First Campaigner Challenge

Filed Under Campaign, My Writing Excerpts | 26 Comments

Here’s the challenge:

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: “the door swung shut.” (also included in the word count)

For those who want an even greater challenge, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!

I tried, but the story didn’t like being at 200 words. It didn’t like 34 words of fluff. So here’s my entry, at 166 words:

Frozen Roses
The door swung open. There they were. Limp red mittens drowning in water. I pulled the ice tray toward me. Twelve perfect cubes of frozen rose petals.

The Book had said this would cure love. Bespelled roses consumed by ice. No more waiting to be noticed, no more “accidental” run-ins, no more wasted daydreams. My feelings would die with the roses. I would be free of him.

I wasn’t free. I craved his hand on mine, running up my arm. Lazy Sundays with just the two of us. Nobody else, especially not a wife.

My body shook. What was I thinking? I couldn’t still be in love. I couldn’t. The roses were dead. I’d done everything perfectly.

No. Not perfectly.

One corner of one petal breached the surface. Breathing. Surviving. Tying me to him.

I yanked out the ice tray and ran the faucet. When the red was completely submerged, I returned the tray and stepped back. Cutting myself off. For good.

The door swung shut.

You can vote for my story by clicking here!

  • Welcome

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    Hi, I'm Jenn, new grad student and old YA fantasy writer. I've long dreamed of being a novelist, and I bet you have too. I hope you find my blog helpful, inspiring, and maybe just a little bit fun. (But not too much fun. Writing is serious business, you know.)

    You can follow me on Twitter or Facebook, or email me at:
    jennifer.a.johnson7 at gmail dot com

  • Official Progress


    4/21 segments

    A narrator hijacks a cliche fantasy story, much to the chagrin of its characters.

    Status: Second revision



    1,639/70,000 words
    A young noblewoman with strange powers must choose: her king or her soul.

    Status: First draft



    1,087/70,000 words
    When a girl's heart is stolen, she's plunged into a world of magic and shadows - but can she get her heart back before she loses it completely?

    Status: First draft





  • All writing, unless otherwise specified, is the property of
    Jennifer Johnson © 2010