Wednesday, May 23, 2012

My 1st Attempt at Flash Fiction!

Click here for more info!

Author Cherie Reich is currently hosting her 2nd Annual Flash Fiction Blogfest and, in my typically reckless way, I thought, "Wow, I've absolutely no experience with writing flash fiction...so I should totally give it a shot!"

Here are the rules:

1. Entries must begin with the two words: Lightning flashed.

2. Entries must be 300 words or less and be in prose.

3. Entries must be posted on your blog between May 21 - 23.

4. You must sign up in the linky to have your entry be counted.

On May 25, Reich will announce the six finalists and open voting through May 28th.

On May 29th, Reich's third year blogversary, she will announce the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners as well as a random winner selected from the participants list.

There are prizes, y'all! So here's my entry, which I lovingly titled Mom Guilt.

~
Lightning flashed and I slapped my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming the house down. Nothing like a bit of middle-aged mom guilt to set you on edge, especially in the wee hours of the morning, as you stealthily creep out of someone else’s house.

Mom guilt. Because I finally gave in to all the longing and desire I’d buried in the dank closet of my tortured, tired soul, for so very long... Hah – that sounded like something my thirteen year old might write in her diary. Excuse me – her journal.

In fact, I didn’t feel like a mom at all, but a teen, trying to sneak out without waking her parents. Only, you know, less obnoxious.

“What are you doing?”

I jumped in place and the shoes I carried thunked to the floor. “What the hell do you think? Our kids will get back from that camping trip at eleven, so I’m going home.”

Greg rubbed the sleep from his eyes before crossing his arms. His longish floppy locks, adorably crumpled, were at odds with the serene, soul-searching look in his wise, dark eyes. I felt like I was being turned on by Spock.

“This could be your home.”

Thrilled and terrified, I sputtered, “But, but…our kids! Our exes! Our mortgages, our distinctly complicated lives!”

Lips I’d warmly received only a few hours earlier curved in a smile. “These can all be worked out. You just have to want to.”

My heart surged as nature’s fiery strobe light illuminated us. “And…you want to? Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” He reached for me. “Stay.”

I exhaled slowly, then gave him my trembling hand. “Fine. But I’m not making any promises.”

A gentle tug and he enveloped me. “You already have.”

~

So, there it is. Hope y'all enjoyed it!

32 comments:

  1. Loved it! Thought this was really well written from start to finish, bravo. (:

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  2. This is great! I hope it works out for them :)

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  3. Elise, Crystal, Laura: thank you so much for your kind words - they made my heart feel warm, too! (And my eyes a little moist, not gonna lie...) ;-)

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  4. Thank you for entering my 2nd Annual Flash Fiction Blogfest! The six finalists will be announced on Friday, May 25th. I will further comment on your entry on Thursday.

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    1. Thanks, Cherie - I look forward to making my way through this fun blogfest and checking out everybody's work!

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  5. Aww this was so good and so well written!

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    1. Shelley, thanks so much for the kind words AND for the lovely giveaway opportunity you posted on your blog (for which I've just signed up!). :-)

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  6. omg. <3 <3 <3 i loved this.. so romantic, and i love the use of humor. Greg is sexy!

    Andrea

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    1. Thanks! I always worry about being able to convey the specialness of my male protagonists. I have such intimate connections to them and others can't know them the way I do, so I really want to do them justice. It does my heart good to know I managed it here (with a 300 word limit!). :-)

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  7. Mina, this is amazing! Your first attempt at flash fiction??? Girl, this rocks...and so do you. Love it. :)

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    1. Aw, thanks Tracy! <3 <3 <3

      Yeah, the flash aspect was new to me; I'm more used to working on novel length projects which allow for more words to convey more in depth plots, know what I mean? Though doing this was a good exercise in doing more with less! :-)

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  8. Great story! I love the aspect of "being turned on by Spock." Sounds like fun :)

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    1. Merci, Becky! Not that I was thinking of him as I wrote this, but Zachary Quinto's Spock was pretty hawt. :-)

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  9. Awe, that's sweet. I loved all of her internal dialogue. Thanks for sharing!

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  10. Good stuff - I am probably too verbose for flash fiction but am willing to try anything (within reason) once.

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  11. Oh yeah, this was nice. I'm a sucker for a happy ending. ;^)

    Excellent job getting that much emotional context into a little brief flash snippet!

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  12. So sweet! Loved it, it made me feel all warm and mushy inside. :)

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  13. Thanks, Charity, David, Chris, and Nicole - I really appreciate the compliments!

    @Chris - I'm a sucker for happy endings too. (Though even I can admit when one may not be realistic, given the story and people involved.)

    @David - smart of you to qualify. ;-)

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  14. That was fantastic! I had a little laugh and felt it tug at my heart. Well done.

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  15. Aww! I loved the voice in this piece and how she felt like a teenager sneaking around.

    I'll announce the finalists tomorrow.

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  16. Loved it. Sweet, but not too much. Just right. :-D

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  17. Thanks, Christine, Cherie, Misha, and Donna - I'm digging all the feedback! :-)

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  18. Very touching and romantic without getting sappy. I loved her voice. Great scene! :)

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  19. Great piece for your first attempt at it! And we all know that big decisions are much easier to make in the dark.

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  20. Loved it...so believable and definitely should be expanded! Good job.

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  21. Michael, Angeline, Heather, Donna, and Anna, thanks for stopping by and checking out my entry! :-)

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  22. I love the romance and familial aspects of this. Great piece.

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    1. Thanks, Medeia! And congratulations on making it into the final round! :-)

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