Wednesday, September 30, 2015

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-13 - RESULTS!




Phew! You all brought your A-game! That was TOUGH! Cheers all around. Seriously. If you missed any of them, go read them here. Below is what the judge (who gave himself one of the hardest jobs ever) had to say:



Ground Rules
by Geoff Holme
It is important to be confrontational in a certain sense as an artist. A rebel. I like that you questioned. Allen Ginsberg used a ship in a bottle as an exercise for his class when he taught at Brooklyn university. He told his class that there was a ship in a bottle with no opening and told them to write something on how to get it out of the bottle without harming or altering the bottle. He used this to get them to use their imaginations. My thinking was along those lines when trying to come up with something for this. Maybe I will use that next time. I look forward to reading your writing in the future because it is always fine. There are only a hand full of great writers that are known on the various writing sites for their consistency of excellence, and your name is one of them. And I would love to discuss this over lunch with you. Thank you for the kind invitation. Can we go to Kettners? Are you buying? Great. Also, I found all the comments that you didn't leave additionally well written.

White Rabbit
by Geoff Holme
You know his work well. So many great references. Like the way you use chess idea to end it. Glad you wrote another piece, though the other was acceptable. You have a great eye for detail and it shows in your writing. Hope this wasn't too painful for you to write. I thought there was a mastery to it. Handling the drug imagery and placing it in the context of a yarn isn't easy. I wish I didn't have to judge. I tried not to win. Maybe I will do better next time.

Dear Diary
by Lauren Greene
Liked that you expressed what many would feel about such an odd arrangement of introductory words. It is a sign of an excellent artist to convey what others feel but cannot articulate. Liked the way you embraced the challenge to form a full story; the use of a diary was a very clever idea to base your story around. And the use of language in the piece to bring about a real and authentic narrator was masterful! I couldn't do that in a million years! Furthermore, your embracing of the language of the opening line and the interspersing of it through-out the tale without letting it take over, was excellent. Your work, that I have seen so far, is always well written and expertly done. I feel it is a privilege to be able to read it. Thank you.

This Dreck has no Title, Just Words and a Tune
by Parkinkspot
I am feeling very mimsy and it isn't the cheese spread! I enjoyed your feeding of the Jabberwocky some very good jabber. I just want to say that personally I feel that flash can be much more than what people pigeon hole it into. Having said that, I enjoyed the lion and his mounting of this challenge. Everyone has a way to react when slapped with something like this and I wanted the reaction. I think I remember reading that Dave has not been writing fiction that long. I was surprised. His work is always a special benchmark of quality whenever it is present. I was honored when he picked my story as a special challenge winner. And his appreciation of Hot Wheels only shows a broad minded genius of unparalleled taste. I red through his story here about 100 times and found countless little pieces of gold in it. The long sentence thing was my nod to Virginia Woolf, Scott Fitzgerald, and a few others. It forces you to focus and let loose at the same time. Also, Jabberwocky's hate periods they are like seeds in grapes to them. To conclude, Dave has a brilliant way of bringing light out of darkness. Like with those little chicks and the roadkill men. He has a wonderful sense of humor with pitch perfect writing skills. And that is on display here in a somewhat obscure but delightful fashion.

The Picnic
by Rebekah Postupak
I posted on micro-bookends a little shout out to this site. My first time judging and all that. And Ms. Postupak was nice enough to take the time to post specifics. I like her ability to structure sentences and to bring them around a specific idea like an accomplished engineer would give specifics on how an elaborate building must be formed using concrete rules and laws. I enjoyed the beginning a lot. The words do have a breezy feel to them. So much of the roots of language can be found in the garden and in the woods. I like to sit in the woods and listen to novels all day long like books on tape. I appreciated the prequel element to the tale. What exactly was Alice doing before her journey? It is nice to come up with different theories. The obsessive sandwich counter seemed real and possessed an intensity of sandwich purpose. The writer knows her way around punctuation. A seamless barrage of flowing questions and exacting exclamation. There is an exactness to her writing. I am happy she threw her support to this contest and that I was lucky enough to be judging when she did.


Special Challenge Champion
Quills
by Holly Geely      
I liked that you kept to the spirit of Carroll while at the same time letting your own voice shine through. I enjoyed the way you rhymed, sporadically, enhancing a sort of non-structure structure. Nonsense that makes sense. Keeping it together as it flies apart. Also, I loved how you related a love letter, having to do with the desk, and the raven using feathers to attract a mate; a great slanting angle on the riddle. I found that particularly inventive and very nice. So many people write as if trying to impress and it is not impressive. They write as if it is being read while they are writing it. That was what I meant by writing as if no one would read it. I feel it is like being in love, the process of writing; you do not think of anything else and it is unconditional. I thought you captured that spirit wonderfully of just doing it with a certain abandon. I wish you the best of luck with your new book.


Grand Champion
Fair is Foul
by thehousesparrow

The beginning made me laugh. Poor teachers, such a tough job! I have been in that class. Eyeing the red head while reading "A Fan's Notes" under my desk. A tricky play to balance it all out and I thought you did it well. Liked the little touch of his wife being a brunette. You used the last word, my homage to Richard Brautigan, nicely by fitting it into the broad spectrum of the work. Also, I loved the way you twisted around the meaning of writing desk and raven using it as a flowing part of the tale. You are only paranoid if you are wrong, as they say. Also, I feel there is a poets touch here. A sort of instinctual weaving together that happens when heart flights of verse flutter build beautiful light nests. I am guessing that you are a wonderful poet. Also, liked the title.






Monday, September 28, 2015

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-13




Are you ready for a challenge today? Because our judge has thrown down the gauntlet! I am super-duper excited to read what you all create because this is going to be fun (And hard. Did I mention hard?)! Let's finish out September with a bang! Have at it!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence.
2. Up to 500 words
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST



Oh, and feel free to change pronounspunctuationtense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Richard Edenfield. Read his winning tale from last week here! Follow him on Twitter @RichardEdenfie1. Here's what he has to say about himself: I live on a very small planet with a single rose under a glass. I am an Aquarius. Besides that, I like lemonade.



 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-13 is:


First line from Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky:


Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.





 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:



Write at least 300 words without a period. Write as if no one will ever read it.


Bonus points: End your story with the word, "Mayonnaise."


Extra Bonus Challenge for Super Stars:
Lewis Carroll has a famous riddle that no one (scholars, academics, Einstein...) has ever been able to figure out: Why is a raven like a writing desk? Work an answer into your story and you can knock 100 words off of the special challenge and still qualify (only a 200 word sentence).



AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!
(I mentioned hard, right? Go! Go! Go!)






Wednesday, September 23, 2015

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-12 - RESULTS!




Well done one and all! If you missed any of the stories, go read them here. If you've read them and want to know what the judge had to say, well, you've come to the right place! :) Go forth and acquire knowledge! ;)




BridgetJM "Booked"
Dark and a little bit funny. It made me laugh, especially the last part about cremation. Rare to see that black humor in such a short amount of words. Well done. I almost wish this was a prose poem!
                       
@OpheliaLong "Marian's Tea"
A little period piece! It's very much out of my comfort zone so it was refreshing. Also, if Alfred faked that little collapse, I gotta admire his spunk and game with the ladies. How else would he end up in her lap? ;)

Dave James Ashton "Roughriders"
The turn at the end made me laugh out loud. I love it. The whole time I'm picturing the speaker as a wiry, weathered old man and then it turns out to be a little boy on a carousel. Great work!


Special Challenge Champion
thehousesparrow "The Best Friends"
Aw man. This one tore me up. I'm still getting choked up about it. Unrequited love is the pits, man. Best friend unrequited love? Forget about it. I felt the years of aching and longing expand and contract throughout this short piece. Thank you so much for sharing.


Runner-up
@ParkInkSpot "Angel Of"
The sassy Reaper/Death "intern" figure was great! You managed to wrap in all of my "special challenge" conditions with a paranormal bent. I would probably buy a book based on this idea/romance.


Grand Champion
Richard Edenfield "The Marine of Memory"
I loved the disjointedness of the stream of consciousness and the wonderful weave-in of the angsty love story. It felt real, raw and a little bit tortured which is what I look for in my love stories.

(Richard didn't leave any contact information on his story, so if anyone knows him could you help us meet? I have no way of telling him of his win, or of his judging duty next week! Thanks super-duper much!)







Monday, September 21, 2015

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-12




Welcome! We're glad you could join us for the fun this week! If you haven't, make sure you check out the rules. Otherwise, go read the prompts and get writing! :)



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence.
2. Up to 500 words
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST



Oh, and feel free to change pronounspunctuationtense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Danielle Donaldson. Read her winning tale from last week here! Danielle writes from Southern California where she lives with her husband and young son. In addition to currently being a human incubator and body host to her second son, she uses her afternoons and rare spare moments to write young adult and contemporary romance. Her poems and short stories have been published in various literary magazines. She has an upcoming paranormal romance novella release this Halloween. Keep up with her work on Twitter @WriterDonaldson or WriterDanielleDonaldson.com.



 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-12 is:



"[I] practically died."




 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:



Include a theme or aspect of romance and/or someone on a carousel. ;)
 



 
AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!








Wednesday, September 16, 2015

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-11 - RESULTS!




We have a rare occurrence that the judge is super early AND I have time before I normally would, SO you get to have the results blissfully early! Everyone rejoice! ...And go finish reading all the entries here! Then read the judges comments below:




Sara Marschand, “Pixie Snacks
It’s hard to find very much sympathy for Steve-O. Drunken frat boys—haven’t they seen any horror movie, ever? They’re the character most likely to receive owies from Hollywood. Is this cardinal sin deserving of his eventual gruesome fate as pixie food? If not, Steve-O’s willingness to relieve himself in any random frat-brother’s room probably is.

@RealMommaRamble, “Sometimes Expressions Are More than ‘Just an Expression’
Poor Charlie. Getting up on the wrong side of bed is never fun, particularly when you’re struggling with a midnight burrito. Mom was right again. When your morning gets off to a start like this, it might be best to climb back in bed. That is, if you can find your own bed again…

Geoff Holme, (a.k.a. slow poke) “Late Entry
I’ve done the “no inspiration until 3 a.m.” thing. It really sucks when you draw a blank on a short deadline, too. It’s a perfect poem, and very apropos to the challenge.

But as Flo the Progressive Insurance lady says, “Only Winners get sprinkles.”


Special Challenge Champion
Richard Edenfield, “Johnny Lightning and the Lost Civilization of Toys
This piece reminded me strongly of Rod Serling’s SF, and feels like a Twilight Zone episode (particularly the ending). Big contrast between the settings, and a “damn I should’ve seen that coming” ending (but I didn’t). Bonus: You can never go wrong with Hot Wheels, and this story has ‘em. Thank you for the big grin, Richard, excellently told.


Runner Up
Lauren Greene, “Foibles and Follies
Our protagonist begins a very bad day the same way most people do, with a commute; a commute that launches a comedy of errors. From her car to the E.R., her journey is fraught with terrors (and pain!) Personally, I’ve always wanted to slug bad phlebotomy techs; one hard punch for each clumsy stab seems like a fair exchange rate, doesn’t it?


Grand Champion
Danielle Donaldson, “Untitled

This wonderful tale is all about stealing precious moments away from the tiny terrors. Every mother has surely felt similar relief. You shouldn’t feel eager to avoid your own children…but “Me time” is essential. Mom has another guilty-pleasure sin, the rich chocolate and her daydream micro-vacation. A very vivid vision (alliteration!) of the perfect break, at least for a while, and some successfully segued shifts of setting (!!!).





Monday, September 14, 2015

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-11




So... I FINALLY finished editing the scene I've been struggling over for two months!!! I'm not finished editing the novel yet (obviously), but this scene was brutal and I'm moving on! YAY! This novel will get finished eventually. That's one of the things I love about flash: the sense of accomplishment and completion you get right away. You wrote a whole thing and finished it, and that's worthy of celebration. So go write a thing, and finish it. Prompt is below. :)



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence.
2. Up to 500 words
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST



Oh, and feel free to change pronounspunctuationtense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is D.E. Park. Read his winning tale from last week here! Dave (D. E. Park) spends his spare time writing flash and micro fiction, and just attempting to get enough sleep. He’s a first-generation computer nerd (older than the internet), a lifetime devourer of SF&F (loser geek), even a comic book fan (three strikes!). He actually hasn’t been actively writing for very long (you can't tell?) He lives in Chicagoland with his wife Annie. Follow him @parkinkspot and check out his writing blog at parkinkspot.wordpress.com.



 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-11 is:



Some mornings you're the [snail], not the [sparrow].




 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:



Begin and end your story in two distinctly different settings/milieus. When, where, how, why to transition is up to you. Bonus points for contrast and humor.




 
AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!









Thursday, September 10, 2015

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-10 - RESULTS!





Congratulations! So many great stories! If you missed any of them, you can read them all here. Finished? Great! Here's what the judge had to say:



What a week of stories! I wanted a prompt that could go anywhere, and boy did you all deliver. I had a hard time picking a winner, because I thought they were all well done. What fun!

@hollygeely – Holly brings us the story of Jeff and the alpaca in Wallowing. I laughed when I read this story. I loved how the alpaca turned into fruit salad. Then I read it again, and I realized Jeff is happy with his life. He’s happy being a normal guy who knows how to knit, and he doesn’t need a fruit-salad alpaca to turn him into a hero. How wonderful to be satisfied with your life. Maybe a more appropriate title would have been Winning at Life, because Jeff certainly is. The wallower is the alpaca. Well done. (But are you sure he wasn’t on drugs?)

@MadilynQuinn – What I loved about your story, Madilyn, was how you turned “No One” into a person (er…an entity). This story gave me the creeps, but also made me want to hear more. What happened after James went out the window? There’s definitely a longer story inside this short. You used the special challenge words effortlessly. Great Job.

@needanidplease – This story had me rolling at the end. When Debra is in the house and Mrs. Lang is talking about chains, I thought she had her husband chained up in the backyard. The feeling of being in a new town, and getting accustomed to everything is so clearly described here (and boy do I know that feeling!). I love how we get the sense that nothing is right, and then the last sentence brings us back to reality. Great use of the special challenge words too! Well done.

@MichaelSimko1 – There’s so much going on here. Coins for passage to the other side. A bitter spirit intent on bringing his mother to her demise. A husband who seems glad for the death of his wife. I think you could turn this into a much larger story, like a novel. I love the way you talk about the tracks and then in the next sentence the rails. The railroad imagery is persistent—a way out—and then her tokens to the other realm are stolen by the very child who caused her to lose her life. Great job Simko.

@melinagillies – I love the way you wove the special challenge words into the story. And you tell us so much in so few words. Albert, guilty on the streets of New York, and haunted by his past criminal deeds. Reading this, I felt the moistness of the water surrounding the ghost and the uncomfortableness of Albert(o). And in the end, the snow solidified the feeling—cold, harsh, and cruel. Great job.


HONORABLE MENTION
@GeoffHolme – Oh James (or is it Mike?). Trying to end a relationship, but keeps falling into bed (literally) with Rhona even though he’s no longer interested. I could feel the tension between him and Rhona and the uncomfortableness of the very early birthday present. Such a human experience, and you describe it so perfectly. There’s nothing harder than breaking up, and especially when the woman is so smoking hot! I’m wondering if he really did change the locks the next day or if he let her back into his house? I had to look up David Dickinson by the way, and yes, his face is tan-orange! 


SPECIAL CHALLENGE CHAMPION
Richard Edenfield – Funny and creepy. I loved the way you repeated the special challenge words in the book the witch was reading. And the way you described the woman’s hair like melted syrup—such a visual picture. Bored with her life and set out to change it, although the husband is the protagonist, the witch-woman is really the agent of change. Well done, and I thought about this long after I read it and wondered if her husband still wore his alpaca sweater and ate oranges after he ran off!


GRAND CHAMPION
@ParkInkSpot – I loved how Uncle Mitch’s character comes alive with the one word “Nawp.” This story reminded me of the movie “Mothman,” and brings with it the themes of life, death, and the realm beyond. Haunting, but there’s something so simplistic and amazing about the narrator’s delivery. The description of the uncle’s spirit as a diseased buzzard at the end sums up his life and fits so well with his real-life job of cleaning up roadkill.  I’ll be thinking about this story for ages to come.






Monday, September 7, 2015

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-10




The USA celebrated Labor Day on Monday, and it got me thinking about work. I googled what the holiday was (I knew the basics, but was interested in the details), and one phrase stood out to me: the contributions of the working people. A day to celebrate those who do any job (which is EVERY job) that contributes to the economy and the morale of the people. Even if you don't live in the USA, Thank you for the work that you do. Even if it seems thankless. Even if it seems pointless. Even if it frustrates you. Even if there are moments, or days, or months where you wish you could be doing anything else... Thank you. But thank you most of all for the work you share here, that many of you don't ever get paid for. The art that you bring to this world. The inspiration. The empathy. The joy. The story. You each have a precious gift that CONTRIBUTES to society. I celebrate you today. Thanks for joining us. Go check out the prompt and get started again! You are all amazing!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence.
2. Up to 500 words
3. Keep it clean (PG-13)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST



Oh, and feel free to change pronounspunctuationtense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Lauren Greene. Read her winning tale from last week here! Lauren Greene lives in Alabama where she spends most of her time procrastinating. When she's not thinking of all the things she has to do, she's actually doing them! She is a banker, but her passion is writing. She's recently published a Southern Fiction book, The Devil Within. When she's not writing or working, she's busy with her husband, chasing her three kids, and working out! 

You can find out more about Lauren at her website laurengreenewrites.com and follow her on twitter @laurenegreene.



Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-10 is:



He knew he heard a scream, but when he turned around he was surprised to see no one was there.




 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:



Include three of the following: an alpaca wool sweater, a muddy lake, an orange, Istanbul.




 
AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!







Wednesday, September 2, 2015

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-9 - RESULTS!




September rolled in with bells and whistles! You all are amazing and should be proud of the pieces you wrote. If you missed any of them, go read them here. Done? Great! Now let's read what the judge had to say:



Wow. 8 fantastic entries this week, and I couldn't have imagined a more varied response to the prompt. This judge was overwhelmed by the quality and creativity of each piece. I am a judging newbie and want to make sure I comment on every entry so here goes:


Richard Edenfield - "The Method of Fried Chicken"
This one took me back to the annals of high school drama classes everywhere and made me smile. Part Psychology of the Theatre, Part Samuel Beckett, this piece was a beautiful layer cake of meaning. I loved how the performer finally dug down, and we were treated to a beautiful vision of hazy southern summers and the comfort of town-famous chicken. Well done.


Holly Geely"Medusa's Wish"
I never thought I would say this but, poor Medusa. This piece was very reminiscent of Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad and it is always great to see a story from a "villain's" point of view. Moreover, that Athena! What a fickle goddess. I love the telling detail in arachnid's thoughts, and the transgression my Medusa as she totally owned the slithering reference by the end of the piece.


Carlos Orozco"Small"
This was a descriptive masterpiece that kept me genuinely wondering until the last word. I love how this story looked at the negative memory aspect of the olfactory system. It was an emotional, focused piece that drew the reader in—and left me wondering what had happened to this woman. I would love to read more.


Geoff Holme"Fowl Play"
I love the double entendre of the title, and the interesting take on the prompt (though some of the required elements of the first sentence were absent, but the story was so good I let it slide) My impression of Elizabeth wavered from "brat" to "poor kid" to "oh my God, she's eating her feelings the poor thing" I was left wondering if Nando's had a subconscious role—a family meal shared in happier times perhaps? The wavering thoughts about all the characters made a very real piece about the family struggles after a break-up and was thought-provoking.


ParkInkSpot"O'Malley's Exotic Poultry Supply"
Great job illustrating the multiple (and somewhat jumbled) thoughts that run through a person's head during a crisis. I did find myself strangely attracted to the weird chicks and wondering if they were bred to suicidal tendencies or if this was a naturally occurring phenomenon. They are obviously curious creatures given the way one jumped up on Tessa's desk. This story left me with questions about their origins—and the mysterious O'Malley. Perhaps a subconscious need as humans to create a breed of chicken eager for the slaughter rather than the horror stories one sees on the news?


Lauren Greene"Don't Be a Chicken"
I think "alight on my nose" was my favourite quote of the contest. I appreciate a piece that can completely encompass the special challenge with vigour and make 436 words about KFC sound appealing. This story successfully evoked the smell, texture, taste—and gut wrenching guilt involved in consuming a bucket of fried chicken. I laughed at the justifying thoughts many of us women feel (and possibly men too) about how much bad food we can get away with following a session at the gym. Funny, and endearing (aw Marco – you are fallible like the rest of us!) I really enjoyed this story.


Quenby Olson"Only Rebecca"
This story was very Paltrow-esque in a Sliding Doors kind of way and I love stories that detail how a missed moment (or gained opportunity if you're a glass-half-full type of person) can completely change the trajectory of our day—or even our life. Why is it that our clothes always seem to have a funky smell when we're feeling bad about our appearance? A real story about a flawed heroine and I loved the telling detail about her unraveling chignon. It did leave me wondering how many handsome millionaires are taking the subway for fun (and how I could get in on that action!)


Michael Simko"Persuasion"
The ingenuity here which breathes new life into an ancient myth was bloody fantastic…and anything that mentions Canada's national dish gets a nod from me J I was impressed that the omniscient being was female, and a role reversal from the typical man-God aspect, yet the story still emitted faint wisps of the reality of mundane married life (No you can't watch the game because [insert wifely comment here]) Nonetheless there's a brilliant layer there revolving around a tiny spider, and the vulnerability only a wife would know. The modern setting was brilliant—though the image of babies smacking into concrete did awaken a visceral reaction in me. Thoroughly enjoyable.


Wow – these stories were all brilliant, and I had to read each several times to pick up the intonations in each. There can only be one Grand Champion however (and a few runners-up) so here we go!


Honorable MentionHolly Geely
The multi-faceted, and unique spin on Medusa's curse was too brilliant to ignore. I truly enjoyed how this piece had elements that in just a few words took the story to much deeper levels, and provided a fresh look from the perspective of Medusa. It reminds me of the final lines of the Phantom of the Opera "He had a heart that could have held the empire of the world, and in the end he had to content himself with a cellar. Surely we may pity the Opera Ghost." Anything that lets us see a base need in a villain is a great read.


Special Challenge ChampionParkInkSpot
I love how this story took the special challenge and rolled with it (no pun intended) in a unique direction. Part expose on the chicken factory business, part human nature, this piece was really unexpected and utterly refreshing.


Grand ChampionLauren Greene
Though one of the lighter pieces, I think this story highlights the vulnerability of the human body as we try (and fail miserably) at striking a balance between indulgence and discipline. I loved the happy ending and the use of imagery that used very raw language to invoke a palpable sense to the piece. I felt like I was standing under fluorescent lights, out of breath and sweaty in workout clothes, while a bead of grease tricked down my chin. There is something special about a story that can transport you to the very scene itself. Great job!



What a ride! Thank you all for allowing me to experience the inner-workings of your mind with these fantastic stories. I think flash fiction has a real advantage in producing real work that highlights a writer's personality, and I was thrilled (honoured) to be a judge this week!