Friday flash fiction and prize draw time!
A tiny flash of 300 words this week, again inspired by the five minute flash fun hosted by the lovely Leah Petersen with the prompt “Flying” and the prize draw for your June Friday Flashes 🙂
Flying
“You were in it, and Jack, but he didn’t look like Jack, he looked like a dream Jack.”
“Yeah,” he said, barely taking in the nervous gabbling that flowed from his friend.
“So anyway, we were all in this car, and the sky was really red, like, I dunno, like the most intense sunset, like, ever.”
He looked up as the seat belt sign came on and checked the clasp. He glanced into his friends lap. “Seat belt time.”
“Oh God, I don’t think I can do this.”
“You can, just remember to breathe, in, out, in, out.” He squeezed her hand. “That’s good. I’ll do your belt. Carry on with the dream.”
“Errr… yeah… we were all in this car and there were these signs by the side of the road saying there’d been an accident- oh God is that noise normal?”
“Yes, it’s just the engine warming up. Then we’ll start moving slowly towards the runway, okay? You were telling me about the signs.”
“Yeah… and I tried to stop the car, but the steering wheel didn’t work, and the brakes didn’t work. There was a traffic jam up ahead, and we were going to crash – why is that steward talking on the phone? Is there a problem?”
“No, he’s telling the Captain that the cabin crew are ready.”
“Oh, okay. Yeah, the car crashed, and I went through the windscreen, and it was so vivid – it didn’t hurt – but it was like I could feel the glass breaking on me and I thought, this is it, I’m going to die, but I felt really calm. And I thought about Freddie, and who would feed him, and then I was flying!”
“Flying?”
“Yeah, I went up in the air and – what was that bang?”
—
So, just like last month, I am going to record a Friday Flash written by someone in the community (for free), publish it here to showcase their writing and of course, send it to the flash author to do with it what they will. I get a chance to practice producing other people’s work, and the winner gets a professionally produced audio version of their story. The only thing I ask is that at the end I get to say that I recorded it and give out my URL in case someone who listens would like me to record something for them.
Here’s how it works:
• You look at the Friday Flashes you wrote in June and pick your favourite one
• Leave a comment below, telling me that you’d like it to go into the draw, and include a link to that flash so I know where to find it if it wins, and your Twitter name too
• I’ll pick one at random using the random.org number generator (I’m not going to judge or pick a favourite as I don’t want to get tangled up in that)
• Over the following month I’ll record it and produce an MP3 which will get posted here with a link to the original flash and send you the file.
• Then you can put it on your own site, and if you link back to me to spread the word, that would be great.
Sound good? If you don’t follow the instructions above be warned that I won’t have a chance to chase you for details.
Here is the recording of Katherine Nabity’s ‘Wicked Witch For Hire’ that was last month’s winner. (Bottom of the page)
So if you want a chance to have me record one of your stories, you’ve got a week to submit – starting now. Please spread the word!
And if you can’t bear to wait (or you want to have me record one as a present for a fellow writer), you can always commission a professional story recording by me – the details are here.
I’m in. The link to my flash is here: http://www.gabrukiewicz.com/2010/07/thursdays-three-word-wednesday.html
My twitter handle is tgabrukiewicz
Perhaps it is a very good thing that I seem not to remember dreaming!
Am impressed that you take a prompt and write something quickly and so wonderfully. You are so very good at this writing business, Em! 🙂
Yes, I would love to join in your draw. The story I chose (easy enough since there were only two in June) is The Barkeep at http://bit.ly/9wLM5g
My twitter name is @marisabirns
That is one trippy opening. You should record it just so we can hear how it sounds to you. In my head, it’s downright surreal, and the story follows from there.
Even though I hope to resume recording my own stories soon, please put me in the drawing. It’s always useful for writers to hear how they sound in the mouths of others!
Taking a prompt and then showing such imagination and putting a dream and real-life together. Very good.
My fave blog #flashfriday entry was “Roses for Grandma” at http://gigglingatitall.blogspot.com
Very surreal story. Loved how it flowed, and all in a compact amount of words! Well done!
Ooh, I like this! Of course, you’ve just reminded me why I don’t fly very often. 😉
Yes, I’d love to be considered for this month’s draw. The story I’d like to submit is: The UCF Stories Episode 12: Early Morning Call, which is at: http://future-nostalgic.blogspot.com/2010/06/fridayflash-ucf-stories-12-early.html
One should always pay attention to one’s dreams. Love the story, Em.
Good luck to the contest entrants, too. 🙂
What was that bang? Might have paid off for her to listen to the omens.
~jon
I’d like to put Serpent into the drawing. Here is the URL:
http://jmstrother.com/MadUtopia/?p=1031
Thanks. I love this contest. Great idea.
~jon
As someone with a big fear of flying I found this very disturbing! Short, snappy and leaves the reader guessing – a great bit of flash!
Gah. What WAS the bang? Nicely done!
I’d like to enter “Avast my heart” for the draw.
http://bit.ly/cGEUfR
It’s a romance piece. Yes. You read that right…laughing…romance from me. Who would have thunk it?
My twitter handle is @karenfrommentor
This is a great idea Em and very generous of you to share your time and talents like this with the #fridayflash community.
Karen :0)
Oh my. So few words and such a big story. There is a dream coming true……
Great idea, here’s my entry: “Where were you?”
http://inshin.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/where-were-you/
@inshin
Love the flash, dear!
Also here’s my entry, “No Place Like Home”.
http://icy-sedgwick.blogspot.com/2010/06/friday-flash-no-place-like-home.html
You know me… @icypop
See? I knew flying was dangerous. Poor fellow.
Your voice on Katen’s lovely story was spot on. Beautiful reading. I would love to hear your gorgeous voice tackle this bit of nastiness: http://muskokariver.blogspot.com/2010/07/zombie-luv-flash-fiction-contest.html
Here’s my top-rated story for June.
Thoki & Lor “Mornings”
http://monicamarier.blogspot.com/2010/06/thoki-lor-experiment-1.html
I’m in, too. The story is “Bones Don’t Burn” http://www.tonynoland.com/2010/06/fridayflash-bones-dont-burn.html
Google Analytics tells me that this is my most popular story ever.
And I’m @TonyNoland on Twitter.
Thanks!
Great story Emma! Your dialogue is so well written – we could learn a lot from you, (and I do hope it rubs off on me).
I’d like to enter The Waiting in the contest: http://theothersideofdeanna.wordpress.com/2010/06/10/the-waiting/ Thanks so much for the wonderful opportunity!
Oops – didn’t follow the rules, forgot my Twitter ID: @deannaschrayer