Flash! Friday–Vol 2 – 45

It’s Flash! Friday time, and today’s stakes are high. Welcome! But first, some news. We’re a scant seven weeks out from the end of Year Two (everybody gasp with me, please. GASP!), which means Flashversary’s coming up, and Year Three’s launching with all its tricks and surprises, and are we ever excited by what’s coming. Check it out:

October 24 – Judge Betsy Streeter

October 31 – Judge Aria Glazki

November 7 – Judge Phil Coltrane

November 14 – Judge Margaret Locke

November 21 & 28 – Special judges

December 5 – Flashversary begins

December 12 – Year Three begins!

And kicking it all off:

This Monday, October 20, we will begin accepting applications for the first Year Three dragon judge team.

We’re going to be changing things up (note the word team), and let me tell you (ask anyone!) judging is WHERE IT’S AT, if you’re interested in growing as a flash fiction writer. Come back Monday (you have to anyway, for results) to find out more and how to apply for the fieriest dragon band in this or any kingdom.

And then coming in early November is a warmup mini contest with special prizes, to grease the gears for our mega Flashversary battle (which, oh yes, is pure madness this year). 

There. If that doesn’t get your dragon hearts all fired up…!

Now back to today’s regularly scheduled programming. Today in 1956 a precocious 13-year-old Bobby Fischer faced off with American powerhouse chess master Donald Byrne in what would be called “The Game of the Century.” What worlds does a champion see in the bland faces of miniature kings and queens poised for battle? That’s the heart of your campaign today. (Side note: for fun, you might read Poe’s famous sleuth Dupin’s hilariously arrogant take on chess here.)  Check. 

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Refereeing today’s match is three-time Flash! Friday champ Phil Coltrane. If you haven’t made it over to his judge page, let me remind you he’s got a slight bias toward scifi, but he loves any writing that spins off in a totally unexpected direction. Make it vivid, he says. Make it rich, he says. Make it more.     

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Awards Ceremony: Results will post Monday. Noteworthy #SixtySeconds interviews with the previous week’s winner post Wednesdays.  I (Rebekah) post my own unbalanced writings sometimes on Tuesdays or Thursdays.   

Now, start the clock and get to it!

* Word limit: 150 word story (10-word leeway) based on the photo prompt.

* How: Post your story here in the comments. Include your word count (140 – 160 words, exclusive of title) and Twitter handle if you’ve got one. If you’re new, don’t forget to check the contest guidelines.

* Deadline: 11:59pm ET tonight (check the world clock if you need to; Flash! Friday is on Washington, DC time)

* Winners: will post Monday. 

* Prize: The Flash! Friday e-dragon e-badge for your blog/wall, your own winner’s page here at FF, a 60-second interview next Wednesday, and your name flame-written on the Dragon Wall of Fame for posterity. 

***Today’s Dragon’s Bidding (required element to incorporate somewhere in your story; does not need to be the exact word(s) unless instructed to do so, e.g. the pendant would read “include the words “Alekhine’s Defence“):

****BONUS CHALLENGE (not required, but strongly encouraged):

DO NOT USE THE WORD “CHESS”

***Today’s Prompt:

Georgian writers Ilia Chavchavadze and Ivane Machabeli playing chess, 1873 St Petersburg. Public domain photo. NOTE: despite careful license checks, the earlier photo inadvertently violated copyright and has been removed. If you posted it on your blog, please delete it immediately. Thank you and apologies.