Last week’s challenge: Five Random Words.
This week’s challenge is as straightforward or as oblique as you care to make it:
I want you to write a story about Hell.
Now, this can be a literal Hell.
It can be a literal Hell from actual religion.
It can be a Hell of your own design and desire.
It can be a metaphorical or figurative Hell.
The story needn’t take place in Hell — but it needs to touch on the idea or the metaphor in some way or fashion. Feel free to get creative with the idea — don’t feel constrained by precise definitions (though you can be, if you choose to be).
I put up this challenge as a bit of a nod to the fact that my own Hell-book, The Blue Blazes, is today a Kindle Daily Deal. (And here I’m shamelessly elbowing you to see if you care to check it out.) Plus, I’m writing the sequel, now, so I too will be writing about Hell this morning!
You’ve got 1000 words. Due in a week — in by noon EST on Friday, 4/11. Post the story at your online space, then drop a link back to that story in the comments below.
Welcome to Hell.
We have such sights to show you.
joeturner87 says:
Nice. I’m in.
April 4, 2014 — 7:21 AM
joeturner87 says:
Here goes
http://joetblogs.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge-life-is-hell/
April 6, 2014 — 1:28 PM
Andrew Hilmer says:
Fun! Maintaining a sinful attitude will get you every time.
April 10, 2014 — 4:34 PM
Adam says:
ok that was awsome.
I thought some fire, burning and searing pain was on its way, you taught me something much, much worst.
October 16, 2014 — 11:34 AM
joeturner87 says:
Thanks Adam. Glad you liked it 🙂
October 16, 2014 — 2:48 PM
Pavowski says:
Yaaasss. Gonna get hot in here. Actually, I think I feel my inner Sartre perking up. No, never mind, I guess it was Nothing.
Anyway, back later with some hell to show.
April 4, 2014 — 7:49 AM
Pavowski says:
Here, then, are 917 words about a hellish job interview. Still no happiness to be found in my Chuck challenges.
You’re Hired: http://pavorisms.wordpress.com/2014/04/05/youre-hired/
And I totally snagged “The Blue Blazes,” thanks for the heads up, Chuck!
Sigh, up chuck.
April 5, 2014 — 11:16 PM
Mozette says:
This was darkness upon darkness!
April 6, 2014 — 7:55 PM
Pavowski says:
Yeah… I wonder if it’s not a little bit too much… the ending does kinda bother me, but I’m stuck for how else to end it.
April 6, 2014 — 8:27 PM
Mozette says:
You ended it well.
I’ve written some pretty dark things in my life – so much so my Mum wonders about my psychiatric health, and my brother just tells her that it’s how my mind works. You’ve done well… very well. Yeah, the end turns my stomach (and you said it turned yours)… if it’s done that to your readers and you, it’s done its job… you’ve touched your readers.
Otherwise, don’t overthink horror too much, you’ll hold yourself back.
April 7, 2014 — 8:34 AM
Mozette says:
and, um… have you read mine? 🙂
April 7, 2014 — 8:36 AM
D.J. Davis says:
Now…I could cheat and go to one of the older pieces I did for this that had a certain Hellish Representative doing what he does best, but I think I may have to come up with something else. Hmmm…how evil do I feel…?
April 4, 2014 — 8:01 AM
Georgia says:
MUAH! I’m cheating, and I ain’t never done one of these, but by a near-serendipitous twist in the fabric of time, I put up an article about hell a mere handful of hours ago :
http://dleditions.com/2014/04/03/my-karma-ran-over-my-dogma-and-now-im-going-to-hell/
TOTALLY HELL-RELATED yesss! And it’s even got a photo of a silly-looking dog in a devil suit at the top! Best flash-fic challenge evah. xx Georgia
oh and p.s. Chuck I hope you don’t mind me putting this in your comments but I’m currently looking for English-language short stories, poems, articles, reviews, randomness and travel pieces to publish via a French literary website (Denise Labouche Editions). If it’s ok with you I’d like to invite people to check out the website (and perhaps if they don’t read French to google translate some articles), see what they make of it, and if they’re interested in submitting a piece (we need more English submissions!) to send it my way (georgia.thibault@gmail.com). Because it’s non-profit (all income goes back into the company so we can publish authors at no cost to them, allowing said authors to keep all profits after we recuperate the publishing fees–and by publishing fees we strictly mean the fees charged by the printing press; all editing and formatting is done by us gratos because dammit somebody’s got to be shaking up the game!) that means we don’t pay for articles and also therefore have a lot of freedom regarding the material published. Swear words, unusual political stances, humor, sex–we dig it! If anyone has an aversion to naughty language I advise against visiting the site. And please, if you Google us, don’t get misguided into clicking on the link for the porn star of the same name. Pure gorgeous coincidence, that. Merci beaucoup!
http://dleditions.com/
April 4, 2014 — 8:11 AM
Georgia says:
Now I feel slightly asshole-ish–just remembered that mine’s not strictly fiction. Guess that means I’ll have to wrangle up a real fictive story to submit to atone for my literary sins. Where’s the butter?
April 4, 2014 — 8:15 AM
Andrew Hilmer says:
Someone should introduce you to Gaspode the Wonder Dog. “Woof bloody woof woof.”
April 10, 2014 — 4:58 PM
entrebat says:
Acid Text
April 4, 2014 — 8:11 AM
entrebat says:
The link above didn’t seem to work… Bad code. BAD.
Anyway… http://geweller-fiction.blogspot.com/2014/04/acid-text.html Acid Text.
April 4, 2014 — 8:14 AM
Kathryn Goldman says:
I’ll see you in hell. You may get there before me.
April 4, 2014 — 8:43 AM
Kathryn Goldman says:
Life is hell at The Dinner Table.
Your thoughts and comments will be appreciated.
April 8, 2014 — 12:43 PM
Tony Taylor says:
I loved this story. You captured a piece of hell for everyone and the themes you touched on are so relevant today.
” A time after the sun had been down long enough for the bottle to be nearly drained of its brown liquid”.
I love the structure of that description…if that makes sense.
Excellent job!!!
April 11, 2014 — 3:42 PM
Mozette says:
Did my best with this one… as sometimes I feel as though I’ve been there and back… and have survived the trip.
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/alexanders-blade.html
April 4, 2014 — 8:56 AM
Mark Gardner says:
Love it! Reminds me of Dean Winchester between seasons 3 & 4.
April 4, 2014 — 3:34 PM
Mozette says:
Aaww! I was kinda hoping for that… 😀
But I had to change the name from Alistair to Alexander… 😀
There has been a time in my life where I felt as though I was going through this exact type of thing… and until you start to look for a way out on your own, and start praying a little to the right people, that demon rides you until there’s nothing left. :/
April 4, 2014 — 7:12 PM
Mark Gardner says:
Hell yeah, I’m on this!
April 4, 2014 — 9:08 AM
Mark Gardner says:
I had some fun with this one. The kind of fun Mozette likes. This isn’t specifically a sequel to Twisted Love, but I suppose it could be. Here it is at 1003 words:
http://article94.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/life-in-hell/
Twisted Love:
http://article94.wordpress.com/2014/02/15/twisted-love/
April 4, 2014 — 3:20 PM
Mozette says:
I love this one! You had me hanging onto every word! 😀
April 4, 2014 — 8:02 PM
Matthew Eaton says:
What is hell other than being forced to serve someone else’s bloody needs? We find out (and watch the main character question sanity) in The Forest of Lost Souls
http://www.mattheweatonwriter.com/flash-fiction-friday-forest-lost-souls/
April 4, 2014 — 11:05 AM
Mark Gardner says:
Interesting. Great work!
April 4, 2014 — 3:39 PM
Matthew Eaton says:
Thanks. I usually detest present first, but I figured once I got about a third of the way through that it was strong enough to keep going. Glad you took the time to read it, much appreciated!
April 7, 2014 — 1:21 AM
Mozette says:
I like it… to the very end. 🙂
April 4, 2014 — 10:04 PM
Matthew Eaton says:
Thank you very much Mozette! I had a tough go with it, but I am glad people enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!
April 7, 2014 — 1:23 AM
Jim Franklin says:
Heaven’s to Betsy (just for contrast). I’ll be uploading mine in just shy of three hours.
April 4, 2014 — 11:06 AM
Jim Franklin says:
Well, here it is. Hell’s not what it used to be. This is ‘Early to Fall’
http://www.thezombiechimp.com/2014/04/04/flash-fiction-early-to-fall/
April 4, 2014 — 1:02 PM
Mark Gardner says:
I like the idea behind this flash. Great work!
April 4, 2014 — 3:46 PM
nlhartmann says:
Okay this is my Chuck Wendig week. You’ve been teaching me the ins and outs with Kick Ass Writer and 250 things to know. Let’s see if I learned anything. 🙂
April 4, 2014 — 11:42 AM
dontdeletemeblog says:
You guys have quick imaginations, I’m jealous! Will need at least the weekend for this one.
April 4, 2014 — 1:18 PM
thesexiestwriter says:
My first thought on this topic was Dalton Trumbo’s “Johny Got His Gun”. At first blush it seems like an easy topic, hope I can do it justice.
April 4, 2014 — 4:23 PM
Smoph says:
Looking forward to this but I need some mulling time…
On a side note, it has your book as a daily deal Chuck, but when I go to purchase it, it comes up as 6.59.
Weird.
April 4, 2014 — 6:47 PM
Smoph says:
Somedays Amazon is a little crazy. I got it for the price advertised, but only because I got them to give me a $5 promo.
I am glad we’re using gift cards at the moment, because otherwise it’s hell on the conversion rates…
April 4, 2014 — 7:49 PM
terribleminds says:
Are you in the US?
April 4, 2014 — 8:49 PM
Smoph says:
Nope. But I am in Canada.
April 4, 2014 — 9:04 PM
adelinekay says:
Took about two seconds for me to go from “Kindle Daily Deal” to “One Click Purchase”. Bought.
April 4, 2014 — 7:07 PM
Justin Beeman says:
Here you go, had my brain monkeys working on this every free second today!
http://justinbeeman.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/flash-fiction-hellbound/
April 4, 2014 — 10:03 PM
Mozette says:
Nice! Fire and Ice in Hell… very wicked… and the little girl looked like Wednesday out of the Addam’s Family. Am I right? 🙂
April 5, 2014 — 2:58 AM
Justin Beeman says:
Thanks, really the fire and ice thing was originally only supposed to signify that no matter where you go in hell, you’ll find no rest, but then I had to cut the fight scene down and it just kind of fell in place.
And yes, exactly, but make her talk more like the Little Sister’s on Bioshock and give her the same grossly skin tone. Thanks for reading!
April 5, 2014 — 4:09 PM
Fatma Alici says:
You know, what’s hell? The one month I decide, due the a-z blog challenge to not do any challenges, you put up a really awesome one. Sigh.. regret…
April 4, 2014 — 10:57 PM
Jemima Pett says:
Just roll them into your letters, Fatma – mines a J this week – last week’s list had to have Delta added 🙂
April 10, 2014 — 6:40 PM
abillyhiggins says:
“My Flaming Balls”: http://billypeery.wordpress.com/2014/04/05/my-flaming-balls/
April 5, 2014 — 10:44 AM
Vanessa V Kilmer says:
I’m ready to get burned. Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ εїз Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
April 5, 2014 — 1:47 PM
Rhys Dion Cole says:
Mine’s more about how you literally get into hell…
http://rhysdioncole.com/2014/04/05/flash-fiction-hell/
April 5, 2014 — 2:13 PM
Rebecca Douglass says:
Needs an edit, but it’s an interesting take on how you get to Hell. Wonder if Siri could give directions. . .
April 11, 2014 — 5:56 PM
underastarlitsky says:
I guess it’s understandable that my story turned into somewhat of a horror story! here’s my entry: Welcome To Hell, Next Left http://underastarlitsky.wordpress.com/ (it’s the first story on the page). comments welcome as usual! 🙂
April 5, 2014 — 7:15 PM
Mark Gardner says:
I despise the voice on my GPS. I sometimes wonder if the vanity voices sold by various companies would really be any better.
April 6, 2014 — 11:46 AM
underastarlitsky says:
same here. We can choose different voices (male or female) with different accents (australian, british, American…) the australian and british are just even more irritating!!!
April 6, 2014 — 1:19 PM
thomaspierson says:
Damn it, Wendig!
You knew what you were doing when you proposed this. You knew it would reinvigorate a world I had half built and left dead for ten years. Your well crafted plan to side track the editing of my novel almost succeeded, but for a small piece of information that I possess; there is both Night and Day. That’s right, TWO basic units of perceptual time and I can edit the novel while the sun shines and write the other while the moon glows.
Your evil plan has failed!
HA
HA
Ha
Ha
ha
ha
ha
uh
hmmmmm
Unless your plan was to make me work harder? If THAT is the case… well played, sir. Well played.
April 5, 2014 — 7:28 PM
terribleminds says:
Making everybody work harder is always my goal. 🙂
April 6, 2014 — 7:10 AM
thomaspierson says:
And so here is the part that was inspired by the challenge; http://coffeekeys.quora.com/Flash-Fiction-Taylor-Mein
April 5, 2014 — 7:57 PM
Andrew Hilmer says:
I kept flashing on the old song “A Horse With No Name”, but I guess there are worse things than the deser.
April 10, 2014 — 5:20 PM
Nick Nafpliotis (@NickNafster79) says:
Well, I currently have the flu, so things feel a bit hellish at the moment. Hopefully helped me to create a decent story.
Just a Really Bad Day
http://www.ramblingbeachcat.com/2014/04/flash-fiction-friday-life-is-hell-when.html
April 6, 2014 — 1:32 AM
Christopher says:
Blue Blazes sequel? Boosh! I’m pumped!
April 6, 2014 — 6:50 AM
deanmcsmith says:
Here’s my effort, a very interesting challenge indeed Mr Wendig. http://wp.me/p48Jn4-41
April 6, 2014 — 7:44 AM
Eva Therese says:
My take here: http://evathereseebert.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/life-is-hell/ It was interesting and a bit frustrating to revisit a world that I spent so much time doing worldbuilding for and writing descriptions of and then you get 1000 words to try and give a glimpse into that same world. But I suppose it’s good practice for an elevator pitch.
April 6, 2014 — 11:38 AM
Alex says:
Also wrote something short for this week challenge http://brainpinata.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/why-is-hell-exotermic-flash-fiction-challenge/
April 6, 2014 — 12:38 PM
Kris Silva says:
My “day job” is as a senior caregiver. This story is drawn from things I’ve witnessed, the decline of people who in lucid moments were aware of their decay. This is the worst hell imaginable to me.
http://victorianzombiebrains.blogspot.com/2014/04/getting-old-is-hell.html
I did purchase The Blue Blazes, though between workshifts and writing I haven’t read yet…treating myself to it tonight!
April 6, 2014 — 9:41 PM
Gry Ranfelt says:
I tried to paint a portrait of a situation I think most men will consider as very hell-like.
http://authorgry.com/2014/04/and-then-a-mans-hell-flash-fiction/
April 7, 2014 — 7:03 AM
Josh Loomis says:
Take the trip down the 666 steps.
http://www.blueinkalchemy.com/2014/04/07/flash-fiction-666-steps/
April 7, 2014 — 8:27 AM
52lettersinthealphabet says:
Here is it:
http://52lettersinthealphabet.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/hell-and-styx-1-the-funeral/
April 7, 2014 — 11:46 AM
Catastrophe Jones says:
And here’s mine, but it might not show up until tomorrow, because technically, it’s tomorrow’s piece — I just knew I’d forget to link back.
http://catastrophejones.wordpress.com/2014/04/08/life-is-hell/
April 7, 2014 — 12:58 PM
Catastrophe Jones says:
Now it’s live. It’s A L I V E… I either need more caffeine, or less. Not sure which, yet.
April 8, 2014 — 9:57 AM
physicsjenn says:
I made a new blog account so I wasn’t posting fiction on my food blog: http://jennwritesstories.wordpress.com/2014/04/09/flash-fiction-challenge-another-day-for-you-and-me/
April 9, 2014 — 3:11 PM
Andrew Hilmer says:
I’m surprised and a little happy that no one else went with the Sartre quote.
http://andrewhilmer.com/2014/04/09/flash-fiction-for-terrible-minds-z-to-a/
April 10, 2014 — 12:32 AM
AE Smith says:
Great story, I love the descriptions of the old world literally crumbling away from your protagonist, particularly the libraries.
April 11, 2014 — 3:57 AM