This one’s pretty easy: click this link for a random phrase, and then take that random phrase and use it inside a piece of flash fiction that you write.
Simplicity personified.
You have the standard 1000 words, which you should post at your online site and — upon completion — link back here so we can all read it. This is due by Friday the 24th, noon EST.
That’s it.
Getcha random phrase.
Writecha story.
Huzzah.
Sam Phillips says:
Snarled Lupin eh? Bring it on…
July 17, 2015 — 3:53 AM
addy says:
sounds like a harry potter fan fic….
July 17, 2015 — 8:11 AM
Sam Phillips says:
Less a harry potter fan fic… more the worst job ever! Snarled lupins a plenty in “The 82nd floor”.
http://idreamofgypsies.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/the-82nd-floor.html
July 21, 2015 — 7:37 AM
addy says:
Loved it. It was very amusing 😀
July 23, 2015 — 1:52 AM
Sam Phillips says:
Thanks addy! 🙂
July 23, 2015 — 3:19 AM
Joe Turner says:
Hurtful Liberalization (Liberalisation! – sorry, I’m British).
July 17, 2015 — 4:20 AM
SamKD says:
Hmm….”beneficiary brawl” has potential.
For kinetic (ie completed) energy I offer a non-TerribleMinds flash: http://samkdsonlinepace.blogspot.com/2015/07/bear-and-oboe-1.html#!/2015/07/bear-and-oboe-1.html
July 17, 2015 — 8:03 AM
Mozette says:
The Bereaved Sneaker… I thought to use it in my title… dunno if that’s cheating or not… don’t care… but I wrote it like this. 😀
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/the-bereaved-sneaker.html
July 17, 2015 — 9:00 AM
Anna says:
Wow, you got a tough one. I liked what you did with it:)
July 18, 2015 — 10:35 AM
Mozette says:
Thanks Anna… I thought it was a good challenge. And to get into the mind of a sneaker was fun. 😀
July 18, 2015 — 7:32 PM
K.J. says:
prickliest hoarder….do they hoard cacti? 🙂
July 17, 2015 — 9:55 AM
Kristin Mireles (@kristinmireles) says:
Hoarders can become quite prickly when you try to move their stuff.
July 17, 2015 — 2:48 PM
ryanjamesblack says:
Inauspicious blitz…..ok
July 17, 2015 — 10:18 AM
Lightningstar says:
I got glib ewe. Interesting…
July 17, 2015 — 10:32 AM
TooManyJens says:
“throwaway buckling”
…I’m going to need to think about this.
July 17, 2015 — 10:35 AM
Mark Gardner says:
I ended up with Intrepid Discourtesy. Here’s 890 words for y’all (or should I say y’unz since Chuck is back in PA?): http://wp.me/p4le2s-WZ
July 17, 2015 — 11:25 AM
Mark Gardner says:
Looks like the comment spam thing is working overtime. It ate my first attempt.
I ended up with Intrepid Discourtesy. Here’s 890 words for y’all (or should I say y’unz since Chuck is back in PA?): http://article94.wordpress.com/2015/07/17/intrepid-discourtesy/
July 17, 2015 — 11:27 AM
Ridley Kemp says:
Nicely twisted. You got a lot of atmosphere into a very tight story and I dug where you went with it.
And it’s “y’all”…always “y’all.” 😉
July 22, 2015 — 12:46 AM
mannixk says:
Creepy Saucepan. 🙂
July 17, 2015 — 12:32 PM
SamKD says:
Ooh I like that one! Will enjoy seeing where you take it.
July 17, 2015 — 1:47 PM
Maureen says:
I got ‘unoriginal celibate’, which sounds like a great insult and has made me giggle every time I clicked onto the tab in the last couple hours.
July 17, 2015 — 1:10 PM
sheltonkeysdunning says:
Ha! I got “antic displacement” and the first thing I thought of was Hamlet putting on an antic disposition. I believe a comedy of errors is called for…
July 17, 2015 — 1:28 PM
parallaxduality says:
grisly calligraphy . . .whew. . .for a second I thought bears had learned to write
July 17, 2015 — 1:48 PM
TooManyJens says:
Oh, ‘grisly calligraphy’ could be good!
July 17, 2015 — 4:58 PM
parallaxduality says:
Ya. . .it has a certain snap to it. . . writing the story now
July 18, 2015 — 10:18 AM
katemcone says:
“meek clove” — sounds like I’ll be pairing my usual urban fantasy with a cooking show…
July 17, 2015 — 2:36 PM
Kristin Mireles (@kristinmireles) says:
Nice!
July 17, 2015 — 2:49 PM
Kristin Mireles (@kristinmireles) says:
Forensic souring. I wrote this rather quickly.
http://mireles-musings.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-corruption-of-things-things-which.html
July 17, 2015 — 2:43 PM
rhythmandcrime says:
Your story is full of wonderful prose and a really great reminder. You managed to capture an excellent and frighteningly realistic flow of time. Very enjoyable!
July 18, 2015 — 4:29 PM
Ridley Kemp says:
Very cool-you stuck the landing on that one.
July 22, 2015 — 12:42 AM
Mozette says:
I put mine up the top, but it says ‘Awaiting moderation’ … not sure what that means… and that was last night. It’s still there… so here it is again.
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/the-bereaved-sneaker.html
July 17, 2015 — 8:15 PM
Ridley Kemp says:
I had no clue where you were going with this. After reading it, it was both obvious (because, in retrospect, where else was it going to go?) and still surprising and fun. You got a little tug of the heartstrings at the end.
July 22, 2015 — 12:41 AM
Mozette says:
Thanks Ridley. 😀 I based the characters on real people too… my niece, my brother and his girlfriend… 😀
July 22, 2015 — 9:41 PM
dontgetitrightgetitwritten says:
“Kaki schoolboy.” Looks like I have my villain.
July 17, 2015 — 9:53 PM
Lawerence Hawkins (@peregondusoir) says:
“Vaporized prickle” – A lucky pick, considering how easily that translates to poison. Which just happened.
http://apromptripost.com/post/124372689499/the-cruel-thorn
Note: This is part of an ongoing series through July – feel free to prompt me as I go on.
July 17, 2015 — 10:47 PM
ryanjamesblack says:
My phrase was ‘inauspicious blitz’…After looking up ‘inauspicious’ in the dictionary, I busted out this ridiculous fantasy tale….
http://ryanjamesblack.com/2015/07/18/inauspicious-blitz/
July 17, 2015 — 11:29 PM
wordsavant says:
Hi Ryan, I clicked on your link but got an error message. Love fantasy and would like to read what you wrote.
July 22, 2015 — 4:01 PM
JQ Davis says:
“Consolidated naughtiness” This gave me trouble. Finally came up with an idea; haven’t had time to write yet. (Caught in the big box retail employment maze.) Should have something by the end of the weekend.
July 18, 2015 — 1:13 AM
Kristin Mireles (@kristinmireles) says:
Sounds like really efficient group sex.
July 18, 2015 — 2:24 AM
JQ Davis says:
That’s what took me so long to get a workable idea; it sounds like erotica. Not a genre I can/will write in. Took a while to get past that construct and on to something I could use.
July 18, 2015 — 12:03 PM
parallaxduality says:
LOL see. . .I saw it and thought of an elf rebellion corporate takeover movement against Santa
July 18, 2015 — 1:50 PM
JQ Davis says:
Yeah, my husband immediately thought of nefarious doings at the North Pole, while Santa was distracted by the annual hockey game: Goodness United vs. Consolidated Naughtiness. Apparently, not only am I much darker than I realize, I have a smutty mind. LOL
July 19, 2015 — 2:09 AM
Anna says:
Yay, I’m thrilled we got a flash fiction challenge this week! Thanks, Chuck, these are so much fun:)
Here’s my story: I got “illusory needlework.” This went to a weird place, but most of my stories do, for some reason…
http://strangeandcuriousthings.blogspot.fi/2015/07/terribleminds-chalenge-random-phrase.html
July 18, 2015 — 10:25 AM
JQ Davis says:
Nice. Definitely makes me curious about the backstory
July 21, 2015 — 5:47 PM
Ridley Kemp says:
Nicely paced. I struggle with hitting the beats in stories this short and this one hopped nicely without feeling like it was rushing.
July 22, 2015 — 12:39 AM
Sam Phillips says:
Really liked it anna
July 23, 2015 — 10:21 AM
ryanjamesblack says:
Hmmm…something ain’t workin’…..try again…..My phrase was ‘inauspicious blitz’…After looking up ‘inauspicious’ in the dictionary, I busted out this ridiculous fantasy tale….
http://ryanjamesblack.com/2015/07/18/inauspicious-blitz/
July 18, 2015 — 10:31 AM
parallaxduality says:
Ok. . .here is my stab at “Grisly Calligraphy”. . .It’s called Masterpiece
http://dswilliams.com/2015/07/18/flash-fiction-random-phrase/
July 18, 2015 — 11:54 AM
rhythmandcrime says:
Great challenge.
“Stormier Truism”
Had time so I hit it.
https://rhythmandcrime.wordpress.com/2015/07/18/flash-fiction-stormier-truism/
July 18, 2015 — 3:01 PM
Paz Spera says:
Cool story!
July 20, 2015 — 10:48 PM
rhythmandcrime says:
Thank you for taking the time to read it!
July 22, 2015 — 12:38 AM
Ridley Kemp says:
Nice, very nice. I love your attention to little details and, in this genre, giving the reader hints at where you’re heading adds to the punch.
July 22, 2015 — 12:50 AM
rhythmandcrime says:
Thank you for reading and making those detail-y comments. Really appreciated. So, on your piece…Where is it?
July 22, 2015 — 9:51 PM
rhythmandcrime says:
found it! Must have been looking at another post. Will stop taking regular stupid pills.
July 22, 2015 — 10:11 PM
Jemima Pett says:
Edgier hamster… sounds right up my street!
July 18, 2015 — 4:48 PM
Jemima Pett says:
Had to fit it in with my other challenge Fiction in Fifty (words) this week… but it’s here in about two hours. http://jemimapett.com/blog/2015/07/24/friday-flash-⌗fi50-public-enemy-number-one/
July 23, 2015 — 5:47 PM
rhythmandcrime says:
Seeing if I can evade terminal moderation…
Great challenge.
“Stormier Truism”
Had time so I hit it.
https://rhythmandcrime.wordpress.com/2015/07/18/flash-fiction-stormier-truism/
July 18, 2015 — 7:54 PM
ashramswithinanut says:
“Thawed openness.”
Looks easy enough. Let’s see.
July 18, 2015 — 9:26 PM
Anna says:
Okay… Mine hasn’t shown up yet, either. “Illusory needlework,” attempt number two.
http://strangeandcuriousthings.blogspot.fi/2015/07/terribleminds-chalenge-random-phrase.html
July 19, 2015 — 1:59 AM
jack lee taylor says:
I like this!
July 20, 2015 — 3:10 PM
Pavowski says:
“Perfectionist Raft” led to this bit of survivalist horror.
“Island Fever” is here: http://accidentallyinspired.com/2015/07/19/island-fever/
July 19, 2015 — 7:02 AM
SamKD says:
Like!
July 20, 2015 — 9:23 AM
rhythmandcrime says:
Yeah. This was very cool. Fresh take on the exercise. And well done turning what could have been a light romp through manic nautical academia and turning the dark to 11.
July 20, 2015 — 6:35 PM
Pavowski says:
lol. With the manic nautical academia as a given, a hard left had to be taken somewhere…
July 20, 2015 — 7:01 PM
jack lee taylor says:
This was great! Want to know what happens next. Poor mail order bride.
July 21, 2015 — 6:46 PM
wordsavant says:
Great story!
July 22, 2015 — 8:42 PM
parallaxduality says:
seems my first post was eaten up. . . Ok. . .here is my stab at “Grisly Calligraphy”. . .It’s called Masterpiece
http://dswilliams.com/2015/07/18/flash-fiction-random-phrase/
July 19, 2015 — 10:42 AM
rhythmandcrime says:
That was an exceptionally clever read! Evil at its most enjoyable.
July 20, 2015 — 1:19 PM
aproposcrouse says:
I got “enterprising worshiper” and the following link is where my mind went:
http://apropossomething.com/2015/07/19/piety-square/
July 19, 2015 — 8:24 PM
the oncoming spork says:
“Abortive carpenter…” Okay then! 😀
https://apostrophobic.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/the-trees/
July 19, 2015 — 11:01 PM
Allison Maruska says:
What an imaginative story! I want to know what the other seed is.
July 20, 2015 — 6:56 PM
jack lee taylor says:
“Complimentary basin”
Hope you like it.
http://jackleetaylor.com/2015/07/20/complimentary-basin/
July 20, 2015 — 2:57 PM
jack lee taylor says:
(spam moderator got me – will try again)
“Complimentary basin”
Hope you like it.
http://jackleetaylor.com/2015/07/20/complimentary-basin/
July 20, 2015 — 4:09 PM
Allison Maruska says:
I got “seventy interlocking.” I’m not sure what to call it – a romance, maybe?
http://allisonmaruska.com/2015/07/20/flash-fiction-mr-cole/
July 20, 2015 — 6:38 PM
Matthew X. Gomez says:
All right. I ended up with “framed torturing.” As always, comments welcome.
https://mxgomez.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/price-of-doing-business-a-chuck-wendig-challenge/
July 20, 2015 — 9:18 PM
wildbilbo says:
Ugh. I got two words that have prompted a story idea… That has the potential to really be terrible. I need to think about whether I’m actually going to write this.
July 20, 2015 — 10:25 PM
grahamwrites says:
“Notched Gynaecology” – I ask you. A random as well as twisted phrase generator. Here’s the randomly twisted result: “Phantom Birth” https://grahamwrites.wordpress.com/2015/07/21/flash-fiction-phantom-birth-graham-stewart-2015/
July 21, 2015 — 1:25 PM
Paz Spera says:
Twisted indeed, great story!
July 21, 2015 — 10:40 PM
Ridley Kemp says:
“Sustainable Greediness”
Difficulty level: No reference to Ayn Rand
The problem is, while I would love to write about this for days on end, but it’s not really a fiction title, is it? Four drafts and several edits later,I’m pretty sure the answer is “no.”
http://www.ridleykemp.com/stories/2015/7/20/sustainable-greediness
July 21, 2015 — 4:28 PM
SamKD says:
Like the way your mind works.
July 22, 2015 — 8:45 AM
Ridley Kemp says:
Thank you.
July 22, 2015 — 2:51 PM
JQ Davis says:
Took a while. Only 680 words. Not sure happened there. https://thatsalotofhats.wordpress.com/2015/07/21/tooth-fairy-flash-fiction-challenge/
July 21, 2015 — 5:35 PM
RAFinley says:
“A wonderful use of only 680 words” is what happened there. Loved it.
July 23, 2015 — 12:47 AM
JQ Davis says:
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
July 23, 2015 — 6:59 AM
ashramswithinanut says:
So visual! Loved it – thanks for sharing.
July 24, 2015 — 2:06 AM
JQ Davis says:
Thanks for reading it.:)
July 24, 2015 — 2:13 AM
Mila says:
Antagonizing shotgun
This will be interesting
July 21, 2015 — 7:00 PM
Mila says:
I got Antagonizing Shotgun.
This should be interesting.
July 21, 2015 — 9:10 PM