UPDATED WITH WINNER: LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown: December (Holiday) Edition
Flash fiction: A style of fictional literature marked by extreme brevity.
Welcome to LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown, a monthly bout of writing prowess. You get 31 words and 3 holiday song or movie titles.
How It Works
We give you inspiration in the form of a picture, poem, video, or similar. You write a flash fiction piece, using the inspiration we gave you. Put your entry in the comments section. One winner will be picked and awarded a prize.
The Rules
- 31 words is the limit. (You can write less, but you can't write more.)
- The story must include the titles of 3 holiday song or movies used either explicitly or implicitly.
- It can be any genre.
- Give it a title (not included in the word count, but keep it under 10 words).
- We're not exactly shy, but let's stay away from senseless racism or violence.
- One entry per person.
- Editing your entry after you submit it is permitted.
- We'll pick a winner on the last day of the month.
- LitReactor staffers can't win, but are encouraged to participate.
- All stories submitted on or before December 30 will be considered. We'll run the winner on December 31.
This Month's Prize
It's a Trekkie's dream come true (and no, I don't mean that George Takei will personally take over your Twitter account). Titan Books is offering a two-book prize pack. Winners will get a copy of Star Trek: The Art of Juan Ortiz and David A. Goodman's Star Trek Federation: The First 150 Years. Here's a summary of each from the publisher:
What if every Star Trek: The Original Series episode was a movie event? What would the movie poster look like? This was the inspiration to develop a one-of-a-kind set of images for the series that launched a franchise. Artist Juan Ortiz has created unique retro-style art with the look of a 60s movie poster, comic book, pulp novel cover or advertisement, one each for all 80 episodes.
Juan Ortiz is an avid Star Trek enthusiast and an accomplished artist that set out to create an art program representing each of the 80 episodes from the Star Trek: The Original Series. The artwork embodies his passion for the series, the transformational Sixties, and the visceral reaction generated from each episode.
Since 1985, Juan has been an illustrator/designer for Disney and Warner Bros. and has penciled covers for DC Comics’ Looney Tunes and Tiny Toons magazines. He is also the publisher of his own comic book series, Silver Comics, seen in the Disney/Dreamworks release I Am Number Four (produced by Steven Spielberg) as well as The Skull Army, a macabre/detective pulp, featuring his creation (named) The End.
For the first time, an ‘in universe’ history of Star Trek, complete with excerpts from Starfleet records and intergalactic intelligence, including James T. Kirk’s official biography and newly translated Klingon reports.
Star Trek Federation: The First 150 Years celebrates the 150th anniversary of the founding of the United Federation of Planets.
This unprecedented illustrated volume chronicles the pivotal era leading up to Humankind's First Contact with Vulcan in 2063, the Romulan War in 2156, the creation of the Federation in 2161, and the first 150 years of the intergalactic democracy up until the year 2311. Meticulously researched, this account covers a multitude of alien species, decisive battles, and the technology that made the Age of Exploration possible. It includes field sketches, illustrations, and reproductions of historic pieces of art from across the Galaxy, along with over fifty excerpts from key Federation documents and correspondence, Starfleet records, and intergalactic intelligence.
Your Inspiration
Since you pretty much can't escape them no matter how hard you try, put all those holiday songs and movies to work as inspiration for a Holiday-themed Flash Fiction story.
This month, there will be a 31-word limit (you know, 31 days in December) but no limit on number of sentences. Also, your story must include a minimum of 3 holiday song or movie titles. The titles can be worked in to appear almost unnoticeable or you can directly use the titles as part of the story.
Also, assuming I have not seen or heard every holiday-related song or movie, you may want to list them after your story, underline them, or even hyperlink them, so that I will be sure not to miss your ingenious inclusion of Rare Exports or some other obscure (but AWESOME) holiday movie or song. (Rare Exports, BTW, is one of the BEST Christmas movies I've ever seen. Creepy and amazing...)
Good Luck, and Happy Holidays everybody!
Now get writing!
And the winner is...Ben Jackson
There were a lot of great entries this month, but Ben's is the only story with a holiday movie I'd never heard of! I love the use of dialogue and the reference to the Alvin and the Chipmunks song. Well done, Ben!
A Christmas Lament on Boxing Day
“Gimme a lemon drop, kid,” Alvin called to the bartender.
“Have yourself a merry little Christmas?” the barkeep asked.
“Nah. I’ll never get that hula-hoop. Old dreams die hard,” he replied.
Column by Taylor Houston
Taylor Houston is a genuine Word Nerd living in Portland, OR where she works as a technical writer and volunteers on the marketing committee for Wordstock, a local organization dedicated to writing education. She has a BA in Creative Writing and Spanish from Hamilton College and attended Penn State's MFA program in Creative Nonfiction. She has taught writing at all levels from middle school to college to adult, and she is the creator of Writer’s Cramp, a class for adults who just want to write!
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A Christmas Lament on Boxing Day
“Gimme a lemon drop, kid,” Alvin called to the bartender.
“Have yourself a merry little Christmas?” the barkeep asked.
“Nah. I’ll never get that hula-hoop. Old dreams die hard,” he replied.
An Immovable Feast
"I want a hippopotamus for Christmas," Leo Felida sighed as bullets rang off the zoo cage bars like silver bells in the otherwise silent night. "They taste delicious."
Under the Christmas Moon
"I need to talk to you," she says, voice quivering in the silent night.
He quirks his brow. "About?"
"Love, actually..."
He smiles. "Baby, it's cold outside. Let's go somewhere warm."
Disney XD presents: The Holiday
Searching the "housing swap" section on craigslist, Frosty found his solution. The email to lildrummerboy@gmail.com simply stated, “Hate the heat? We should be trading places.”
Immaculate Companions
One Silent Night God brought more Joy to the World by breathing life into dogs, cats and hamsters. A Little Drummer Boy proclaimed, "Amen," and the world rejoiced.
A Joyless Noel
Four Christmases ago, in the shadows of a burning street fire I saw what looked like three gremlins chanting “white christmas” incessantly. I found no comfort and joy that night.
Ditching the Wrapping
The babes in Toyland glittered under the flashing lights. “Let’s go Daddy,” she tugged his coat-sleeve, “Mummy’s home alone for Christmas.” “Yes, Virgina,” but he couldn’t split from the shimmering sirens.
The nightmare before Christmas came. It began at Christmas vacation and ended when ‘twas the night before Christmas. Every silent night he’d awake screaming, “Bad Santa!” Ho, ho, ho haunted him.
A Merry Affair
"Can't sleep because Santa Claus is coming to town?" She yawns,"I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus." He hears the front door. "Honey, sorry I'm late. Mistletoe and wine crisis."
Why I am the Way I am
It came upon a midnight clear, word that Grandma got run over by a reindeer. It was then, after the funeral, that I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus. I was Scarred.
Here Comes Santa Claus
“Purr me a Christmas story, sweetheart. Something saccharin.”
“It’s your money, Santa baby. Keep the boots on if you want.”
“Naughty girl. Or is it…?”
“Name’s Mistletoe and Holly. Whatever jollies.”
“Oh, holy night,” said Father Omerta.
“I saw three ships. Armed men approach,” Sammy whispered, too loud.
“What child is this?” asked Omerta.
“Do you hear what I hear?” thought Sammy.
Bells jingled. Door slammed.
Emma rushed out, saw John standing.
Tears came spontaneously.
"Where’d--”
“--worried--”
“--leaving me HOME ALONE!"
John held her. “We gotta disappear.... S.C. is COMING TO TOWN.”
Nice job on that one, natso.
Christmas Tryst
It’s Christmas Eve,
I’m Home Alone.
Santa comes.
It’s late August,
What Child Is This?
It’s a Santa Baby.
A Farewell to Grams
Did you hear?
What?
Grandma got run over by a reindeer.
Well, joy to the world. We’re finally rid of that nasty old hag. It’s a wonderful life.
The Best Christmas Present
“Happy X-mas, the war is over” the radio blared.
Everyone froze. On this silent night they were saved.
The shrieking of a descending bomb made them think, well there’s always tomorrow.
Bring Us Some Figgy Pudding
“We wish you a Merry Christmas!” the carolers sang as they mobbed Figgy Mancuso, their knives drawn and leaping at his face. This would be his last Christmas, a black Christmas.
My father’s nickname is The Hebrew Hammer. “We’re no Angels,” he says, “but the bills get paid.”
The man who came to dinner was clearly terrified, just how dad liked it.
Arresting Christmas
“Figured I was home alone.” I shrugged.
“You’re a bad Santa stealing silver and gold.” The policeman smirked. “Instead of a Holiday Inn you’re spending the holiday in handcuffs.”
I’m scrooged.
“Do They Know?”
Know that the birth that slouched toward Bethlehem now hisses at our feet! And we’ve no mountain to tell it on. Christmas once white, now darkened by that o’ holy night.
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1. do they know it's christmas?
2. go tell it on the mountain
3. White Christmas
4. O' Holy Night
"The Last Christmas at SETI"
It came upon a midnight clear: a new signal near the Silver Bells, pulsars too similar in rhythm to be natural. Three gamma bursts, then a silent night. Their arrival heralded.
Partridges, pear trees and parricide
“I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus,” Grandma announced last Christmas. “I’m gonna tell your Daddy tomorrow”.
I called the North Pole immediately.
That evening, Grandma got run over by a reindeer.
Partridges, pear trees and parricide
“I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus,” Grandma announced last Christmas. “I’m gonna tell your Daddy tomorrow”.
I called the North Pole immediately.
That evening, Grandma got run over by a reindeer.
Wishing For A Snowblown Christmas
After the police crackdown it was Silent Night in Manhattan, but he looked for A Miracle on 34th Street. When he saw the fishnet stockings he thought: It's a Wonderful Life.
Congrats to Ben for the excellent flashing.
Great job Ben!
Congratulations Ben,
You evoked many childhood memories, for many people and even created sensory detail.
Thanks all! This was fun, and it was especially fun to read all the great shorts.
Nice job, Ben!
"Jingle Bells" is one of the most popular Christmas songs in the world however, history tells us it is not specifically a Christmas song. Known today as a fun and laughter filled Christmas song and is popular as the subject of parody. James Lord Pierpont originally wrote the song in 1857 and was owned at the time as "One Horse Open Sleigh".
Christmas Bells