Category Archives: Flash Friday Fiction

Flash Friday Fiction: Charles and the Charcoal Factory

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Chemical Factory. CC2.0 photo by Astrid Westvang.
Chemical Factory. CC2.0 photo by Astrid Westvang.

Charles and the Charcoal Factory -135 words

The factory killed his dad. Bled him dry, ma said, with its eternal grayness and dark center.

Charles hated that factory, smokestacks burning up dreams day after day as workers labored to provide for their families.

Provide what? They never had turkey at Thanksgiving, ham at Easter. “Too expensive,” ma said.

The foreman claimed it was an accident, that his da misstepped on a ladder.

Charles knew better.

For weeks, he’d hurled rocks at it, that soul-sucking edifice. His anger and rage only grew, hungry and black.

Yesterday, he’d given up. Given in. He’d picked up da’s backpack, ready to take his place.

But he’d also taken purple paint and drawn lilies on the factory’s face. It warmed his soul, this act of treason.

He’ll kill them with color and beauty. He’d kill them all.

This week, we got 100-150 words in which to craft a short (short!) story based in some way on Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We got this summary of the novel:

Story elements (base your story on any TWO of these; be sure to tell us which two you chose: NOTE: for copyright’s sake, please make sure the elements are original to you — i.e. do not use Dahl’s copyrighted characters/world):

* Plot: A poor boy along with four other children win a day in a magical chocolate factory; unbeknownst to them, the factory owner is testing the children for an even bigger prize.
* Conflict: man vs man (the children compete against each other) OR man v self(each child undergoes a trial related to her/his greatest flaw)
* Character: poor boy
* Theme(s): You reap what you sow
* Setting: a run-down shack at the edge of a great city OR a world-famous candy factory

I chose these elements: Character (Poor boy), Theme (You reap what you sow). What do you think? Want to read stories from seriously talented authors, or perhaps contribute your own? Head on over to Flash Friday Fiction – we welcome you with open arms (and always appreciate a supportive comment or two . . .).

Flash Friday Fiction: Reality Bites

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Château d'If, Marseille vu de la navette des Iles d'Or. CC2.0 photo by Jacqueline Poggi.
Château d’If, Marseille vu de la navette des Iles d’Or.

Reality Bites

I wish I were anywhere but in this car today. We’re hurtling through the air at eighty miles an hour, and yet all I feel is trapped, like a wrongfully imprisoned convict, cornered between the exhaustedly grumpy husband, the irritable, scowling teen, and the too-exuberant-for-this-small-space little girl.

There’s no justice in this. Why should I be confined to this tiny front seat, when all I long to be is free, perhaps strolling the streets of London, gallivanting along the coast of France, or at least catching up with social media and trying to convince people to buy my book?

The husband sighs as yet another vehicle cuts him off in the left lane. It’s like modern-day jousting, this testosterone-fueled road rage, man vs man in the quest to get there just a little bit faster.

I focus only on this phone, on this story, willing myself to write in the middle of us zig-zagging lanes, willing my bladder not to empty itself right here, right now. That would only make everything and everybody that much more uncomfortable.

I know I’m supposed to be crafting fiction, a miniature classic in the vein of The Count of Monte Cristo. Too bad. This is what you get – a truth more frightening than any fancy tale: the dreaded summer family vacation.

 

So our fearless Flash Friday leader, Rebekah Postupak, changed up Flash Friday this week, adding in twists to spice things up. Here are the new “rules,” as quoted directly from the Flash Friday website:

* Novel Prompt: We will provide the name of a famous novel along with a summary of its story elements. If you aren’t familiar with the novel, no worries — our summary’s all you need.
* New word count: ROTATING. Each week will require a different min/max wordcount.
* Your challenge: YOU CHOOSE which two story elements to build your story on, and let us know which two you chose.
* Optional photo: for those who prefer photo inspiration, we’ll still include one, but it will becompletely optional to use it for your story. The only prompt you’re required to use = TWO story elements from that week’s novel.

Those are the general new guidelines. Here are the ones specific to this week:

This week’s novel: The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas.

Story elements (base your story on any TWO of these; be sure to tell us which two you chose):

* Plot: A clever, now fabulously wealthy man seeks revenge on those who once wrongfully imprisoned him.
* Conflict: man vs man
* Character: escaped convict
* Theme(s): revenge AND/OR justice
* Setting: Napoleonic France

Not only did I have to craft my tale in accordance with these new guidelines, but I had to do so while traveling in the car. So, well, I did the best I could, taking reality and turning it into fiction. Or not. My story ended up being @ 232 words (counting by hand while on the interstate, so hey, I could be wrong.)

Elements: most of them. Man vs man, (not so) escaped convict, France, justice, etc.

What do you think? My take is it was better than not contributing anything at all!

#FlashDogs Solstice Anthologies Are Out Now – Get Your Copies Today!

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I’m so proud to be a part (a very small part) of the FlashDogs‘ latest publishing endeavor: Solstice: Light and Solstice: Dark – two volumes of stories from numerous, amazingly talented flash writers.

My short (very short) story The Butterfly appears in Solstice: Light. I’m awed to have been invited to join this oh-so-brilliant group of writers. I can’t claim to match their talents, but I’m thrilled to now number among their company.

Flashdogs-light-names

I hope you’ll consider picking up both volumes, not just because you’ll be treated to some of the best flash fiction around, but because all proceeds go to The Book Bus, a fantastic charity working to promote literacy around the world, one child at a time.

Flashdogs-dark-names

Thank you to the production team behind these FlashDogs anthologies, for all the hard work you’ve done in getting these volumes together! I ordered mine first thing this morning, and can’t wait to hold both volumes in my hands. 

Flash Friday Fiction: Fire In The Belly

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train_wreck_at_montparnasse_1895
Train wreck at Montparnasse, 1895. Public domain photo.

Fire In The Belly – 208 words

It wasn’t the first time she’d survived a train wreck.

At seven, she’d watched her father drown in the bottle. At twenty-one, she’d done the same.

Clean two years later, she’d found The One. They’d set a date. July 21st. Then he’d set his sights on someone else.

He hadn’t known she was pregnant. Seven months after he’d left, their son arrived. 7:21 a.m. Stillborn.

She never told him. Never told anyone. She’d returned to the bottle, returned to the battle.

The eviction notice fell from her fingers. How had she let it happen? No job. Now no home.

She couldn’t help but feel she’d been here before. The same mistakes. The same helplessness. The same anger. She always returned here.

She studied the bottle in her hand. The invitation still tacked to her wall. The sonogram pictures stashed carefully behind it.

She smashed the bottle. Tore the invitation in half. Tears streaming down her face, she packed away the pictures. The memories. The pain.

She was tired of bringing up the rear, tired of life constantly derailing her.

She lit the suitcase on fire.

It was time for a new course.

She’d build her own tracks. She’d become her own engineer.

She walked out.

Smiling.

This week we had to combine the photo prompt with the theme of deja vu in crafting a tale of 200 (+/-10) words. What do you think of my effort? I admit, I’m not quite satisfied with it, but hey, sometimes that happens when you only have a short time to craft a story – even if the story itself is short (very short).

Hop aboard on over to Flash Friday Fiction, where you can check out the other offerings, and hopefully leave a comment or two. Or, you know, write your own story!

 

Flash Friday Fiction: And The Crowd Goes Wild

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Louis Dodier as a prisoner, 1847. Public domain daguerrotype photo by Louis Adolphe Humbert de Molard; courtesy Google Art Project.
Louis Dodier as a prisoner, 1847. Public domain daguerrotype photo by Louis Adolphe Humbert de Molard; courtesy Google Art Project.

And The Crowd Goes Wild – 208 words

I’ve chased her my whole life. I’ve played Romeo to her Juliet, the stage my sun. I’ve screamed Stella at the top of my lungs, Phantoms of desire spurring me on. I’ve Don Juaned my way through this theater, a Casanova to all, seducing my way into her heart.

Or so I thought.

I’ve cast seductive glances, sardonic stares. I’ve raised eyebrows in all the right places, let tears fall when the role demanded it, yet still she refuses me. She teases, playing hard to get, night after night, audience after audience.

I’m Marc Antony, Lancelot, Tristan, Paris. What more does she want? What more can I give? My love for her is constant, yet she taunts me, her fickleness evident in every performance, ever changing, ever elusive.

I’m Rhett, Rochester, Heathcliff, Darcy. I’m every lover that ever was and ever shall be. And yet never have I attained her.

I’m reduced to this.

A final effort, the last hurrah in my life-long quest. I have donned fifty shades of gray. I have entered this Red Room. I have manacled myself to woo her, to win her–that always-coveted, never-achieved standing ovation.

Is it enough? Will it get me that encore?

Call me Christian. Just call for me. Please.

 

After several weeks of serious FF pieces, I had to lighten it up this week, and luckily, the photo prompt and required element (theater as setting) lent themselves beautifully to this silly little tale. What do you think? Did I get you to laugh in these 208 words, or am I like this brooding fella here, begging and pleading with you for accolades you don’t wish to bestow?

Dance, stomp, glide, sulk your way on over to Flash Friday Fiction to see the other takes — maybe leave a comment or two, or heck, give it a go yourself!