From the 3rd Annual Flash Fiction Challenge 2010:
In each challenge, writers have 2 days to complete a 1,000 word story based on an assigned genre, location, and object.
There are three rounds to compete in, narrowing down the writers, until the fourth round when there are just 25 left in the competition. The official early entry deadline is July 8th, 2010. There are prizes for winners but, there is an entry fee to start. So, why not take the challenge unofficially?
Every 2 days pick a writing genre (western, fantasy, etc.) then a location and an object (how about your living room and an empty can of diet Coke), for instance). See if you can keep to the schedule and come up with a 1,000 word short story.
If you believe in karma and the good and evil sort of philosophies... is it possible that someone who has done a lot of bad things and caused great harm can still redeem themselves by being a gardener and giving back to life and goodness by creating good things in green ways? If the whole thing of life and having an afterlife of some kind is based on checks and balances can someone who has not been good to other people still be considered a good prospect for the afterlife if they have done good things with the other living creatures in our world? Or, do we as people think we are so self important that good deeds to plants and animals do not out weight bad deeds done to human beings?
Once you take time to think about this, write a character who isn't considered a good person and yet this same person has the most amazing garden which he/ she keeps themselves, working with their own hands to create it and keep it beautiful and growing.
The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. - George Bernard Shaw
I found this quote after I wrote this post. Just thought I'd find something nice to add about working in the garden. But, this is far more interesting.
What does 9Rules need?
Have a look at the network and give your feedback to the blog. A few years ago 9Rules was an active, vital network of blogs. People applied to join. People made embittered posts on their blogs if they were not accepted. People put that leaf graphic on their blog in a place of prominence, proud to show it off. 9Rules was as well known as ProBlogger.
But, time passed and things changed. Like other networks online it faltered. As a blogger, a blog reader and a person on the web in general, what would you suggest for 9Rules to bring itself back to life, to make changes to appeal to web readers in the year 2010?
Post here if you like but real feedback would be read by staff at 9Rules if you post to the link I added at the top of this post.
Inspired and quoted from the site for the book Zombocalypse Now:
You check the time (still two minutes before seven, though it feels like you’ve been sitting here for hours) and then start absentmindedly reviewing the appetizers listed on the plastic table display. Sweetbread? Ew—isn’t that cow brains or something? The restaurant is a spaghetti house, and you never knew that dish was Italian. But then, the “deep-fried ravioli blasters” don’t sound terribly authentic, either.
Suddenly you feel a hard bump against the table, which knocks two glasses of water square into your lap. Yiiiee! You jump to your feet, grabbing your napkin in a vain attempt to mop up your clothes, and risk a glance at your assailant.
Sure enough, your date has arrived.
Some vague approximation of the person portrayed on PerfectForeverLoveMatch.com plops down across from you. Missing from the ad, though, were the vacant stare, the slack-jawed expression and the exaggerated slouch. There’s no apology for the spill, or even an acknowledgment that water is still dripping from the table. Yeah. The bunny thing’s a deal breaker, you think. Your disappointment ends quickly, though, as you catch a whiff of something powerful and rancid. The singles profile had mentioned working as a dental hygienist, and yet hygiene is clearly not your date’s top priority.
You can read more from the site.
Write about the date with the zombie. Sounds like she's fresh, or, as fresh as a zombie can be. Does the hero take her home to meet Mom? Or is she not quite that type of girl?