Due to low interest in the second YA Flash Death Match of the Month, we're going to put it on hold until September. It was an experiment, and now we know two is too many for one month! The writer who entered this time will be entered in the next match automatically. We'll put a new schedule together for September and keep you posted! Stay tuned for the next YA Flash Death Match and thanks for making this site great! Keep writing and keep churning out those story ideas!
Much love! *hugs*
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Contest Winner and Open for Topics!
Congratulations to Beth Fred for winning the 1st YA Flash Death Match in August!
And thanks to both Beth and Samantha Rill for providing us with some great stories to work with!
That being said, topics are open again until Thursday, August 20th at noon CST for the second YA Flash Death Match in August! Leave a comment on this post with your suggested topic and consider that your entry into the competition! We'll notify the competitors on Thursday! Good luck!
And thanks to both Beth and Samantha Rill for providing us with some great stories to work with!
That being said, topics are open again until Thursday, August 20th at noon CST for the second YA Flash Death Match in August! Leave a comment on this post with your suggested topic and consider that your entry into the competition! We'll notify the competitors on Thursday! Good luck!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
August Death Match I - Read and Vote!
Welcome to the first YA Flash Death Match of August! We've got two great writers going up against each other and only you can determine the winner! Beth Fred and Samantha Rill have produced some great stories on the following topic: Getting lost on vacation leads you to an inter-dimensional portal to an entirely new world.
Click on the links below to read their stories. Your comment is your vote! You have until Friday, August 13th at midnight CST to vote! Winner will get the awesome YA Flash Death Match badge for their blog and bragging rights!
Home by Beth Fred
Land of Warning by Samantha Rill
Click on the links below to read their stories. Your comment is your vote! You have until Friday, August 13th at midnight CST to vote! Winner will get the awesome YA Flash Death Match badge for their blog and bragging rights!
Land of Warning by Samantha Rill
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Home by Beth Fred
We threw out backpacks in the back of my jeep and cruised into spring break with the top down. It was really still too cold for this.
Whatever. My taunters would see it and know that while I may never be cooler than them, my car was.
“I hate this place.” I mumbled.
Stephy looked at me. “You know, if it weren’t for the green lipstick around your eyes and the disco ball head band, they wouldn’t make fun of you.”
“Ah, but not for those things I could not be the Jeni, drama queen of all the Earth, or at least Las Vegas.”
Stephy laughed. “Then you can’t complain about the responses your actions elicit.”
I sighed. “I don’t make fun of the chess team and math nerds.”
“Dude, you walk around with green lipstick around your eyes in a variety of costumes.” Obviously, from the way she said it she had no idea if that was the right word. They weren’t really costumes, more fashion statements. “If you made fun of the nerds they would laugh at you.”
“This from my best friend.”
“Hey, I support all your freakishness. I’m just telling you our lives would be easier, if you chose to go main-stream."
“Ours?”
“Uhh—I’m a freak by association, but I’m such a loyal friend, I endure.”
Now, I laughed. “I thought I’m supposed to be the drama queen?”
“I deal with you daily. I’m entitled to my moments.”
“Well, my melodramatic side-kick, what are we doing this week?”
We contemplated. Not being rich kids, there would be no South Padre, or Panama.
“We could go camping—Grand Canyon?” Stephy suggested.
“Like sleep on the ground?”
“In the jeep.”
I looked at her skeptically. Drama queens didn’t tend to do camping.
“Princess, can you fund a better idea? It’s either that or a week with the parents.”
It was settled. Stephy told her parents she was vacationing with us for the week and I sold the same lie in reverse to my parents. We left before they were awake and hid Stephy’s car.
***************************************************************************
“I don’t remember this stuff on the way to the Grand Canyon.” Stephy said.
“It’s what the directions said.”
“Check the GPS.”
“I forgot it.”
“You forgot the GPS. How did you think we would make it to Arizona?”
Lately, her melodramatics had me doubting my standing as the drama queen. But then a sign read, “Warning Entering a Military Installation.” Stephy was right.
We exchanged a disturbed look. You didn’t live two hours from Area 51 and not know the stories.
“I’ll turn around.” Before I could the car seemed to be falling. It had to be in my head since the road stretched out straight in front of us. Stephanie tensed in her seat, one hand grasping the bottom of her seat the other clinging to the “oh crap” handle just above the window.—She felt the freefall too. A brilliant burst of cloudy light surrounded the car. I tried to stir out of it--useless.
Praying, I closed my eyes. We dropped to a rocky bottom, where a crowd of green people (other than the color of their skin looking very much like us) surrounded the jeep.
Stephy nervously joked, “I hope they don’t find your eye make-up mocking.”
Me too. Really. The top was down; the vehicle offered no protection. We opened the doors and fearfully slid out.
Stephy creeped around the car to where I stood. Most of the crowd knelt before me now, oblivious to her.
“What are they doing?” She whispered.
I shrugged too scared to make any bolder movements, clueless as to what they were doing. An attractive green guy approached me. “I am Malakar.” His eyes were hazel, his hair a creamy brown, his facial features sharp and distinct, and his body muscular.
“I’m,” my voice squeaked. “I’m yours.”
His gentle laugh shone through his eyes. My heart flipped. “You are the Earthling we’ve been waiting for.”
“…Where am I?”
“You are on planet Malak. The force field around the teleportation device is to protect my people from your government since our visit many years ago. But it’s malfunctioning, which is how you landed here. I’m very sorry for your inconvenience but thankful for your presence. That being said, my people have been waiting for the Earthling, who could accept us and be cunning enough to gather the needed supplies from Earth.”
“Seriously, I’m nerd girl. What makes you think I’m your cunning Earthling, Malakar—whoa! Wait a minute. You like own the planet?”
He chuckled. “Princess,” I’d been called this before, usually with sarcasm. Now the word was genuine. “One cannot own a planet, but I lead the Malakans just as my father before me. You’re the Earthling we’ve been waiting for. The oracle told me I would know her when I saw her and legend says she’s mesmerizing.”
Malakar was completely into me! I looked around to the green people cloaked in renaissance attire, then back to Prince Charming complete with a sword hanging from his side, to the frightened face of my best friend.
I knew I belonged here. It wasn’t just Malakar. No one sneered at the green marks around my eyes, or at the fact that I wore a head band which threw iridescent light several yards every time I moved. No one cared about the large fluttering butterfly clippies clamping sporadically to my velvet dress for jewels.
I could be Jeni without criticism.
“I’ll stay. I’ll be your supply girl, just get Stephanie home safely. And if she would like to visit, she needs the option.”
“Princess, you can have any visitor you wish. They will be safe here. You are welcomed as long as you like and never required to stay.” He knelt. “But please, give me the opportunity to make you more than the overseer of supplies. In time, I hope to earn your affection.”
Stephy returned home promising to visit; I was home.
Whatever. My taunters would see it and know that while I may never be cooler than them, my car was.
“I hate this place.” I mumbled.
Stephy looked at me. “You know, if it weren’t for the green lipstick around your eyes and the disco ball head band, they wouldn’t make fun of you.”
“Ah, but not for those things I could not be the Jeni, drama queen of all the Earth, or at least Las Vegas.”
Stephy laughed. “Then you can’t complain about the responses your actions elicit.”
I sighed. “I don’t make fun of the chess team and math nerds.”
“Dude, you walk around with green lipstick around your eyes in a variety of costumes.” Obviously, from the way she said it she had no idea if that was the right word. They weren’t really costumes, more fashion statements. “If you made fun of the nerds they would laugh at you.”
“This from my best friend.”
“Hey, I support all your freakishness. I’m just telling you our lives would be easier, if you chose to go main-stream."
“Ours?”
“Uhh—I’m a freak by association, but I’m such a loyal friend, I endure.”
Now, I laughed. “I thought I’m supposed to be the drama queen?”
“I deal with you daily. I’m entitled to my moments.”
“Well, my melodramatic side-kick, what are we doing this week?”
We contemplated. Not being rich kids, there would be no South Padre, or Panama.
“We could go camping—Grand Canyon?” Stephy suggested.
“Like sleep on the ground?”
“In the jeep.”
I looked at her skeptically. Drama queens didn’t tend to do camping.
“Princess, can you fund a better idea? It’s either that or a week with the parents.”
It was settled. Stephy told her parents she was vacationing with us for the week and I sold the same lie in reverse to my parents. We left before they were awake and hid Stephy’s car.
***************************************************************************
“I don’t remember this stuff on the way to the Grand Canyon.” Stephy said.
“It’s what the directions said.”
“Check the GPS.”
“I forgot it.”
“You forgot the GPS. How did you think we would make it to Arizona?”
Lately, her melodramatics had me doubting my standing as the drama queen. But then a sign read, “Warning Entering a Military Installation.” Stephy was right.
We exchanged a disturbed look. You didn’t live two hours from Area 51 and not know the stories.
“I’ll turn around.” Before I could the car seemed to be falling. It had to be in my head since the road stretched out straight in front of us. Stephanie tensed in her seat, one hand grasping the bottom of her seat the other clinging to the “oh crap” handle just above the window.—She felt the freefall too. A brilliant burst of cloudy light surrounded the car. I tried to stir out of it--useless.
Praying, I closed my eyes. We dropped to a rocky bottom, where a crowd of green people (other than the color of their skin looking very much like us) surrounded the jeep.
Stephy nervously joked, “I hope they don’t find your eye make-up mocking.”
Me too. Really. The top was down; the vehicle offered no protection. We opened the doors and fearfully slid out.
Stephy creeped around the car to where I stood. Most of the crowd knelt before me now, oblivious to her.
“What are they doing?” She whispered.
I shrugged too scared to make any bolder movements, clueless as to what they were doing. An attractive green guy approached me. “I am Malakar.” His eyes were hazel, his hair a creamy brown, his facial features sharp and distinct, and his body muscular.
“I’m,” my voice squeaked. “I’m yours.”
His gentle laugh shone through his eyes. My heart flipped. “You are the Earthling we’ve been waiting for.”
“…Where am I?”
“You are on planet Malak. The force field around the teleportation device is to protect my people from your government since our visit many years ago. But it’s malfunctioning, which is how you landed here. I’m very sorry for your inconvenience but thankful for your presence. That being said, my people have been waiting for the Earthling, who could accept us and be cunning enough to gather the needed supplies from Earth.”
“Seriously, I’m nerd girl. What makes you think I’m your cunning Earthling, Malakar—whoa! Wait a minute. You like own the planet?”
He chuckled. “Princess,” I’d been called this before, usually with sarcasm. Now the word was genuine. “One cannot own a planet, but I lead the Malakans just as my father before me. You’re the Earthling we’ve been waiting for. The oracle told me I would know her when I saw her and legend says she’s mesmerizing.”
Malakar was completely into me! I looked around to the green people cloaked in renaissance attire, then back to Prince Charming complete with a sword hanging from his side, to the frightened face of my best friend.
I knew I belonged here. It wasn’t just Malakar. No one sneered at the green marks around my eyes, or at the fact that I wore a head band which threw iridescent light several yards every time I moved. No one cared about the large fluttering butterfly clippies clamping sporadically to my velvet dress for jewels.
I could be Jeni without criticism.
“I’ll stay. I’ll be your supply girl, just get Stephanie home safely. And if she would like to visit, she needs the option.”
“Princess, you can have any visitor you wish. They will be safe here. You are welcomed as long as you like and never required to stay.” He knelt. “But please, give me the opportunity to make you more than the overseer of supplies. In time, I hope to earn your affection.”
Stephy returned home promising to visit; I was home.
The Land of Warning by Samantha Rill
I sat on the flat top of the large boulder, looking out at the Pacific Ocean. The blue water rolled up on to the sandy beach as the sun began to set. Families were packing up their belongings to go home and eat dinner. Groups of younger adults and older teens wandered on to the beach with coolers and frisbees. They set themselves down on long towels, couples leaning on each other and watching the romantic setting unfold.
I wanted to gag.
My mother insisted on taking a vacation while my brother and step-dad stayed home in the middle-of-nowhere Kansas. Mom and I moved there four years ago, when she decided to pack up and leave our city life in Chicago for Matt Johnson, the good ol’ American country boy. We had lived with Ginny, our five year old cat, in Chicago. Life had been hard growing up, but by the time I had to enter high school, I had fought all of the bullying and backstabbing to be comfortable with myself. When Mom dropped the bomb, my life went with it.
Mom picked California for two reasons. One, Hollywood. Two, the beach. I’d been a fan of old black and white movies since I had first stayed home alone one summer and watched the classic movie channel from sun up to sun down. Hollywood seemed the perfect location. And I always loved the beach. Nothing is as perfect as the sand beneath your feet and the smell of ocean water.
I sighed and hugged my knees to my chest. Mom spent most of her time shopping, getting a massage, getting a facial, and calling back home to see if everything was okay. At first, it made sense, but by the third day of our week long vacation, I stopped expecting plans to be made and busied myself with the beach, free wi-fi, and classic movies.
I hopped down from my perch and walked the sloping sands to the water. After swimming for most of the day, I had changed into a pair of green khakis and a white shirt before coming back to watch the sunset. I left my phone in the hotel. It’s not like anyone would text or call and the less I carried around, the better. I walked past the huge group of jagged rocks that bordered the shoreline. The temperature had cooled in the shade of the large rocks and I shivered at the sudden change. I hadn’t packed any sweater or sweats because, well, it’s California and the summer. Enough said in my book.
I walked maybe three steps into the shaded area before the sand fell from underneath me and I went with it. I slammed painfully into the jagged, rough surface of the Earth over and over again. I tried grabbing a hold of the rocky surface, but my fingers only scrapped painfully against it, refusing to save my life.
And then I was in the middle of a field, surrounded by tall, green grass and wildflowers of all colors. Purple, pink, yellow, and white flowers surrounded me with their sweet smells. I felt no pain. I looked at my fingers and gaped. I vividly remembered scrapping them against the rocky surface, but they looked just as uninjured as they had before I fell. I tried thinking back to how I landed here. I had been falling and falling and then nothing. Just a flash of white light before I found myself sitting in the meadow with a bright blue, cloudless sky above my head.
I’ve had my fair share of fairy tales. I practically lived off Disney when I was a child and I felt a little too much like Alice for my liking, minus the white rabbit. I had no idea what to do, who to look for, and how to get back home. I just knew I wasn’t going to find any answer sitting on my butt.
I stood up and began walking North. The grass tickled the bare skin on my legs and the wild flower petals were soft to the touch. The sweet scents of the flowers mixed with the fresh air blown by the wind. For miles and miles, the grass and flowers stretched on and on. Not a tree nor building in sight. I kept walking, not giving up in finding some form of civilization. A girl like me could enjoy a long life here, wherever here was. In case I couldn’t get home. A girl needs a back-up plan.
“You’re here! You’re here!” A whiz flew past my ear and I ducked. The grass tickled my chin. “You’re here! You’re here!” came the high-pitched squeals.
Slowly, I lifted my head to see four colorful hummingbirds in front of me. Their wings flapped so fast there was a constant buzzing sound.
“You’re here!” squealed the yellow one in a high-pitched voice. It bounced up and down when it spoke. Talking animals...really? I thought I’d faint.
“She’s here! She’s here!” sang the other three.
“Where is here?” I asked, stepping a little closer to the quartet of birds.
“Hagan!” squealed the blue one. The purple and red ones zipped around before hiding in the tall grass next to my feet. The blue and yellow ones followed. I looked over my shoulder at the sound of movement. Sitting upright, a cat the size of a Golden Retriever blinked at me. I stared at it, taking in the large green eyes and the black and gray striped body. Black fur made the shape of an ‘M’ on it’s gray forehead, but it eerily resembled horns than a letter.
“Fiona Morgan,” it said in a smooth, masculine voice, “welcome. I am Hagan and I will guide you through Onyo. Follow me.” He turned and the striped tail twitched at the end. I frowned. I’d lived with Ginny long enough to know when a cat twitches it’s tail, nothing good ever happens.
I wanted to gag.
My mother insisted on taking a vacation while my brother and step-dad stayed home in the middle-of-nowhere Kansas. Mom and I moved there four years ago, when she decided to pack up and leave our city life in Chicago for Matt Johnson, the good ol’ American country boy. We had lived with Ginny, our five year old cat, in Chicago. Life had been hard growing up, but by the time I had to enter high school, I had fought all of the bullying and backstabbing to be comfortable with myself. When Mom dropped the bomb, my life went with it.
Mom picked California for two reasons. One, Hollywood. Two, the beach. I’d been a fan of old black and white movies since I had first stayed home alone one summer and watched the classic movie channel from sun up to sun down. Hollywood seemed the perfect location. And I always loved the beach. Nothing is as perfect as the sand beneath your feet and the smell of ocean water.
I sighed and hugged my knees to my chest. Mom spent most of her time shopping, getting a massage, getting a facial, and calling back home to see if everything was okay. At first, it made sense, but by the third day of our week long vacation, I stopped expecting plans to be made and busied myself with the beach, free wi-fi, and classic movies.
I hopped down from my perch and walked the sloping sands to the water. After swimming for most of the day, I had changed into a pair of green khakis and a white shirt before coming back to watch the sunset. I left my phone in the hotel. It’s not like anyone would text or call and the less I carried around, the better. I walked past the huge group of jagged rocks that bordered the shoreline. The temperature had cooled in the shade of the large rocks and I shivered at the sudden change. I hadn’t packed any sweater or sweats because, well, it’s California and the summer. Enough said in my book.
I walked maybe three steps into the shaded area before the sand fell from underneath me and I went with it. I slammed painfully into the jagged, rough surface of the Earth over and over again. I tried grabbing a hold of the rocky surface, but my fingers only scrapped painfully against it, refusing to save my life.
And then I was in the middle of a field, surrounded by tall, green grass and wildflowers of all colors. Purple, pink, yellow, and white flowers surrounded me with their sweet smells. I felt no pain. I looked at my fingers and gaped. I vividly remembered scrapping them against the rocky surface, but they looked just as uninjured as they had before I fell. I tried thinking back to how I landed here. I had been falling and falling and then nothing. Just a flash of white light before I found myself sitting in the meadow with a bright blue, cloudless sky above my head.
I’ve had my fair share of fairy tales. I practically lived off Disney when I was a child and I felt a little too much like Alice for my liking, minus the white rabbit. I had no idea what to do, who to look for, and how to get back home. I just knew I wasn’t going to find any answer sitting on my butt.
I stood up and began walking North. The grass tickled the bare skin on my legs and the wild flower petals were soft to the touch. The sweet scents of the flowers mixed with the fresh air blown by the wind. For miles and miles, the grass and flowers stretched on and on. Not a tree nor building in sight. I kept walking, not giving up in finding some form of civilization. A girl like me could enjoy a long life here, wherever here was. In case I couldn’t get home. A girl needs a back-up plan.
“You’re here! You’re here!” A whiz flew past my ear and I ducked. The grass tickled my chin. “You’re here! You’re here!” came the high-pitched squeals.
Slowly, I lifted my head to see four colorful hummingbirds in front of me. Their wings flapped so fast there was a constant buzzing sound.
“You’re here!” squealed the yellow one in a high-pitched voice. It bounced up and down when it spoke. Talking animals...really? I thought I’d faint.
“She’s here! She’s here!” sang the other three.
“Where is here?” I asked, stepping a little closer to the quartet of birds.
“Hagan!” squealed the blue one. The purple and red ones zipped around before hiding in the tall grass next to my feet. The blue and yellow ones followed. I looked over my shoulder at the sound of movement. Sitting upright, a cat the size of a Golden Retriever blinked at me. I stared at it, taking in the large green eyes and the black and gray striped body. Black fur made the shape of an ‘M’ on it’s gray forehead, but it eerily resembled horns than a letter.
“Fiona Morgan,” it said in a smooth, masculine voice, “welcome. I am Hagan and I will guide you through Onyo. Follow me.” He turned and the striped tail twitched at the end. I frowned. I’d lived with Ginny long enough to know when a cat twitches it’s tail, nothing good ever happens.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Death Match #2
We have our competitors for this round of YA Flash Death Match!
(The topic as well as the competitors were chosen using a random numbers generator.)
The topic: Getting lost on vacation leads you to an inter-dimensional portal to an entirely new world, as contributed by J.L. Jackson.
The competitors:
Samantha Rill
and
Beth
Samantha and Beth are competing by writing a 1,000-word or less piece of flash fiction. The stories will be posted on August 11th and voting will continue through August 13th.
(The topic as well as the competitors were chosen using a random numbers generator.)
The topic: Getting lost on vacation leads you to an inter-dimensional portal to an entirely new world, as contributed by J.L. Jackson.
The competitors:
Samantha Rill
and
Beth
Samantha and Beth are competing by writing a 1,000-word or less piece of flash fiction. The stories will be posted on August 11th and voting will continue through August 13th.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Bring on the Topics!
Death Match #2 begins today!!!
Comment below to post a topic and to put your name in the hat for the competition. Remember, you can still offer a topic even if you don't want to compete, just type in "not competing" after your entry.
You have until Thursday - ready, set, go!
Comment below to post a topic and to put your name in the hat for the competition. Remember, you can still offer a topic even if you don't want to compete, just type in "not competing" after your entry.
You have until Thursday - ready, set, go!
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