Last week’s challenge: “Roll For Title!”
Yoinks.
Last week’s flash fiction challenge was easily the most visited challenge I’ve ever run — also with the most participation. That’s bad-ass, and it’s amazing to see such energy and talent on display. Pat yourselves on the back. Eat some ice cream. MAKE OUT WITH YOURSELF IN A MIRROR.
Or something.
Anyway, this week, we’re back with another randomized challenge —
And, this week, I’m letting you have 2000 words instead of 1000.
The way forward is simple: pick (randomly or by hand) one element from each column below (Who, Where, Uh-oh) and smoosh those three together to concoct a single story. For bonus points, you can actually randomize the Who column twice — either to make a combination protagonist (PSYCHIC CELEBRITY! ASSASSIN ACCOUNTANT!) or to choose a second character to go into your tale, either as a supporting character or as an antagonist.
Post this story at your online space.
Link back here.
Due by Friday, the 24th, noon EST.
And the categories are…
The Who (Protagonist)
- Detective
- Ghost
- Bartender
- Dirty Cop
- Psychic
- Assassin
- Accountant
- Celebrity
- Android
- Waiter/Waitress
The Where (Setting)
- Nuclear Wasteland
- Amusement Park
- Chinatown
- Far-Flung Space Station
- Mad Botanist’s Greenhouse
- Virtual Reality
- The Underworld
- Trailer Park
- Pirate Ship
- Casino
The Uh-Oh (Problem)
- Betrayal by best friend!
- Left for dead, out for revenge!
- Encounter with a nemesis!
- Trapped!
- Something precious, stolen!
- Lovers, separated!
- Warring against nature!
- An unsolved murder!
- A conspiracy, revealed!
- Besieged by supernatural enemies!
Cole says:
Dammit! It’s already Friday… I missed last week’s challenge, but I’m still going to retro-participate. Shoot me.
Double trouble this weekend on the challenges though… rawr!
January 17, 2014 — 8:25 AM
Mark Gardner says:
I for one am glad you’re posting these earlier, I can dedicate more time before going to work.
January 17, 2014 — 9:01 AM
Mark Gardner says:
I’m doing 6, 1 & 4. I decided to continue Apocalyptic Bounty Hunter from last year’s 200 words at a time challenge:
http://article94.blogspot.com/2014/01/apocalyptic-bounty-hunter-part-two.html
January 17, 2014 — 11:32 AM
Sian Chapman says:
I found the idea of zombies being co-ordinated and having a general interesting. The dialogue between her and Quentin also felt quite natural, flowed well, and held my interest. Thank you for sharing it 🙂
January 19, 2014 — 7:55 AM
markgardnerauthor says:
I’m glad you liked it! In my world, they’re not really zombies, but humans afflicted by a virus that kicks their metabolism into overdrive. There are two more plots to start before all the characters meet and some serious stuff happens.
January 19, 2014 — 11:40 AM
Joseph D. Stirling says:
Great stuff, Mark. Can’t wait to see where it’s going.
January 21, 2014 — 1:18 AM
Mozette says:
Woot… I’ve gone in and written a cool little piece that meanders everywhere and anywhere and finishes in the least-likely spot… 😀
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/hotel-california.html
And I’ve always wanted to use this Eagle’s hit in a story title. 😀
January 17, 2014 — 9:02 AM
Sian Chapman says:
I liked the voice in this piece. Not bad at all 🙂
January 17, 2014 — 9:52 AM
Mozette says:
Thank you! You have to excuse my spelling mistakes, it was past midnight when I wrote it and my unit complex was in complete silence…. just how I like it to do my best and weirdest writings. 😀
January 18, 2014 — 6:31 AM
Sian Chapman says:
Honestly, mine was written at 1am my time, so take all the typos you want.
*salutes with coffee cup*
January 19, 2014 — 7:42 AM
mckkenzie says:
Gah!!! I haven’t even started reading it yet and now I’ll have that song stuck in my head all day!! 😉
January 21, 2014 — 11:56 AM
mckkenzie says:
I like the “in the shop” idea!
January 21, 2014 — 12:13 PM
Mozette says:
Hehee…. sorry…. and I didn’t even think of it until the last moment about the twists I took on the story until I really read between the lines.
This is what happens when I’m up late at night and I let my half-asleep brain do all the writing. 😀 Not a bad trip, eh?
January 22, 2014 — 12:25 AM
Mozette says:
Wow! Since late last Friday night, my blog has received the most hits ever! 180 hits with 4 comments! Thank you all for reading ‘Hotel California’! 😀
January 22, 2014 — 7:07 PM
mckkenzie says:
So that’s why nobody is reading mine!! 😉
January 23, 2014 — 12:32 AM
Sian Chapman says:
All right, here goes.
In which an android learns to let go of the man who created him. And there is more than one meaning to the word trapped.
Of the three parts columns to choose from I chose – Who: Android, Where: Virtual reality (although I also stole deep space station because only a bit of this happens in the virtual reality), and What: Trapped! (in more than one sense of the word). I hope you enjoy 🙂
Linky link: http://antagonistsneeded.blogspot.com/2014/01/flash-fiction-challenge-more-than-one.html
January 17, 2014 — 9:38 AM
Nick Nafpliotis says:
1, 1, 2
Detective, Nuclear Wasteland, Left for dead and out for Revenge
Not sure whether I feel more excited or daunted.
January 17, 2014 — 9:41 AM
Matthew Eaton says:
Wow. The first time I pull it off in ages. 3 10’s on a 3d10, but only for a writing challenge. Curse my luck.
January 17, 2014 — 9:47 AM
Tom Sharp says:
I got Waiter/Waitress, in a casino, and trapped.
So my story would be a waitress who is working late at the casino and gets locked in. She sleeps under the blackjack table and gets let out in the morning when the duty manager arrives.
Am I doing this right?
January 17, 2014 — 10:08 AM
Jemima Pett says:
Well, yes, but 2000 words gives you a chance to be a bit more creative about the nature of trapped…
January 17, 2014 — 11:09 AM
Tom Sharp says:
Yeah, as short stories go, that is pretty short 😉
January 17, 2014 — 11:15 AM
Paul Baughman says:
I’ve only been in a casino once for a couple of hours, but don’t they stay open 24×7? What Jemima said…
January 17, 2014 — 11:56 AM
Tom Sharp says:
Yeah, the big Vegas-style ones do, but I bet the crappy ones here in the UK don’t. She could get stuck in the vaults I guess…
January 17, 2014 — 12:03 PM
Jemima Pett says:
My random number generator friend gave me: Detective bartender in the Underworld with an unsolved murder! Sounds great to me. It’ll be on my blog around 1 am next Friday UK time, 7 pm New York Thursday.
January 17, 2014 — 11:07 AM
Jemima Pett says:
Hell Hath No Fury… http://jemimapett.com/blog/2014/01/24/friday-flash-fiction-hell-hath-no-fury/
January 23, 2014 — 1:02 PM
mckkenzie says:
Hmmm, your blog link isn’t working for me.
January 23, 2014 — 1:24 PM
Jemima Pett says:
Thanks Mckkenzie. I’ve spent the last 2.5 days trying to get it sorted… and it’s gonna take longer…. so here it is on my old blog:
http://jemimapett.wordpress.com/2014/01/24/friday-flash-fiction-hell-hath-no-fury/
January 26, 2014 — 1:27 PM
Rebecca Douglass says:
And it’s a great story! Visions of hell like none they taught us in Sunday School…
January 26, 2014 — 3:29 PM
Kathryn Goldman says:
Who: psychic
Where: virtual reality
Uh-Oh: left for dead, out for revenge
bonus character/trait; detective
I hope to be back . . .
January 17, 2014 — 11:30 AM
Caitlin says:
A celebrity and a psychic trapped in a nuclear wasteland. LOVE IT! it’ll be up on my blog later today (will come back and post the link)
January 17, 2014 — 11:30 AM
Caitlin says:
Here’s my story, A Long Way From Nowhere. I had fun writing it. http://underastarlitsky.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/a-long-way-from-nowhere/
January 17, 2014 — 3:27 PM
Caitlin says:
can I just say, I love this challenge?! It’s really got me out of my comfort zone with writing a somewhat humorous story in a setting and with people I would never write about (a ditzy celebrity)!
January 18, 2014 — 1:09 PM
Sian Chapman says:
I found Kenzie amusing in her ditzyness – there could be an axe murder involved and she’d be asking him/her for directions or maybe a lift back to her 4 o’clock nail appointment 😀 Thanks for sharing it
January 19, 2014 — 7:49 AM
Caitlin says:
Thanks! haha, yes that’s exactly what I was going for! I could see that too! 😀
January 19, 2014 — 11:53 AM
itsfamilyjules says:
9…4…10…6…so! An android and a dirty cop OR a dirty android cop, in a casino, lovers separated. I’ve negative-clue, when it comes to androids, cops, AND casinos, but we shall see what happens. I haven’t done one in awhile so I’ve decided to just suck it up and work it out.
January 17, 2014 — 11:39 AM
Paul Baughman says:
Let’s see: Detective + Waitress, Amusement Park, a conspiracy revealed!
Hmm, what can I do with that…
No wait, if I change waitress to ghost, I might be able to continue one of the challenges from last year: The House of Love and Murder. Now what should I call this one?
January 17, 2014 — 11:54 AM
boydstun215 says:
Accountant + Pirate Ship + Warring Against Nature . . . this should be fun. I’ve been wanted to do a pirate story for a while.
I guess I should finished last week’s challenge first. My imagination went a little off the rails with that one.
January 17, 2014 — 12:10 PM
boydstun215 says:
Oops . . . almost forgot the Bartender. Yup, throw in some booze and the possibilities become endless.
January 17, 2014 — 12:13 PM
Phillip McCollum says:
This rolling for a prompt thing is fantastic. Looks like I’ll be writing about a celebrity on a far-flung space station trying to get back with his/her separated lover.
January 17, 2014 — 12:28 PM
Jay Whelan says:
I hand picked 6 10 and 9, and a second “who” I’m keeping a secret for now. started working on it already, we’ll see if I can get ‘er done tonight.
January 17, 2014 — 12:38 PM
Laura Quirola says:
A psychic waitress is left for dead in a trailer park. Why is this making me think of True Blood? Huh…
January 17, 2014 — 12:40 PM
Shane Vaughan says:
So I rolled 6 – Assassin, 4 – In a Far Flung Space Station, and 3 – Meets Nemesis.
I think I did pretty well with this piece which I’ve titled “Tales from Sector Seven-Ten: Brady’s Log.
Brady is an assassin who has been wounded on his last mission. He attempts to head back to a safe house to recover, but there he meets an emissary of the Ka’huth, an amphibious fish-like race of aliens. What does the Ka’huth want and why is he there? Find out here!
http://writesomethingsmidge.blogspot.ie/
January 17, 2014 — 12:49 PM
Sian Chapman says:
Hey, this was really interesting – I wanted to read more by the end of it, and the dynamics were interesting 🙂
January 19, 2014 — 7:41 AM
Tami Veldura says:
Whoo, I didn’t think I’d use the full 2k, but I came a lot closer than I expected.
Waitress, far flung space station, paranormal attackers!
Also an angry Russian lady with a butcher knife!
Dine and Ditch
http://www.tamiveldura.com/2014/01/prompt-dine-and-ditch.html
January 17, 2014 — 1:34 PM
Caitlin says:
really liked this! i’ve never seen actual russian in a story before! lol
January 18, 2014 — 11:15 PM
Tami Veldura says:
Thanks, Caitlin! I wondered how people would take not being able to read some of the dialogue 😀
January 22, 2014 — 5:50 PM
Matthew Eaton says:
All right, here we go. Waitress + Casino + Besieged by supernatural enemies!
Mary Lou is a dreamer, but her dreams turn into nightmares when the green pig men destroy her place of business: A casino buffet. Will her sister Billie save her, or will the pig men be the key to her liberation?
http://www.mattheweatonwriter.com/flash-fiction-challenge-golden-green-pig-men/
January 17, 2014 — 1:56 PM
Caitlin says:
this was lots of fun! thanks for sharing. I’d like to read more about this…just because. space pigs. lol
January 18, 2014 — 11:17 PM
pmillhouse says:
Ohh, I can so see this story happening.
5 + 3 Psychic/ Bartender 7 – The Underworld 6- Lovers, Separated (Oh MY!!)
January 17, 2014 — 2:30 PM
gnashchick says:
Reality ate my attempt at last week’s fantasy.
I got a bartender in a trailer park besieged by supernatural enemies. And the weekend to write it!
January 17, 2014 — 2:58 PM
djmatticus says:
I have no idea if this is any good, it’s a genre that I wouldn’t normally find myself writing: http://thematticuskingdom.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/rickity-roller/ But, if you read it, I hope you enjoy it.
January 17, 2014 — 4:39 PM
L.J. Glover (@theLJGlover) says:
This IS good! One of my favorites on the thread today. The voice is great–if you told me you were a cop for a living I’d totally believe you.
January 23, 2014 — 6:03 PM
djmatticus says:
I am a cop… No, not really. I’m just a lowly Jester. And, occasionally a scribe or storyteller. 😉
Thank you for the compliment. I’m glad you liked it.
January 23, 2014 — 6:07 PM
kurt bali says:
Psychic
Nuclear Wasteland
Lovers, Separated
Been sick as a dog so I didn’t complete the last challenge (which is a bummer because it was awesome). This one should be very interesting.
January 17, 2014 — 5:00 PM
Joseph D. Stirling says:
The Random Number Gods have given me a Dirty Cop on a Far-Flung Space Station Left for Dead and Out for Revenge. Well played RNG. I’ll be back with the tale in a bit.
January 17, 2014 — 6:33 PM
Joseph D. Stirling says:
Here it is folks! Came in at 1,884 words. Enjoy! 🙂
Three Minute Scar http://jdsfiction.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/the-who-the-where-the-uh-oh-flash-challenge/
January 19, 2014 — 1:20 AM
mockingbirdblues says:
Evening, folks!
I rolled “Psychic Android trapped on a pirate ship,” which has lead me to research prehistoric aquatic creatures and Himalayan mountain passes for what I imagine will end up being one of the most unusual pirate stories ever.
I have a four day weekend here at college, so I hope to be done by Monday night. I’ve never done one of these before but you all seem like spectacular, talented people and I’m excited to join in!
January 17, 2014 — 10:55 PM
Andre Gonzalez says:
Rolled the random dice and…
5 Psychic
1 Ghost 6. Assassin
4 Besieged, by supernatural enemies.
And here goes… nothing. Hopefully not literally, lol.
January 17, 2014 — 11:48 PM
terribleminds says:
Ahem, strictly speaking, you’re missing out on a setting — the “Where.” 🙂
January 18, 2014 — 7:33 AM
Andre Gonzalez says:
Oops! Thought I added that. Setting is: Trailer Park.
January 21, 2014 — 11:56 PM
Elvie says:
I got a detective and an assassin in a far-flung space station besieged by supernatural enemies. And it was fun.
http://elviewrites.tumblr.com/post/73742433792/escape
January 18, 2014 — 2:26 PM
Nick Nafpliotis says:
-Detective
-Nuclear Wasteland
-Left for Dead, out for revenge!
Had to redo the premise a couple times, but finally got it done: Staked Revenged
http://www.ramblingbeachcat.com/2014/01/flash-fiction-fridays-staked-revenge.html
January 18, 2014 — 4:58 PM
dangerdean says:
Right, here’s my entry for the week. Random.org gave me a dirty cop and an assassin in a trailer park, and I picked out “Something precious, stolen” myself. It only runs around 1,500 words, so doesn’t hit the limit, and has no speculative elements whatsoever, which feels weird to me. Hope you like it.
http://dangerdean.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/loose-ends/
January 18, 2014 — 7:02 PM
Nick Nafpliotis says:
Love the dialogue. Totally didn’t see the twist coming–very good stuff.
January 18, 2014 — 7:39 PM
dangerdean says:
Thanks!
January 18, 2014 — 7:45 PM
L.J. Glover (@theLJGlover) says:
Great story! The dialogue was great and the imagery was better.
January 23, 2014 — 5:07 PM
Coyote Twilight says:
Who: Psychic. Where: The Underworld. Uh-Oh: Beseiged by supernatural enemies. Wish me luck, this will be FUN.
January 18, 2014 — 8:21 PM
Caitlin says:
ooohh, that does sound like fun! looking forward to reading it! 🙂
January 18, 2014 — 11:18 PM
J. Milburn says:
Rolled and got Ghost Assassin/Nuclear Wasteland/Trapped.
Here it is: http://jeremymilburn.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/new-order-of-light-the-candidate/
Hope you enjoy!
January 19, 2014 — 1:01 AM
Jessie Costin says:
The random story gods gave me a Dirty Cop in an Amusement Park warring against nature! I like it.
January 19, 2014 — 2:39 AM
Vilda Bond says:
Question, what if we don’t have an on-line space on which to post? Can’t I send
my pen on legal pad through the mail, or via carrier pigeon.
Thanks for providing an exercise to assist in my utter and total
ignoring of reality, Wendig! Whew, & Shku-zang.
January 19, 2014 — 6:37 AM
terribleminds says:
Hi, @Vilda —
Lots of options to get a quick and easy (and free!) online space. Tumblr.com. WordPress.com. Both recommended by yours truly.
— c.
January 19, 2014 — 7:37 AM
Vilda Bond says:
Ok then. Thanks for the tip. Much appreciated! -veeb.
January 19, 2014 — 11:39 AM
ardenrr says:
Assassin, Underworld, Conspiracy
Hell yeah…
January 19, 2014 — 1:43 PM
joeturner87 says:
The Random Number Generator of Fate gave me
1) Detective
2) Waitress/Waiter
3) Chinatown
4) Unsolved Murder
So this is what I did http://joetblogs.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/teribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge-the-who-the-where-the-uh-oh/
for some reason WordPress won’t let me create any links, so cannot link back here 🙁
January 19, 2014 — 3:12 PM
dangerdean says:
Seems like the start of a good novel.
January 21, 2014 — 3:45 PM
joeturner87 says:
Thanks Dean, who knows, one day maybe.
January 22, 2014 — 3:13 AM
litanyofthieves says:
2. – Ghost
4. – Dirty Cop
5. – Mad Botanist’s Greenhouse
8. – An Unsolved Murder
I’ll be back with my post shortly.
January 19, 2014 — 8:04 PM
joe petty says:
1) Psychic Bartender
2) Trailer Park
3) Warring against nature!
Been fun writing it, I can see so much more than just the flash fiction.
January 20, 2014 — 4:27 AM
joe petty says:
Warring against nature… gah!
January 24, 2014 — 2:14 AM
joe petty says:
Finally did it, got it going… can’t promise anything, but I sorta like it. Would appreciate any comments. Here or there. Thank you.
http://www.bastardgenres.net/flash-fiction-challenge-bottoms-up/
Putting this together felt like the start of something bigger. Excuse the grammar, I suck at grammar, hope you get the gist of the story.
January 24, 2014 — 3:36 AM
Jon Jefferson says:
Dirty cop, Casino, Trapped, and waiter/waitress.
Here is the story. http://www.10thdaypublishing.com/secrets-game/
January 20, 2014 — 10:52 AM
Josh Loomis says:
1,10,2: Detective, Casino, Left for Dead & Out for Revenge!
Service with a smile, and it’s served right here: http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2014/01/20/flash-fiction-service-with-a-smile/
January 20, 2014 — 11:40 AM
Stephanie says:
3, 9, and 3, which is not something I would have ever chosen for myself. Here it is!
http://stephanie-wood-franklin.blogspot.com/2014/01/flash-fiction-bartender-pirate-ship.html
January 20, 2014 — 6:04 PM
Justin Walker says:
Had a lot of fun. My second challenge.
Enjoy!
http://justinwalkerbooks.blogspot.com/2014/01/terribleminds-flash-fiction-who-where.html
January 20, 2014 — 11:57 PM