Flash Fiction Challenge

A Real Rock Star – Flash Fiction Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 18 Comments

Title: A Real Rock Star
Source:  Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story about a rock star.
Word count:  99 words

Photo by John Fowler on Unsplash

Stars floated above Kye’s head. He couldn’t sleep when the ancients whispered. His gaze shifted from the sky to his sleeping brother. Their sheep rested quietly in the canyon’s safety.

Kye hefted a rock tossing it in his hand before using it to scrape images into the desert varnish coating the granite wall. The scene completed; his fingers rested on the depiction of his world.

The stars spun, eons passed, and the ancient voices grew silent. Kevin hiked into the park, hunting for answers. Placing his hand on the petroglyph he reached through time to touch the creator’s soul.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer ©

Consumption Function – Flash Fiction Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 9 Comments

Title: Consumption Function
Source:  Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story that includes the phrase “for one day”.
Word count:  99 words

9098195663 gaped at his screen.

“See this?” he asked.

But 2207344907 contemplated a different image.

“This is interesting,” 2207344907 murmured, ignoring 9098195663.

Her finger touched the ‘Buy Now’ button. Was it a good selection? Her days were exhausting, constant pressure, endless images, never-ending decisions.

“No, 2207344907. Look. Now,” 9098195663’s voice rose as he spoke.

“It says ‘for one day only’. I haven’t seen that.”

2207344907 peeked at his screen and navigated hers to the same image. It was true. She could not believe their luck. She and 9098195663 slammed the ‘Buy Now’ button until they bought the last one.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Treasured Moments – Flash Fiction Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 12 Comments

Title: Treasured Moments
Source:  Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story that makes a big splash.
Word count:  99 words

My daughter stood at the lake’s edge, trying to skim stones across its surface. As they plunged into the water, I remembered standing on this shore, throwing pebbles to master the skill. My father showed me the proper wrist flick to send a stone bouncing over the glassy expanse. Those rocks inspired my love of geology and my assemblage of semi-precious gems.

As I reached the shoreline, she stooped, selecting another rock from the bowl holding my collection. I gasped. Then I cradled her hand, positioned her wrist to the proper angle, and together we let the beauty fly.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Sweet Competition – Flash Fiction Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 9 Comments

Title: Sweet Competition
Source:  Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story that includes strawberries and mint.
Word count:  99 words

 

Edith set the heavy mixing bowl on the counter and surveyed today’s haul. She absentmindedly patted her chest with her right hand as she thought.

She was tired of strawberry shortcake, and Elenore’s receipt had won for two years running. Strawberry pie was too simple, and her strawberry jam cookies had competition from Ruth.

She caressed the velvety surface of a large berry.

“Red velvet,” the words slipped from her lips, and an idea formed. Red velvet strawberry cupcakes with minted whipped cream, topped with a huge glazed berry.

“Eat your heart out, Elenore,” she said with a smile.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Kronwalled – Flash Fiction Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 5 Comments

Title: Kronwalled
Source:  Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story without ice.
Word count:  99 words

Ice. The old-timers spoke the word, reverently. The miracle from their childhood, they waited for it each fall. Water buckets outside the door told them when to don sweaters and hunt for a sheet of holy grail on reservoirs, playgrounds, and ponds. Skates slung over their shoulders, twigs in their hands they gathered for a barnburner and the immortal words, “He shoots. He scores.”

They spoke of gods named Chelios, Esposito, Hall, Horton, Howe, Hull, Mikita, Orr and the Great One—Gretzky. Masters from a vanished game.

Zambonis sat silent and “top shelf” was now Hennessy straight, no Gretzky.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Restoring a Giant – Flash Fiction Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 13 Comments

Title: Restoring a Giant
Source:  Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story that goes in search of trees.
Word count:  99 words

The forest of Laurel’s childhood was gone. She remembered great stands of the mighty American Chestnut tree, which grew nearly one hundred feet tall with trunks ten feet in diameter. It was once the most common hardwood tree in the Northeastern United States. The tree’s wood was rot-resistant, straight-grained, and it produced nuts that fed cattle, hogs and other wildlife. Laurel remembered eating roasted chestnuts every fall.

A tree that had survived for 40 million years, disappeared in 40, destroyed by the chestnut blight. Her children worked to restore a forest they had never seen and could only imagine.

*** To learn more about restoration efforts, check out The American Chestnut Foundation (here).
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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Wisdom of the Ages – Flash Fiction Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 6 Comments

Title: Wisdom of the Ages
Source:  Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story about growing older
Word count:  99 words

It was the time of Antiquity.  The temple rose, constructed with care to mark a sacred spot. Tested by fire, its original purpose faded from consciences. Each day, the sun painted the walls in a soft luminous glow, recording the years, decades and millenniums. The Oculus recorded the words of countless stories and etched them on the dome’s geometric perfection.

Time evolved, morphing into something different. It became elastic and unimportant. Wisdom replaced foolish desires and meaningless acquisitions of petty trinkets. It distilled the truth, divulging the secret 0simplicity of being, seeing and feeling with no reservations, without judgment.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Keeping Promises – Flash Fiction Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 10 Comments

Title: Keeping Promises
Source:  Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story about sisu.
Word count:  99 words

Photo by Cassie Boca on Unsplash

Eino said caring for his invalid mother wouldn’t be easy, but his work took him abroad for months. The cabin had been her home since childhood. I didn’t imagine it would be this difficult. The closest neighbor lived miles away. We were alone.

Daytime was bearable. Aiti’s care and the daily chores kept me busy. I marked the calendar, counting days.

Then the storms descended. Howling winds crashed waves against the cliff, and spray pelted the windows. The house creaked, while my mind played games. The meager fire staved off ghosts while the clock counted the minutes until dawn.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Shattering Illusions – Flash Fiction Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 10 Comments

Title: Shattering Illusions
Source:  Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story that uses the word eminence.
Word count:  99 words

Jules was his father’s second son. He was deemed the spare heir to the kingdom. Always second best, he fought to win favor, to stand free from his brother’s shadow. Each passing year, the competition between them grew.

Their rivalry forced his vision higher, to the eminence of Mont Aiguille. He imagined looking down onto his brother’s domain. Determined, he focused on his goal, fought through doubts and fear until his kingdom became a reality.

He grew stronger than the mountain, hardening his heart he stood alone, freed from the shadows, he realized there had been nothing to prove.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Legend Keeper – Flash Fiction Challenge

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 9 Comments

Title: Legend Keeper
Source:  Flash Fiction Challenge
Prompt: Write a story that features a bucket of water.
Word count:  99 words

Photo by Fikri Rasyid on Unsplash

No one remembered the well digging ceremony, the water pump’s installation, or the water bucket’s significance. During the troubles, it was the only county pump to provide clear, pure water.

This was my family’s land. My land and my responsibility. The caretakers ensured we wasted not a drop of precious life-giving fluid. The task grew more difficult with each passing year. Many had forsaken the old ways, and the relic’s existence faded, erased from common memory.

As the keeper, I held the stories, legends, and rituals. With the full moon, the remaining guardians gathered and spoke with the sprites.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer