… and now for something completely different.
Sarah Brentyn at the blog, Lemon Shark, is hosting a flash fiction challenge to raise funds for hurricane victims. Read more about the specifics of the challenge here: Flash Fiction Prompt for Hurricane Relief #Flash4Storms.
I’ve never written flash fiction before, however Allie P. did this challenge here on her blog, Allie Potts Writes, and she’s one of the cool kids, so I’m following her lead. Thus I give you my first [and perhaps last] 50-word flash fiction story.
~ ~ • ~ ~
The knock at the door was soft, but the weeping was loud. Mirabelle asked: “have you seen my mommy?”
Wanting to help, the neighbor called around, learning that her mommy had forgotten kindergarten dismissed early today.
Meanwhile Mirabelle waited, sitting on the sofa, shredding her tissue, forlorn, and plotting revenge.
~ ~ • ~ ~
Love it, Ally! I certainly hope this is not your last!
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Thanks Donna. I felt kind of silly writing fiction– but it’s for a good cause + I need to try new things, so why not? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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You did good, AB ~> a right respectable write!
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nancy, thanks. It’s weird to pretend something when reality seems so absurd as it is.
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Allie is, for sure, one of the cool kids. Best follow her lead… 😉
Ha! This is an awesome flash. I love it. Thank you so much for joining in and writing your very first flash for this. I do hope it’s not your last. (Flash is addictive…)
Thank you, again. 💕
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Sarah, thanks for the compliment. I’ve no reason why I’ve never done this type of writing before, but I suspect, like you said, it could become an obsession. Thanks to you, and Allie P., for opening my eyes to the possibilities.
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I love it! The early release schedule at my kids’ school is a mystery to me. I live in constant terror that one of these days I will be the mother in your story.
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Allie P., I can imagine. When we were kids we were trapped at school for the exact same hours every day. But now, like you said, school days vary. Thanks for showing me the way with this flash fiction challenge. I think I like writing like this. ☺️
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I don’t recall getting to leave early too, but then again when I was a kid an hour always felt like an eternity.
I am so glad you joined in as well!
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Yes, I was the same way. “Only 15 minutes to snack time” seemed like a curse more than a promise. To a child, adult assurances often don’t ring true.
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Your attempt led me to make one of my own. Thank you for the push.
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Carol, I’m happy that you decided to do this, too. I’ve never written fiction, but 50 words was doable. And fun.
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Love it! I want more😁. It’s so good to challenge ourselves every once in awhile. Keep the ‘ol brain working!
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Beth, this was a fun thing to try, but I felt weird making up things. I’m more of an essayist/newspaper columnist than a fiction writer. Still…
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I think a good gauge of a successful 50 word flash fiction is: did you leave your audience waiting more? And, based on that, I’d say job well done! I for one will be a bit nervous not knowing the revenge little Mirabelle has planned.
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Janis, I like what you’re saying. I don’t quite know what to make of the lack of comments on this post, but I’m glad I tried writing flash fiction. Maybe when little Mirabelle tells me what her revenge is, I’ll write another story. You know they say that fictional characters talk to the author, so…
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Ahh, vengeance always makes for interesting fiction. Well done!
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Thanks! Writing fiction unnerves me. But Mirabelle might need to come back and exact her revenge. We’ll see.
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Mwahahaha!
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🙂
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Hi Ally
Stopped by in response to your tweet re conversations. From here it looks like maybe you just needed to wait for everyone to catch up 🙂
Brilliant story, and I’d echo the sentiments above about wanting to read more of your stuff. Lots of prompts to play with on https://fictioncanbefun.wordpress.com, and we would be delighted to have you join in.
David
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David, thanks for saying this. I did this piece of flash fiction just to see if I could write something fictional. My whole writing life has been factual, so I wondered if I could.
It’s not that I’m a nut for comments, but it’s been unusual to see lots of people [more than normal] stop by and no one say anything. Difficult to know how to interpret that kind of silence, having never done anything like this before.
However, be that as it may, thanks for the link. It sounds like it might be fun. Will check it out soon.
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Hmmm. I see what you mean. I guess I’m more used to that style of visitor – people reading the post and then moving on. It might be something to do with writing fiction? And also, when you write to that kind of prompt, you are going to get a lot of passing traffic following the # – no investment in your blog as a whole/personal connection. My 2 p, anyway.
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My stats are usually more along the line of 5 people leaving 100 comments, than 100 people leaving 5 comments. An exaggeration, but it’s a pattern I’m accustomed to. This “drive-by” style of blogging seemed odd to me, but now that you’ve explained it, I get it. How people communicate always fascinates me, and this is my latest learning experience.
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It feels like the latest iteration in community – groups of people linked by how they use social media. It can feel uncomfortable when you start talking to a new group, because they use weird words, or words weirdly. People will soon be earning doctorates for studying this, I suspect.
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I imagine you’re right. If I were a younger person I might consider getting a PhD in Social Media Studies but no way am I going back to college. I’m much too wise for that! 😌
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PhD is very different – you’d be awesome at it (and a welcome note of sanity!).
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LOL. Yes, well, I’m pleased as punch that I managed to get a M.A., but no more formal education for me. I’ll be a lifelong learner on my own, thank you very much.
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Nice piece, Ally. Sorry to say I did that once. Fortunately for me, the kids did not seek revenge.
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Janet, no kidding? That’s hilarious. I can see how easily it could happen, but I’m glad your kids were forgiving.
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Plotting revenge is perfect
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Isn’t it though? Kids have their own way of making their displeasure known.
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Oh…..I know……
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Funny how all adults come to realize this. 😉
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Next episode – Revenge of the 5-Year-Old 🙂
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Joanne, that’s only logical. Of course, can I remember what it was like to be a 5-year-old? I want my stories to have the ring of authenticity, you know!
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Nice. And don’t think that five-year olds can’t come up with some great ideas for Revenge, intended or not. Kids are super great at Guilt.
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nance, I know that you’re right. I’m sure if I listen to Mirabelle, she’ll tell exactly what revenge she has planned.
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Walk to school in a foot of snow uphill both ways… and find out you’ve been abandoned when you get home. Alas, poor Mirabelle….
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Exactly. There’s the back story I need to make Mirabelle seem more real.
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Haha. Mirabelle will have her revenge sooner rather than later, I think. Great 50-word flash. They’re not easy, and you nailed it.
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roughwiting, this was an interesting glimpse into a kind of writing that is foreign to me. Thanks for the encouragement.
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I forgot to pick up my younger daughter twice from her pull out gifted program. She never forgot. Or forgave? 😦
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Margaret, that’s funny. I bet that she’s forgiven you, but at the same time she’s playing mother/daughter mind games about remembering it. Just to keep you on your toes.
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This is really good. I’ve been browsing Sarah’s hurricane relief posts, so happy to be a part of it so I thought I’d check out other contributors. Hard to believe this is your first flash fiction. You should do more.
I never left a child at school, but I was late a few times. They didn’t plot revenge…that I know of, anyway.
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vanbytheriver, thank you. I’ve never even thought of trying flash fiction before this. I did this because the cause was [is?] a good one. As for your child not plotting revenge, you might want to remember that said child could have power of atty over you in your later years. Just saying, no disrespect intended. 😉
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Yep, So there’s still time ?? Ha ha.
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But of course!
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I loved the ‘and plotting revenge’. That was a nice twist.
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Thanks. Kids have their ways, don’t they?
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They do.
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