Last week’s challenge: Fifty Characters.
So, last weekend I was at the Pike’s Peak Writer’s Conference.
It was great stuff — highly recommended.
One of the days I did a workshop on theme, a topic that, for me, is quite beloved. One of the exercises was that we had a bunch of folks in the room come up with various themes — then I picked one and had people write to that theme. Follow me? So, one of the themes they picked was:
“We’re all human, even when we’re not.”
So, I’m going to grab that, and that’s now your theme.
Use it and write a 1000-word piece of flash fiction in service to that theme.
Write it at your online space.
Link back here via the comments.
Due in one week, by May 9th, at noon EST.
179 responses to “Flash Fiction Challenge: Behold Your Theme”
I love this idea, and I am immediately struck with inspiration. Be back soon.
It took some doing to trim this down, but I did it, and I think the story is better off for it. This one is a sort of homage to Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot (the book, not the film. Nothing against the film. But the book is fascinating). Powell and Donovan are from that universe and I repurposed them here.
So you have an idea where this is going. Robots and such. I can’t help myself. At any rate, here are 988 words of almost human strife.
“Decommission” is here: http://pavorisms.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/decommission/
Loved this, you’re a writer, all right?
Very nice – I love the self-preservation/continuation of the species angle here. Great read!
Exactly what I was after. Tried to think of an act that would be terribly human and terribly inhuman at once. Glad you liked it!
Very nice read. “Decommission will not be permitted.” Loved that line, I was like oh, shit.
I wanted to make it clear that everything changed in that moment. Your reaction is just what I wanted 🙂
“Mine.” <— aaabsolute chills, right then. Really excellent work.
I could swear I’ve seen this line before… Just can’t remember where.
I think it’s from Doctor Who. Eleven says to Rory, “Why do you have to be so human?” And Rory answers, “Because right now I’m not.”
Brought low by hay-fever, right now I can’t think of anything but ……..
This one had me stumped… I had to try out a few different ways before I got it right… and here it is. 😀
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/the-prison.html
I like it. Good job Mozzie.
Hmmm, I like it! You went a completely different direction than I was expecting at the end. Very nice!
Twilight Zone-esque. I enjoyed the read.
Hey thank you all! I just checked how many read ‘The Prison’ since I posted it late last night – 109! Wow! And It’s not yet 24 hours since I put it up there! I’m amazed! Honestly, I wasn’t all that pleased with how it turned out; but now I read it again, after a good night’s sleep, and it does read better. 🙂
Thank you Catastrophe Jones! I’ve never had my work compared with The Twilight Zone before. 😀
Great job, Mozette – you took this in a completely unexpected direction, and pulled it off beautifully. (I also commented at your site, a.k.a kentishjanner.)
Interesting. I’ll get right on this one.
I’ve been watching House, MD reruns on Netflix. It figures I would channel that into this week’s flash fiction challenge. Here are 707 words for you to consider:
http://article94.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/behold-your-theme/
Awesome! I love when it’s not until the very last sentence that you get hit! I’ve been watching House, too, and just watched the one with the “locked in” guy and thought this would be something like that…so this really got me. Excellent flash and excellent take on the theme.
I love this one. I suspected it from the start, then you led me to question my suspicions, which only made the conclusion that much more satisfying. Bravo!
Really enjoyed reading this! I liked how part of the beginning was repeated at the end and you think it will be similar but then it changes. Great work!
Very nice. I had an idea of what was going on, but couldn’t put everything exactly in place until the end. Nice use of theme.
[…] reruns on Netflix. It figures I would channel that into this week’s flash fiction challenge, behold your theme. The prompt was “We’re all human, even when we’re not.” Here are 707 words […]
Can we paraphrase like in the PPWC flash fiction contest?
No one’s grading these, so do what feels right!
[…] This week’s Flash Fiction challenge, from the incomparable Chuck Wendig at http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2014/05/02/flash-fiction-challenge-behold-your-theme/ […]
Challenge accepted! http://wp.me/p4AFse-z
I figured it out during the first paragraph. It was still a fun read – especially the last line. I definatelu LOL’d at that one.
Laughed hard at the last line. One of the most sympathetic protags, ever. 😀
I really think the girl made a terrible choice. Baby daddy is bound to be a let down… 😉
lol awesome! loved it. too funny. very creative. I like your writing style, too.
Awwww *blushes* thank you! 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’ve been trying to pin down how to define my style as of late…a little bit noir, a little dry humor. Shaken, not stirred. 😉
Toy story 4?
I am very glad I wasn’t drinking when I read that, or you’d owe me a new laptop. 😉
ahaha, I didn’t realise until the end; really good! Was fun rereading and seeing the little hints too.
I’m always pleasantly surprised to realize it’s Friday. Here’s my try:
http://catastrophejones.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/were-all-human-even-when-were-not/
Oooh, very tense, this one. It definitely pulled me all the way through the tale, though I feel a little empty at the end. I wish there were more of it!
Thank you!
I will say, that’s one thing I love about these challenges. Seeing how many wild and varied directions one idea will lead people’s imaginations is amazing. Plus, I get to read some excellent writers! 🙂
Same here — I’m entirely entertained by all the flash fiction bits I get to consume on any given day, combing through Wendig’s posts.
Chalk one up for intrigued, but with closure.
I liked the action. It kept my attention. But, I didn’t quiet understand what was going on.
Good to know. I think that can happen with a lot of the pieces I have, using these characters — I have a lot of the world knowledge in *my* head — I don’t always show it, which can be confusing. Thanks for the feedback, Angela!
I have to go with Angela, didn’t really get the ending, but i thought it moved fast and it intrigued me.
[…] as the answer to Chuck Wendig’s challenge ‘Behold Your Theme’. 400 […]
Well, here it goes: http://anniepegg.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/25/
Beautiful. Really lovely and horrible and sad.
Ouch…ahhh the pain. Beautiful and horrible and so terribly sad. Impressive stuff, this.
Impressive, dark, wounding. This one hurt to read, but I don’t read to feel joy, really. Loved this.
[…] Wendig’s weekly flash fic prompt reminded me of a story I wrote about a year ago. This isn’t my official submission, but I […]
Oh man, I just realized that this theme reminds me of a story I wrote maybe a year ago or so. I think I’ll put that one up while I work on a new one, which I will then come back and post that.
http://jennwritesstories.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/imposters-syndrome/
I repeat, I’m admitting up front that this isn’t a new story that I just made up today. But it was just too appropriate to the theme not to share, and I’ll do a new one, too.
That was amazingly on theme! I really enjoyed reading it too, thanks for sharing!
Excellent take on the theme. Nice turn. Really enjoyed reading it!
Thanks to both of you.
I’ve posted a new story on the theme, albeit taking a very different view. Warning: it’s violent: http://jennwritesstories.wordpress.com/2014/05/05/terribleminds-flash-fic-challenge-the-monster/
So, this came out pretty … dark. It comes with a trigger warning for domestic violence (discussed but not shown) and other implied violence, and has some swearing and some coffee is spilled.
http://jpjuniper.svbtle.com/buddy-sits-in-a-booth
That was dark. And sad. And far too true to life. Powerful stuff, there.
Very edgy. Dark indeed, but I couldn’t stop reading it.
Glad you warned us upfront about the spilled coffee. It might have been too much to handle otherwise.
In All seriousness, a very sad and jarring tale. Nicely done.
Nice and dark. Thanks for sharing — I could picture this in my head, wanted to, as though it were a movie, like Buddy.
This is my first time trying one of these. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to future challenges!
http://loveonfleetstreet.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/amethyst-tears/
I like this, a lot, especially for a first time attempt at flash fiction. I think that this world would do well expanded a bit – I would definitely read it!
Oh, wow, thank you! I didn’t think anyone would read it. It was just something that came to me when I read the theme so I really had no intention of turning it into an actual story. But now I may have to! 😉
Excellent. I feel like this could make a much larger piece; the world background is intriguing!
Theme… my old arch-nemesis. We meet again. I’m just going to admit it. I’m terrible at theme. My guy always reads my stories and finds the themes for me. lol. So… here’s my attempt. Might be a little overt.
http://angelacavanaugh.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=791&action=edit&message=6&postpost=v2
I think your link should have been https://angelacavanaugh.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/flash-fiction-friday-still-human/ ? This story is clearly the start of something unnerving — dark times follow when humans start labeling others as sub-human.
Lol
Yeah, looks like I put in the wrong address. The story is at the one below:
http://angelacavanaugh.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/flash-fiction-friday-still-human/
It’s a prescient sort of tale and gave me the shivers.
As a father with a child who has cancer (thankfully, almost clear), I can say that this story was perhaps more frightening to me than most. The only problem I have with flash fiction? I want more! There is a scary as hell story here, lurking like a monster hidden in someone’s veins..
Ooh, I like this one. Not too blunt, but nicely wrenching.
Here’s mine. Please read and tell me what you think.
http://nanowrimoroman.blogspot.co.uk/?zx=ae0c97ffeecdfe3b
Haunting and sweet. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank You
Thank you for sharing — it hurt to read, but was good.
Thanks
[…] By Pavowski Chuck’s challenge this week: We’re All Human, Even When We’re Not. It took some doing to trim this down, but I did it, and I think the story is better off for it. […]
In response to the challenge I’m posting this: http://carljshirley.blogspot.com/2014/05/sickly-celsius.html
But it’s not new and it’s actually part of the longer work, so technically not a complete story.
I would very much like to read the longer work! I like your style immensely.
So… you’ll be sharing the whole story now, right? 🙂
This was a bit tricky. My theme isn’t so obvious. Enjoy.
http://februaryst.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/morning-glory/
Wow. Just, wow! You have an excellent command of imagery. I loved this one. Truly, deeply. Awesomeness.
Thank you so much. I look forward to reading yours as well!
Love the imagery — visually stunning in my mind’s eye. I like your language. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
[…] of Chuck Wendig’s short fiction challenges– 1000 words on the theme “We’re all human, even when we’re […]
Not sure about this one, but it’s better than my first attempt.
http://douglasdanieldotcom.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/short-fiction-fifteen-minutes/
Oh, you are really good with the alien language. It read believable, not just like garbley-gook (which is what all my attempts at other languages look like :P). It was well crafted, but I did feel like it just stopped. I wanted maybe one sentence more, a bit more resolution to “Who was he?”
Thanks– but, just to let you know, the ending is intentional, right where it is.
I had guessed as much, but I am ever the greedy reader. 😉 Thanks for sharing it 🙂
I think you nailed this theme superbly. I really enjoyed reading it.
Thanks.
Aaaaaagh. I wanna reach through TCP/IP and throttle you for ending it there. All the same, good job. 🙂
Thank you. Doing this did sort of make me start thinking about a longer version– maybe when I get my current set of projects done.
Thanks! Really glad you liked it.
I did it! I’m writing a book and this had inspired me to write a scene for one of my characters, Jarra. This probably won’t go in the book though.
Oh and, I actually wrote it in portuguese cause I’m brazilian, and then translated it real quick so, forgive,oh forgive my human mistakes!
http://deegrimm.blog.com/2014/05/04/kill-mister-pumpkin-head/
Quirky translation, yes, but I liked it all the same! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
The translation was a little hard to get through, but the concept was excellent. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this!
I liked this although your translation was quirky and got in the way a bit. I think Jarra is a great character and I’d love to read more of his adventures.
[…] this friday flash from Chuck Wendig is theme specific: “We’re all human, even when we’re […]
The theme for this one is practically the same as a book I’m editing, so I couldn’t escape the lure of putting the protagonist into something shorter. I think Standard Procedure stands well on it’s own:
http://incarnatememory.wordpress.com/2014/05/04/friday-flash-its-been-a-while/
It does, in fact, stand well on its own! I love the world concept. 🙂
I do so love a “powers” story. There is definitely a feel of a much larger universe at work in this one, and I find myself curious about the back story, where the powers came from, how they first appeared. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks guys, glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Now if I can just edit the book into decent condition… *clutches The Kick-Ass Writer close, found the theme because of it, now to remove suck*
This is the first story I’ve finished in six months.
http://lauralibricz.blogspot.de/2014/05/friday-flash.html
Glad you finished it! Finish some more — this was a nice read. Very dense description; I liked it. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading
I loved it! Strangely, I didn’t at first. I felt so terribly disconnected from the protagonist, that I found it hard to care. And then…as you got to the end, those final moments. I felt them with him. And I was awed. Brilliant job.
Thank you. I really appreciate you guys reading this 🙂
Wrote this one a while back, but (hopefully) fits the theme. It involves my daily struggle with the asshole copy machine in our teacher workroom.
http://www.ramblingbeachcat.com/2012/12/nick-vs-school-copier.html
Hah — funny read. 🙂 I believe your copy machine is a close relative of the one here in my office.
Thanks 🙂
Hahaha, Bob Marley! My plotter at work is totally getting a new name…
I actually left a sign proclaiming that as his name, but some humorless colleague took it down.
Some people just can’t appreciate greatness!
[…] theme for this week’s flash fiction challenge over at Chuck Wendig’s Terribleminds blog is “We’re all human even when we’re […]
This one took me into some strange Mythology…
http://www.10thdaypublishing.com/dream-kiss/
Very fun! 🙂 One of the things I always loved about the Greek gods was their underlying imperfections, their absolute humanity. Very well played!
[…] needed a little jump-start to my prefrontal cortex, so I wandered over to Chuck Wendig’s Blog and found a theme: “We’re all human, even when we’re not.” I also tried something that […]
I got a chance to play with a character who has been whispering to me for a while.
http://pulleditouttamyass.com/2014/05/still-water/
Beautiful image building in this one. I could close my eyes and almost be there. Normally, I hate present tense – it’s just very hard for me to get into the story and tends to feel gimmicky, but in this one, it was almost transparent. Well done!
Thank you. I also dislike present tense in prose, which is half the reason I used it. Wanted to get outside the comfort zone.
Seems like that’s what these challenges are for, isn’t it?
[…] Flash fiction in answer to Chuck Wendig’s flash fiction challenge. […]
I had the title by the time I finished reading the challenge, but the story took a bit longer.
http://epbeaumont.com/2014/05/06/flash-fiction-headspace/
“Eye to eye, Timur Ship’s-Heart in his mortal face, my remaining eye to his cybernetic beauty, only his face and hands a portrait.”
Break that into stanzas and it’s poetry. Bravo!
You had me at Odin, and then completely wowed me with a vivid future world that, despite the limit on words, I could totally see in my head. Very awesome.
Here’s my first ever attempt at this:
http://testwood.tumblr.com/post/85006344513/were-all-human-even-when-were-not
The link didn’t go through; try this: http://testwood.tumblr.com/post/85105837373/human-even-when-were-not
It’s an interesting story, though I felt like I wanted just a hair more info about what the narrator is. . . there’s a lot left unsaid, which isn’t bad, I just wasn’t doing super well at filling it in.
And I just processed what you say about it being a first attempt–really? It’s impressive for a first story! Keep it up.
Here’s mine, “Retribution”: http://nickegelhoff.com/2014/05/07/flash-fiction-challenge-behold-your-theme/
A nice turn of the theme, a waffling between which one was human and which one wasn’t. Lots of suspense and tension in this one!
[…] week’s challenge was to write a piece using the theme of “We’re all human, even when we’re […]
[…] also joining in on the Terrible Minds weekly Flash Fiction Challenge. This week was based on the theme “We are all human even when we’re […]
i’m in! Here’s mine: http://frommywriteside.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/the-violin/
Beautiful. And not just because I love violins!
Thank you!
Wrote a bit as the bug hit me
http://torsteinmagnus.blogspot.com/2014/05/we-all-human-even-when-we-not.html?m=1
Hmmm, very much along the lines of “Dies the Fire” by S.M. Stirling. I did find myself wanting to know a bit more about the magic…how did the protagonist know what caused the end of tech?
A very short story concerning a werewolf, and a bad night: http://andreaspeed.com/2014/flash-fic-challenge-big-bad/