Dollar Challenge - Dead Inside But Caffeinated (October/November edition)

It's that time again!

First of all, here's the challenge I set for October:

Here's the prompt:

Only in our dreams are we free. The rest of the time, we need wages.

-T. Pratchett

The Responses

Antoni entered two. Got a bit festive with this one:

Sarah Parker

Jbaz:

Mikeydred:

Matthew Fromm:

Ian Read:

Paul Stewart:

Leslie Writes:

Laura Pruett:

A shiny silver dollar is winging its way to my favourites!

November Challenge

L.C. Schäfer's One Dollar Challenge - Quote Me Baby (Espresso Edition)

The Prompt

She was like a shot of espresso

-Andrew Garfield

You might recognise him from such films as: The Amazing Spiderman, The Social Network, and Hacksaw Ridge. I think he's talking about his co-star Emma Stone in this quote.

I thought, how bloody lovely! We all need someone in our lives who is that to us. Someone who brings a little fizz, a little zing. Especially in November, I think.

So: your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a microfiction story inspired by or including this quote. You can interpret it any way you'd like. I'll link the interview clip at the end if you'd like the context. There should be a character in it who is the "shot of espresso", and for full marks, this should be based on a zesty person from your own life.

Them's the rules

Word count: As always, 300-600 words.

Author's note: Please include an author's note if necessary to bring your piece up to Vocal's 600 word minimum for the Fiction community. I always read the note! I love to read about the story behind the story.

Prize: Same as usual, I'll tip my favourites a dollar each.

Winners: Again, same as always! If there's only a few entries, I'll just pick one or two people. If more than 10 people enter, I'll pick 3. More than 20, I'll pick 5.

Content: You can include the quote, in which case it should feel like it belongs. Or your story can be inspired by it, in which case the link should be clear.

Limits: This is a microfiction challenge, but you can submit basically anything and I'll give it a look, provided it fits the prompt. I would actually love to see some poetry for this one! I'm not usually a fan of romance, but this might be perfect for the prompt, so go wild and hit me with it.

If there are lots of responses, the microfiction ones that fit the prompt will most likely ones I tip. Stories over the word count, will be the ones I skip. You can submit as many as you like, but if there are loads of submissions (I'm not anticipating there will be) then I'm only promising to read the first two from each person.

Closing date: 11:59PM GMT, Saturday 30th November 2024

Really important: Please do link your story below! I would be gutted to miss anyone.

If you aren't a Vocal+ member: You can still enter and leave your link in the comments on Facebook, or DM it to me. I will leave a link to this challenge in the following Facebook groups:

Vocal Social Society

Great Incantations: A Group Dedicated to Writing Challenges

Post it in one of the nine berjillion Vocal Facebook groups and tag me so I don't miss it! Send it to me on Facebook Messenger! Use smoke signals! Nail a hard copy to a pigeon.

Here's my Facebook profile: L.C. Schäfer

Before you go...

If you can think of a quote from a song, book, or film that you think would make a good prompt, please let me know! Talk to me in the comments. I am open to suggestions, and will tip you if I use yours.

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Thank you for reading!

If you took part in October, THANK YOU!

If you give it a bash in November, THANK YOU!!