Today’s challenge is deceptively simple.
Your story must include a dragon.
OKAY THERE YOU GO BYE
wait hold on don’t leave.
There’s more.
You might be saying, “But I don’t want to write fantasy.”
Okay, so what does a dragon in science-fiction look like?
And I’d encourage you to think outside the scaled, fire-charred box. Who said the dragon has to be a literal dragon? What about a serial killer called the Dragon? An MMA fighter or wrestler? The name of a boat or spacecraft? The name of a disease? In fact, I’d encourage you to think beyond the literal here as much as you can. Get creative.
How do you include a dragon that isn’t really a dragon?
You have, mmm, let’s say 2000 words.
Due by Friday, April 8th, noon EST.
Post at your online space.
Link back here.
Behold the dragon.
ooakthistle says:
Super excited for this as you can tell from the name of my blog!
April 1, 2016 — 9:20 AM
Pavowski says:
Insert obligatory “chasing the dragon” joke here.
April 1, 2016 — 9:31 AM
conniejjasperson says:
Oddly enough, I had this post scheduled for today. I hope it qualifies.
The Iron Dragon
http://wp.me/p1pa44-1Ya
April 1, 2016 — 9:44 AM
Rob says:
Here is one that I wrote for another Flash Fiction challenge a while back; it has a dragon angle so voila! http://www.roblaman.com/?p=107k
April 1, 2016 — 10:01 AM
thesexiestwriter says:
Woot! More fun stuff to write about!
April 1, 2016 — 11:27 AM
Carl says:
Finally a chance to write some Captain & Tennille fanfic.
April 1, 2016 — 12:35 PM
Liz says:
Urgh … I got nothing, I’ll come back if I find some dragon-inspiration … somewhere, somehow!
April 1, 2016 — 1:47 PM
Mark Gardner says:
Therin Knite did an excellent sci-fi dragon in the first book of her Echoes series. It’s definitely worth checking out.
April 1, 2016 — 2:34 PM
Mark Gardner says:
It looks as if Echoes, by Therin Knite is free on Amazon, April 2 & 3. Awesome scifi dragon there.
April 2, 2016 — 9:55 PM
Mark Gardner says:
Here’s my response to the prompt:
https://article94.wordpress.com/2016/04/01/dragons/
It’s a continuation of the YA serial I’m working on, Mental State.
April 1, 2016 — 4:20 PM
Beth Turnage says:
Thinking inside the box, (unusual for me) is a short piece about a dragon. Departure–A Dragons’s Drama~http://bethturnage.com/?p=669
April 1, 2016 — 4:42 PM
Beth Turnage says:
http://bethturnage.com/?p=669
April 1, 2016 — 4:43 PM
glenavailable says:
We should enter the dragon? Someone had to say it.
April 1, 2016 — 6:43 PM
thisdamkid says:
https://itsthesedamnkids.wordpress.com/2016/04/02/dragon/ This is what I’ve got! Way under the word limit though…
April 1, 2016 — 9:04 PM
ooakthistle says:
Traditional fantasy dragons. The friendly sort. Well, mostly.
https://betheredragons.wordpress.com/2016/04/01/dragon-fire/
April 1, 2016 — 9:26 PM
Raney Simmon says:
Okay, I’ve just finished mine! So since this month is National Poetry Month, I decided to do a poem about dragons. https://vookthevook.wordpress.com/2016/04/01/flash-fiction-challenge-dragons/ I hope you all enjoy it! 🙂
April 1, 2016 — 9:29 PM
Mozette says:
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/armageddon.html
Howdy doodily neighbours near and far! Hope you enjoy mine.. it’s kinda personal. Yes, I’ve seen a shrink, no my dragon isn’t getting the better of me.
April 1, 2016 — 10:05 PM
dcxli says:
Wrote this as a continuation, but it stands on its own. My version of a dragon:
https://dcxli.wordpress.com/2016/04/02/the-dragon/
April 3, 2016 — 2:18 AM
folkool says:
I’M SORRY. I went over the word limit, so I lose. This story needs a few more drafts, but I’m pretty happy with the first one. It ended at 2574 words and I know I lose so I’m sorry but here’s the link:
https://happymasquerade.wordpress.com/2016/04/04/the-testimony/
April 3, 2016 — 10:54 PM
mariceljimenez says:
I loved it! Rocking that first draft.
April 5, 2016 — 6:11 PM
Krishnaa Lakshmanan says:
Very gripping story! *high-fives for crossing the word limit as well* Mine just crossed 3,000 😛
April 8, 2016 — 7:29 AM
Liz says:
My dragon-ish story! Sorry I did what I could! 🙂 https://themadtypewriter.wordpress.com/2016/04/04/flash-fiction-challenge-the-dragon/
April 4, 2016 — 6:21 AM
Josh Neff says:
A story inspired by a book I loved as a kid:
http://www.goblin-cartoons.com/2016/04/04/the-dragon-in-the-box/
April 4, 2016 — 10:17 AM
Matthew X. Gomez says:
Got it: Dawn Over Apep.
https://mxgomez.wordpress.com/2016/04/05/dawn-over-apep-a-chuck-wendig-challenge/
April 5, 2016 — 10:29 AM
Mel says:
Wheeeeeeee. Loved doing this one. Prepare for not-dragons!
http://melodyklink.com/2016/04/05/flash-fiction-time-bard-girl-press/
April 5, 2016 — 4:09 PM
mariceljimenez says:
Finally I did one of your challenges Chuck! Dragons are right up my alley. Bear with me, I wrote this at the office. It is the one and only draft. BTW, the title is inspired by a real place from back in college years.
https://mariceljimenez.wordpress.com/2016/04/05/the-dragons-den/
April 5, 2016 — 5:18 PM
Mel says:
Love this one! I felt like I was really there. Well done!
April 5, 2016 — 8:28 PM
Kristin Mireles (@kristinmireles) says:
I came up with something really insane, and I hope I’ll be able to fit it into 2K words! Here goes nothing!
April 6, 2016 — 10:01 AM
Adam Hughes says:
I “Fell” while completing this challenge …
http://adamhugheswriter.com/fell/
April 6, 2016 — 7:11 PM
Krishnaa Lakshmanan says:
https://medium.com/@krishnaa/dragonsoul-59ebc4c938da
My first attempt at flash fiction, so it could be a load of nonsense, for all I know. I went way over the word limit, though, just touching 3,000 words. So I lose! Mainly because I didn’t have ANY idea where I was heading until I was some 1,500 words in.
April 7, 2016 — 8:03 AM
Helen Espinosa says:
I haven’t participated in a while, but this one hooked me. Here’s my submission, coming in just over 1800 words: https://helenespinosa.wordpress.com/2016/04/07/flash-fiction-the-dragons-realm-finale/
April 7, 2016 — 9:12 AM
Krishnaa Lakshmanan says:
I like it! The premise is pretty interesting.
April 8, 2016 — 1:00 AM
ToniJ says:
Haven’t done one of these in too long, but I got one today. https://tonij.com/2016/04/07/fang-and-fire/
April 7, 2016 — 11:37 PM
annwjwhite says:
https://whiteawjwords.wordpress.com/2016/04/08/the-nursing-home-or-discussing-with-dragons/
The Nursing Home, or Discussing with Dragons
By Ann WJ White
I’m really excited to have found your writings, Mr. Wendig. You make being a writer and reader a lot of fun.
April 8, 2016 — 12:54 AM
Rebecca Douglass says:
My non-fantasy dragon story will go live in a couple of hours:
http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2016/04/friday-flash-here-be-dragons.html
April 8, 2016 — 1:11 AM
Becky Munyon (@BeckyMunyon) says:
Inspiration struck today, so I did not have the time I would’ve liked to edit, but here it is, and slightly longer than it’s supposed to be. (2800)
http://beckymunyon.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-dragons-lair-short-story.html
April 8, 2016 — 1:44 AM
Krishnaa Lakshmanan says:
Unexpected ending, but I liked it! 🙂
April 8, 2016 — 10:54 PM
Melinda Davis says:
Here we go. Right on time. http://theshinysquirreldiaries.blogspot.com/2016/04/a-specific-sense.html
April 8, 2016 — 7:44 AM
VikingPowerKen says:
I hope this good
https://www.wattpad.com/242352089-the-dragon-inside
April 8, 2016 — 7:58 AM
VikingPowerKen says:
*is
sorry..
April 8, 2016 — 7:58 AM
Anupama Dhamala says:
Yaay! Last minute submission 😀
http://infinityunfurls.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-dragon-charmer-act-1-kalpana-breaks.html
April 8, 2016 — 11:20 AM
auranupama says:
correct link here http://infinityunfurls.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-dragon-charmer-act-1-kalpana-breaks_8.html
April 9, 2016 — 12:38 AM
swordsoftheancients says:
It’s a short one, and just at the deadline, but here it is.
https://swordsoftheancients.wordpress.com/2016/04/08/the-dragon/
April 8, 2016 — 11:58 AM
karen j carlisle says:
Dang, missed this post but strangely had just finished writing a (longish) short story about just this – a ‘dragon’. 🙂
April 17, 2016 — 9:30 PM