Monday, February 07, 2011

FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE:Scarry Night

On Saturday night, we passed a young woman on the street who was talking to her male companion and said, "I really don't mind the scars." A good startup line for a little challenge perhaps. I looked for a picture to go with it but 1) they scarred (make that scared) me too much to post and 2) I felt like the pictures steered the story.

So how about a 800 or so word story that contains that line in it. How about an end date of February 28th? What do you think?

If you don't have a blog to post it on, I'll post it here with mine. Just give me a few days' notice.

73 comments:

Evan Lewis said...

Cool!

Loren Eaton said...

Well, I'm gonna give it a shot ...

YA Sleuth said...

I'm in!

Eric Beetner said...

Definitely a line that gets you to thinking. I'd be down for this one.

Chad Eagleton said...

I'm game.

Dana King said...

I was thinking we were about due for a challenge. I'm in.

Unknown said...

You know I'm in

Charles Gramlich said...

Great line for sure. I'll see if I can pull something out. Can't guarantee, of course.

Iren said...

I'm in...

John Kenyon said...

Sounds great, Patti. I'm in.

Kieran Shea said...

oh what the hell

Heath Lowrance said...

Great idea, I'm in. Look for it on my blog tomorrow.

Paul D Brazill said...

I've got areal life story I could try to put a spin on. If I can do it justice, then I'm in.

Chris Deal said...

I'm down.

David Barber said...

I'll see what I can come up with. Count me in!

Anonymous said...

see my email, please.

M. C. Funk said...

I think I knew exactly what that not-so-young lady was talking about. I think that means I'm in.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I can't wait to find out, Matt.

Liam Sweeny said...

I'd like to submit

Cap'n Bob said...

You can use the scar photo on my blog, Patti.

Al Leverone said...

I'm in...who wouldn't be, with scarring involved?

Dan Fleming said...

I'm in.

C. Margery Kempe said...

Hmmmmm....

[word verification = "dersemol" which sounds like a medicated skin cream to me. Kismet!]

D.B. deClerq said...

I could use a challenge.

Christopher Grant said...

I'll take a hack at it. Ha, ha. See what I did there? I...okay, I'll shut up now and go write this thing.

Chris Deal said...

Here's mine:

http://enjoytheturbulence.wordpress.com/the-body-marked/

pattinase (abbott) said...

Will post all the links on the 28th. It's fun to see them all at once. CG-how is your Mom?

Brian Lindenmuth said...

hell, I might even toss my hat in the ring for this one.

pattinase (abbott) said...

yay, brian!

Cormac Brown said...

Hello, and I'm in, like F. Scott Fitzgerald and gin.

Al Tucher said...

Who could resist?

Dani Amore said...

A quote I live by: "Bones heal. Guys dig scars. Pain is temporary. Glory is forever." My way of saying, "I'm in."

Katherine Tomlinson said...

/I was in the moment you posted that line on Facebook. Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. Look forward to seeing what I come up with.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Just let me know who needs to post on here. It should be a great one.

Rob Kitchin said...

I'm in.

Grant Jerkins said...

This sounds like fun. I'd like to give it a try. I don't have a blog, but I can post it on my website. Will that work? (ps - just read your story "A Good Day for Redheads." What a great story!I'm waaayy outta my league here.)

Alan Griffiths said...

Okay, I'm in!

R L Kelstrom said...

Great line. I'm in.

Dana Kabel said...

count me in.

Cameron Ashley said...

Just finished it. I'll put it up at http://cfdaylabor.blogspot.com/

pattinase (abbott) said...

Thanks, Cam. How are you there in all that bad weather?

Matthew McBride said...

I'm in too. Thanks for the prompting Rawson.

Jack Bates said...

Best challenges ever.

John Kenyon said...

OK, once the idea arrived, it didn't take long to let it out. Here t'is: http://tirbd.com/?p=1176. Thanks, Patti. Great challenge.

pattinase (abbott) said...

John-I usually post them all on the end date although with this amount I might spread it between Feb 28-March 2.

Sandra Scoppettone said...

Between proofing the ebooks I'm going to try. I love these things.

r2 said...

I think it's a great opening line. Patti, can I play?

Jack Bates said...

KARAOKE AIN'T FOR WUSSIES
http://hardnosedsleuth.blogspot.com/

Gary Stevens said...

Hi Patti. I accepted your challenge and wrote a little something, although I'm not sure what you'll make of it. It makes me laugh, so.... I don't have a blog, though. Is it okay if I email it to you as a PDF?
Thanks, GS

pattinase (abbott) said...

I got a facebook message you now had a blog but not the URL. Either way...

Al Leverone said...

Great idea for a flash fiction contest...my entry is posted at http://allanleverone.blogspot.com/2011/02/savior.html

Paul D Brazill said...

Hi Patti,
My story is up
http://pdbrazill.blogspot.com/2011/02/patti-abbotts-scarry-night-flash.html

Kathleen A. Ryan said...

I'm late to this party, but I may very well try to give this a shot. Since my body looks like a road map with all the surgeries I've endured with breast cancer, it would be reality-based! I've been working for months on my story that is now appearing at A Twist of Noir, and I've just come up for air. But this sounds too good to pass up. Isn't it interesting when we hear snippets of other people's conversations? It's the stuff that fiction's made of! As a matter of fact, there are many phrases in "Heat of Passion" that came from conversations with my fellow cop friends!
Thanks for the challenge, Patti!

Fiona Glass said...

Another late-comer but what a great idea. Overhearing half a conversation often makes my mind boggle. ;)

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

What fun! It's got me thinking now. I'll have to see what depraved thing crawls out of my mind and splatters itself across the page

Salvatore Buttaci said...

I'd like to give it a whirl!

pattinase (abbott) said...

You are most welcome. I will post a list next week of all the people who answered the call.

Unknown said...

I banged this out today at work. Slack day for me :) http://juliamadeleineauthor.blogspot.com/

Kate Pilarcik ~ absolutely said...

The eminent Paul Brazill sent me to hear what you great crime guys were hustlin' up next. YEP, I'd love to sip gin with F. Scott too -- I mean, write of the Scarry, Scarry Night.

~ Absolutely*Kate
~ AT THE BIJOU

Salvatore Buttaci said...

Here is my entry in your contest:

"The Mote in Thy Brother's Eye" by Salvatore Buttaci

http://salvatorebuttaci.spruz.com/pt/THE-MOTE-IN-THY-BROTHERS-EYE-by-SALVATORE-BUTTACI/blog.htm

WellesFan said...

I'm percolating an idea. Count me in.

pattinase (abbott) said...

You bet.

Matthew McBride said...

Patti -- Mine will be posted on the 28th at GOT PULP? -- thanks for hosting http://igotpulp.blogspot.com/

pattinase (abbott) said...

I'll put up the general URL now.

Glenn Gray said...

Great starter. Just finished mine. I'll need a place to post it, though. Can you hook me up, Patti?

pattinase (abbott) said...

I'd be happy to, Glenn.

Unknown said...

Tina says I'm chicken if I don't, so... I'll have posted on my blog in a couple of days and send you the link. :)

Gary Stevens said...

Hi Patti. My story is at usedguys.blogspot.com. Cool idea.

Dana C. Kabel said...

Finally pared it down as close to 800 words as I could get it. http://thenonstopbullet.blogspot.com/

Kate Pilarcik ~ absolutely said...

Wow Ms Patti - when you toss a challenge, it's a party. I'm posting mine at midnight for Monday, 28 Feb. during the RAT PACK REVUE over AT THE BIJOU, so that I take no kleig shine off Julie Lewthwaite there now with her Benny the Snitch "STAR" and ROBERT J RANDISI back again Tuesday. (Paul Brazill introduced us - the rest, natch, is s'posed to be legendary).

Thanks again Patti for scarring this one up. I'll post link here late tonight to make it into your parade of -- what? thousands now? Holy cripes - Happy Oscar's greatest night everyone! ~ Absolutely*kate

Matthew McBride said...

Here is my short. It's called FLOOD. http://igotpulp.blogspot.com/

pattinase (abbott) said...

Got it, Matthew. Thanks.