Hey hey writertron! Here’s your Flash Face Off prompts for the week.
Scroll to the bottom of the page and find out what we’re actually doing. Or quick links here:
Book the Flash Face Off live reading
The week’s prompts are:
AI Vs AYE AYE
Shaking on the plank, she remembered her childhood like a dream she hadn’t had in years. She stepped off holding onto that dream. Her last thought was how when people die, they come back as money, something her mother used to say…
Meg Pokrass, The Plank
…maybe one day a robot could do your job and maybe it will; you have to wonder. They do sometimes wonder. A robot has no need for hydration, nutrients, excretion, sleep, a robot has no irksome brain fluids or menstruation or libido or taste buds.
Samantha Harvey, Orbital
When an aye-aye picks its nose, its finger travels through the sinus, into the throat, and into the mouth.
Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper’s Magazine, 21 Jan. 2023
CHUTE PACKERS are unregulated but conscientious,
mindful of hogging searchlights by proxy.
Look for:
unassertive handkerchief origami,
scorch offences, piracy over the high seas.
Robert Saxton, The Quilting Bee
“Is it a loss?” Rachael repeated. “I don’t really know; I have no way to tell. How does it feel to have a child? How does it feel to be born, for that matter? We’re not born; we don’t grow up; instead of dying from illness or old age, we wear out like ants. Ants again; that’s what we are. Not you; I mean me. Chitinous reflex-machines who aren’t really alive.” She twisted her head to one side, said loudly, “I’m not alive!”
Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
An Aye-aye in Madagascar by Rod Waddington on Flickr
Hopeful Robot by possessedphotography on UnSplash
Rigging by Tanner Mardis on Unsplash
Pirate, Costume, Cosplay by Vika_Glitter on Pixabay
Robots by Nomadic Lana on Flickr
What are these prompts for please?
Every week, we post a set of flash fiction prompts. You write a super small story (500 words or fewer), post it on our forums, give and receive feedback, and at the end of the month we pick our faves for a Friday night online open mic night. It’s pretty amazingly awesome and you should definitely join us. Yes you should.
It works like this:
Use the prompts to write in any way that inspires you. Pick a side, pick both, pick a quote or pick an image, or just go with the general aesthetic and vibe of the themes. Whatever floats your writerly hoozits. And remember—flash doesn’t have to be dark and traumatic to be effective.
Edit your writing into a beaut 500 word story and post it on the Flash Face Off forums (please submit no more than 2 stories per week thanks!)
While you’re waiting for the awesome writerly community to read your story and offer wise words and critique, read at least two other stories and give your constructive feedback.
That’s it! At the end of every month we gather all our faves and have a big ol’ open mic party. Sign up here.
NO WAIT ONE MORE THING!
Please do make good use of the workshopping forums to offer feedback to others, receive feedback on your own story, and tweak/edit as much as you like. This really is the absolute best way to develop your writing (and it’s a really nice way to be part of this
Ok now we’re really done. Go write.
