AND WE’RE BACK.
It’s time to revivify these challenges, I think, and this time around, let’s lean hard into our current geopolitical poopshow and ponder THE APOCALYPSE.
Except, here’s the deal.
I don’t want you to write THE USUAL APOCALYPSE.
I want you to make one up you have not seen before.
A rare, strange, unparalleled apocalypse. Unexpected. Unwritten.
You have, ohhh, let’s say 1500 words to give us a glimpse of your brand new uniquely-you Apocalypse. Due on (dun dun dun) Friday the 13th, by noon EST. Post at your online space, drop a link in the comments below so we can all read it. Go forth and end the world, my friends, and write a compelling tale to go along with a fitting end.
99 responses to “Flash Fiction Challenge: Apocalypse Now!”
This was fun—I enjoyed the challenge!
https://mrurbanspaceman.wordpress.com/2017/01/06/literary-apocalypse/
That was great haha!
Thank yah!
Love this idea. It’s the literary equivalent of taking a step up when there isn’t a step there. Nice.
This. Is. Awesome.
Jebus Mr. Spaceman, what’d you do get up and write this before the butt crack of…oh…I see what you did there. That’s kinda awesome.
I’ve got one that fits this challenge:
The Eleventh Plague
Written for the prompt: Why it should never rain bubblegum.
Feedback and concrit would be appreciated. I’ll certainly return the favor 🙂
Fun and I like the ending, what is the next wish? 🙂
I’m thinking the selfish jerk wishes for a million wishes and the REAL Apocalypse begins once he makes the first few :-0
I love it! I wish I could offer concrit, but you address most of my mental interjections (“But… desalination plants!”) as I continued reading, and adequately explained how the world ended up in such a nightmarish Apocalypse. PLUS you used “fewer”, rather than “less”, with regards to people.
What more can I ask for?
…except a monkey hand of my own, of course.
That started strangely cute (bubblegum! bubblegum FOREVER) and then got into the apocalypse like you’re sitting on a merry go round and then the music slowly starts getting slower…and darker…
But that twist in the end! Talk about real effed up – I love it. XD Thanks for the story!
That was pretty fun. I love the idea of the ridiculous taken completely seriously and examined on it’s own merits. Plus, it was a kick in the ass to see the fall, rise, and beginnings of the next cycle.
Thank you so much! I had so much fun writing it and just letting my brain run wild! And if anyone is good at taking ridiculous things seriously, it’s me 😀
Did you post a piece? If so, link me, so I can read and gush!
I did post one, here’s the link. https://ello.co/thomas_m_pierson/post/ggi3czf1–wpykjo_4b3tw
https://cassnwrites.wordpress.com/2017/01/06/signal-loss-or-my-apocalypse-now-flash-fiction-entry-for-terribleminds-com/
That was almost too much fun! Thank you 🙂
So that was pretty fucking awesome. Any president who can make their Twitter posts real would soon herald the end of an age, I feel, regardless of their bald eagle aversion or Cheeto-like complexion. Thanks for sharing this with the world!
Haha, thanks 🙂 As soon as I read the prompt all I could think about was what if Tweets were like wishes… that would be one fucked up Apocalyptic situation
Very nice. I enjoyed reading that.
https://wordpress.com/post/sarahwynde.wordpress.com/3848
This challenge fit my mood so well…
http://youcantgoback-andotherimpossibilities.blogspot.com.au/2017/01/the-sounds-of-silence.html
I’ve noticed this over the past few months…
Enjoy.
Nice. Really makes you think about how much the world resembles a post-apocalyptic dystopia to someone 100, even 50 years ago.
*Listens to Sound of Silence cover on MySpace*
Thank you. 😀
I’ve been noticing this more and more. People looking at their phones more than looking around at the real world around them… sometimes, I catch myself doing that too. It’s the addiction to it all that makes evil. But it makes us turn completely silent when we are in a room full of others talking.
My brother has told me off for opening my phone up at his place, when really I’m not being rude, I’m looking for something that has to do with the conversation… and nothing to do with cutting people out. This can be a double-edged sword for us all, can’t it?
It’s been quite a long time since I last made one of these. Three years, maybe. Anyway, I wrote this…uh…thing. Hope this mad apocalyptic idea makes others smile as much as I did while writing it.
http://lesternieves.tumblr.com/thedeserter
Liked this so much I’m following you on the Tumblrs now 😀
Oh my gosh. I don’t want to give it away, but this one has such an excellent twist.
I really enjoyed this one. I hope others do, too.
https://ello.co/thomas_m_pierson/post/ggi3czf1–wpykjo_4b3tw
[For reasons unknown to me, I am unable to post this as a link. Seriously, I have never had this problem before.]
Fun story! It reminds me of my younger days. I’m glad the robot was saved, though I can’t say I necessarily approve of picking up hitchhikers like that. Robots can be so troublesome, at times.
I have a strange feeling with the robot had opened with “I think you ought to know that I’m feeling very depressed,” the researcher would have simply destroyed it.
Maybe the researcher would’ve had something that may take his mind off it.
…but he has such an incredibly large mind.
To prove that I definitely not have a THHGTTG quote problem and can quit ANY TIME I WANT, I’m going to stop right this very moment.
Also I ran out of reply button.
I like this one too! A great storyline; and kept me guessing right to the end. 😀
Wasn’t sure if my comment went through. Flash Fic using my deviantart account! Love this theme 🙂
http://sharakomuse.deviantart.com/journal/Apocalypse-and-Gin-655830380
I knew I was going to enjoy writing this when I had one search window up containing livestock statistics and another checking the definition of freebasing.
https://cheesywriterblog.wordpress.com/2017/01/07/kentucky-freed-chicken/
My fav so far.
Well written, but I’m not really a fan of murdering birds, so I didn’t finish it. It’s why we need to prevent the apocalypse you guys! To save bird’s lives!
I really liked this one, the irony is so thick it almost chokes you on the way down. Awesome!
WHOA. The imagery in this is so good. If I have nightmares, I blame you!
Those mothercluckers!
First time poster for this sort of thing. Hope you Enjoy it.
http://cybertavern.blogspot.com/2017/01/terrible-minds-flash-fiction-challenge.html
Totally enjoyed it! Excellence.
Oh my goodness thank you. So nervous to do this after not writing creatively for so long. Glad you enjoyed it.
Repentance
http://www.loucadle.com/2017/01/repentance-short-story.html
Here is my Apocalypse which is both personal and worldwide. Any similarity to recent events or people is entirely coincidental or not at all.
https://wormholelesstraveled.wordpress.com/2017/01/08/the-apocalypse-we-all-deserve/
I like the character of PsychoPampador, makes for a clever nickname.
I have so many questions though.
First, which ending would you pick for the story if you could only choose one?
Would you combined some of them?
Was the machine L and PP’s creation (I can’t remember how to spell the female lead’s name so I’m just abbreviating) or were there two separate machines that did two separate things, one created by L and the other created by Mr. PP?
Thanks for reading! I honestly wouldn’t choose either ending, they’re both so depressing. The machine was Lakshmi’s creation but was funded with PP’s money. There was only the one, but what it ended up doing was sealing everyone in a bubble of their own making so they lived out their greatest desires. Turns out what we really want most is usually not what we really wanted at all. Anyways, Happy New Year, AnonymouseMouse!
I was slightly ahead of you here, as I did this for the last Friday of the year – but I hope you like it.
http://jemimapett.com/blog/2016/12/30/fridayflash-fiction-five-years-on/
I’ve also put together some of your FF ideas and links to randomising websites on a page on my site, in case you have to go awol again. Just so I have somewhere I can find them again! I’ve given you all the credit. Let me know if you feel this is inappropriate.
Hope the writing, filmifying and daddying is going well, and happy new year!
Absolutely loved this. I’m so happy you shared it.
Thanks
[…] wrote this piece in response to a flash fiction challenge from Chuck Wendig— 1500 words on, as he put it, “a rare, strange, unparalleled […]
Went in a completely different direction–
https://douglasdanieldotcom.wordpress.com/2017/01/08/chuck-wendigs-flash-fiction-challenge-apocalypse-now/
Your writing and use of language is absolutely beautiful. You have great skills, I enjoyed that!
The Mold
http://archiveofourown.org/works/9261431
HaHa Excellent! #Slimageddon2017 – that was great thanks!
[…] A work of weird flash fiction for http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2017/01/06/flash-fiction-challenge-apocalypse-now/ […]
I’ve been waiting for these to make a return.
Work and school made me finish later than I would have like, but I’m proud of the result.
Let me know what you think!
https://dcxli.wordpress.com/2017/01/09/roots/
This was a good one!
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
Hi, all. New to this forum although an admirer of this blog for some time. Anyway, my friend and I just wrote a story for another apocalypse prompt that fits here. A little nod to Robert Sheckley as well. Thanks!
https://nwjnmusings.wordpress.com/archway/
I love your writing style, you use language beautifully.
Been looking forward to the return of these as well.
https://mxgomez.wordpress.com/2017/01/10/a-final-demonstration-of-the-principles-of-dimensionality-a-chuck-wendig-challenge/
[…] The challenge: to write an apocalypse, preferentially one that hasn’t been written before. Eh, not sure about that last part, but I had fun with it. […]
[…] of 2017! I am going to try my hardest to write every one of these this year. This one is called Apocalypse Now! The instruction is to write about an apocalypse in less than 1,500 words. Not the Apocalypse, […]
It’s called “Derelict”. Please to enjoy.
https://sambrady.wordpress.com/2017/01/10/chuck-wendig-derelict/
I haven’t written flash fiction in maybe a year, and never for one of these challenges, but here goes nothin’. It may be too similar a conceit to Mr. Urban Spaceman’s, actually; my apologies, if so. The “unwritten” in the prompt took my brain to much the same place.
https://gantsrants.wordpress.com/2017/01/10/small-words/
Dude. Freakin love this. One of my all-time favorite movies is Pontypool and this put me in mind of that. Great job!
Not at all too similar, and a great read, too. It really makes one think about the words we use in our everyday vernacular, and how much we’d struggle if we had to reduce our vocabulary to single-syllable words.
May I suggest the sum of three and four is “blurg”?
Well done! Not just a fancy trick, but well-written, too.
Thanks, everyone! I really appreciate the kind words.
I love Pontypool, as well – and was thinking about it, as well, as I wrote.
I’m glad I’ve not trod on your toes, Mr. Urban Spaceman. And “blurg” it is.
And thanks to you, as well, Skye! I found that the limitation I’d imposed almost forced me to get a little poetic with things.
I’m glad you guys enjoyed reading it. And I’m thinking about expanding it, perhaps…
OK, I recycled an idea from a past challenge I never finished, from last year or maybe 2015, I think. I hope this is strange enough. I did have fun writing it.
Four Siblings: https://medium.com/@VicenteLRuiz/four-siblings-42f0d39fb590#.hejaa060i
This is my very first shot at one of Chuck’s writing prompts. I hope you like it, it was fun to write and I had way too much to include in 1,500 words. It was a great exercise and it was nice to get on a different stream of writing from my WIP.
Maggie and the Apocalypse: https://michelle-wordplay.blogspot.com
I’m off to read your stories now!
Hooray for more Flash Fiction challenges! It was fun to take a break from my WIP to do this one. http://runnerskye.ca/flash-fiction-challenge-apocalypse-now/
Chuck – thanks for the challenge. As a reward, have some pleather: http://www.lpstribling.com/?p=3291
I would love anyone’s thoughts on my twist … I am going to read others stories now, I didn’t want any outside influnece. It’s been fun
https://medium.com/@theresajcbs/all-because-of-the-bees-d89beec1bc91#.onmc9x1xz
Very happy to see a new prompt here! Thanks, Chuck!
I give you: The Harvest https://christopherslagle.wordpress.com/2017/01/11/flash-fiction-the-harvest
Being a little silly with this one: http://mapsburgh.tumblr.com/post/155749243566/apocatlypse
[…] *Posted for Chuck Wendig’s Flash Fiction Challenge: Apocalypse Now […]
This is more of an individual apocalypse, but it’s new to me and I only had 2 days. Hope it is worthy.
Six Steps From Hell: https://kestewart.wordpress.com/2017/01/12/flash-fiction/
“The sun won’t go out, mummy. The dragons will save us,” a four-year-old said. A Bedtime Story of the Apocalypse. https://thedailystory.wordpress.com/2017/01/12/a-bedtime-story-of-the-apocalypse/
Thanks for a fun prompt!
This was so fun! I took a turn on a more psychological route. (Loving reading everyone’s!) Enjoy!
“Jess, Josh and the Old Lady”:
http://authorjulieclark.com/short-stories/jess-josh-and-the-old-lady-flash-fiction-by-julie-clark/
~Julie Clark
Apocalypse Now
The following journal entries are an account of the first days after the 2016 election. They are now on display at the Trumpsonian Institute.
Day …
apocalypse,trump,journal,politics,climate,election
https://byrootandtwig.wordpress.com/2016/11/11/apocalypse-now/
Quite fun! Here we go…
The Universal End: https://www.scorpionresponse.com/posts/2017/01/the-universal-end/
[…] Written for the Terrible Minds Flash Fiction Challenge: Apocalypse Now! […]
Thank you for this prompt! Held off on reading others’ stories till I finished mine, so excited to get to that now. This is my first time doing one of your prompts and it was just what I needed to get a little writing energy flowing.
“The Green Earth”: https://ilifistories.wordpress.com/2017/01/12/the-green-earth/
Quite the unique apocalypse!
This is immensely silly but I had fun.
http://kimberlylloydwrites.blogspot.com/2017/01/odor-geddon.html
So I wasn’t going to do this one, but once the creative juices start flowing you can’t really stop them. I figured, what’s scarier to writers than a world you can’t write in?
So here it is: http://emilyhowitt.blogspot.ca/2017/01/the-literary-apocalypse.html
Well, I took the “your of “your apocalypse” more than the “apocalypse” part. So here’s my story:
http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2017/01/flash-fiction-friday-when-worlds-end.html
Grr. Having technical difficulties publishing my comment on your story page, so here it is:
I love the whole premise of the story, and how the protagonist finds strength through adversity. She’s a real role-model. It’s very true that the world ends for somebody every day, thanks to personal tragedy, misery, suffering, etc. It’s a good take on Chuck’s prompt!
This is my first time posting here. I’m seeing a lot of that on here so good to know I’m not alone. I hope ya’ll enjoy Purrrfect Future. Comments and critiques, either here or via the Tumblr are welcomed.
http://racheldpanda.tumblr.com/post/155789064116/flash-fiction-challenge-jan-2017
Hmm. Can’t see a ‘comment’ button on your Tumblr. Must be a Tumble thing.
Anyhoo, it was an enjoyable, wacky story that terrified me because I could definitely see this happening. I’ve always thought my cat was too smart for his own good, and that evidence to the contrary was just him FAKING being dumb to throw me off his trail.
I can’t help but feel sorry for Momo—I mean, Melanie. I have a feeling she’s the Fluffs’ equivalent of Paris Hilton’s bag-dog. Overall, an excellent take on the prompt.
Thanks. And yeah, over the years Tumblr has become more and more of a closed system. :-/
Less a story than a silly bit of stunt formatting, but it was fun. Please do not read this until a cure has been found.
https://www.ridleykemp.com/stories/2017/1/13/please-do-not-read-this-until-a-cure-has-been-found
I saw the prompt and I’ve been trying to get back to writing more, so this is extremely rusty:
https://tohookthesun.wordpress.com/2017/01/13/from-clay/
…well, not actually rust. A different, but not particularly preferable, substance.
not complete but this bit marks that I’m back writing – http://aliceekeyes.blogspot.com/
This was fun!
https://dragonwriterweb.wordpress.com/2017/01/13/cheese-pocolypse/
[…] I’m struggling with a short story, using a prompt challenge from Chuck Wendig’s blog. I’m already well over the deadline, but I can’t let this thing drop (or die) but gah! […]
[…] Wendig, over on Terribleminds.com, sporadically posts writing challenges. Recently he challenged “…ponder THE APOCALYPSE. Except, here’s the deal. I don’t want you to write THE […]