I’m sharing an image with you.
You can use that image as inspiration for a 1000-word piece of flash fiction.
Or, you can share a link to a different image below.
(Please don’t share more than one image, and if it’s NSFW, please offer warning. And nothing triggery or weird, I don’t want this to be a road with a bunch of tire-popping potholes for people’s safety and sanity, okay?)
Then, write a story based on the image above, or one of the other images in the comments.
The trick is, please don’t write a story based on an image you have shared.
Be inspired by what something else has left for you.
That is, in many ways, how our stories work, after all.
Again:
Pick an image.
Use that image as the inspiration for your flash fiction.
Post the fiction at your blog, link back here so we can read it.
Due by 4/10, noon EST.
The Glitzy Faery says:
Ha… this is the best day ever to say “Shirley, share an image with me!” Behold, straight from the deep:
http://imgur.com/gallery/LM3AQiR
April 3, 2015 — 3:32 PM
Beth Turnage says:
That’s Sponge Bob weird.
April 3, 2015 — 3:42 PM
Christine Lashinski says:
This is a fantastic image! I don’t know what I’m doing yet, but this is my image of choice.
April 3, 2015 — 5:01 PM
Southpaw says:
Those little guys are freaky cool.
April 3, 2015 — 6:26 PM
ElctrcRngr says:
I think they’re angels…but from what religion I cannot say.
April 3, 2015 — 8:57 PM
Wendy Christopher says:
They are cute as heck! WANT ONE NOW!
April 6, 2015 — 6:38 AM
Beth Turnage says:
Here is an image I cobbled together myself. It is a fairy holding the model of the universe as defined by superstring theory. Yes it on an astrology blog. I write about astrology too. Shut up.
http://astrologyexplored.net/home/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Fairy-and-String-Model.png
April 3, 2015 — 3:41 PM
Kristin Mireles says:
Beautiful
April 4, 2015 — 3:24 PM
Beth Turnage says:
Kristin,
Thank you.
April 6, 2015 — 5:37 PM
thehorrorlabyrinth says:
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p520/thechoice2014/185516_181030535301200_179181975486056_429789_8325346_n_zps6apqhbig.jpg
April 3, 2015 — 3:44 PM
Annette says:
Oh, I like this!
April 5, 2015 — 12:59 PM
thehorrorlabyrinth says:
thanks!
April 6, 2015 — 6:03 PM
Shanan Winters says:
I cheated. Because I’m a cheatie-mc-cheater-pants. Actually, I did this exact challenge a few months back for a site that totally gave up on itself. So I’m going to just pretend that I was reading Chuck’s mind… several months early. Yeah, that’s it. https://shananwinters.wordpress.com/2015/04/03/flash-from-the-past/
April 3, 2015 — 3:52 PM
warjna says:
I’m glad you cheated!
April 6, 2015 — 7:59 AM
Alice E says:
Image http://www.nga.gov/feature/sculpturegarden/sculpture/sculpture1-fs.shtm
April 3, 2015 — 3:55 PM
Alice E Keyes says:
I actually took a picture of this while I was in DC but didn’t know how to link a personal pic.
April 7, 2015 — 5:29 PM
vlsperry says:
Here’s one from FB: http://i2.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article5400985.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/O3mjNTx.png
April 3, 2015 — 4:25 PM
Pavowski says:
lol. That may be too good to pass up…
April 3, 2015 — 6:40 PM
StarNinja says:
It is simply irresponsible to house a nuclear power plant in your spider farm. Damn those lax zoning regulations!
April 5, 2015 — 11:51 AM
warjna says:
Okay, SO not going there!
April 6, 2015 — 8:00 AM
poorerdick says:
Awesome picture. I combined it with Kristin Mireles’s picture below to create the following story:
https://poordicks.wordpress.com/2015/04/10/flash-fiction-challenge-radioactive-arthropods-for-everyone/
April 10, 2015 — 11:53 AM
thesexiestwriter says:
Ok, I got this one…totally writing about Oberon
April 3, 2015 — 4:31 PM
thesexiestwriter says:
https://criticalsexualmass.wordpress.com/
April 3, 2015 — 5:22 PM
deb says:
This is hilarious. Thanks for setting the bar on the bloody moon.
April 3, 2015 — 11:15 PM
thesexiestwriter says:
Thanks, you never know how a story like that will be received…
April 4, 2015 — 11:06 AM
deb says:
Prudes abound. Their loss.
April 4, 2015 — 10:12 PM
ElctrcRngr says:
Waiting for Oberon…
April 3, 2015 — 9:07 PM
StarNinja says:
Ha! That was golden! Five thumbs up!
April 5, 2015 — 11:54 AM
cavalaxis says:
Love it. I can almost smell the tour van.
April 7, 2015 — 2:46 AM
thesexiestwriter says:
that’s, er…kinda gross! Thanks, cause gross rocks!
April 7, 2015 — 2:16 PM
Jana Denardo says:
Here’s one of mine from my research on the Standing Stones of Wales, Carreg Sampson. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v170/DocDana/100_1362.jpg
April 3, 2015 — 6:07 PM
Mozette says:
Okay… let’s try this again… I used your image.
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/the-witching-hour.html
April 3, 2015 — 10:19 PM
warjna says:
Oh, Mozette! Don’t you know there’s always a catch? Nicely done!
April 6, 2015 — 8:07 AM
Mozette says:
Thank you so much! I knew being a practicing witch would pay off… knowing all the dark stuff and how to perform the dark magicks would work in my favour; even if I don’t work them. 🙂
April 7, 2015 — 7:59 AM
Periodically Demented says:
Thanks for the image. Here, have a short story in return. I grew up around stones like this as well as obelisk and carvings (and plenty of castles).
https://p33d33.wordpress.com/2015/04/04/chuck-wendigs-image-challenge-the-welsh-dragon/
April 4, 2015 — 4:49 AM
decayingorbits says:
I find these to be incredibly fascinating. And terrifying too, for some reason:
http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-step-well-india-image24654441
April 3, 2015 — 6:15 PM
warjna says:
I hear you! I keep envisioning the torrential rains they must have that fill those wells!
April 6, 2015 — 8:11 AM
cavalaxis says:
I’ll just leave this here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/3746114291/
April 3, 2015 — 6:34 PM
deb says:
I keep coming back to this one. Each time his expression seems to change.
April 3, 2015 — 9:33 PM
StarNinja says:
I’ll tell you what I think: “The gods must be… insane?….?????”
April 5, 2015 — 11:57 AM
StarNinja says:
Oh, here’s another one: “I found the White Devil’s techno-vagina inadequate. Two Stars.”
April 5, 2015 — 11:59 AM
deb says:
Oh please…continue with this last one. I suffer incontinence gladly.
April 5, 2015 — 12:25 PM
StarNinja says:
Hehe I’m glad you liked it 😉
Don’t know if I could drag an entire story out of it though. Maybe.
April 5, 2015 — 1:28 PM
StarNinja says:
Okay last one, promise: “And I thought I was hardcore about MY ear hoops!”
April 5, 2015 — 1:10 PM
lisacle says:
I’ve always loved this image. http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-32097860/stock-photo-gone-with-the-wind
April 3, 2015 — 6:46 PM
addy says:
Love the image so much i had to make a quick one. hope you enjoy.
https://adamskistoryblog.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/42/
April 6, 2015 — 4:35 AM
lisacle says:
That was fun! I always get a chuckle out of folks carrying on with their lives in the face of absurdity. 😎
April 6, 2015 — 9:48 PM
Doug Daniel says:
I went with Chuck’s image–
https://douglasdanieldotcom.wordpress.com/2015/04/03/chuck-wendigs-flash-fiction-challenge-oberon-is-here/
April 3, 2015 — 7:08 PM
cavalaxis says:
Oooo, had me hooked to the very last line. Well done, sir.
April 7, 2015 — 2:57 AM
Traci D. Haley says:
I’ve never tried one of these, but that Oberon picture conjured a story in my head. I cheated, though… didn’t manage to keep it under 1,000 words: http://cleverwholigan.tumblr.com/post/115428467260/oberon-is-here
(I’m just a beginner, so the story is probably riddled with errors.)
April 3, 2015 — 7:09 PM
Mozette says:
A few grammatical things to fix up in the beginning, but I liked where you went with it… very much.
I thought she’d be more upset about losing him though.
April 3, 2015 — 11:49 PM
Traci D. Haley says:
Thank you! 🙂 I liked the twist of her being sort of blase and “Oh well, guess I gotta get mySELF home since my dumb boyfriend got himself disappeared.” It amused me, though if I made the story longer, I don’t know if that reaction would remain the same. It was nice practice, though… I’ve recently gotten back into the writing game after 10+ years of not writing *anything*, so I’m a bit rusty and stuff like this helps flex those muscles.
April 4, 2015 — 12:29 AM
Mozette says:
Just gotta remember that like any muscle, your writing will improve with practice. 😀
April 4, 2015 — 12:53 AM
Traci D. Haley says:
Absolutely 🙂 And I’m having a blast “exercising” it 😀
April 4, 2015 — 3:50 PM
deb says:
http://tinyurl.com/lrsg963
April 3, 2015 — 7:21 PM
tonijnet says:
I took this pic at Kata-Tjuta a few years back. http://imgur.com/fnIl7Vr
April 3, 2015 — 8:30 PM
Mozette says:
I took this pick at the Eumundi Markets in 2010… I love it because it’s so colourful.
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm95/Mozette1791/Mooloolaba%202010/Mooloolaba%20-%20Day%202/Mooloolaba%20-%20Day%203/012.jpg
April 3, 2015 — 9:29 PM
Ebonstorm says:
Starchild – A military leader’s unauthorized decision to destroy an alien starship presages a fateful expansion of Humanity into space.
https://medium.com/@ebonstorm/starchild-580bfb8f7d81
April 3, 2015 — 10:00 PM
jacki perrette says:
I love the picture you chose. It is so full of emotion. Your story is sad, but makes an accurate comment on much of humanity. It would be wonderful to live in a Benai kind of world in the company of star children.
April 5, 2015 — 3:50 AM
warjna says:
This hurts. Well done.
April 6, 2015 — 8:29 AM
Ebonstorm says:
Thanks for reading. I wanted to address the themes of perpetual warfare, constant growth and the fusion of the two as a form of cultural madness. When presented with something that might cause Humanity to truly spread to the stars before they were ready, could someone tasked with protecting the realm make the decision to protect the realm (from itself) above their own personal aggrandizement?
April 6, 2015 — 10:27 AM
Mozette says:
I’ve always loves Standing Stones… and so I used your image… 😀
Enjoy.
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/the-witching-hour.html
April 3, 2015 — 10:18 PM
Mozette says:
I know I put this in twice, my original one is up at Jana Denardo’s reply… for some reason, my original one was put down here.
April 3, 2015 — 10:19 PM
Diedra Black says:
This inspires me. http://i.imgur.com/fZ6n6VV.jpg
April 3, 2015 — 11:51 PM
jack lee taylor says:
This one was tough! That’s why I picked it. Thanks for the pic! http://jackleetaylor.com/2015/04/07/clay-baby/
April 7, 2015 — 1:48 PM
Christopher says:
Some cool, random artist I found online. https://www.artstation.com/artwork/brothers-in-arms-meeting-with-a-warlord
April 4, 2015 — 1:44 AM
ElctrcRngr says:
Someone may be able to use this for a sci-fi piece.
http://elctrcrngr.wordpress.com/2015/04/04/astronomical-simulation/
April 4, 2015 — 1:45 AM
Andrew T says:
This is currently my phone’s lock screen wallpaper. I’ve seen much black hole art, but none from the edge of the accretion disk. Another one for sci-fi writers. http://www.spacetelescope.org/static/archives/images/screen/heic0409a.jpg
April 4, 2015 — 2:12 AM
Rentalic says:
very useful and thanks for sharing it.
April 4, 2015 — 2:20 AM
jacki perrette says:
Here is a photo of a car seen in the library’s parking lot.
https://jackiperrette.wordpress.com/2015/04/04/radioactive-photo-writing-challenge/
April 4, 2015 — 2:41 AM
ElctrcRngr says:
Are they trying to ward off the government mind signals, or intercept them?
April 4, 2015 — 3:02 AM
jacki perrette says:
Your guess is as good as mine!
I posted more views of the car. I was totally amazed when I walked out of the building and saw it. There was another guy who also took pictures when I did. …and I work there, but was not sure whose car it was.
April 4, 2015 — 3:22 AM
cavalaxis says:
That is the weirdest portable microwave oven I’ve ever seen.
April 7, 2015 — 3:00 AM
john freeter says:
Photo of a soldier during the Salvadorian civil war (1982) by Giovanni Palazzo.
https://instagram.com/p/viqRIFDDBr/
April 4, 2015 — 3:20 AM
ElctrcRngr says:
Now that’s what I call ‘ham’ radio. You work at the library? Arrgh! I am SO green with envy and jealousy!
April 4, 2015 — 4:11 AM
jacki perrette says:
The library is awesome, but it’s also a lot of work – and depending on location, it can be …erm… challenging. The visitors definitely flavor the experience. As you can see, sometimes it’s awesome fun.
April 4, 2015 — 6:40 PM
Miriam Joy says:
Posted mine over on my old Protagonize account, since I don’t use my blog for fiction. Based on the Oberon Is Here image, which I love. 🙂 http://www.protagonize.com/story/oberon-is-here
April 4, 2015 — 9:39 AM
ElctrcRngr says:
I really liked your voice in this story, it has a quirky sense of humor. Very honest and fresh
April 4, 2015 — 5:26 PM
Miriam Joy says:
Thanks 🙂
April 4, 2015 — 5:38 PM
StarNinja says:
That was a lot of fun to read. Overbearing Fairy Kings are always a fun topic to play with 😉
April 5, 2015 — 12:16 PM
Miriam Joy says:
They definitely are. I write a lot about fairies, usually the Irish variety, so I’m always glad of a chance to play around with them. 🙂 Thanks for reading!
April 6, 2015 — 7:29 AM
ashronin says:
Here is a beautiful image from a Japanese Cherry Blossom Tree Path. Horror writers, Hello Kitty might be waiting behind one of those trees with a large butchers knife. 😀
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/cd/7b/0b/cd7b0b3c089e2cdc618df8a34d9516d3.jpg
April 4, 2015 — 11:29 AM
FeetForBrains says:
I give you Oneironaut. It’s late, I’ve probably missed a couple of mistakes. It could be mierda. I’m going to sleep now.
http://feetforbrains.com/2015/04/06/oneironaut/
April 6, 2015 — 3:21 AM
FeetForBrains says:
Ashronin, your picture was worth more than the internationally agreed upon average of a thousand words. I wrote another one. Thanks again for the cherry trees.
http://feetforbrains.com/2015/04/08/mimic/
April 8, 2015 — 11:56 AM
katemcone says:
So, this story kind of came out of left field, but I was inspired by your gorgeous photo! Here’s my story, “Good Intentions” https://katethesape.wordpress.com/2015/04/10/good-intentions-new-flash-fiction-piece/
April 10, 2015 — 10:11 AM
brucearthurs says:
The URL is a little long on this picture (from the local paper/newssite), but it’s seasonally appropriate:
http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/6492f949ddb5e4279dbbb7764f99a3216dbceb74/c=54-0-905-640&r=x513&c=680×510/local/-/media/2015/03/26/Phoenix/Phoenix/635629777376993060-image4.jpeg
April 4, 2015 — 11:46 AM
Mike Berkey says:
Blam! A bit of superhero fiction about bureaucracy and being stuck in a rut, based on the bunny-eared lizard.
http://billionmonkeys.blogspot.com/p/captain-reptile-takes-break.html
April 4, 2015 — 1:18 PM
StarNinja says:
Well, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this entry. Bravo.
Seriously though, Captain Reptile needs her own comic. “Next issue, Captain Reptile vs the W2 Gang!”
April 5, 2015 — 12:08 PM
Leslie says:
Sharing an image of my own in hopes of inspiring something fun!
https://flic.kr/p/cpGseC
April 4, 2015 — 12:00 PM
Periodically Demented says:
Here it is, then. Steampunk Chihuahua. https://p33d33.wordpress.com/2015/04/05/steampunk-chihuahua-v2-of-chuck-wendigs-image-challenge/
I hope you like it, especially because you’re in it. Thanks for the image, it was weirdly inspiring.
April 4, 2015 — 10:07 PM
Mike Berkey says:
And here we go with my image contribution:
https://data.archive.moe/board/tg/image/1335/56/1335567761336.jpg
April 4, 2015 — 1:20 PM
Mike Berkey says:
Also, I’m probably going to buy some Oberon right now because of that picture. Curse you, Wendig, and your temptress ways!
April 4, 2015 — 1:23 PM
joshuamneff says:
Ha! My cat is named Oberon!
https://instagram.com/p/073QcROHU6/
April 4, 2015 — 2:44 PM
David Blackstone (@DavidWriting) says:
Here’s mine. I do so love a dialogue-in-a-diner story.
http://www.agincourtdb.com/2015/04/whom-heaven-earth-and-sea-obey.html
April 4, 2015 — 3:11 PM
Kristin Mireles says:
Wasp-zilla is attacking the city! http://mireles-musings.blogspot.com/2015/04/wasp-zilla.html
April 4, 2015 — 3:18 PM
Periodically Demented says:
https://p33d33.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/waspzilla-chuck-wendig-image-challenge-3/
Multiple warnings: Strong horror warning. Catastrophic injuries warning. Strong violence warning. Environmental disaster warning.
Kristin, you said you wanted nightmares so I hope this delivers a few.
April 5, 2015 — 1:42 PM
addy says:
ok now i am scratching and making sure there are no tiny wasps crawling over me. WHAT THE HELL MAN!!! I AM FREAKING OUT!!!
So yeah mission accomplished. loved it 😀
April 6, 2015 — 4:55 AM
Kristin Mireles says:
Awesome. That part about the babies freaked me the fuck out.
April 10, 2015 — 9:31 PM
poorerdick says:
Awesome picture. I combined it with vlsperry’s picture above to create the following story:
https://poordicks.wordpress.com/2015/04/10/flash-fiction-challenge-radioactive-arthropods-for-everyone/
April 10, 2015 — 11:54 AM
Kristin Mireles says:
Nice.
April 10, 2015 — 9:36 PM
poorerdick says:
Thanks!
April 10, 2015 — 9:38 PM
dangerdean says:
Let’s see if this works.
[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dangerdean/media/423798_10151026252651568_1842193409_n.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/dangerdean/423798_10151026252651568_1842193409_n.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
April 4, 2015 — 3:44 PM
dangerdean says:
Or this, even.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/dangerdean/423798_10151026252651568_1842193409_n.jpg
April 4, 2015 — 3:45 PM
poorerdick says:
I’m sure no one will be looking down here, but…
http://www.imgion.com/images/01/awesome-fire-cat.jpg
Link is fairly self explanatory: awesome fire cat.
April 4, 2015 — 9:22 PM
ElctrcRngr says:
That is pretty awesome
April 5, 2015 — 12:59 AM
jacki perrette says:
I love the fire cat!
April 5, 2015 — 11:20 PM
Mark Gardner says:
I used Chuck’s Oberon image. There’s also an audio narration. https://article94.wordpress.com/2015/04/05/chapter-9-lunacy-part-two/
April 5, 2015 — 9:28 AM
StarNinja says:
Got it at 1000 words exactly! Phew!
http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/dangomez87/1509716/
OBERON IS HERE
April 5, 2015 — 11:26 AM
kylejohnmorgan says:
Really liked the story. I got into it and the reading went by fast. Great tension and a high creepy factor for me.
April 6, 2015 — 6:17 PM
StarNinja says:
Thanks for the read. Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
April 6, 2015 — 7:46 PM
Helen Espinosa says:
Wow, this was a popular one. I was completely inspired by Chuck’s picture, even though I’m not usually inspired by pictures. Here is my take on it called A Fairy’s Lullaby, coming in at 1006 words.
https://helenespinosa.wordpress.com/2015/04/05/flash-fiction-a-fairys-lullaby/
April 5, 2015 — 3:24 PM
Kaye Rumson says:
Here are a couple of images from “Piscina Mirabile” in Campagna (S. Italy). Maybe a vampire lair? http://magistraburke.blogspot.com/2012/08/where-would-vampires-hide-out-in-italy.html
April 5, 2015 — 8:25 PM
Periodically Demented says:
Because puberty and PETA can be tough on vampires, too.
https://p33d33.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/draculas-puberty-chuck-wendigs-image-challenge-4/
April 6, 2015 — 12:11 AM
cavalaxis says:
Oberon’s here, But The Bard’s Gone Fishing: https://cavalaxis.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/but-the-bards-gone-fishing/ (~1330 words)
April 5, 2015 — 10:04 PM