Welcome, Guest

• Forgot your password?
• Apply for membership

1. •  
     CommentAuthorbudgie
   • CommentTimeJan 23rd 2012 edited

    (10460.1)
   Here's the new story, written today, in response to a challenge by @mojokingbee.
   
   Your challenge should you choose to accept it is to provide art: either a spot illustration or a two page adaptation. And again, this time around, I've written a story without dialogue.
   
   

   ---

   
   Title: The Indecisive Backpacker
   Word: marinate
   Length: 200 words exactly
   
   The gun lay there on the ground, black and ugly, a nasty, horrible, necessary thing.
   
   Next to it lay the remains of her companion, his head thankfully covered by a small towel, entirely disguising the damage the .38 bullet had done.
   
   She’d waited until the small hours of the morning, when he’d been sleeping; despite everything, she hadn’t wanted him to suffer, not as she’d suffered over the years.
   
   She was no longer sure when idea had turned to intent, and intent to plan. But when he had suggested the trip away, travelling over hill and dale, she had instantly agreed.
   
   He’d only hit her once on the outgoing trip, but it had only increased her resolve that it would never, ever happen again.
   
   And when the night was clear, the clouds were absent, and they were alone, she had killed him and cried afterwards, for while external bruises on her skin always faded, the scars inside never did.
   
   Hours later, she watched the pot boil and had trouble deciding; he had been a vegetarian after all.
   
   So now, as she smelled the meat marinate, she stared at the two bottles of wine and tried to decide: red or white.
   
   (c) Lee Barnett, 2011
   
   

   ---

   
   The Rules
   
   You’ve got until evening on Saturday 4th February, say midnight British time, (4pm Pacific) to put up either a one panel spot illustration or a two page comic book depiction of the entire story. The art can be pencilled, inked, coloured, lettered... entirely up to you. But ART ONLY – no story ideas, or suggestions. This is an opportunity to showcase your art and storytelling abilities.
   
   We’ll announce on Sunday 5th February the winner who then gets to pick a new four word title and word, and I’ll write a new story which will go up Monday 6th January... which will start the whole thing running again for the following two weeks.
   
   ...go!
2. •  
     CommentAuthorjurgan
   • CommentTimeJan 23rd 2012

    (10460.2)
   A song fits this one, Janie's got a gun by Aerosmith. Got my juices flowing, as it were.
3. • CommentAuthordnewling
   • CommentTimeJan 23rd 2012

    (10460.3)
   A battered woman who strikes back at her abusive partner. I like it!
4. • CommentAuthorALE
   • CommentTimeJan 24th 2012

    (10460.4)
   and then cooks and eats him, don't leave that out.
5. • CommentAuthordnewling
   • CommentTimeJan 24th 2012

    (10460.5)
   I prefer to leave it out in my entry. Besides, I can't be sure what meat is in that pot. Perhaps Budgie has left it deliberately ambiguous.
6. •  
     CommentAuthorbudgie
   • CommentTimeJan 26th 2012

    (10460.6)
   Ambiguous? Me? Nope - I know exactly what's in the pot. Up to the reader, however, to decide whether or not they agree with me...
7. • CommentAuthordnewling
   • CommentTimeJan 26th 2012 edited

    (10460.7)
   @Budgie: Yes, that's pretty much what I thought. It's going to be interesting to see how readers' interpretations of what the meat is will affect their entries.
8. • CommentAuthor256
   • CommentTimeJan 27th 2012

    (10460.8)
   Uhhh, thought I posted this about an hour ago, but... If you see this in some other random thread, it's because I wasn't paying attention...
   
   Spot:
   
   

   

   
   
   I like to think these fiction pieces are being published in a really fucked up version of a Sunday colour supplement.
9. •  
     CommentAuthorPaul Sizer
   • CommentTimeJan 27th 2012

    (10460.9)
   Genius, 256.
10. •  
      CommentAuthorNeilFord
    • CommentTimeJan 27th 2012 edited

     (10460.10)
    
11. • CommentAuthorRenThing
    • CommentTimeJan 27th 2012

     (10460.11)
    Oooh.
12. • CommentAuthorRaid71
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2012

     (10460.12)
    that's perfect
13. •  
      CommentAuthorHorrible Warning Si
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2012

     (10460.13)
    Luvverly.
14. •  
      CommentAuthorPaul Sizer
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2012

     (10460.14)
    Neil is a master.
15. • CommentAuthorRaid71
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2012

     (10460.15)
    
    
    Sorry in advance
16. • CommentAuthorsnafu
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2012

     (10460.16)
    What a great start to this challenge. @Raid71, freakin' brilliant. I could totally see this in a scene out of Strangehaven. Does anyone else remember Strangehaven?
17. • CommentAuthordnewling
    • CommentTimeJan 29th 2012

     (10460.17)
    @Raid71: I love the flowers, the detail is amazing!
18. •  
      CommentAuthorbudgie
    • CommentTimeJan 30th 2012

     (10460.18)
    Fantastic art, folks - disturbing and wonderful.
19. • CommentAuthorflecky
    • CommentTimeJan 30th 2012 edited

     (10460.19)
    @budgie:That's a great piece of hard-boiled writing.And with the art on here:dark and deadly vengeance served with a sauce of coward's blood...
    
    I want to know more about this killer.She's great.
20. •  
      CommentAuthorbudgie
    • CommentTimeJan 30th 2012

     (10460.20)
    @flecky - Thank you! Glad the story worked for you...