Ding Ding, Let The First Round Begin!
I can't believe I'm doing this challenge again! Well actually I can because it's tons of fun and one of the inspirations behind my Random Generator Series.
If you've been a subscriber to the blog you probably already know what I'm talking about. If you're newly joining us, then you most likely haven't heard of the 250 Word Microfiction Challenge.
Last November, I decided to go against 5,400 other writers and participate in the 250 Word Microfiction Challenge. It was obviously a great experience which is why I decided to participate in this year's as well! Read my other posts describing my experience and my story themed around 'nice guys' from last year. I promise it's a good one!
Unlike last year, I didn't sit waiting at my computer watching the countdown mulling over ideas for different genres. Instead, I spent my time with friends ghost hunting in our local cemetery. It was great time and I'm glad I didn't miss it.
The reason for missing the kickoff though was simple. I've been working all year towards this challenge with my Random Generator Short Stories. After doing so many I felt like I was prepared for anything.
In fact, I didn't even read my challenge until 3 1/2 hours after it was announced with the 24 hour countdown still ticking.
Well, let me tell you, when I finally scrolled and clicked on my name all creativity left my body. I reread my challenge again.
Genre: Ghost Story
Action: Patting someone on the head
Word: dry
With just coming from ghost hunting one would think I would be flooded with ideas, but instead it was the latter. What the heck was I going to write?
Before driving myself crazy over ideas, I thought the best thing to do was to sleep on my challenge and see what I came up with in the morning. Morning came and I was still stuck. I scrolled through the forum happy to see everyone else who had gotten Ghost Story as their genre were also struggling.
So I did what I do best, and decided to start off this challenge like every other Random Generator Short Story and give myself 15 minutes to write down as many ideas as possible and from there, I would create my story.
After about an hour and a half my 250 Word Microfiction Story or, in the case, 244 word story(that's right for once I didn't use every single word) was complete.
It was honestly the hardest challenge to date, but like the rest of my stories I am happy with the end results.
Read my story below!
Welcome to The Clink
“Welcome to The Clink,“ the guard smirked with a shove of my shoulder. The twist of skeleton keys in the rough metal indicated the beginning of my incarceration.
From the dim light illuminating through the bars, I got a quick sense of my new home. Cracked, dingy, with a lingering smell of musk floating on the cold air. Squinting, the outline of a large man splayed on the top bunk. He shifted slightly giving no recollection to my presence. Taking note, I settled.
I woke sometime later, the sound of chains echoing as they drug closer…clink…clink…clink.
In the dark corner, my cellmate curled slowly rocking back and forth, his lips mumbling hushed words. With every metal grazed clink, his motion quickened with fright. The noise, now on top of us, suddenly came to a halt, but to my surprise no one was there. The thought didn’t linger long as the rocking man let out a wailing scream. I shot back in my bunk, my mouth to dry to let out a scream of my own.
He rose scratching at his face and arms. Through his painfully cries he began ducking and weaving like an abused dog avoiding being pat on the head.
But, just as quickly as it began, it stopped.
With tired eyes and blood dripping down his face he crawled back to his bunk, the bed creaking under his weight. His raspy voice crackled as he spoke, “Welcome to The Clink, boy.”
Final Thoughts
What do you think of the story?
Since I recently wrote about my childhood experience with ghosts I figured I should go off another haunting experience where I visited my state prison a few years back.
Playing off the a slang word for prison, "Welcome to the Clink" was born! I won't get results back until December 15th when I find out if I make it to the second round..ding ding!
So stay tuned for part 2 of this 250 Word Microficiton Challenge! If you haven't already, subscribe down below to get the latest updates on this challenge along with my other writing challenges! Let me know in the comments what kind of ghost story you would have written in 250 words or less.
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