Friday, February 17, 2012

Flash Fiction Friday First

It's Flash Fiction Friday--a first--here on my blog. I'm gonna make a wee contest out of it. All those who enter will have the chance to win a $25 Amazon.com gift card just to make it all the more tempting.

Rules:

1. You must follow my blog (comment on this post with your name as it appears on my followers sidebar)
2. You must tweet, blog, and/or Facebook about the contest (leave the links)
3. Write your own flash fiction and post it on your own blog (comment on this post with the link) 
4. Comment with your email address so I can contact the winner




* For my Flash Fiction Friday Blog Contest, you need to write something within a 650 word limit starting with the phrase, "Once Upon a Time..." Ok, I'm obsessed with that TV show.
* Contest closes on Friday, February 24, 2012 at 5:00PM MST (New close date: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 5:00PM MST)
* The flash fiction entry I enjoy the most will win the Amazon.com gift card
* I will announce the winner on my blog on Friday, March 2, 2012 and share their Flash Fiction if that's ok
* Peruse the other entrees by following their links commented on this blog

Here's my flash fiction for some ideas (BTW: this is the first time I've shared anything I've written fiction-wise on my blog. Lucky you guys!):


The Purple Butterfly by Julia King

Once upon a time, a butterfly fluttered along a sunny path strewn with mossy shrubs and fragrant flowers, open and full of life. This particular day was the same as always—airborne, drinking the nectar of forest blossoms.

          Lexie never thought her life was quite right. Something was missing since she’d escaped from her cocoon. Maybe it wasn’t feeling comfortable in her wings like the other butterflies seemed to be. Most of all, it was the void in her heart. 
          Upon reaching the outermost corner of the woods—farther than she’d ever flown before, she smelled something different. It wasn’t the sweet smell of the forest but something stronger, not a bad scent but not what she was used to. Her delicate purple wings flapped harder to propel her closer to the source of the oddity wafting around her.
          The forest had thinned to a huge body of water with sand stretching into its depths. In the middle of the sea, a structure floated to and fro. Suddenly, something jumped off of it, splashing into the water. She watched the figure bobbing up and down, nearing the shore.
          Alarmed, she hid behind a rock. Once the tall form escaped from the water, he—a boy with suntanned skin—stepped over to where she veiled herself. Something about him spoke to her, made her want to be like him. He perched himself upon the rock almost crushing her. With a yelp, she dodged him, making a quick escape. His head turned, blue eyes narrowing on her.
          “Hello, beautiful butterfly,” he spoke sweetly. With a swift glide, he scooped Lexie into his hand. Fright overcame her, but his hand held her delicately. She didn’t try to escape. “What’s your name?” he asked, a coy smile glittered his handsome face.
          “Lexie,” she answered, shying away.
          He cocked his head quizzically to the side, then set her on the rock, backing away. “You answered me.  I…understood.”
          “What’s your name?” she asked as her heart thumped against her chest.
          “Max.” He drew closer, fixed upon her.
          “I’ve never spoken to a boy—a handsome one.” She fluttered her lashes at him. Without her control, she soared over to him until she was hovering near his face.
          “You are more beautiful than…” His wistful expression brought a bubbly sensation into her stomach. With timidity, she drew closer.  
          His searching eyes explored her. “Can I kiss you?”
          “Kiss me? I’m a butterfly the size of your palm.”
          “You’re the butterfly in my dreams. Today I’ve found you. I… I love you, Lexie.”
          A sigh escaped her mouth, joy heavy in her heart. “Then yes, kiss me.”
          Tenderly, he caressed her small form with a kiss she’d never forget. Then an unbearable stinging overtook her body. Falling to the sand, she felt as though she would die, if not from the fall, then from the anguish sparking up and down her limbs and wings.
          Perhaps hours later she awoke, Max bent over her, his hand brushing against her face.
          “Are you all right? I was so worried.” His jaw set.
          She tried to fly but nothing happened. Again, flapping her wings only resulted in them lifting up and down in the sand. Lexie’s gaze rested upon human arms instead of wings. With great panic, she stood, backing away from Max. “What happened?”
          “You transformed into a girl—a pretty girl with purple hair.” He drew closer with slow decided steps. “I saw the entire painful transformation. Are you okay?”
          “I’m…perfect. What I’ve always felt I should be. And I’m with you, even better.”
          “And I’m with you,” he declared as he gathered her into his lean arms. His lips pressed against hers passionately, then sweetly.
          They were meant for each other. Lexie from Max’s dreams, and him to transform her into what she was meant to be—a human girl.
          And they lived happily ever after.
______________
Your turn to write ---> Have fun and good luck!

Writing. Jewels.

16 comments:

  1. Aw, what a sweet story! Then again, you had me at "purple" and "butterfly".

    Hm, I may have to think about entering this one! You may have given me an idea for my next Friday's flash! (If I do enter, I will definitely be back ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Methinks you like the color purple and butterflies. Nice. Great story just for you. And all those who read it. You should enter if something pops into your mind!

      Delete
  2. Awww, I kind of want to squish them both. That had a real touch of innocence and magic to it. Thank you for sharing :)

    Have RT'd HERE and hopefully will come back with a link to my entry too :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Go Jules! I felt it. Nice work creating some magic. There was a fairy tale-esque elegance to this piece that stood on its own--that would've been resonated even without the "Once Upon A Time" ... What a fun contest! I totally want to do it ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sweet, Morgan. You just made my day and a half. Thanks for responding. Yipee! And yes you should enter but don't let it encrouch upon your WIP. *cracks whip* LOL

      Delete
  4. Aw, Jules! That was so sweet! I was smiling by the end!! I'm going to do my best to work on something along side my wip. Great contest!! I'll spread the word for you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. That was a sweet story! Of course, I am also guilty of being drawn to it by the butterfly being...purple...*twiddles her fingers* I might have to join in the fun, if I can remember to write something by next friday. I have a terrible habit of forgetting things like that until the day after.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, believe me, I forget things all the time. Just got too many voices (characters LOL) in my head. Don't forget though! Thanks for reading my flash fiction! :)

      Delete
  6. What a sweet story! Thanks for sharing it. :D Sounds like a fun contest. I like flash fiction a lot. I might be way too deep in the land of revisions to enter, but you never know. Maybe some flash fiction will get my creativity flowing. :D I'll spread the word either way, though.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Twitter tweet: One of many. https://twitter.com/#!/saphirablue84/status/171341695303172096

    My blog talking about the contest along with my entry: http://thiswritersworldplotbunnies.blogspot.com/2012/02/life-is-fairy-tale-flash-fiction-for.html

    My email: You have it, but it's saphirablue84 (at) gmail (dot) com.

    Can't wait to see the other's! Great contest, Super Jules!! Still loving your story! *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  8. Loved it! New follower! Look forward to reading your posts!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Alright, I've been stewing about this since you posted it, and I finally have my entry: http://ginadenny.blogspot.com/2012/02/not-happily-ever-after.html

    Fun contest :)

    My Google name is "Gina" and my GFC name is "Gina D" for some reason, but they're the same picture, so I'm pretty sure you know who I am :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Right! I cut it close but here we go!

    My entry is here: http://patriciamarqueswriting.blogspot.com/2012/02/friday-flash-fiction-contest.html

    And my e-mail is: p.marques_guerreiro@hotmail.co.uk

    \O/ Glad I finally got this in :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. This sounds so fun!

    My entry and blog post!
    http://groundsforfiction.blog.com/2012/02/24/flash-fiction-contest/

    Also a facebook post!
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/141978992563895/

    E-mail: ratcliffefamily@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete