Flash Fiction Challenge: “Roll For Title!”

Smell that?

*takes long sniff*

It is the first flash fiction challenge of the year.

I’VE THAT SCENT OF SHEER STORY POTENTIAL CLINGING TO THE INSIDE OF MY NOSE.

And it is wonderfully sweet.

I’d actually like to take a little moment to say I’m so happy that these challenges seem to get people writing and I’ve seen more than a few folks sell-through stories based on these challenges, which makes the brittle broken snow-globe that I call my heart twitch and shine for one second.

Anyway, let’s get to it.

All you need to do this week is to use a d20 or a random number generator to consult the table at the bottom of the document to roll for a story’s title. It’s a two-part title (meaning, two random numbers 1-20) and whatever title you get must fit the story you write for it.

You’ll have 1000 words, par usual. Post at your blog, link back here. Due in one week — January 17th, Friday — by noon EST. Easy-peasy story-squeezy.

(Example of an earlier, similar challenge here.)

The title tables are (and you’re free to put the word “The” in front of your title):

Column One

Snowbound
Devil’s
Accursed
Whispering
Amethyst
Griefstruck
Lovestruck
Red
Cartographer’s
Chaos
Orbital
Jackdaw’s
Minotaur
Invisible
Dog Star
Helical
Flight of the
Cerulean
Seamstress’
Ten-Year

Column Two

Murders
Kid’s Club
Angel
Vault
Bookshop
Champion
Palace
Fear
Skull
Potion
Birdhouse
Encyclopedia
Peacock
Prison
Wire
Rider
Story
God
Parasite
Earth

61 Comments

Add yours →

J. L. Louis says:

Okay! First timer here. I rolled a 2/3 and got “Devil’s Angel”. Almost too good? Anyway here it is. I would love some feedback. This is my first short story. I really struggled to edit it down to what it is.

http://www.miserablesloth.com/devils-angel/

January 14, 2014 — 4:19 PM

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- J. L. Louis says:
  
  It seems this short was born a premie. Multiple issues have been addressed and revised. It now appears to be healthy and ready to be ingested(wait what were we talking about?).
  
  January 15, 2014 — 10:32 AM
  
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  - mckkenzie says:
    
    “He was a small man in every way”…priceless! Really liked this one. One detail that bugged me though…she never washed the smeared makeup off her face! 😉
    
    January 15, 2014 — 12:40 PM
    
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    - J. L. Louis says:
      
      Thanks for reading! Also, thanks for picking out that omission. It has been fixed. It was detail that was left out after I tried to edit for length, then gave up realizing I had eviscerated the guts from the story.
      
      January 15, 2014 — 1:51 PM
      
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      - mckkenzie says:
        
        Incredible how quickly 1,000 words runs out, isn’t it??
        
        January 15, 2014 — 1:56 PM
caszbrewster says:

I got “Invisible Bookstore.” Because the plague grips still two of my children, I’ve had lots of time to let this title stroll through the creative centers of my brain, and a mini-story to my larger novel-length work of INTERFACE, came to mind. The premise of INTERFACE is that humanity has been divided into two sects: Neurals and Purists. As you can imagine, the Neurals have a cerebral upgrade. Not Cyber Men upgrade, mind you. They still look like humans. But the world is divided. A casualty of this is libraries and bookstores. One woman, a Purist, is taking it upon herself to right that wrong. My story of INVISIBLE BOOKSTORES comes in right at 1,000 words. Sci Fi/Fantasy is a tough genre for flash, but I think I made this one work. Would love if folks read and comment. I can’t get these bits of placenta off my writing career if I don’t take a bath in feedback.

http://www.casondrabrewster.com/?p=1554

January 14, 2014 — 5:23 PM

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Fatma Alici says:

I got Cerulean Rider. I decided to go with dragons as a theme.

http://naharavensari.wordpress.com/2014/01/14/flash-fiction-cerulean-rider/

January 14, 2014 — 6:04 PM

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- Smoph says:
  
  Dragons are never wrong. I really like the concept of a water dragon.
  
  January 17, 2014 — 11:19 PM
  
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Tony says:

Took a little while, but it’s done now. I apologize that my blog isn’t in WordPress but that might change soon. My roll for title gave me “Dog Star God” as a project. I had no idea how this would turn out, but it is completely different than what I started with. Thank you for reading, hope you enjoy it. Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated.

http://welcome2thewritersbloc.blogspot.com/2014/01/dog-star-god-flash-fiction-challenge.html

January 14, 2014 — 6:12 PM

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- Courtney Cantrell says:
  
  Tony, I enjoyed your story very much! Based on your title, I didn’t expect that kind of story at all. But it was creative and endearing. Good work!
  
  January 23, 2014 — 12:29 AM
  
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  - Tony says:
    
    I hope you don’t mind that I printed out your review and framed it. I framed it and it’s pegged at eye level on the wall directly in front of me. That way, while blood pours from my eye sockets while I write a chapter two to this, I’ll know it’ll be totally worth it! Thank you very much for your words of encouragement. It means a lot.
    
    January 24, 2014 — 3:09 PM
    
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    - Courtney Cantrell says:
      
      You’re welcome, and I don’t mind at all! Glad I could do something to help you through the pain of bleeding eye sockets. : )
      
      January 27, 2014 — 4:22 PM
      
      Reply
Elvie says:

“Dog Star Earth” (15, 20), I went with a sci-fi sorta thing (probably unsurprising).

http://elviewrites.tumblr.com/post/72904244066/dog-star-earth

January 14, 2014 — 9:19 PM

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Mira Day says:

Alright…here it is! Cerulean Palace 🙂

http://www.miramichelleday.com/flash_fictions_and_short_stories/cerulean_palace/

January 14, 2014 — 11:55 PM

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- J. L. Louis says:
  
  Your link isn’t working for me… “page not found”
  
  January 15, 2014 — 12:05 PM
  
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  - Mira Day says:
    
    Sorry! I fixed it! 🙂
    
    (Damnit Scottie! I’m a storyteller not a website builder! :P)
    
    January 15, 2014 — 10:18 PM
    
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Jeff Xilon says:

Wow! Looks like it’s been a very popular challenge so far. I haven’t done one in a while but I’m starting 2014 off on the right foot. Rolled a few titles until something sparked and that something was:

“The Invisible Encyclopedia”

Hope you enjoy it. Find it here: http://www.jeffxilon.com/flash-fiction-the-invisible-encyclopedia/

January 15, 2014 — 12:38 AM

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- Smoph says:
  
  Really interesting concept Jeff. Thanks for that.
  
  January 17, 2014 — 11:40 PM
  
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  - Jeff Xilon says:
    
    Glad you liked it. Thanks for reading.
    
    January 18, 2014 — 1:41 AM
    
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Jeremy says:

I got Cartographer’s Vault. I wrote mine then read people’s with the same title. They did a great job! I need to work on my writing.

http://jeyyong.blogspot.com/p/meow.html

January 15, 2014 — 3:25 AM

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- J. L. Louis says:
  
  No need to put down your writing! I really enjoyed this. I love the small mysteries left unresolved about the stones and why his apprentice sold him out yet ran to tell him. Great read, thanks for sharing!
  
  January 15, 2014 — 11:30 AM
  
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  - Jeremy says:
    
    Thanks J.L.!
    
    January 15, 2014 — 1:12 PM
    
    Reply
- Smoph says:
  
  I liked it! And agree with J.L.
  
  January 18, 2014 — 12:14 AM
  
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jeffandwendy says:

For the pleasure of the Wonderful Tribe of the Great Windig I offer this booze filled tale – Jackdaw’s Amethyst. http://jeffandwendy.wordpress.com/2014/01/15/jackdaws-amethyst-a-short-story/

January 15, 2014 — 4:42 PM

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Rick Cook Jr says:

First one in a while, coming in pretty well over 1,000 words, but uh… oh well?

Hope you enjoy Minotaur Kid’s Club:

http://panningforclouds.com/2014/01/15/minotaur-kids-club-2066-words/

January 16, 2014 — 12:54 AM

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Jim Franklin says:

Couldn’t resist having a second go at this. I got the words Minotaur and Prison… So here’s Minotaur Prison.

http://www.thezombiechimp.com/2014/01/16/flash-fiction-the-minotaur-prison

January 16, 2014 — 7:34 AM

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J. S. Collyer says:

Here’s mine! ‘Lovestruck Birdhouse’ http://jcollyer.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/more-news-and-a-new-flashforfriday/

January 16, 2014 — 10:43 AM

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Simon B. says:

I’m back, after a brief involuntary hiatus. Rolling a 20 and a 6 gave me The Ten-Year Champion:

http://probablyfalse.tumblr.com/post/73517610783/the-ten-year-champion

Advisory note: Test readings have suggested it’s possible that the effect I was aiming for might only be experienced by those who were once English schoolboys. I apologise in advance for any confusion my story may cause for anyone that didn’t get an education from a rubbish Three Counties state school. This was entirely unintended.

January 16, 2014 — 11:04 AM

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- dangerdean says:
  
  That was fun, and I don’t think you have to worry about people not getting it. I had to look up what a cheeser was, and we didn’t call it the same thing in Canada, but this seems a pretty Universal schoolboy pursuit.
  
  January 16, 2014 — 4:46 PM
  
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  - Simon B. says:
    
    Thanks for reading! I was worried whilst writing that I’d missed the mark a little but was having too much fun not to see it through.
    
    January 17, 2014 — 3:05 AM
    
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- mckkenzie says:
  
  Sorry, I’m neither English nor was I ever a schoolboy…so what’s a cheeser??
  
  January 16, 2014 — 5:01 PM
  
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  - Simon B. says:
    
    This should explain everything in probably more detail than you’ll ever need:
    
    http://tinyurl.com/3uo887a
    
    January 17, 2014 — 3:01 AM
    
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C.M. Simpson says:

Very excited to be a part of this year’s first flash fiction challenge.

Story title: The Invisible Bookstore

Link: http://cmsimpson.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge.html

January 16, 2014 — 2:16 PM

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- mckkenzie says:
  
  Nice one! 🙂
  
  January 16, 2014 — 2:30 PM
  
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Dan says:

Go, go, Power Rangers!

Title: The Dog Star Murders

Link: http://www.crayonyellow.com/2014/01/the-dog-star-murders.html

January 16, 2014 — 3:15 PM

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cljohns82 says:

The Lovestruck Kid’s Club http://cljohns82.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/the-lovestruck-kids-club/

First short story of the year!

January 16, 2014 — 3:40 PM

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Doyle says:

Rolled 15 and 7, which gives me “Dog Star Palace”

http://heyinternetletswrite.blogspot.com/2014/01/short-fiction-hot-fresh.html

My first short story in a while, and far off in tone from anything I’ve worked on before.

January 16, 2014 — 5:47 PM

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- Kyra Dune says:
  
  That was kind of cool.
  
  January 16, 2014 — 8:45 PM
  
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  - Doyle says:
    
    Thank you.
    
    January 18, 2014 — 8:31 PM
    
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Grey St. James says:

I’ve been watching from the wings here for a while and I haven’t finished a piece of fiction in over a year, but how could I resist the gift of something called “Invisible Earth”?

Come on over to my place and meet Rosemary and her shovel: http://greystjames.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/invisible-earth/

January 16, 2014 — 8:54 PM

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Heather Milne Johnson says:

I got “Lovestruck Rider.” I had a lot of fun with it, thanks! http://wp.me/p3McUV-2j

January 16, 2014 — 9:43 PM

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socially accepted schizophrenia says:

So, here’s my first toss of the hat into the ring. I rolled “Amethyst Murders.” Be gentle …

http://awisheraliar.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/chuck-wendigs-flash-fic-challenge-roll-for-title/

January 16, 2014 — 9:45 PM

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J. Lannan says:

First time doing one of these challenges and I’m not feeling especially inspired this week, but I finished something so I’m glad I managed that much.

Accursed Encyclopedia

http://sordidstoryteller.blogspot.com/2014/01/flash-fiction-accursed-encyclopedia.html

January 16, 2014 — 9:46 PM

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Nathan Burgoine (@NathanBurgoine) says:

I got “Jackdaw’s Bookshop.”

January 16, 2014 — 9:57 PM

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Nathan Burgoine (@NathanBurgoine) says:

Ugh. Try that again with the actual link, maybe?

I got “Jackdaw’s Bookshop.”

http://redroom.com/member/nathan-burgoine/blog/flash-fiction-challenge-%E2%80%9Croll-for-title%E2%80%9D

January 16, 2014 — 9:58 PM

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Rebecca Douglass says:

Wow–a lot of entries, and I’ll not have time to read more than a few. For now, my story, “The Cartographer’s Potion.”
http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2014/01/flash-fiction-friday-cartographers.html

January 17, 2014 — 12:57 AM

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benjaminryant says:

Beware: Obscure football jargon.
Snowbound Champion: http://brtwrites.com/2014/01/16/flash-fiction-thursday-2/

January 17, 2014 — 12:59 AM

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Caroline Arbelay says:

Here goes. Helical Palace.
Carolineaisling.WordPress.com

January 17, 2014 — 2:00 AM

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momdude says:

I got a 16 and an 18, which gives me the title “Spiral God.” The muse stepped up when I needed her tonight. I’m very pleased to present what might be the oddest thing that I’ve yet written.

http://pauljwillett.com/2014/01/16/flash-fiction-spiral-god/

January 17, 2014 — 2:23 AM

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- Kathryn Goldman says:
  
  The soft and nuanced reference to the meaning of the title was nicely done.
  
  January 17, 2014 — 8:58 AM
  
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  - momdude says:
    
    Thanks, Kathryn
    
    January 17, 2014 — 9:35 AM
    
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C. E. Konicki says:

“Flight of the Peacock.” Comments welcome.
http://carlthenomad.blogspot.com/2014/01/flight-of-peacock.html

January 17, 2014 — 7:16 AM

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Steven Cowles says:

I rolled Red Encyclopedia.

Warning: May contain Opera.

http://www.stevencowles.com/red-encyclopedia/

January 17, 2014 — 7:19 AM

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Abraham Wolfgang says:

So, because I like to do things last minute, here is my contribution:

The Cerulean Wire: https://www.abewolfgang.com/blog/cerulean-wire

Thanks!

January 17, 2014 — 8:19 AM

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Jodi Lee says:

Getting in under the wire… Dog-Star Earth. This one may go somewhere…LOL

http://jodilee.sacredtriskele.net/?page_id=3257

January 17, 2014 — 9:10 AM

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- Kyra Dune says:
  
  Good story. That would make a book I’d read.
  
  January 17, 2014 — 4:29 PM
  
  Reply
  - Jodi Lee says:
    
    Thanks, Kyra! 🙂
    
    January 17, 2014 — 5:46 PM
    
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Jemima Pett says:

Oops, nearly forgot to post the link: The Amethyst God… http://jemimapett.com/blog/2014/01/17/flash-fiction-friday-the-amethyst-god/

January 17, 2014 — 10:17 AM

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nicholasbrack says:

Thanks for the challenge … my first time doing this Fast Fiction thing. Very cool. (Except I need to cut 180 words … my bad … will do!)

Looking forward to any feedback. And thanks …

CERULEAN RIDER
http://www.nicholasbrack.com/2014/01/17/cerulean-rider/

January 17, 2014 — 11:10 AM

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rochelledeans says:

Cutting it close here, but all done!

Cerulean Birdhouse were my words. I quite enjoyed this. Thanks for the challenge!
http://rochelledeans.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/the-cerulean-birdhouse/

January 17, 2014 — 11:48 AM

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- Leah F says:
  
  Nice work! I had Cerulean Birdhouse too so I enjoyed seeing where you took it.
  
  January 17, 2014 — 4:52 PM
  
  Reply