Last week’s challenge: Must Contain Three Things.
This week is one of my favorite brands of challenge — the subgenre smash-up.
Your goal is simple: pick one subgenre from each of the two tables below (preferably randomly, using either a die or a random number generator) and then mash those two genres up into a single story.
This time around, let’s say you have 2000 words. Write it at your online space, link back here in the comments so we can all see it. You’ve got one week — due next Friday by noon EST.
Subgenre Table 1
- Haunted House
- Space Opera
- Cryptozoological
- Sword & Sorcery
- Cozy mystery
- Dystopian
- Zombie
- Espionage
- Arthurian Fantasy
- Vampire Erotica
- Greek Mythology
- Kaiju
- Utopian
- Lovecraftian
- Extraterrestrial
- Conspiracy Thriller
- Steampunk
- Dieselpunk
- Cornpunk
- Urban Fantasy
Subgenre Table 2
- Weird Tales
- Technothriller
- Noir Detective
- Biopunk
- Heist / Caper!
- Slasher / Final Girl
- Alternate History
- Disaster Porn
- Superhero
- Eco-Thriller
- Bumbling Detective
- Wild West
- Artificial Intelligence
- Comic Fantasy
- Psychological Thriller
- Regency Romance
- Magical Realism
- Bodice Ripper
- Paranormal Romance
- Satanic Horror
poorerdick says:
I’m sure individuals will figure it out, but the random.org link is broken.
January 30, 2015 — 12:23 PM
poorerdick says:
Vampire Erotica Disaster Porn.
This would be perfect for Crankyashley.
January 30, 2015 — 9:59 PM
poorerdick says:
Deeply Impacting Vampiretta:
https://poordicks.wordpress.com/2015/02/06/flash-fiction-challenge-erotic-vampire-disaster-porn/
February 6, 2015 — 11:54 AM
percykerry923 says:
Dystopian and bumbling detective. Quite a challenge, Chuck. You do know how to push us novice writers out of our comfort zones…and a GINORMOUS thanks to you for that. Let’s see what I can come up with. Take care.
January 30, 2015 — 12:26 PM
terribleminds says:
🙂
January 30, 2015 — 12:50 PM
lisacle says:
Zombie Regency Romance. Um, wasn’t that done already? I guess that’s what makes it a challenge, though, to keep it fresh and unique and interesting even when the dice are trying to kill you. 😎
January 30, 2015 — 12:45 PM
ILikeBubbles says:
Utopian…technothriller? /squints, stares upwards
January 30, 2015 — 12:58 PM
Jay says:
Conspiracy Thriller and superhero 😀
January 30, 2015 — 1:00 PM
maniacmarmoset says:
Extraterrestrial bumbling detective. I sort of love that.
January 30, 2015 — 1:00 PM
jmrieger79 says:
Space opera/slasher. Hang on
*downloads script to Jason X*
January 30, 2015 — 1:24 PM
necwrites says:
Ha! Same roll.
*Forces brain away from Aliens with extra blood*
February 2, 2015 — 1:23 PM
Grymmlock says:
Haunted House Heist.. Tripe H. I’m pretty sure that’s a wrestler. I feel like the universe is trying to tell me something. Hmmm..
January 30, 2015 — 1:37 PM
Pavowski says:
Cryptozoological Wild West. Giddyup.
January 30, 2015 — 2:00 PM
Pavowski says:
We kind of laugh nowadays at the stories of monsters often glimpsed but never seen, of creatures that seem to defy nature and terrorize people and animals in the dwindling remote parts of the world. But there was a time before the internet when stories like these might have been taken much more seriously. People still believe in Bigfoot, not because the evidence is so compelling and widespread, but because nobody was around to debunk it on a widespread scale before the myth could take hold in people’s minds and hearts.
Imagine what it would have been like in the old west, when there was no internet and barely any newspapers, and you could come to a town and hear stories — believed by an entire town — of a mythical monster that lives out in the mountains.
You might believe it.
Here’s “The Crater Devil”.
https://pavorisms.wordpress.com/2015/02/01/the-crater-devil/
February 1, 2015 — 2:50 PM
thesexiestwriter says:
Lovecraftian superhero. I think I like this one.
January 30, 2015 — 2:10 PM
thesexiestwriter says:
IGNIS FATUUS can be found here:
https://criticalsexualmass.wordpress.com/
February 1, 2015 — 3:52 PM
J. Lannan (@jLannan) says:
Kaiju Paranormal Romance… vampires and werewolves are so overdone anyway.
January 30, 2015 — 2:19 PM
Anthony Karcz says:
I can’t wait to see this one!
January 30, 2015 — 2:26 PM
Anthony Karcz says:
Kaiju and Biopunk? Hot damn! Containing this to 2k is going to be the real challenge!
January 30, 2015 — 2:25 PM
mannixk says:
Cryptozoological Paranormal Romance. At last, a chance to release the passionate sasquatch I’ve been hiding from the world. 🙂
January 30, 2015 — 2:47 PM
Matt Black says:
Kaiju – Alternate History… *rubs hands together menacingly*
January 30, 2015 — 3:22 PM
Joe Turner says:
Courtesy of the RNG
11. Greek Mythology
03. Noir Detective (I’m taking that as hardboiled)
Should be fun!
January 30, 2015 — 3:35 PM
Joe Turner says:
Here it is
https://joetblogs.wordpress.com/2015/02/02/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge-the-subgenre-blender/
February 2, 2015 — 5:41 PM
S.Stars says:
I want to read more of that story. Great job!
February 5, 2015 — 1:18 AM
William Grit says:
I’m gonna hang out here for a minute. Little bored. *looks around* I’m actually reading some-HAHA… one’s journal. Smirk. She would fucking kill me if she knew this. Big smile.
January 30, 2015 — 7:30 PM
Rebecca Douglass says:
Had to roll 3 times to get a combo that I could write and post on my PG blog (not to mention that my MOM reads my blog! Sheesh. There are limits!
January 30, 2015 — 7:49 PM
Luke Green says:
There aren’t enough dice to describe my novel/short story series
January 30, 2015 — 7:50 PM
Luke Green says:
In response to above:
Greek mythos Noir detective – Hero for Hire by Cynthia Pratt on Amazon
Lovecraftian Superhero – Sara Waite of the Whateley Academy stories by DrBender at Crystalhall.org
January 30, 2015 — 7:52 PM
brucearthurs says:
Arthurian (how appropriate) biopunk. Hmmm….
January 30, 2015 — 7:58 PM
Devyn Price (@DevynPrice) says:
Now I have to go and figure out what the hell biopunk is.
January 30, 2015 — 8:04 PM
underastarlitsky says:
dystopian weird tales?! uh…
January 30, 2015 — 8:22 PM
Tyler Cumbersnitch (yes, I'm obsessive.) says:
My first try got Artificial Intelligence Vampire Erotica but I thought not… Tried again and got Greek Mythology Alternate History, so we’ll see what happens.
January 30, 2015 — 10:51 PM
Cameron says:
Haunted House Wild West… hmmk. We will see if I am up for it.
January 30, 2015 — 11:40 PM
ElctrcRngr says:
Extraterrestrial and Wild West. Hmm. I’ve never read many Westerns. I’ll have to try and gobble down some Louis L’Amour before I try this
January 31, 2015 — 12:07 AM
Kat says:
Space Opera Paranormal Romance. Oh Boy.
January 31, 2015 — 12:59 AM
Kat says:
I posted this as it’s own comment, but I thought I’d reply to my original comment as well…does that make sense? Oh well, too lazy to delete it now. http://readiculousblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/flash-fiction-challenge-vampires-in.html
February 2, 2015 — 10:28 AM
Jordan says:
Dystopian Biopunk.
Should be entertaining to see exactly how frightening I can make this in 2,000 words.
January 31, 2015 — 3:52 AM
Jordan says:
Got it! Wrote it from the perspective of the president of the dystopian government, for a little twist on the whole “DYSTOPIAN BAD” theme. Here it is – DEATH OF A MADWOMAN: http://www.jordankurella.com/blogreads/2015/2/2/death-of-a-madwoman
February 2, 2015 — 6:58 PM
Alister Davison says:
After rolling Zombie and Disaster Porn, I was tempted to roll again. But the dice have spoken, and I now think some UK landmarks are going to be in for a tough time.
January 31, 2015 — 4:32 AM
angelacavanaugh says:
I got Space Opera Eco-Thriller
http://angelacavanaugh.com/2015/01/31/flash-fiction-friday-eco/
January 31, 2015 — 5:51 AM
Mozette says:
Here we go! Sword & Sorcery slammed together with Alternate History! Enjoy!
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/fitting-in.html
January 31, 2015 — 7:08 AM
ryanjamesblack says:
Sword & Sorcery Wild West….
January 31, 2015 — 9:25 AM
ryanjamesblack says:
Wow! This was fun! My daughter is in daycare, figured I’d clean the house…instead festered in my pajamas and wrote for the last four hours straight….
Sword & Sorcery meets Wild West….da,da,da,daaaa….
‘The Last Ride of Hurton El Fuego’
http://ryanjamesblack.com/2015/02/02/the-last-ride-of-hurton-el-fuego/
February 2, 2015 — 5:06 PM
Mozette says:
I love it! You’ve written something very much like Terry Pratchett. I enjoyed it very much and would love to read more of your work. 😀
February 5, 2015 — 10:44 PM
ryanjamesblack says:
Thanks very much! I appreciate the kind words. This was really fun to write. Feel free to poke around my site for more of the same.
February 5, 2015 — 11:10 PM
dangerdean says:
Steampunk Weird Tales. Let’s see what a week away from work will do for my writing.
January 31, 2015 — 6:46 PM
Lauren Greene (@laurenegreene) says:
Urban Fantasy & Alternate History. This should be a challenge.
January 31, 2015 — 7:56 PM
danzier says:
Arthurian fantasy (a fav, but not one I write yet) and Slasher (a complete dislike, so a challenge).
My online space is currently out, so I’m writing in a notebook. With a pen.
January 31, 2015 — 8:22 PM
Ashlee Jade says:
Dystopian magical realism. This should be interesting.
January 31, 2015 — 10:08 PM
mat says:
Kaiju – Magical Realism!
Oh yes.
February 1, 2015 — 4:12 AM
Jessica says:
Conspiracy thriller and bodice ripper. Wow
February 1, 2015 — 4:29 AM
warmingglow says:
Utopian Psychological Thriller. Consider me excited!
February 1, 2015 — 2:54 PM
ballah01 says:
Who would say that the two subgenres (sword/sorcery and heist/caper) are currently the subgenres of my book! (heist/caper is a little)
February 1, 2015 — 4:12 PM
Michelle English says:
http://cheelara.com/?p=11
Cryptozoological and Magical Realism
Please let me know if this link does not work, just set it up
February 1, 2015 — 6:04 PM
Michelle English says:
I so hope i did this write, this is my first time here, referred by a friend
February 1, 2015 — 6:07 PM
Michelle English says:
OMG, My first major blunder. I meant right, not write.
February 2, 2015 — 8:12 AM
I write, alright says:
Kaiju and Paranormal Romance?! I got this…
https://iwritealright.wordpress.com/2015/02/01/the-subgenre-blender-kaiju-and-paranormal-romance/
February 1, 2015 — 8:05 PM
stephenseibert says:
I just rolled “Vampire Erotica Disaster Porn”… wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face and I’m sure somebody out there has published this, and possibly made movies.
Going with “Urban Fantasy Wild West”!
February 1, 2015 — 10:41 PM
I write, alright says:
Southern Vampire Mysteries blinks directly to mind on your “Vampire Erotica Disaster Porn”. Urban Wild West sounds much more fun.
February 2, 2015 — 1:03 AM
stephenseibert says:
La Lechuza
https://stephenseibert.wordpress.com/2015/02/06/la-lechuza/
February 6, 2015 — 12:25 AM
Maja says:
Urban Fantasy Regency Romance. Hahahaha! This is Karma. I recently review- smashed something called ‘Mr Darcy, Vampyre’….This will be fun!
February 2, 2015 — 1:02 AM
Kat says:
Here’s my Space Opera Paranormal Romance: Vampires in Space-ace-ace
Kat @ Readiculous Blog
February 2, 2015 — 9:11 AM
Robert Jepson says:
I was set on sticking with what the dice determined, it came up with vampire erotica/noir detective, interesting 🙂 Doing a final polish to the story before publishing.
February 2, 2015 — 11:04 AM
Robert Jepson says:
So, here’s my piece!
https://robertjepson.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/turned-in-blood-flash-fiction/
February 3, 2015 — 5:23 PM
K.J. says:
Thanks for the kick in the pants Chuck. I haven’t written anything since November….about time I did. Extraterrestrial meets the Wild West.
http://kjscrim.com/2015/02/02/crossing-the-yampa/
February 2, 2015 — 12:48 PM
MyLovingWife says:
So I got
– 3 – Cryptozoological
– 20 – Satanic Horror
I had to search some of these genres because I have no idea what some of them are. On to writing.
February 2, 2015 — 2:29 PM
MyLovingWife says:
So this is an epic fail.
I tried to write this, started 4 stories and scrapped them all. I am not a reader of these two styles, nor do I watch this type of movie. I had to search for what they were and couldn’t come up with anything good. Not particularly satisfying. In fact not satisfying at all since I hate not having anything to present. Feels like one of those dissertations you have to write in high schools; the white page syndrome. Oh well.
At least I’ve learned something. That I have to familiarize myself with more writing genres (since I never knew this many existed anyway) and try writing some. Or maybe that horror and cryptozoological stuff isn’t my cup of tea.
February 6, 2015 — 10:15 AM
Rachel Ambrose says:
Uhm. Greek mythology and noir detective? HI SHORT STORY I NEVER KNEW I WANTED TO WRITE.
February 2, 2015 — 7:15 PM
Rachel Ambrose says:
Here you go, pen monkeys.
http://victorywhiskeyjuliet.tumblr.com/post/110159164743/miles-to-go
February 5, 2015 — 9:05 AM