This contest asks writers to pen a flash in 99 words composed in tweets: 11 tweets, 9 words each. Here’s my attempt (not an entry, just challenging myself for fun). First are the actual tweets, then, same story in 11 sentences (each with 9 words).
Psst…the tweets are interactive. Like, RT, or reply right from this post. Give it a go…
~~~
They find me. Crouched behind a rusted filing cabinet.
Gloved hands grip my bare arms, lifting me easily.
Shoving me into bright sun outside the hospital ward.
I run back, stumble, fall hard on the asphalt.
I reach for the door. I reach for him.
Balancing on my left palm, I almost make it.
With their heavy boots, they step on my fingers.
They laugh. I shout. They threaten. I kick. Dammit!
They grab me, make me promise to stay away.
Tell me he is sick and dangerous. They lie.
Then, again, so do I. They will die tonight.
~~~
Tweet some fiction, fellow tweeps. You could win $25. 🙂 Check it out here.
Lemon Shark Reef 
Nicely done, it definitely drew me in.
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Thank you. 🙂
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Woohoo! First one out the gate! I hope this means you’ll play some more during the Twitterflash. I’m feeling stiff, like I need to practice this form some more.
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Yeah. That was fun. 🙂 I do enjoy writing on Twitter. Constraint and challenge…I can’t resist.
Well…if you write it out in the 11 sentences, then cut and paste into tweets, it might feel a bit more comfortable.
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Excellent!! 🙂
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Thanks, Georgia! 🙂
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Wow, Sarah. That’s a powerful story. You met the challenge. The picture my mind creates is of a mental ward holding a patient for reasons with which the narrator doesn’t agree. Once someone is committed, there’s not much hope of release. Great ending, though I might advise against it (to the narrator).
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Could definitely be a mental ward. Or a ward in a hospital sometime in the future. Or present day with corrupt “doctors”. So many possibilities. Thanks, Norah. Hope you give it a try! 🙂
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Thinking. Thinking. Can you hear the whirring?
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Oh… cool. But can you have a title? I’ve got some I’m working on for the challenge section.
I may not be on twitter, but I can do 11 x 9. Thanks ~Jules
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Absolutely. The contest said you can have a title, I just didn’t write one and it was really late and I wrote this quickly. (The title doesn’t count in the 99 words.) Yes, you can do a 11 x 9 no problem. 🙂
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Lovely to see such a skilful example.
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Not sure about the “skillful” part but, yes, example. 😉 I think people shied away from it at first but it’s fun. (I saw you were playing!)
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I’ve already learnt something. Write your piece in entirety before posting your lines. I have already mixed my tenses but may get away with it having realised after 2nd line printed. Oh for an edit button – but alas – not in the rules or perhaps it is not possible anyway. I am looking forward to learning a little about twitter during the process.
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Argh! An edit feature! I’ve been whining about getting one of those on Twitter for years! No dice.
Just delete, rewrite, and tweet. No problem. If you number it “2 of 11” or “2nd line” or whatever, they’ll be able to put it in order for the contest. Delete and Retweet, my friend! 🙂 (I’ll get you writing some Twitter hashtag games yet…)
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That’ll be the day.
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Wow, now that is a challenge! All you have to do is insist a couple of the tweets are Haiku and you’d have the sudoku of flash challenges.
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I know. And I can’t turn down a challenge. Hmm… The Sudoku of Flash. Sounds awesome. (Now you’ve set another challenge for me.)
Did you ‘like’ any of the tweets in the post? I’m wondering if they’re working (I used the ‘copy link’ method instead of the ’embed’ so I’m not sure it’s working from here.)
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It looked like I could like from the page, but now they look different and the buttons have gone away. Could be my interface though
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Gone away? Gah!
Well, there’s a pop-up now. If you click the heart, a pop-up will show the tweet with a ‘LIKE’ button. Click that and it works. You’d have to refresh the page but it does show up here and on Twitter. (Unless you brought your gremlins over here!)
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I may have! They randomly decided to change my name on WordPress to gobbly gook.
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Back now. The gremlins are having some fun with me tonight.
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I saw that… (Got it. Fixed your WordPress gobbly gook name to the lovely ‘Allie P’.) The gremlins ARE having a bit of fun with you tonight. Might want to back up all your work. Just saying.
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Suduko flash: 9 word stories that make sense no matter which way the are read. It would be intense.
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That’s awesome! The Sudoku of flash fiction!
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I fear I may have unleashed something I don’t fully understand
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I do that everyday. 😉
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That was great, Sarah. What a creative challenge. Now I’m going to have to tweet! Argh. 🙂
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Yup. You are. It’s not difficult. Write out the story like I did up there in 11 sentences. It’s going to sound a bit choppier than a non-Twitter story but it’ll be broken up and it all comes together in the end. 🙂
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I just did it! Only took me about 3 hours! (Fun though).
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Ack! Well, I’m glad it was fun. You write epic stuff. I’m really looking forward to this form from you. I see more Twitter writing games in your future…
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Wow, Sarah. That’s cool. How do you embed your tweets into your post?
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Thanks, Colleen! 🙂
I don’t like to link-drop but, since it’s my own site… Here’s a quick and easy post I wrote on how to embed tweets:
‘How to Embed Tweets’ post
And why you might want to:
‘Why You Should Embed Tweets’ post
I did the quick ‘copy’ instead of ’embed’ so I might switch that. It’s okay for now.
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Thanks for sharing that with everyone, Sarah! I was thinking you had a post on it!
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I do! 🙂 I have two. It’s a fun thing to put in a blog post (and so easy). Thanks, Charli. ❤
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Thanks, Sarah. I had no idea how to do it. You’re a gem. ❤
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Thanks. 🙂 Hope you get to use it sometime.
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Gripping, seasonal, and looks like a winner to me. Enter it! :)cx
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Nah. Just a challenge for fun. Not entering. But thank you. ❤ Are you going to give it a go?
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I entered #1 and missed the deadline on #2, and have a rough draft to work on this weekend on #3, but I’m passing on this one, I’m going nuts with my new book on a deadline with editor 🙂 After I catch my breath in a week or so, I’ll be sending you interview questions for your guest appearance in November. 🙂 xx
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I am thrilled you’ve entered Norah’s ‘when I grow up’ and Irene’s ‘scar’ contests. That is awesome. Those seem perfect for you.
And I’m excited for you (even though I know it’s crazy busy) about the last stages of your book! 🙂 I think we both need to stop running for a minute and catch our breath before we pass out. (Thank you so much for sending the questions. I look forward to pantsing, I mean, answering them.) ❤
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Lol, it’s always a nice breath to pass by here and share a laugh on our common struggles. 🙂 Yes, we shall have fun, as you know, no 2 interviews ever turn out the same with me, kind of like my cooking – no 2 dishes ever turn out the same 🙂 xx
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This was pretty sensational! You inspired me Sarah!!!!!
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That’s awesome! Thanks, Ritu. 🙂
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😀
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This is a fantastic nail-biting, edge of the seat story! Great job!!
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Thanks, Michelle! 🙂
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A great post, Sarah. I have also written an entry for this prompt.
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Thanks, Robbie. 🙂 Mine’s not an entry, it’s just for fun. But I’m so glad you wrote something for this. Looks like a lot of people are giving it a try. That’s awesome.
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Yes, I think this unique format is most intriguing.
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