Last week’s challenge: Holiday Horror!
I love the random title challenge.
I love it so much I wanna hug it.
I wanna hug it so much it explodes.
Anyway.
Way it works is this: you pick one from the two columns of 20 either by using a d20 die or a random number generator, and smooshing the word from Column One with the word from Column Two gets you a title. (You can modify that title slightly by putting “The” in front of it or making the title plural or possessive in some way.) You write the story — we’ll say 1500 words max this time around. Then you post it at your online space and drop a link here so we can all read it. Due by next Friday, noon EST.
Get it? Got it? Great.
Column One
- Skyborn
- Murderer’s
- Cocktail
- Night
- Dead
- Obliterated
- Heaven’s
- Thirteenth
- White
- Armored
- Wrong
- Daniel’s
- A Song For
- Screaming
- The Oathkeeper’s
- The Day of the
- Bleeding
- God’s Own
- Ghostly
- Endless
Column Two
- Inkwell
- Treasure
- Waitress
- Keeper
- Bird
- Corps
- Traveler
- Padlock
- Comet
- Elf
- Starfish
- Medallion
- Absinthe
- Rats
- Reason
- Crusade
- Nebula
- Screwdriver
- Snowflake
- Forge
Beth Turnage says:
I got 4 and 6 =Night Corps.–We’ll see.
December 12, 2014 — 9:40 AM
addy95 says:
first (i needed my friday fix, stop judging me) i rolled a 17 and a 12. The Bleeding Medallion. time for fantasy me thinks.
December 12, 2014 — 9:43 AM
addy95 says:
https://adamskistoryblog.wordpress.com/2014/12/16/flash-fiction-challenge-the-randomized-title-rears-its-head/
And done. This was fun, had a few ideas but this one fit. It’s 1,192 words.Feel free to criticise, it will only help.
Cheers 😀
December 16, 2014 — 6:28 AM
Rick Cook Jr says:
White Waitress. The alliteration is alluring, to say the least.
December 12, 2014 — 9:45 AM
Kurt Bali says:
I was SO hoping I would get that.
December 15, 2014 — 5:21 PM
Rick Cook Jr says:
Over a week late, but I did finish if you’re interested:
http://panningforclouds.com/2014/12/27/white-waitress/
December 27, 2014 — 11:14 AM
Christine Frost says:
Always love an excuse to pull out the d20! The Oathkeeper’s Forge. I can dig it!
December 12, 2014 — 9:58 AM
Mikey Campling says:
Sounds epic already.
December 12, 2014 — 11:51 AM
smkay70 says:
Good one! I got a “keeper” too!
December 12, 2014 — 11:52 AM
magalyguerrero says:
I’m extremely jealous.
December 16, 2014 — 12:48 AM
Pavowski says:
Where do you get these wonderful lists? I’ve got Screaming Comet, and an idea has struck already.
December 12, 2014 — 10:23 AM
terribleminds says:
I MAKE THEM UP WITH MY BRAIN
December 12, 2014 — 11:11 AM
Beth Turnage says:
That’s very scary. (Oh wait. That’s was last week’s challenge.)
Still scary.
December 12, 2014 — 11:26 AM
Evolet Yvaine @ Wet Panty Stories says:
My second time participating. Don’t know how this is going to go down as I’m not used to writing flash fiction (I’m used to writing longer works of fiction). I got Heaven’s Treasure.
December 12, 2014 — 10:56 AM
S. J. Paige says:
White Traveler. Sounds ominous.
December 12, 2014 — 11:39 AM
smkay70 says:
Hmmm. Wrong Keeper. Or Wrong Keeper? Maybe Wrong, Keeper. Oooh: Wrongkeeper. Uhhhh, I dunno.
December 12, 2014 — 11:39 AM
smkay70 says:
Idea formulating, hehehe.
December 12, 2014 — 11:52 AM
Ginger VWR says:
Mmm, I got that one too…I don’t even know.
December 13, 2014 — 7:52 PM
Mikey Campling says:
I’m going for short and sweet this week – just over 100 words. I hope you enjoy: Night Rats
http://mikeycampling.com/night-rats-short-story/
December 12, 2014 — 11:49 AM
Hawk says:
Fantastic piece! A brief, but impactful ride. It says a lot through implication and doesn’t do it just to be cute! Kudos!
December 13, 2014 — 12:35 AM
Mikey Campling says:
Hey Hawk, thank you for your comment – that’s very cool of you.
December 15, 2014 — 10:37 AM
Mark Gardner says:
19 & 15, Here’s Ghostly Reason at 1042 words:
https://article94.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/ghostly-reason/
December 12, 2014 — 12:27 PM
Holly Geely says:
I have written “White Screwdriver.”
https://hollygeely.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/white-screwdriver/
December 12, 2014 — 12:33 PM
Hawk says:
Good fun, all the way through. It might use a little…tightening? I’d have to go line-by-line to find where it wanders, but the voice and tone are dead-on. Thanks!
December 13, 2014 — 12:38 AM
Jemima Pett says:
Heavens’s Inkwell. That sounds just right for my asteroid miners Pete and the Swede. You’ll have to wait till next Friday for it, though!
December 12, 2014 — 1:42 PM
Jemima Pett says:
I changed my mind about the blog post and put it on Pete & The Swede’s website, the Viridian System series, instead – and it’s live already 🙂
http://viridianseries.uk/2014/12/14/flash-heavens-inkwell/
December 14, 2014 — 8:28 AM
addy95 says:
very good. loved the ending
December 16, 2014 — 6:58 AM
Jemima Pett says:
Thanks, Addy!
December 16, 2014 — 8:00 AM
Rebecca Douglass says:
If you can find the story from last year, it’s even better!
December 17, 2014 — 12:40 PM
addy95 says:
got a link? i tried to find it but i had no joy.
December 18, 2014 — 5:15 AM
bathoryssecret says:
I got Daniel’s Screwdriver (which has some potential) though I’ve got a second option in mind too…
December 12, 2014 — 2:00 PM
tedra says:
3 & 6 Cocktail Corps. I thought it said corpse and got excited then I read it again. Huh…
December 12, 2014 — 2:30 PM
bathoryssecret says:
You could write about a crazed army of cocktail swinging banshees…
December 12, 2014 — 2:51 PM
tedra says:
I started it and surprisingly I’m bit going horror. I’m a little scared.
December 13, 2014 — 1:56 AM
powerjacob says:
Here’s my submission: God’s Own Padlock
http://jpowerdesign.com/2014/12/12/gods-own-padlock/
December 12, 2014 — 2:51 PM
smkay70 says:
Ack! What WAS it? I want to read more!
December 12, 2014 — 8:45 PM
Jen Donohue says:
That was AWESOME! I had my suspicions about what it was the whole time, and was wrong at the end.
December 13, 2014 — 11:41 AM
Sum says:
It was really good. I’d read more.
December 13, 2014 — 8:49 PM
addy95 says:
I loved your style, creepy as hell and i need to know what happens next!!
December 16, 2014 — 7:10 AM
totallynotwillis says:
Bleeding Traveler….Hmm…interesting. Time for ghost story!
December 12, 2014 — 2:59 PM
Joe Turner says:
(16) The Day of the
(13) Absinthe
This could be psychedelic to say the least.
December 12, 2014 — 3:00 PM
Mozette says:
God’s Own
Keeper
Hmmm…. I wonder who that would be?
December 12, 2014 — 5:20 PM
Mozette says:
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/gods-own-keeper.html
I had to think about this for bit… but then, it came to me! 😀
December 13, 2014 — 1:51 AM
kakubjaya says:
Even after I saw where it was going, it still worked for me. Clever, dark and a little funny.
December 14, 2014 — 6:22 PM
Mozette says:
Thank you… 😀 I wanted so badly to mention his name, but thought not to see who go it, and who didn’t … 🙂
December 14, 2014 — 7:35 PM
smkay70 says:
I can’t wait to read All Of These Words.
December 12, 2014 — 8:41 PM
Delia says:
A Song for Reason. It has potential.
December 12, 2014 — 11:27 PM
Rose Red says:
White Treasure.
I see snow in there somewhere. Or coconut cream pie.
December 13, 2014 — 12:26 AM
tedra says:
Mmm…let it be pie!
December 13, 2014 — 1:58 AM
Hawk says:
Night Medallion: http://apromptripost.com/post/105055058544/the-night-medallion
I am so tired. So, so tired. Love me?
December 13, 2014 — 12:28 AM
Mozette says:
Nice… I really like this one! 🙂
December 14, 2014 — 12:14 AM
ajbauers says:
I like the world you created with this story. So many good questions that made me want to read more.
December 14, 2014 — 11:57 AM
kakubjaya says:
I was drawn in immediately. I could imagine this as a sample chapter I would download because I couldn’t wait until the next book of this came out.
December 14, 2014 — 6:18 PM
Ada Ireland says:
Very interesting. I really liked how you described her.
December 16, 2014 — 3:32 AM
gregg says:
‘Screaming starfish’ …WTF!
December 13, 2014 — 3:06 AM
Giana says:
Skyborn Padlock. Oh my.
December 13, 2014 — 3:28 AM
gregg says:
14-11screaming starfish WTF ! https://darktowerjunky.wordpress.com/2014/12/13/screaming-starfish/
December 13, 2014 — 5:07 AM
Ada Ireland says:
Nice twist at the end.
December 16, 2014 — 3:37 AM
Aimee Edwards says:
Daniel’s Starfish …
December 13, 2014 — 11:03 AM
Delia (Postcards from Asia) says:
The Bleeding Snowflake. I love this title.
December 13, 2014 — 11:34 AM
Delia (Postcards from Asia) says:
Forgot to add the link, here it is: http://wrongspelling.com/?p=1985
December 13, 2014 — 11:34 AM
kakubjaya says:
That was amazing, I will admit it took a couple of read-throughs for me to ‘get’, but it was worth. Your word play (and you do really seem to be playing) is stunning.
December 14, 2014 — 5:53 PM
Delia (Postcards from Asia) says:
Thanks for reading it. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
December 14, 2014 — 11:05 PM
Delia (Postcards from Asia) says:
Nicely done!
December 13, 2014 — 11:55 AM
Delia (Postcards from Asia) says:
My previous comment was for Hawk and Night Medallion.
December 13, 2014 — 11:56 AM
lynnacfrost says:
#2 & #17… Murderer’s Nebula? Really? Hmmm…
December 13, 2014 — 1:50 PM
americanogig says:
Endless Snowflake[s]. Excellent.
December 13, 2014 — 2:50 PM
americanogig says:
All right, here we go. (Sorry for the ugly-long link)
http://americanogig.wix.com/elizabethbeck#!Endless-Snowflakes/c5il/10F7E4A9-3742-46F6-BAC3-DFDA7CA2FF94
December 13, 2014 — 3:34 PM
ajbauers says:
This was an intriguing short piece with some beautiful sensory detail. It also really made me want to learn the “before” and “after” of your main character’s story. Thanks for sharing!
December 14, 2014 — 12:13 PM
Joe Harris says:
Night Comet….
Either a super hero story or an apocalyptic one. Not entirely sure yet. Hmmm
December 13, 2014 — 8:59 PM
Joe Harris says:
A retired criminal overlooks his life choices as a comet closes in earth. http://joeharris462.wordpress.com/2014/12/14/night-comet/. I apoligize in advance for any problems with the blog thing. I’m new to wordpress and honestly very confused.
December 14, 2014 — 1:47 PM
ajbauers says:
The random number generator gave me 15 twice, so I ended up with “The Oathkeeper’s Reason”
https://ajbauers.wordpress.com/2014/12/14/the-oathkeepers-reason/
I gotta agree with Chuck, the random titles are probably my favorite of his flash fiction challenges.
December 14, 2014 — 3:42 AM
kakubjaya says:
I like it! That’s some fantastic worldbuilding there. Especially for 1500 words!
December 14, 2014 — 12:58 PM
ajbauers says:
Thanks for reading. I was happy for the extra words beyond the usual 1000 when I thought of this story 🙂
December 14, 2014 — 1:48 PM
kakubjaya says:
Got the fairly ordinary-sounding ‘Daniel’s Treasure’.
http://manyfacesof.wordpress.com/2014/12/14/flash-fiction-daniels-treasure/
December 14, 2014 — 1:07 PM
ajbauers says:
This was a good piece with especially strong dialogue. And for a fairly ordinary sounding roll, you sure made it unique 🙂
December 14, 2014 — 1:41 PM
jezknee says:
I thought it would be appropriate to write a Christmas story. Here’s Bleeding Elf (not as grim as it sounds!):
http://jezpgknee.wordpress.com/2014/12/14/bleeding-elf/
December 14, 2014 — 1:43 PM
Delia (Postcards from Asia) says:
That was unexpectedly funny. Nice story!
December 14, 2014 — 11:15 PM
chriswhitewrites says:
I got Dead Forge – mythic fantasy or historical realism or…
December 14, 2014 — 7:23 PM
Delia (Postcards from Asia) says:
How about a mash-up?
December 14, 2014 — 11:02 PM
Brandon O'Brien says:
Here’s mine (2-12: Murderer’s Medallion): http://wickedflagon.wordpress.com/2014/12/15/chuck-wendigs-flash-fiction-challenge-the-randomized-title-rears-its-head-2-12-murderers-medallion/
December 14, 2014 — 10:54 PM
Allison Maruska says:
I got Screaming Starfish and turned it into a romance.
http://allisonmaruska.com/2014/12/14/flash-fiction-screaming-starfish/
December 15, 2014 — 12:05 AM
Alissa says:
A little bit weird, slightly depressing: “Obliterated Snowflakes.”
http://alissareads.tumblr.com/post/105244416161/obliterated-snowflakes
December 15, 2014 — 12:20 AM
smkay70 says:
Great read, made me want more!
December 16, 2014 — 5:35 PM
Alissa says:
Thanks so much!
December 16, 2014 — 6:09 PM
the story hive says:
I got “Night Bird”… interesting
December 15, 2014 — 1:15 AM
the story hive says:
Not happy with it… http://thestoryhive.wordpress.com/2014/12/19/night-bird/
December 19, 2014 — 1:25 PM
joy Cronje says:
erm… endless treasure. this should be interesting….
December 15, 2014 — 1:36 AM
Jotter Monster says:
After some fantastically bad combinations I decided to just go with whatever came next, and so was born ‘Endless Starfish’: http://jottermonster.tumblr.com/post/105254100359/endless-starfish
December 15, 2014 — 3:12 AM
Ada Ireland says:
I used my daughters as random number generators and ended up with two titles. That’s what happens when you have three kids and a husband who want a turn at choosing a number between 1 and 20.
The titles are: “Screaming Snowflake” and “Endless Medallion”.
I foresee no problem coming up with some good piece of flash fiction. After all:
1. I’m a romance writer who has just started writing. Those lists of words seem perfectly suited for romance … not.
2. I didn’t even know what flash fiction really was until today. When I first read that term it made me think it was some kind of NC-17 rated, steamy writing. That’s why I got excited about the challenge. 🙂
Enough complaining. Time for some writing. Out of the sci-fi/fantasy suited titles, a beautiful romance … or two … shall come forth.
December 15, 2014 — 2:19 PM
Ada Ireland says:
I finished “Screaming Snowflake” and posted it on my blog. http://unashamedwriting.com/screaming-snowflake-the-result-of-my-first-flash-fiction-challenge/
The more I thought about “Endless Medallion” the bigger the story grew … not kidding.
I hope you enjoy. If you have any feedback I would love to hear it … I hope. 🙂
December 16, 2014 — 11:20 PM
Kurt Bali says:
God’s Own Inkwell. Good gravy, this is going to be fun.
December 15, 2014 — 5:21 PM