning up. I am thrilled you said the descriptions were nice because my goal was to focus on working on bettering my skills in that department. A small victory! Cheers, Michala
October 20, 2013 — 12:45 AM
Kevin Veldman says:
Here it is, boys and girls. “Pay For What You Get” (Dave Matthews Band)
http://strangeworldsblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/pay-for-what-you-get-flash-fiction.html
October 19, 2013 — 12:17 AM
zklimczak says:
I enjoy your word usage within the story. It reads easy and works well within the context – excellent job. If I had any criticism, it would be: I feel like you created a sense of tension with the youngest Son, Alex, but failed to resolve it to anything other than simply a song lyric. Just a bit of a let down was all. Excellent writing though.
October 19, 2013 — 9:20 PM
kveldman13 says:
Yeah, that is exactly what I thought when I read it. I wrote it after 2 bottles of Melbec. I will probably try to fix the last section and maybe add another. Thanks for the honest feedback 🙂
October 20, 2013 — 12:27 AM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
I like this story, it built up anticipation really well, though, I feel, the ending was somewhat of an anticlimax.
October 21, 2013 — 11:14 PM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
Oops, sorry, was supposed to be a comment to the entry, not to a comment.
October 21, 2013 — 11:15 PM
morag donnachie says:
I really enjoyed this, right up to the end. It made my eyes prickle a bit. The end was a teensy bit weak and I have to agree with zklimczak, a bit of a let down. But on the whole it was a good story with the potential to be a real tear jerker.
October 21, 2013 — 2:02 PM
KVeldman says:
So I re-read this again and you are all correct. Super lazy ending. Have decided I will try again with this challenge. Won’t let you guys down again 🙂
October 23, 2013 — 6:31 PM
KVeldman says:
Okay everyone, I grabbed a new song and it was “Greatest Story Ever Told” by the Grateful Dead. I wasn’t ready to throw down the gauntlet quite that hard, so I picked a new Dead song… Here’s “I Know You Rider”
http://strangeworldsblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-know-you-rider-flashfic-challenge.html
October 24, 2013 — 6:27 PM
Mozette says:
I’ve had a song running around in my head… it’s a great ear worm even when you don’t want it. 😛
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/believe-it-or-not.html
enjoy!
October 19, 2013 — 7:49 AM
Mozette says:
Okay guys… let me have it… is mine good, bad or is it terrible?
Like any writer, I’m a needy person…. please I need to know! 🙁
October 21, 2013 — 2:08 AM
michala says:
Very creative opening. Unique and made me thirsty to read more.
My first question was…how did the two reconnect after the first meeting. And then from then on…the story kinda went soft for me. I didn’t really go for ‘the one times I’ve been grateful that he’s been my friend is now’. Its like present tense and past tense mingled together and confusing to me. You say ‘now’ but then go back to past tense which I get the narrator is telling a story but it just doesn’t create harmony. I’ve of belief that this story could have been a lot more fulfilling. I’d go so far to suggest you hold on to this storyline but choose one sentence from this here writing that you felt strongest and happiest writing and write this story again. I think you’ll see you like it better. I’d be willing to read the second round.
Cheers,
Michala
October 21, 2013 — 3:05 AM
Mozette says:
Thank you, for your honesty, Michala. I can see where I went wrong in it… I do get my tenses mixed up (always have since the word go… it’s my weakness). I could have taken a different angle with how they reconnected.
However, from what I’ve known – and seeing I do write vampire stories a lot – they can track anyone they’ve tasted (even a little bit) for a few months by the scent of their blood. So, Rick would have been able to track Sharna around for a long time… but if I had filled out the story completely, it would have gone over the word count… I might work on it more and make it a longer piece. 🙂
October 21, 2013 — 8:09 AM
morag donnachie says:
I get what you say about tracking someone by their blood, but I didn’t pick up on the fact that he had tasted her blood until right at the end, it could have been a little more explicit or needed a sentence or two about the reconnection.
I think it would be good as a longer story, there were elements of it that I felt could do with more detail, on the whole it felt like an extract of a longer story. More please.
October 21, 2013 — 2:15 PM
Smoph says:
Mozette, I’ve really liked your other stories. This one, and I don’t know whether it was the writing style you were going for, but it is not your strongest. Your protagonist’s voice was immature and it really stripped the nuance of their relationship for me. That would be my feedback.
October 23, 2013 — 5:27 PM
Mozette says:
yeah, I know what you mean… I tried to make it work; but not matter how much I did, it just didn’t turn around the way I wanted it to. I wasn’t the song title, it was the characters… they just didn’t show up the way I thought they would… oh well, win some, lose some.
October 23, 2013 — 9:21 PM
zklimczak says:
I have a WordPress Blog, but have yet to adequately set it up. Instead, I’ll provide the link the Google Doc here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PHowpSIrAeCmRI502H4KQq518lTRVnnFVAVYQQBF5g0/edit?usp=sharing
I asked my wife for a story title off the top of her head – “Papa Don’t Preach” is the answer I got.
October 19, 2013 — 9:16 PM
michala tyann says:
Your first sentence could use some stronger tension. Stronger action words instead of telling the reader. “Stella yanked the phone off its base and with shaking hands punched the numbers hurriedly. God let him be up still. She looked across the room; stared at the floor. Robby wasn’t moving. ***See the action happening, even her thinking.*** ‘She got back to Robby when she heard Ashley cry’ needs to be phrased better. Maybe “She had only reached and bent over Robby when Ashley’s whimpering began. I notice a lot of passive sentences. If you changed those up your story would come alive a lot better. The story is intriguing and definitely leaves me wondering many things. The premise of the story has a lot going for it. The opening scenes were enough to grab the reader and pull them in. Too bad it had to end. LOL Do you plan on going further with it? Thanks for sharing!
October 20, 2013 — 1:02 AM
zklimczak says:
Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately, passive sentences are a bit of a crutch for me. Good call in seeing them. I can use that feedback.
October 20, 2013 — 10:50 AM
morag donnachie says:
I have nothing to add to what Michala already wrote just to reiterate about the passive sentences and to say; more, more, more…does she get her daughter back? Where did the money come from? What happened to Robbie?
October 21, 2013 — 2:26 PM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
Good story, I like that we’re not told everything, and I like Stella’s determination in the end.
October 21, 2013 — 11:24 PM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
Not random at all (sorry), this is Silverflame
http://www.trinetoftschmidt.com/2013/10/flash-fiction-random-song-title/
October 20, 2013 — 6:40 AM
Kyra Dune says:
I used the song I was listening to when I read the post, Dear Agony by Breaking Benjamin.
http://theshadowportal.blogspot.com/2013/10/flash-fiction-challenge.html
October 20, 2013 — 8:27 AM
C.L. Rozelle (@CLRozelle) says:
I enjoyed your dark story. I am a bit of a darkness cultivator/illuminator myself 🙂
October 20, 2013 — 5:56 PM
Kyra Dune says:
Thanks.
October 20, 2013 — 7:34 PM
morag donnachie says:
That was some powerful stuff dude.
October 21, 2013 — 3:34 PM
Kyra Dune says:
Thank you.
October 21, 2013 — 4:46 PM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
Wow. Great story, it really gave me the shivers.
October 21, 2013 — 11:33 PM
Kyra Dune says:
Thanks, Trine.
October 24, 2013 — 8:14 AM
Smoph says:
Really got into that dismal headspace, the punishing anger.
October 23, 2013 — 5:23 PM
Emily Measor says:
Thanks for this one, Chuck! I had fun writing this.
My iTunes shuffle landed me with The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie by the Chili Peppers. Feedback welcomed! 🙂
http://emeaso.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/the-adventures-of-rain-dance-maggie-so.html
October 20, 2013 — 9:30 AM
kveldman13 says:
Cute story. I liked it!
October 20, 2013 — 2:31 PM
Emily Measor says:
Yay! Thanks Kevin and go me! 😉
October 20, 2013 — 5:41 PM
morag donnachie says:
Gods that brings back horrible memories of high school!
October 21, 2013 — 3:44 PM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
Aww! Nice story. Oh the memories it brings back.
I love the family dynamic, and the descriptions of Maggie when he really sees her for the first time.
October 21, 2013 — 11:41 PM
Emily Measor says:
Thanks, Trine. Really appreciate the feedback 🙂
October 22, 2013 — 6:17 AM
Smoph says:
I loved this Emily. 🙂
October 25, 2013 — 1:26 AM
Emily Measor says:
Thanks Sophie! 🙂
October 26, 2013 — 5:53 PM
C.L. Rozelle (@CLRozelle) says:
MACHINE SAYS YES
(an experimental piece)
http://clrozelle.tumblr.com/post/64578960544/machine-says-yes
October 20, 2013 — 11:12 AM
kveldman13 says:
This is really good. I especially enjoyed the last few paragraphs where the voice gets more intense. Only criticism O would have is that after the second flashback it seems like the personality of the main character changes. Not in a bad way, just seemed inconsistent with the first few paragraphs.
October 20, 2013 — 1:53 PM
C.L. Rozelle (@CLRozelle) says:
Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it.
October 20, 2013 — 4:33 PM
morag donnachie says:
Oooooh, gave me shivers.
October 21, 2013 — 3:51 PM
C.L. Rozelle (@CLRozelle) says:
Glad to hear it 🙂
October 23, 2013 — 1:19 PM
Trine Toft Schmidt says:
Oh this is just…. I want to say amazing, but it feels wrong to put such a positive word to such a dark, grim piece. Great story!
October 22, 2013 — 11:01 AM
C.L. Rozelle (@CLRozelle) says:
Thanks, Trine.
October 23, 2013 — 1:20 PM
Smoph says:
Oo. Dark.
October 25, 2013 — 1:21 AM
kveldman13 says:
I really enjoyed this. Good progression and I can really feel the tension right out of the gate. Left me wanting more.
October 20, 2013 — 1:42 PM
KVeldman says:
^^This was for “Papa Don’t Preach” by zklimczak
October 24, 2013 — 10:43 PM
Caitlin says:
Here’s my story. Failing the Rorschach Test by the Matthew Good Band. I had lots of fun writing this! 🙂 i’d love any feedback from you guys! 😀 http://arrawyn.wix.com/caitlinmccoll#!BLOG/ckky/flash-fiction-challenge–random-song-title
October 20, 2013 — 3:06 PM
morag donnachie says:
Ok, this is my effort. Inside by Stiltskin. I really enjoyed the challenge. If anyone has any feedback I’d appreciate it.
http://confusinmusing.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/flash-fiction-challenge-song-title.html
October 20, 2013 — 8:39 PM
Kyra Dune says:
Not bad. Gave me a chill.
October 21, 2013 — 8:10 AM
morag donnachie says:
Thank you, I’ve just come back to writing after a break of over a decade and I’m really enjoying the practice these flash fiction challenges are giving me.
October 21, 2013 — 3:56 PM
Benito Vergara says:
Here’s my story, with a random song (Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer”) suggested by a friend on Facebook. My first time writing flash fiction, so feedback would be appreciated: http://www.thewilyfilipino.com/blog/2013/10/20/tiny-dancer-flash-fiction-challenge-random-song-title/
October 20, 2013 — 9:02 PM
Kyra Dune says:
What a lovely story. It really captures the pain of losing the one you love. Nice job.
October 21, 2013 — 8:15 AM
C.L. Rozelle (@CLRozelle) says:
Wow, that was awesome. Very well-written. I LOVED it.
October 21, 2013 — 11:48 AM
Benito Vergara says:
Thanks! I’m not doing NaNoWriMo this year, but I was thinking of something similar — 30 song titles, 30 short pieces. Now I just have to select which albums to pick. The Smiths, Steely Dan — both had great titles.
October 21, 2013 — 9:41 PM
C.L. Rozelle (@CLRozelle) says:
I would like to read your stuff. Let’s keep in touch. Always looking for other authors to be inspired by. I’m going to follow your blog 🙂
October 21, 2013 — 10:52 PM
Jon Jefferson says:
My submission for the week
http://jonjeffersonauthor.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/coin-operated-boy/
October 21, 2013 — 12:40 PM
Becca says:
Since my story is only 55 words (there’s no minimum word count, right?), I’m posting it here. 😉
———-
Not Even The Trees
Warmly colored leaves soften the cold forest floor beneath me. I scour the sky for meaning, in vain.
The encroachment of evergreens and branches keep secrets. I shriek for answers that will never come, and tears burn unimpeded into my ears.
But no one’s listening to me, not even the trees.
And you’re still gone.
October 21, 2013 — 5:41 PM
Kyra Dune says:
Short, but moving. Nice job.
October 22, 2013 — 8:06 AM
Becca says:
Thanks!!
October 22, 2013 — 8:08 AM
crow365 says:
I randomly pulled up “Sober” by TOOL and wrote the following: http://nickegelhoff.com/2013/10/02/flash-fiction-challenge-random-song-title/
October 21, 2013 — 7:54 PM
Ian Rogers says:
This Flash Fiction Challenge is actually what my blog is about every week!
(Excuse the exclamation mark. Sorry. Sorry.)
Today’s post was ‘You Fail Me’ by Converge:
http://birchwoodlibrary.com/2013/10/22/you-fail-me/
But I reckon this one from a few weeks back might be better for Terrible Minds. It’s ‘Death Goes To The Winner’ by Harvey Milk:
http://birchwoodlibrary.com/2013/10/01/41/
I don’t always do metal.
(But Satan wants me to)
October 21, 2013 — 9:17 PM
Ian Rogers says:
Last night Converge reblogged my story out to their tumblr followers. Yikes.
So ergh, community announcement: make sure your stuff is AAA+++ when you attach your work to a band’s music because the internet is watching.
October 22, 2013 — 7:37 PM
Josh Loomis says:
The song is ‘Back It Up’ by Caro Emerald.
The result is interesting.
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2013/10/22/flash-fiction-back-it-up/
October 22, 2013 — 9:54 PM
Fatma Alici says:
Okay, I got Get F++Cked by The Thrills. Yeah. I went there.
http://naharavensari.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/get-fcked/
October 22, 2013 — 11:07 PM
Smoph says:
I wrote this from Samson by Regina Spektor. I love this song. Thanks iTunes randomness. http://wp.me/s3kfa2-samson
It goes live 9:00am Vancouver time, 23 October.
October 23, 2013 — 3:13 AM
Smoph says:
Definitely live now. http://prose.smoph.org/2013/09/28/homecoming/
October 23, 2013 — 5:07 PM
Victor says:
MOTHER NIGHT
“Who’s there to comfort you when you’ve lost your way”
http://cutsnaketales.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/mother-night.html
October 23, 2013 — 3:37 AM
Emily Measor says:
This gave me goosebumps. Great writing 🙂
October 23, 2013 — 5:29 AM
Fatma Alici says:
I love the crazy, weird descriptors. Reminds of how my uncle talks when his really drunk.
October 23, 2013 — 6:16 PM
juliawriteswords says:
I was listening to “So Insane” by Discovery: http://juliawriteswords.com/2013/10/23/so-insane/
October 23, 2013 — 10:34 AM
marjeec says:
I’ve got “A Girl Cannot be Killed by her Make-Believe Lover” by My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult: http://marjeeflashfic.wordpress.com/2013/10/23/a-girl-cannot-be-killed-by-her-make-believe-lover/
October 23, 2013 — 5:54 PM
Ashley MK says:
First song that popped up on Pandora was “It’s Gonna Be Love.”
http://ashleymkwrites.blogspot.com/2013/10/flash-fiction-its-gonna-be-love.html
October 23, 2013 — 7:46 PM
Beth L. says:
First song from the trusty pod – :Lady Bowmore, by Casey Driessen.
http://knotachance.tumblr.com/
October 23, 2013 — 10:43 PM
wmontefiore says:
Hello all,
This is my first time participating in Mr. Wendig’s Weekly Flash Fiction Challenge.
The song that came up was “Ways To Go” by Grouplove. My story can be found here:
http://wmontefiore.blogspot.com/2013/10/ways-to-go.html
October 24, 2013 — 3:44 AM
Decater Collins says:
The song that came up for me was Mona Lisa:
http://entropy2.com/blogs/100words/2013/10/24/mona-lisa/
feedback is welcome.
October 24, 2013 — 6:01 AM
Kyra Dune says:
Thanks, Smoph.
October 24, 2013 — 8:13 AM
adelinekay says:
This story ran pretty far from the lyrics of ‘Cherry Pie’, but I guess that’s ok. Just using the title.
http://adelinekay.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/song-title-terribleminds-com-prompt/
October 24, 2013 — 12:39 PM
KVeldman says:
Haha wow, talk about irony. Very enjoyable, hooked me from the beginning.
October 24, 2013 — 8:00 PM
adelinekay says:
Hey, thanks! Glad to hear it.
October 25, 2013 — 1:06 PM
Smoph says:
I really liked your last line. 🙂
October 25, 2013 — 1:16 AM
adelinekay says:
Haha, yeah, kind of a wink.
October 25, 2013 — 1:05 PM
Lisa says:
Here goes…
*stands at the edge of the precipice and jumps*
http://thehellofwriting.blogspot.com/2013/10/flash-fiction-challenge-random-song.html
October 24, 2013 — 3:05 PM
Kyra Dune says:
Creepy. I like it.
October 24, 2013 — 4:29 PM
Lisa says:
Thanks, Kyra!
October 24, 2013 — 6:47 PM
dangerdean says:
Well, this is the first time I’ve done one of these challenges. Hope I don’t suck.
http://dangerdean.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/flash-fiction-challenge-random-song-title/
October 24, 2013 — 8:04 PM
Smoph says:
I leave your story wondering how dinner was cruelty free. 😉
October 25, 2013 — 1:11 AM
dangerdean says:
What they served the guests was cruelty free. 🙂
October 25, 2013 — 2:20 AM
Leah says:
Another first timer here. Closer to the Edge by 30 Seconds to Mars.
http://wingedfrogbookreview.blogspot.com/2013/10/flash-fiction-random-song-title.html
October 24, 2013 — 10:16 PM
adelinekay says:
Whaaaaaat! I liked that. Tons.
October 25, 2013 — 1:34 PM
Leah says:
Thanks!!
October 25, 2013 — 7:27 PM
The Good Doctor (@doctorentropy2) says:
nice.
October 26, 2013 — 2:06 AM
Leah says:
I changed my URL and didn’t think it all the way through, so reposting here.
http://thewingedfrog.blogspot.com/2013/10/flash-fiction-random-song-title.html
October 29, 2013 — 8:09 PM
momdude says:
Randomness brought me a Heather Alexander song called “Fire On The Sea”. I hope you enjoy it. As always, comments and constructive criticisms are appreciated.
http://wp.me/p3tdUw-pM
October 24, 2013 — 11:10 PM
Kyra Dune says:
That was awesome.
October 25, 2013 — 8:15 AM
benjaminryant says:
Embrace the Martian by Kid Cudi
http://brtwrites.com/2013/10/24/flash-fiction-thursday-embrace-the-martian/
October 25, 2013 — 1:06 AM
Jemima Pett says:
Ooops, nearly forgot to link it! But I made it by midday BST, so EST ought to be ok 🙂
“On the Wings of an Angel.” It came on TV while I was wondering how to do the random thingie!
http://jemimapett.com/2013/10/25/friday-flash-fiction-on-the-wings-of-an-angel/
October 25, 2013 — 6:46 AM
M.J. (Mike) Brudenell says:
Okay, finished. And with a couple hours to spare. Please let me know what you think.
http://mjbrudenell.com/blog/2013/10/25/flash-fiction-challenge
October 25, 2013 — 8:49 AM
M.J. (Mike) Brudenell says:
By the way, my random song was Brokedown Palace, by The Grateful Dead.
October 25, 2013 — 1:35 PM
Rebecca Douglass says:
Me too–nearly forgot to link. It’s just Friday morning, isn’t it?
http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2013/10/flash-fiction-friday-i-am-going-to-miss.html
October 25, 2013 — 9:54 AM