It is one of the greatest websites in the history of sited webs.
You will go there. You will click on the link. It will give you an awesome pairing of two characters (I just got HE’S A BISEXUAL SCIENTIST WHO BELIEVES HE CAN NEVER LOVE AGAIN and SHE’S A PARANOID MAGICIAN’S ASSISTANT WITH HER OWN DAYTIME TV SHOW, which is really just amazing). You will take these two characters and put them in a story together.
I don’t really care so much that they actually fight crime.
You can have that as a basis, but mostly, I’m just looking to see these characters interact.
So, do that.
Length: ~1500 words
Due by: May 20th, noon EST
Post online at your online space.
Link back to the story in the comments.
Enjoy.
[EDIT: I see that the site automatically makes each of the two characters male and female — I don’t think there’s any need to enforce that in your stories. Feel free to go with whatever genders you see fit.)
Nancy Canu says:
Absolutely awesome idea…but why are all the pairings male/female? (I realize the link is not a site you run or anything, just sayin’ is all.)
May 13, 2016 — 9:02 AM
terribleminds says:
Ah, you know, I’d missed that. I have no idea — but I don’t think it’s necessary to keep that gender pairing/parity for the stories.
May 13, 2016 — 9:22 AM
otterpoet says:
I think it’s a common trope in television now. It’s actually kind of rare ~not~ to have the pairing. Hollywood loves the romantic tension bollocks XD
May 13, 2016 — 9:53 AM
The Daily Assassin (@TDA_Rook) says:
If you click on Add Names you can specify genders for the two names (and just use pronouns or spaces for the names)
May 13, 2016 — 1:31 PM
Awkwardly Alive says:
This is awesome! Bookmarking for future days of writing sprints.
May 13, 2016 — 9:14 AM
stormtrooperbob says:
ha ha – agreed! They Fight Crime is hilarious! I got : He’s an albino master criminal with uncontrollable jazz hands. She’s a paranoid sorcerer with a magical ham sandwich in her pocket. Together, They Fight Crime!
Excellent! Now where’s my pen…..
May 13, 2016 — 9:20 AM
Mozette says:
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/my-bloody-valentine.html
Found a pair I loved! 😀
Enjoy! 😀
May 13, 2016 — 9:40 AM
otterpoet says:
Oh god… I thought this was an actual show and wanted it to be true:
He’s a fast-talking opera singer living undercover at a circus, She’s an obese paleontologist haunted by the brutal murder of her family. Together, they fight crime.
May 13, 2016 — 9:55 AM
David Williams says:
I got :
He’s a hunchbacked Elvis impersonator from the spirit world and She’s a bloodthirsty paleontologist with a backpack full of scones.
Together, They Fight Crime!
But. . .what flavor scones? And does the hunchback do fat Elvis or skinny Elvis?
May 13, 2016 — 9:57 AM
David Williams says:
Here’s my story. . . .was surprisingly fun to write. Hope you enjoy
http://dswilliams.com/2016/05/13/flash-fiction-challenge-they-fight-crime/
May 13, 2016 — 11:54 AM
qyksilver says:
Absolutely loved poor Dead Elvis in this — following along for the scones and singing the King’s tunes. (Now, if she’d just fry up some bacon and smear some peanut butter and bananas on those scones… “Thank you… thank you very much!”)
May 16, 2016 — 8:24 AM
David Williams says:
Thank you. . .It was a very fun story to write. When I saw the pairing I was like. . .wt…oh. . .wait. . . yes. . .that would work.
May 16, 2016 — 12:00 PM
Skye says:
This was so incredibly clever, especially the ending. Great way to put two implausible people together!
May 17, 2016 — 12:55 AM
David Williams says:
Thank you. . . knew it had to end with a “Big Musical Number”. . .every Elvis movie ended with a “Big Number”
May 17, 2016 — 9:38 AM
Jemima Pett says:
What a great site, Chuck – how do you find them when you’re so busy?!
May 13, 2016 — 10:00 AM
legreene515 says:
I got:
He’s a green-fingered advertising executive who believes he’s a wolf. She’s a mentally unstable astronaut with a magical ham sandwich in her pocket.
Is green-fingered the same as a green thumb? I’ve never heard that expression before.
May 13, 2016 — 10:27 AM
legreene515 says:
Here’s my story! Enjoy!
https://laurengreenewrites.com/2016/05/17/the-weird-adventures-of-dick-and-jane/
May 17, 2016 — 1:38 PM
thesexiestwriter says:
He’s an oversexed police officer from the spirit world-
She’s a bisexual paleontologist with a terrible skin condition!
How did I not know about this site?
May 13, 2016 — 10:56 AM
Rebecca Douglass says:
These are hilarious! I couldn’t stop refreshing. Now I have a half a dozen pairings, and may mix and match (and play with gender). I mean if one is an over-sexed paleontologist and the other a virginal Jehovah’s Witness, no reason they can’t both be male. Or female. Or whatevers.
May 13, 2016 — 11:23 AM
jademwong says:
Omg that site is all kinds of awesomeness! This is so much fun…but now I’m left with the dilemma of too many crazy characters and I don’t know how to choose!
May 13, 2016 — 11:33 AM
The Daily Assassin (@TDA_Rook) says:
Can’t wait to work on this:
He’s a green-fingered gangster terrified of onions.
She’s an orphaned Celtic Fan on a tiny horse.
Together, They Fight Crime!
May 13, 2016 — 1:33 PM
Fatma Alici says:
After hitting refresh a few times.
He’s a suicidal small-town romance novelist fleeing from a secret government programme. She’s a cosmopolitan gold-digging mermaid who can talk to animals. They fight crime!
We’ll see how it all works out.
May 13, 2016 — 1:53 PM
Fatma Alici says:
I couldn’t quite get all the stuff in, but it was more fun than I thought it would be. http://wp.me/p4ifXa-vK
May 14, 2016 — 9:43 PM
qyksilver says:
Very much liked how you squeezed such a creative, surprisingly sweet and complete story out of those disparate elements. And liked the interaction between the characters.
May 16, 2016 — 8:29 AM
The Writer says:
Went with the first one I got. Yea, this happened……Enjoy!
He’s a hunchbacked-advertising executive, with a love for bananas; She’s a nymphomaniac-paleontologist, with a bag of horse meat. Together, they fight crime.
https://atcrump.com/2016/05/13/tales-on-acid/
May 13, 2016 — 3:47 PM
qyksilver says:
One piece of constructive criticism: your story’s tense changed a few times between present and past, which threw me off. Otherwise, this was one of the oddest LOL trippy things I’ve ever read (tales on acid indeed!)… and Definitely NSFW 😀
May 16, 2016 — 8:20 AM
The Writer says:
Thanks for that. Wrote it on a whim, corrected. Lol, yea I went for big air with the oddness. Thanks for reading.
May 16, 2016 — 12:59 PM
Mark Gardner says:
“He’s a sharp-shooting war veteran who don’t take no shit from nobody. She’s a fast-talking museum curator haunted by the brutal murder of her family. Together, they fight crime!”
http://article94.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/they-fight-crime/
May 13, 2016 — 4:12 PM
Marsha Holtgrewe-Posz says:
OMG, what hilarity ensues when these characters work together? I looked at several pairings and can’t pick a fave. They are all too funny. Maybe I will have to write more than one….
May 13, 2016 — 5:32 PM
qyksilver says:
I actually got something I felt I could work into a serious story (although I did get to have some fun with the tight pants!).
I went about twice the length I was supposed to… but I was having so much fun with the story and the characters it seemed worth it. Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
So coming soon to a screen near you:
He’s a bloodthirsty
Master Criminal
wearing extremely tight pants.
She’s an orphaned
Astronaut
haunted by the brutal murder of her family.
Together, They Fight Crime!
https://qyksilver.wordpress.com/2016/05/14/white-knights-and-black-holes/
(Warning: naughty words.)
May 14, 2016 — 10:07 PM
legreene515 says:
I enjoyed this. I commented on your blog too. Your writing reminds me of Elmore Leonard. Great job.
May 17, 2016 — 2:56 PM
qyksilver says:
Wow, thank you! I am positively humbled. Seriously, I can imagine no higher compliment when it comes to writing dialogue. (I’m a huge Elmore Leonard fan!). Dutch, Gregory McDonald (Fletch), & John D. MacDonald (I’m so disappointed I didn’t grow up to be Travis McGee) were my “coaches” when it came to dialogue…
May 17, 2016 — 3:21 PM
legreene515 says:
I’m a huge Elmore Leonard fan too. I love how he can tell the story through dialogue. I’ve always liked dialogue, and I really admire how you use it in this story.
May 17, 2016 — 4:01 PM
Pearl River Flow says:
When I did this, I told myself “no refreshes, no alterations,” and I got:
“He’s a disco-crazy opera singer with 35 hours left to live. She’s a hypochondriac paleontologist on a tiny horse. Together They Fight Crime!”
First shot. OF COURSE I called it “Staying Alive.” How could you doubt me?
http://www.pearlriverflow.com/newsflow/2016/5/15/staying-alive
May 15, 2016 — 1:14 PM
Pearl River Flow says:
I notice it hands out “paleontologist” a lot.
May 15, 2016 — 1:16 PM
qyksilver says:
It took me a moment, but once I realized how the story was structured I enjoyed it. Her hypochondria was great comic relief throughout!
May 16, 2016 — 8:18 AM
Pearl River Flow says:
Thanks. I’m gonna go back and simply write “35 Hours” “34 Hours” etc as the chapter titles, that should let people pick it up pretty quickly.
May 17, 2016 — 4:55 PM
qyksilver says:
I liked it. I don’t mind having to use my noodle for a moment here and there 😉
May 17, 2016 — 5:20 PM
Andys says:
I got “He’s a bisexual grave digger with a bag of magic beans. She’s a green-fingered barbarian who can talk to animals.” Weirdly enough, this is just the start of a longer story. http://andreaspeed.com/2016/flash-fiction-challenge-they-fight-crime/
May 16, 2016 — 4:55 AM
dcxli says:
He’s a paraplegic sorcerer with a bag full of used knickers.
She’s an obese barbarian possessed with the uncanny powers of an insect.
Together, they kinda fuck around.
https://dcxli.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/together-they-fight-crime/
May 16, 2016 — 11:18 AM
Andre Gonzalez says:
I got:
He’s a grave digger
on a mission from God.
She’s a devious
magician’s assistant
with a fear of the unknown.
Together, They Fight Crime!
Hopefully I’ll be back shortly with something written. The well has been quite dry.
May 17, 2016 — 11:08 AM
qyksilver says:
Andre, I feel you! Worst case, if you want, just start typing the words describing each of the characters and then see if you can get them just talking to each other. No action, no story, just dialogue back and forth. Straight interaction… here’s a quick thought to see if we can get some water flowing in the well: maybe they’re talking at the gravesite he’s dug for the corpse of the (murdered) magician she worked for?
May 17, 2016 — 2:42 PM
Andre Gonzalez says:
Thanks for the advice/suggestion! Very cool of you… I’ll see if something loosens up! 🙂
May 17, 2016 — 6:32 PM
qyksilver says:
My pleasure, hope it helps! Just let it flow, man. Even if you think it’s utter crap go ahead and post it. It’s still breaking the logjam 😉 Sometimes, just having characters talk (hearing them) is …um… weirdly therapeutic.
May 18, 2016 — 11:15 AM
Vicente L Ruiz says:
To be honest, I couldn’t stop clicking on the link and laughing… In the end I settled for this:
“He’s a sharp-shooting French-Canadian with a gambling addiction.
She’s an oversexed Celtic Fan who is addicted to crack.
Together, They Fight Crime!”
But at some point the hilarity fell off and the story took a different turn. Here’s “Nasty Comeback”:
https://medium.com/@VicenteLRuiz/nasty-comeback-1407f8cf64c7
May 18, 2016 — 6:03 AM
Vicente L Ruiz says:
(Replying to myself to get notifications…)
May 18, 2016 — 6:05 AM
Skye Overall says:
I got: He’s a deeply religious evil genius wearing extremely tight pants. She’s a bisexual barbarian with a bag of horse meat. Together, they fight crime! Well, actually, they commit a crime. Maybe. Just read the story. http://runnerskye.ca/they-fight-crime/
May 18, 2016 — 8:44 PM
Helen O'Loughlin says:
I got:
A time travelling underwear model who’s aboutta open a can of whoop ass and
A devious paper folder who’s in love with the Honey Monster.
Together, they fight crime!! Enjoy!
https://helenoloughlin.com/2016/05/19/they-fight-crime/
May 19, 2016 — 11:15 AM
Matthew X. Gomez says:
He’s a bisexual evil genius with a water pistol full of pee.
She’s an orphaned barbarian from the wrong side of the tracks.
Together, they fight giant cockroaches!
https://mxgomez.wordpress.com/2016/05/19/they-fight-crime-a-chuck-wendig-challenge/
May 19, 2016 — 3:10 PM
karen j carlisle says:
My pairing:
He’s a sleep-deprived scientist from a land time forgot.
She’s time-travelling astronaut from the wrong side of the tracks.
Together, they fight crime!
It inspired a mini world-build and the story will continue.
Derailed is now on my webpage: http://karenjcarlisle.com/2016/05/20/fiction-friday-short-story-challenge-they-fight-crime/
May 19, 2016 — 7:23 PM
Rebecca Douglass says:
I cheated, as I so often do, and picked my own pairing from a number of lovely suggestions. Then I made them both female. But I did make them fight crime!
http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2016/05/friday-flash-they-fight-crime.html
May 19, 2016 — 8:12 PM
Micaela Fischer says:
This was such an incredible challenge! I ended up LOVING the characters I got and I had so much fun with them. I even have the insane urge to play with them a bit more and possibly turn this into a slightly longer story. It’s been such a long time since I’ve written anything so I feel a tad on the rusty side and any feedback at all would be treated like gold. The thoughts of other writers is invaluable to me 🙂
Anyway, these are the characters I got:
He’s a sharp-shooting paranormal investigator with a bag full of used knickers.
She’s a mistrustful war veteran from another dimension.
https://mickienotthemouse.dreamwidth.org/920.html
May 19, 2016 — 9:08 PM
Marjorie says:
Hi. First time doing this. I got:
He’s a hunchbacked advertising executive with a bag of magic beans.
She’s a mentally unstable snake charmer in love with the honey monster.
Together, they fight crime!
https://lotterymeals.wordpress.com/2016/05/20/together-they-fight-crime/
May 20, 2016 — 3:06 AM
john freeter says:
He’s a drug-addicted French-Canadian living on borrowed time.
She’s a fast talking snake charmer from another dimension.
Together, They Fight Crime!
https://johnfreeter.wordpress.com/2016/05/20/they-fight-crime/
May 20, 2016 — 3:20 AM
Jemima Pett says:
Hm. An 8ft tall alien Elvis impersonator and a fast-talking palaeolontologist with an MBA from Harvard. Once they get together, they may fight crime! 🙂 I called it ‘Return to Sender’
http://jemimapett.com/blog/2016/05/20/fridayflash-fiction-return-to-sender/
May 20, 2016 — 4:08 AM
mgherron says:
Duuuuude. I totally used the prompt to write an 1800 word story in a day… but I liked it so much I submitted it to a paying fiction magazine instead of posting it on my blogspace. Woops! Thanks for the inspiration.
May 20, 2016 — 12:13 PM