This week’s challenge?
I want you to click this link: generate random cocktail.
It will, predictably, give you a random cocktail and its recipe.
(If for some reason that link doesn’t work: try this one. It gives you 10 at a time.)
The title of the random cocktail is the title of your new flash fiction story.
You have ~1000 words.
Due by next Friday, 3/20. Noon EST.
Post at your online space. Link to it in the comments below.
john freeter says:
“Neon Voodoo”. Didn’t have much of a choice on the subject matter, did I? 🙂
https://johnfreeter.wordpress.com/2015/03/15/neon-voodoo/
March 16, 2015 — 12:15 AM
elctrcrngr says:
Wow, this was cool. I have SO had it with zombie movies and TV shows, but I really liked this story. Well done!
March 17, 2015 — 11:01 AM
john freeter says:
Thank you. I tried to write something set in the 80s’ to use the neon bit of the title (I’ve been playing hotline miami…), but I’m glad you think it turned out alright!
March 17, 2015 — 2:23 PM
jacki214 says:
I like where you got your inspiration and enjoyed the direction you took it.
March 22, 2015 — 1:00 PM
Lisa says:
Shore Breeze. Sounds like just what I need right now.
March 16, 2015 — 2:08 PM
Toni J says:
“Bittersweet with a Twist” Oh boy, this one got weird!
http://tonij.net/2015/03/bittersweet-with-a-twist/
March 16, 2015 — 7:39 PM
john freeter says:
Very cool. For a second I thought the twist would be explosive diarrhea, but I liked what you did much better!
March 16, 2015 — 11:34 PM
Andrew T says:
I loved how weird that got!
March 17, 2015 — 1:10 AM
Toni J says:
Thanks guys!
March 17, 2015 — 10:05 AM
caszbrewster says:
Good weird!
March 18, 2015 — 11:08 PM
jacki214 says:
I think the twist goes hand-in-hand with the cure. Great idea for a story.
March 22, 2015 — 12:33 PM
Tastyniblets says:
I’m an Antoine Special. oooh..
March 16, 2015 — 11:07 PM
M.K. says:
I made an attempt! Hot Red Lover.
March 17, 2015 — 3:03 AM
M.K. says:
Here’s a link to Hot Red Lover.
https://decomposingadjectives.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/flash-fiction-challenge/
March 17, 2015 — 3:11 AM
jacki214 says:
Oooo. I could be all wrong, but I’m getting a past lives vibe. This was mysterious and sexy.
March 22, 2015 — 11:48 AM
Eva Therese says:
“Mojo”. Okay then. https://evathereseebert.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/random-cocktail-challenge *clink*
March 17, 2015 — 6:54 AM
ElctrcRngr says:
I really liked this. It has a spooky feeling to it, a great Halloween story. You should polish it up a little and develop it into a short story.
March 17, 2015 — 10:32 AM
Eva Therese says:
Thanks! I do hope I can find something more to do with it later.
March 18, 2015 — 4:12 AM
caszbrewster says:
Spooky with a side of creep. Nice. Also, I like your blog title. Of course now I have a bit of a Funk Soul Brother earworm.
March 18, 2015 — 11:10 PM
Eva Therese says:
Aw, thanks! And if you like silly puns, I should tell you about my writers group ‘Writer’s Guilt’.
March 20, 2015 — 7:45 AM
jacki214 says:
I love the magic. You could create a whole world and mythos from this. I like your character. She has a well-developed morality and it makes me curious about her reasons for doing what she does.
March 22, 2015 — 11:38 AM
R. M. Mendivil says:
I think there was an error in the comment i posted before, but anyways here’s the link to my attempt at Royal Smile cocktail. I kinda doubled the expected word count, so it doesn’t count as flash fiction anymore ^^ But I really liked how in turned out. Here goes: https://justsomecynic.wordpress.com/2015/03/16/royal-smile/
March 17, 2015 — 11:02 AM
Andrew Hickey says:
I got “Jesus Is Here”…
http://andrewhickey.info/2015/03/17/jesus-is-here/
March 17, 2015 — 2:29 PM
upickdandelions says:
That was enjoyable. I expected it to be a bit more allusionary — hmmm… that’s not a word — but it was fun.
March 17, 2015 — 6:30 PM
jacki214 says:
Awesome! I laughed my head off! I wouldn’t change a thing, except maybe have these thousand word conversations on different topics every now and then. I’d sign up for that. Thanks! (still smiling)
March 18, 2015 — 10:19 PM
upickdandelions says:
I haven’t written fiction in over 20 years. I invite comments on this first draft of a first chapter. https://redeemingquantity.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/ch-1-breezy-point-draft-1/
March 17, 2015 — 3:33 PM
ElctrcRngr says:
Well, if your really looking for a critique… this is fine, for a first draft. The punctuation needs a little work, to clarify the dialogue, which is in person, on the phone, in emails, etc. A first chapter could probably stand with a little less description, but your introduction of the protagonist was good, very organic, you do a nice job of showing her home situation, as opposed to telling it. Just needs some overall sanding and polishing
March 17, 2015 — 7:11 PM
upickdandelions says:
Thanks. Yes, I really want critiques.
March 17, 2015 — 7:21 PM
john freeter says:
I might be wrong (I usually am, and english is my second language) but at the beginning you describe the dialogue “she was brief…” which isn’t really necessary (showing vs telling). Also try and spread out description between action and dialogue rather than in large chunks. Be careful with vague adjectives “he smelled amazing”. I like thoughts in italics, but that’s probably personal preference. You should use ” ” for dialogue, and use tags or action to make it clear who’s speaking and to give it variety. A different font for e-mail conversations would make things clearer. I didn’t read very carefully, but I got mixed up with the extended flashbacks. I do like the character’s voice though, and the setup is intriguing.
March 17, 2015 — 8:14 PM
upickdandelions says:
It’s all helpful. Thank you.
March 17, 2015 — 8:19 PM
David_N_Wilson (@David_N_Wilson) says:
“Walk Me Down” – by David Niall Wilson – Challenge Complete … story postered here : http://davidniallwilson.com/2015/03/walk-me-down-free-st-patricks-day-fiction/
March 17, 2015 — 4:36 PM
jacki214 says:
Really good. I love your characters, the factory/town/pop parallels. Love the way you worked “Walk Me Down” into the story multiple times. Loved this sentence –> When the paper was read, and his cup was empty, it was time to go, and it didn’t matter if I’d finished eating, or forgotten to put on a shirt. “Come on boy,” he’d say. “Let me walk you down… No one broke in – everyone there was looking for a way out. <– Was struck by the poignancy, but think it underlined the theme perfectly.
March 18, 2015 — 10:39 PM
stranger says:
I got “Curtain Call”, I’ll see what I can do with that.
Also when I tryed the second page that was linked in the news above, it showed me a cocktail named “Dirty Mexican Ghetto Whore”. That certainly escalated quickly.
March 17, 2015 — 5:16 PM
caszbrewster says:
I got Bondage’s No Problem. This ought to be interesting.
March 18, 2015 — 11:54 AM
ElctrcRngr says:
Just read your story for this week’s challenge. Good work, I really liked the voice and narration of the POV character.
March 19, 2015 — 5:19 AM
caszbrewster says:
Thanks so much! I actually really dig Phil and might pull him out for more adventures. I don’t know. We’ll see.
March 19, 2015 — 1:35 PM
jacki214 says:
Here’s a lovely warm weather cocktail for you. It’s called Skinny Dipper.
https://jackiperrette.wordpress.com/2015/03/18/flash-fiction-challenge-random-cocktail-challenge/
March 18, 2015 — 3:10 PM
upickdandelions says:
Those photographs are both controversial and inspiring. I like your characters, too. Do I feel romance in the breeze?
March 18, 2015 — 4:25 PM
jacki214 says:
You are correct. These photos have caused a bit of uproar on FB. In response, the photographer now posts his pictures in a cropped format that will link to Twitter or Tumblr so that viewers can see uncensored versions.
This flash fiction is a vignette using characters from a m/m romance I am writing. Not sure it will retain the Skinny Dipper title, but that is actually what inspired the whole thing.
This is the first time I’ve written flash fiction and I found it really fun.
March 18, 2015 — 6:14 PM
caszbrewster says:
Nicely done.
March 18, 2015 — 10:15 PM
jacki214 says:
Thank you!
March 18, 2015 — 10:17 PM
caszbrewster says:
Bondage’s No Problem
Here’s the cocktail, as randomly generated: http://www.webtender.com/db/drink/3627
Here’s my 999 words, which may just end up a longer story, we’ll see: http://www.casondrabrewster.com/?p=2173
March 18, 2015 — 10:09 PM
john freeter says:
Nice. The narrator’s attitude is very relatable, and the story kept me intriguied.
March 19, 2015 — 8:54 AM
caszbrewster says:
Cool!
March 19, 2015 — 1:36 PM
jacki214 says:
Really enjoyed this. Could be the beginning of a mystery. I liked the characters. Wish I knew what OTF means…
March 21, 2015 — 12:19 AM
ryanjamesblack says:
I got ‘Suddenly, Daylight’…
https://ryanjamesblack.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/suddenly-daylight/
March 19, 2015 — 12:09 AM
upickdandelions says:
Best story I’ve read here yet.
March 19, 2015 — 12:35 AM
ryanjamesblack says:
Thanks!
March 19, 2015 — 9:05 AM
katemcone says:
I really loved this — I appreciated the fresh take and the spoofing, I would love to see it as a short film!
March 25, 2015 — 8:40 AM
gowordbird says:
I ended up with the brandy-based drink, Cherry Blossum.
https://gowordbird.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/chuck-wendigs-random-cocktail-flash-fiction-challenge-cherry-blossum/
March 19, 2015 — 11:09 AM
jacki214 says:
beautiful and wistful. I really enjoyed this.
March 21, 2015 — 12:27 AM
katemcone says:
I got “Green Goddess”. Enjoy. https://katethesape.wordpress.com/read-my-stuff/
March 19, 2015 — 1:13 PM
Kate Copse says:
I really enjoyed this, great story!
March 20, 2015 — 11:50 AM
katemcone says:
Oh, thank you so much! 😀
March 20, 2015 — 11:58 AM
jacki214 says:
I liked the subject, very relevant. I’m glad it had a happy ending, but Beth had me worried for a minute! This could easily be a full length story people would want to read.
March 20, 2015 — 11:58 PM
katemcone says:
Oh wow, thank you! Gender/orientation and identity are some things I’m very passionate about so they always find a way into my stories in one way or another.
March 25, 2015 — 8:43 AM
Henry says:
I got the Cosmo Katie, which meant that it had to be space. Space and obsession and murder, of course.
http://fistfulofwits.com/2015/03/19/flash-fiction-cosmo-katie/
March 19, 2015 — 2:37 PM
Toni J says:
That was awesome. Well done!
March 19, 2015 — 3:21 PM
Andrew T says:
I enjoyed that. Good work!
March 19, 2015 — 4:35 PM
jacki214 says:
Go, Cosmo Katie! Wow. You had my emotions all over the place with this!
March 21, 2015 — 12:36 AM
katemcone says:
I really enjoyed the narrator voice. I pictured Starbuck from the most recent iteration of BSG. Nicely done!
March 25, 2015 — 8:43 AM
Sheriff Dan (@MWhipple4) says:
Shit, I got Green Cookie Monster… Whep! Here goes nothing!
March 19, 2015 — 7:30 PM
Sheriff Dan (@MWhipple4) says:
Okay, here we go. Green Cookie Monster.
https://greasysqueezins.wordpress.com/2015/03/20/hello-world/
March 19, 2015 — 10:24 PM
jacki214 says:
Awww. Such a sweet story – and had me laughing in a few places. It’s especially funny, because it is so authentic. 🙂
March 21, 2015 — 12:51 AM
lisacle says:
I got “Brutal Hammer,” which sounds perfectly horrible to me (red wine and vodka?), but the title inspired me to write my first ever YA piece. http://wp.me/p1Tyuy-bB
March 19, 2015 — 11:47 PM
Sheriff Dan (@MWhipple4) says:
Very nice!
March 20, 2015 — 12:16 AM
jacki214 says:
so sweet! I really loved the way you had Gillian squeal and shriek . That completely blew away all the clouds.
March 21, 2015 — 1:02 AM
Rebecca Douglass says:
Mine is up, but at the moment I can’t access it to copy in the URL. For to moment, I will instead link in a great story by writer Jemima Pett, “Equinox on Ice.”
http://jemimapett.com/blog/2015/03/20/flash-fiction-friday-equinox-on-ice/
March 20, 2015 — 12:55 AM
Jemima Pett says:
Thanks, Rebecca! I knew I wouldnt get back in time to link it up myself! But at least I wasn’t the victim!
March 22, 2015 — 10:19 AM
Rebecca Douglass says:
Okay, got into my own blog at least. Here is “Thug’s Passion”
http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2015/03/friday-flash-fiction-thugs-passion.html
March 20, 2015 — 1:02 AM
jacki214 says:
I liked it…dark humor and pathos. Kind of like “Leon, The Professional” caring for the 12-year-old Mathilda…unexpected…but in this case, deadly! It had a bit of an “Of Mice and Men” flavor.
March 21, 2015 — 1:15 AM
Kristin Mireles says:
It’s been too long since I’ve done one of these. My randomly selected beverage is Raspberry Punch. http://mireles-musings.blogspot.com/2015/03/raspberry-punch.html
March 20, 2015 — 4:47 AM
Simon Bucher-Jones says:
I enjoyed these so I went and got “Iced Coffee Fillup” Hm. Well the result is here:
http://simonbjones.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/iced-coffee-fillup.html
March 20, 2015 — 7:58 AM
jacki214 says:
Shades of Clockwork Orange. Definitely gives the reader a lot to think about.
March 21, 2015 — 1:51 AM
Kate Copse says:
A bit late to the party, but here’s my story (hopefully the link will work):
https://katecopse.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/lighthouse/
I’ve been meaning to take part in these challenges for months to help me start writing, but I haven’t written fiction in years and found it hard to get started (so I know its not the best).
March 20, 2015 — 8:09 AM
katemcone says:
You had me from Grim saying things grimly. (I adore word humor) I thought this was such a unique way of looking at death/afterlife, and the humorous surprise at the end was great. Good job! 😀
March 20, 2015 — 12:02 PM
jacki214 says:
Awww. Humor, surprise and sentiment. <3
March 21, 2015 — 2:01 AM
Kate Copse says:
Thank you, both 🙂 I was a bit worried about the response I’d get putting something on the interwebz, especially as I haven’t really done anything like this before, but I’m glad I did!
March 22, 2015 — 10:56 AM
Robert Sadler says:
Been a while since I’ve had the chance to take part. Happy to be back. As always, feedback much appreciated.
Shot of Respect (tequila, 151, tabasco sauce – disgusting)
http://www.andablankpage.com/shot-of-respect/
March 20, 2015 — 8:39 AM
M.A. Crosbie says:
I came for the tequila and stayed for your story. It was brilliant – the characterization was spot on. I really enjoyed it!
March 20, 2015 — 3:32 PM
Robert Sadler says:
So glad you enjoyed it, thanks taking the time to check it out. Yours was fantastic, too. I left a comment under your post.
March 20, 2015 — 3:42 PM
jacki214 says:
Really enjoyed this. It gave me ideas about alternate realities for the story, but I won’t elaborate…would spoil it.
March 20, 2015 — 11:55 PM
Robert Sadler says:
So happy you liked it! Thanks.
March 21, 2015 — 8:54 AM
David says:
Okay, so this one ran a bit long. Like 7000 words long. Hey, sometimes it takes what it takes.
Blue Ice Mountain: Blue Curacao, Perrier, vodka, club soda. I hope my story is stronger than the drink:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HC0jL95Rn82mKQVTQ7e41vQ86SA7D3kL_jpK8vUiIEE/edit?usp=sharing
March 20, 2015 — 9:15 AM
Alice E Keyes says:
Late – I combined cocktail and 100 word challenges
Norse Goddesses and Screaming Viking
http://aliceekeyes.blogspot.com/p/norse-goddesses-and-screaming-viking.html
March 23, 2015 — 1:50 PM