This week, again we will take 20 subgenres. You will pick two from the list either using a d20 or random number generator (or use tea leaves or falcon guts or something), then you will write a short story that mashes up those two subgenres.
This time, you’ll get 1500 words.
This is due by next Friday, noon EST.
Post at your online space.
Link to it in the comments below. So we can all read it!
THE SUBGENRE LIST:
- Haunted House
- Dystopia
- Revenge
- Zombie
- Weird West
- Wuxia
- Body Horror
- Grimdark Fantasy
- Whodunit?
- Military Sci-Fi
- Comic Fantasy
- Technothriller
- Superhero
- Erotica
- Heist / Caper
- Alternate History
- Parallel Universe
- Noir
- Time Travel
- Demonic Possession
Joe Turner says:
Here comes 1500 words of Superhero (13) Noir (18).
May 8, 2015 — 12:12 PM
Writella says:
Yes! I loved this! Completely distracted me from my parental breakfast duties. I hope you will write more – I’m hooked. I can’t wait to see how you treat the other labours.
May 9, 2015 — 11:53 AM
Joe Turner says:
Here be my effort. Some will say I broke the rules, to those I offer a sturdy middle finger.
https://joetblogs.wordpress.com/2015/05/12/terribleminds-flash-fiction-challenge-the-subgenre-boogie/
May 12, 2015 — 6:09 PM
abillyhiggins says:
ZOMBIE EROTICA.
I rolled a 4 and a 14, which means I have to write zombie… erotica?
erotiCA? with zomBIES?
I think I’m going to do this? I guess? Okay? I’ll get to work now?
May 8, 2015 — 12:15 PM
SC Rose says:
LOL!!! OH MY GOSH that’s amazing!
May 8, 2015 — 1:43 PM
Dae says:
Hah, I’m preemptively #noping out on “body horror erotica”….
May 8, 2015 — 3:11 PM
Kaya Jones says:
Well, there’s Cthulhu erotica, so why not zombies. I’m gonna wanna read this…
May 8, 2015 — 3:50 PM
thesexiestwriter says:
I actually got the same combination last year, if you want to see it you can find it on my blog. “Good lovin is all I need” is the name, just scroll down…I don’t think I had anything to look at to compare it to, at least you can see what (doesn’t) work in my story…
May 8, 2015 — 4:14 PM
abillyhiggins says:
Haha, Jesus that’s dark. I didn’t read yours until I’d finished mine, because I didn’t want to be influenced. But I enjoyed what I read. The line, “Nothing in our relationship is healthy,” seems like a bit of an understatement.
May 8, 2015 — 7:39 PM
thesexiestwriter says:
it was one of those “stretch into new territory” pieces. Glad you like it!
May 12, 2015 — 9:43 AM
abillyhiggins says:
Had a lot of fun writing this one. It’s titled, “Zombie Boner Prostitute Heck Yeah!” because I’m classy.
Also, it has this line: “Being waved at by a man with a boner was rarely comforting.”
https://hyperpulp.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/zombie-boner/
May 8, 2015 — 7:08 PM
katemcone says:
You might want to take notes from Tina Belcher on Bob’s Burgers. 😉
May 12, 2015 — 12:14 PM
andreablythe says:
I’ve actually seen a movie like that before. Otto; Or, Up with Dead People has a lot of gay zombie sex in it.
May 13, 2015 — 4:48 PM
Andrew T says:
Comic Fantasy & Time Travel. I’ll see what I can do with that.
Hmm, maybe I’ll call it “Time Bandits”. Oh wait…
May 8, 2015 — 12:17 PM
Jaime O. Mayer says:
I got the bookends…a haunted house with demonic possession. Crap.
May 8, 2015 — 12:38 PM
Killerpuppytails says:
Sounds a bit like the movie Burnt Offerings.
May 8, 2015 — 4:38 PM
William Grit says:
HAHAHA–MAYER. DAMN. I’ll be honest. I’m not good with rules. So, I’ll take a number five, with a side of time travel. Hmm… Well? What am I still doing here? I guess I’ll bust out the fragments, uhm, I mean sentences. Okay. Let me just cut off my tail for a little goblin blood. Don’t worry. My tail always grows back.
(Shit. I don’t have a space. Fuck. I’ll figure it out)
May 8, 2015 — 4:55 PM
JaimeOMayer says:
There was a long moment where I debated re-rolling. Kinda wish I had.
May 11, 2015 — 12:01 AM
poorerdick says:
Isn’t that basically the plot of like 25%+ of every haunted house movie ever?
I think even Evil Dead kinda falls under it.
So… not so bad?
For a positive twist, maybe a haunted house battling a demon possessing a person?
May 8, 2015 — 9:03 PM
JaimeOMayer says:
Thing is, I don’t watch horror movies because, you know, I get horrified. *facepalm. I might try and run with your positive twist. Or bail out. Not sure yet.
May 11, 2015 — 12:00 AM
poorerdick says:
Eh… most Horror isn’t horrifying, or even terrifying.
For something light, you could have some one unknowingly start dating a demon (who was trying to reform/be a better person). However, when the couple comes home, the regular person’s ancestor(s) immediately notice the demon, and attempt to ruin the after date by subtly manipulating the house. (Lots of supernatural elements, no real terror or horror.)
May 11, 2015 — 12:12 PM
JaimeOMayer says:
Oh man, if only I was better at humor writing–there’s some gold to be panned out of that idea.
May 11, 2015 — 5:35 PM
poorerdick says:
Only one way to get good… 😉
May 11, 2015 — 5:36 PM
JaimeOMayer says:
Due to stupid RL priorities, not going to make it beyond the idea stage, but thanks for this challenge Chuck, because I never would’ve come up with an idea like this otherwise. Will content myself reading what everyone else came up with.
May 12, 2015 — 11:00 AM
Pavowski says:
Zombie Whodunit.
It was Graaaargh, in the Blargghhh, with the Flaaaaaaaaaaaaaarg.
May 8, 2015 — 12:51 PM
garethwiscombe says:
I would definitely read this.
May 8, 2015 — 4:33 PM
Nick Vaccaro says:
Could the title please be “Who Ate Jeff?”
May 8, 2015 — 4:49 PM
abillyhiggins says:
Couldn’t the zombie just say who killed him?
“It was Bob, because Bob’s an a-hole and he just wanted to kill something.”
May 8, 2015 — 7:10 PM
poorerdick says:
But what if the zombie was murdered – from behind! What if the zombie is trying to solve his or her own murder, having only risen during his or her funeral service?
Of course, that would also be a great place to call out your murderer, if you already knew – especially if no one knew you were a zombie (and just thought you were dead). Bob leans over to pretend to mourn, and the zombie grabs Bob. While the zombie is yelling out the accusations, chaos ensues.
May 8, 2015 — 9:00 PM
poorerdick says:
Honestly, this makes me think of iZombie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3501584/).
May 8, 2015 — 8:57 PM
Pavowski says:
I had so many ideas for this, including some of the hilarious thoughts suggested by you guys… but I just couldn’t get away from my first impression.
I recall reading an Agatha Christie novel in my youth, and I am certain it was nothing like this.
Here’s “Dead Obvious”: https://pavorisms.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/dead-obvious/
May 10, 2015 — 12:02 AM
Mr Hall says:
“It was Graaaargh, in the Blargghhh, with the Flaaaaaaaaaaaaaarg.” This actually had me laughing at work. I best get to reading the actual story.
September 30, 2015 — 9:46 AM
Pavowski says:
Awesome. I loved writing that story. I maybe laughed more than I should’ve when I wrote that little blurb.
September 30, 2015 — 1:51 PM
Arlana K says:
Body Horror and Comic Fantasy. Really? This’ll be interesting…
May 8, 2015 — 12:58 PM
Silena says:
Zombie parallel Universe…. Hmmmmm….
May 8, 2015 — 1:03 PM
mannixk says:
Haunted House/Parallel Universe…fun!
May 8, 2015 — 1:14 PM
Carl says:
Parallel Universe – Technothriller, or as they used to call it on Fox, Fringe.
May 8, 2015 — 1:37 PM
Nick Nafpliotis (@NickNafster79) says:
Can we use stale cheese and pidgeon cuts to choose our subject?
May 8, 2015 — 2:05 PM
thesexiestwriter says:
technothriller noir? sheesh
May 8, 2015 — 4:18 PM
Shannon Haddock says:
Comic fantasy/technothriller. Why do I get the feeling there’s probably a Discworld book that already covered this ground?
May 8, 2015 — 2:10 PM
Shannon Haddock says:
Well, I did my best. “The Scepter of Poultrini”: http://sblog.universal-nexus.com/short-story-the-scepter-of-poultrini
May 14, 2015 — 11:52 AM
stephenc says:
Weird West and Comic Fantasy. Gonna git-r-done.
May 8, 2015 — 2:23 PM
Stephen Crawford says:
Here’s “The Cactus Ogre”. If anyone is still reading, I hope you enjoy it. Tried to add a little humor to it and thought it was funny.
May 14, 2015 — 10:27 PM
Stephen Crawford says:
Link: http://arcader.tumblr.com/post/118994212688/the-cactus-ogre-5-8-15
May 14, 2015 — 11:31 PM
katemcone says:
It is funny, and the dialogue is so natural! Great job! I really enjoyed this one.
May 15, 2015 — 2:02 PM
garethwiscombe says:
Zombie/Wuxia seems like fun. Didn’t roll a 14 so I’m happy.
Am I going to break anything if I swap out Wuxia for Jidai Geki?
May 8, 2015 — 2:28 PM
Whit Richardson (@whit_richardson) says:
Grimdark fantasy and Military sci-fi…. right up my alley!
May 8, 2015 — 2:29 PM
jack lee taylor says:
Revenge / Body Horror. Beer me.
May 8, 2015 — 4:03 PM
thesexiestwriter says:
technothriller noir? sheesh
May 8, 2015 — 4:19 PM
poorerdick says:
At least you didn’t roll a 14…
May 8, 2015 — 9:06 PM
Nick Vaccaro says:
So it’s 1500 words of demonic possession erotica? Easy to say I’ll be going way out of my comfort zone.
May 8, 2015 — 4:45 PM
StarNinja says:
Heist/caper Technothriller?
Can anyone say: Moon Bank Robbery? 😉
(And yes, that was a painfully obscure Role Playing Public Radio reference. +20 million golden credits for those who got it)
May 8, 2015 — 7:14 PM
StarNinja says:
Here it is. The Hanged Men.
http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/dangomez87/1531532/
May 9, 2015 — 7:24 PM
JaimeOMayer says:
Disneyland for mercenaries…lolz. There’s a place I would visit.
May 12, 2015 — 12:27 PM
StarNinja says:
I know right? 😉
May 13, 2015 — 12:25 PM
Matthew Elkin says:
1500 words set in a dystopian weird (wild?) west. Should be a fun first time taking the challenge.
May 8, 2015 — 7:19 PM
Kristin Mireles says:
Techno Thriller Body Horror! Oh yes — there will be blood!
May 8, 2015 — 8:39 PM
Kristin Mireles says:
On a random note, Benny Benassi’s “Satisfaction” just came on my audio player. Seems appropriate. I’m already compiling my soundtrack. (Also, an old episode of the Aeon Flux cartoon just came to mind!)
May 8, 2015 — 8:44 PM
Kristin Mireles says:
In addition to blood, I also added pus and decaying flesh. Please do enjoy!
The Rising Cost of Curiosity
http://mireles-musings.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-rising-cost-of-curiosity_12.html
May 12, 2015 — 3:42 PM
Jennifer Mack says:
Grimdark fantasy revenge, this might be fun.
May 8, 2015 — 8:52 PM
Mozette says:
Okay… there’s Parallel Universes and Time Travel.
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/the-other-me.html
Enjoy!
May 8, 2015 — 9:07 PM
SamKD says:
I like this concept lots.
May 14, 2015 — 12:45 PM
Silicon says:
Weird West and Grimdark Fantasy … I don’t write wild westerns but dude, I might have to do this.
Thank Cthulhu I didn’t get Erotica, lol. I don’t even write ROMANCE. My characters have such lovely platonic lives. One day I have to get over that writing hurdle lol.
May 8, 2015 — 9:56 PM
Ebonstorm says:
Wuxia and Alternate History – A tale of Mythic Qin:
The sun rose over Wu Bay province and the rice fields were full and green, terraces overflowing with bounty. Only the encroaching thunderstorm on the opposite horizon spoke of an ominous change by midday.
A farmer sat on a rock, his wide brimmed hat tipped forward blocking the rising sun. His coat was long and thick keeping out most of the morning chill, but its tattered edges spoke of a long relationship with the tiny man beneath its folds.
Wooden clogs cover the bottom of his feet raising them out of the mud on the edge of the road where he sat on a stone looking eastward. He reached into his coat and pulled out a rice ball wrapped in waxed paper. He slowly and methodically unwraps it, as if it were a ritual, performed with reverence, for no one in particular.
He bit the ball of slightly sweetened rice and inhaled its fragrance. It still smelled of the field of its birth, redolent with earthy scents…jasmine high on the hills over the farm, its scent passing through the rice, on its way down into the valley below.
The farmer heard the man approaching long before he saw him.
A giant, whose footfalls, were as thunder on this tiny road, his every step leaving a crater of mud surrounding each foot.
He wore wooden armor, painted lacquer, a fiery red with persimmon flowers, tiny yellow buds, decorated it in bold swirls. His arms and legs were uncovered and showed massive thews flexing powerfully in the morning sun. He wore armored gloves and boots, of a matching blood red, which shimmered with their own sinister light.
http://hubcityblues.com/2013/03/28/strong-wind-here/
May 8, 2015 — 10:02 PM
Savannah Bard says:
Alternate history/Revenge!
May 8, 2015 — 11:30 PM
Rachel says:
Weird West & Body Horror. This could be interesting.
May 8, 2015 — 11:45 PM
T. Jane Berry says:
I rolled Zombie Noir.
Here is my take on it, “The Rest of Them”:
http://blog.tjaneberry.com/2015/05/the-rest-of-them.html
May 9, 2015 — 1:23 AM
JaimeOMayer says:
Whoa, wasn’t expecting that ending.
May 12, 2015 — 12:40 PM
SamKD says:
This is terrific!
May 14, 2015 — 1:03 PM
Christopher says:
That was great!
May 15, 2015 — 4:56 AM
katemcone says:
I loved this!!! (Especially the entrance at the beginning, it made me laugh, and the ending)
May 15, 2015 — 2:11 PM
percykerry923 says:
Dystopia and Body Horror. Shit. I’m so lost.
May 9, 2015 — 4:30 AM
Rachel E. Bailey says:
I first two numbers I initially got were both eighteen, from the random numbers generator I chose. So I went to the third number, and that was six. So I wrote six and eighteen, noir and wuxia.
Without further ado, here is, “The Pot”: http://rachelebfiction.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-pot.html
May 9, 2015 — 9:19 AM
Matthew William says:
Alternate History Parallel Universe… seriously? I wonder what the other versions of me got.
May 9, 2015 — 11:50 AM
the story hive says:
Whodunit?/demonic posession. Hmmm, musical chair interrogation game with good’ol Legion. With what would you kill a Leviathan anyway… So many questions.
May 9, 2015 — 4:15 PM
Jemima Pett says:
Weird West and Comic Fantasy… Yee-hah!!!!
May 9, 2015 — 5:19 PM
Jemima Pett says:
I nearly forgot to post the link. This was a bit of a struggle, but I think it is weird, west and fantasy… you’ll have to judge the comic for yourselves 🙂
http://jemimapett.com/blog/2015/05/15/flash-fiction-friday-land-of-the-free/
May 15, 2015 — 6:05 AM
StarNinja says:
Here it is. The Hanged Men.
http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/dangomez87/1531532/
May 9, 2015 — 7:25 PM
stranger says:
I got Grimdark Fantasy (8) and Noir (18), sadly I had quite a full week. But I’ll try this one out sometime in the future.
May 10, 2015 — 12:57 AM
Stormy says:
Noir plus Zombie. Perf.
May 10, 2015 — 1:53 AM
jmvandenberg says:
I got dystopia/superhero. Sounds like fun. Here are my 1500 words. Enjoy. http://www.wattpad.com/story/39496370-the-blood-drainer-strikes-again
May 10, 2015 — 2:54 PM
William Grit says:
I’m not posting it… But composing a poorly written story about prostitutes and embezzlement was a hoot. Nevertheless: that got me writing.
May 10, 2015 — 5:26 PM
shelton keys dunning says:
That does sound like a hoot. But at least you’re writing right? No words are ever wasted.
May 13, 2015 — 12:58 PM
My Life Sentenced says:
Just saw you are writing a new Star Wars book. Super Stoked to read it!
May 10, 2015 — 6:53 PM
Allison Maruska says:
I got dystopia and erotica. So…yeah.
http://allisonmaruska.com/2015/05/10/flash-fiction-geiger-hoops/
May 11, 2015 — 12:34 AM
thebespectaledpen says:
So I broke the rules a little and chose the two genres that kind of stuck out to me: Heist/Caper and Time Travel…. A little nervous here.
May 11, 2015 — 10:22 AM
sheltonkeysdunning says:
Okay this might show up twice. The first attempt to link up disappeared on me. I definitely need more coffee.
Haunted Houses and Time Travel brings me here:
http://sheltonkeysdunning.blogspot.com/2015/05/five-timelines-and-ghost.html
May 11, 2015 — 1:44 PM
Henry says:
I’ve got Comic Fantasy and a Whodunit. I’m pretty sure I’ve got at least one of those. The other, well, you’ll have to read it and tell me.
http://fistfulofwits.com/2015/05/11/flash-fiction-mustnt-bother-mummy/
May 11, 2015 — 8:37 PM
katemcone says:
I enjoyed this — I laughed at the last part. I think you succeeded in a solid mash-up. Great job!
May 15, 2015 — 2:16 PM
BurningHeron says:
Weird West and Demonic Possession. I might already have a seed of an idea for this, something about how on the frontier, there’s a link between physical and moral survival.
May 12, 2015 — 1:05 AM
Regan Adler says:
I got 10 and 14 randomly. I ended up going just a little over, keeping it under 1500 words is difficult, but I’m happy with how my Military Sci-Fi/Erotica turned out. 🙂 http://www.wattpad.com/128575632-pinned-down-mission-position
May 12, 2015 — 9:03 AM
katemcone says:
Demonic Possession/Superhero. Perfect. *cracks knuckles*
May 12, 2015 — 12:17 PM
katemcone says:
https://katethesape.wordpress.com/2015/05/15/done-deal-new-flash-fiction/ So here’s mine, an hour late and 500 words over. I’m pretty happy with it, though.
May 15, 2015 — 12:53 PM
Sophie G. says:
Whodunit Superhero, my gods this is going to be hilarious.
May 12, 2015 — 6:17 PM