Monday, September 5, 2011

First Campaign Challenge

The first Campaign challenge is here! Thank you to Rachael Harrie and all her helpers for organizing it. Here's what the challenge is: Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: "the door swung shut." (also included in the word count)

For those who want an even greater challenge, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!

Once you’ve posted your Challenge post on your blog, pop back to Rachael's blog and link directly to it in the Linky List provided.

Entries in the First Campaigner Challenge will close on Friday, September 9th (at 11.59pm EDT), so make sure you get your post in the Linky List before then if you want to be eligible for a prize! As usual, while everyone is very welcome to take part in this Challenge, only Campaigners will be eligible for prizes.

Here's my story. Enjoy!

DEMON HUNTING


The door swung open and I rolled onto the gravel road. My demon hunter training allowed me to find my feet fast, but Soren was quicker. He leapt off the roof of the car and knocked me down.

I kicked with my legs and used the momentum to flip him over my head. He grunted with surprise, landing hard near the ditch.

I readied myself and willed my hands not to shake.

Soren crooked a finger and smiled, slow and sexy. “Drop the sword. You don't want to kill me.”

I hated how he could make me weak in the knees with just one smile. “But I really do.”

“How does that old saying go: she doth protest too much?” He chuckled and dared take a step forward. “Put down the blade, love. Talk to me.”

“Don't call me that!” I heard myself shriek. Taking in a deep calming breath, I could still smell his scent upon me. I shook my head. “No. I can't.”

I charged and was thrown back inside of the car. The gorgeous demon plucked my sword from my sweaty hands and climbed in with me. The door swung shut.

(200 words)

63 comments:

  1. Nothing like a gorgeous demon to get the blood pumping. :P

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  2. oh for a few more demons like that! hi from a fellow campaigner...number 62 in the listx

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  3. Great submit - love the banter between the two of them! This was a fun challenge, huh? :)

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  4. I can offer nothing better than a 'ditto' of what Alleged Author posted....delish! ~ Nadja

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  5. Hi,

    Oh lordy, Hell outside, now Hell inside! Fabulous. ;)

    best
    F

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  6. Oh...where can I find me a demon like that? Awesome job.

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  7. I do like a sexy demon! Go on, what happens next? I'm #72

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  8. Very nice! I love their exchange. Gah! Now I want to know what happens. Geez, Christine! :P

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  9. I want to know what happens next! Gorgeous or no, it seems the character's in a bit of trouble.

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  10. oooo! something to sink my brain teeth into! yum!
    when do we hear the before and after parts?

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  11. Excellent! And exactly 200 words? You rock.

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  12. Thank you, everyone! I'm excited that you like it. My nervousness has eased up with your kind comments. Maybe I'll make this a longer short story one day. Soren has been hanging out in my head a lot today, the persistent sexy demon.

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  13. Oh I loved that. Great dialogue. I get a really good sense of the characters. I found the ending to be funny. Though, in reality, I know I wouldn't like having a demon in the car with me!

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  14. Well done. Glad to see your comment that you may make this a short story.

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  15. Nice, love their exchanges...and I haven't really heard a description of the guy but I already think he's super sexy. hehe

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  16. Good job! You can't go wrong with sexy demons!

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  17. Oooh, lots of fabulous action and sexy ;)

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  18. Is that like the demon's in Philip Pullman, so she had to battle both him and his demon and lost?
    I hope it all turns out well for her in the end and that she can get the upper hand at some stage.

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  19. I agree with elizabethanne Christine and hope you'll make it into a longer story ;)

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  20. Very nicely done! I like it - lots of action!

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  21. Thank you for all the encouragement and compliments! :)

    Madeleine, not like Pullman's demons at all. Soren is a demon!

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  22. Pretty demons, the ultimate bad boys :) Nice work.

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  23. Nice job! I especially liked the dialogue.

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  24. Now I want to know what happens. Nice work.

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  25. so much tension in so few words...zowie!

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  26. I want to know what happened before and what happens next! Well done!

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  27. Great job! Nice submit. I love the ending!

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  28. Oooh! I like it! And like everyone, I want to know what happens next! Gotta love a sexy demon encounter. ;)

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  29. Sexy demon...now that I can like :). Thanks for your visit to my blog and comment on my entry!

    If you'd like to make this into a longer story, check out The Rule of Three Blogfest ---a month-long extravaganza in the fictional town of Renaissance this October, with some great Amazon vouchers and author appearances as prizes, and of course, loads of comment love and exposure for your writing.

    We need a Paranormal Romance in the town of Renaissance, and a sexy demon would be just the thing :)

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  30. Thank you, Amanda and Damyanti! I'm tempted to do the Rule of Three Blogfest, but I don't know if I'll have the time next month.

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  31. What happened next? Great job. Thanks for the nice words for my entry, Roland

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  32. Very action packed, like it very much.

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  33. Very fun- I knew a Soren once :) And worst movie blog fest- I must know more!

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  34. Nothing sexier than a bad boy and I love the back and forth between the characters. Great entry!

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  35. Haha, I liked the line "but I really do." Hilarious.

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  36. This was very good and I would love to see it as a short story:)

    http://www.doreenmcgettigan.com

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  37. Great going - now I want to read the rest!

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  38. Wow! A fight with a demon! Great entry!

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  39. Interesting, I like that she was afraid & yet continued her pursuit. ; )

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  40. oooooh.... I'm loving Soren!!! Very cool.

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  41. I loved your characterization! I'd like to see this as a short story, too. Great job!

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  42. Oooo, very spicy with the whole struggle! This sounds like a great piece of a much larger story. I loved it!

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  43. Hi Christine! I'm Elizabeth Moss and you were put in my part of the judging element for the campaign challenge.

    I'm delighted to say I loved your story and you'll be going through to Stage Two!

    So congrats!

    What I love about your story is how it begins so dramatically in media res. The backstory is expertly revealed in the sparse phrase 'My demon hunting background' - no more is required. The action is in your face from the start and doesn't let up until the door swings shut again. Soren is sexy, and you can see why she's torn. (And in case we were in doubt, you cleverly slip in that 'she doth protest' to ensure we know this is boy on girl action.) Exciting, breathtaking, dynamic, telling dialogue, and all I can ask is - what happens once they're inside the car together??

    Love it. Best of luck with the next round.

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  44. Elizabeth, thank you! Wow, I'm honored and excited to have made it through to Stage Two. This Campaign has been so much fun so far.

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  45. Ohhh all alone in the car! That is one sexy demon.

    Congrats on moving to stage two!

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  46. Why, oh why did the door have to swing shut? I want to know what happens next!

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  47. A good demon can spice anything up! :D

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  48. Hello,

    I'm just letting you know that one of twelve finalist judges selected your entry in this year's challenge to be a winner. Rachael Harrie will be in touch with you (I'm guessing) sometime this week. You've won a prize but I'm not sure what the prize is.

    There were 384 entries, you made the final 12. That is top 3%. I'd say that's pretty awesome. Rach herself may choose one Grand Prize winner from the twelve but that will be up to her.

    The finalist judge that selected you was Heather Arundel.

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  49. Well, I just came by to inform you of your finalist status...but somehow Michael beat me to the punch! Congrats to you! I really enjoyed your piece, it was fantastic and sucked me in!

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  50. Thank you, Michael and Heather! I can't believe I made it to the final 12. I'm blushing. The Campaign has been a lot of fun so far. I know I say that a lot, but I really mean it.

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  51. Hi Christine, congratulations! A Finalist in my First Campaigner Challenge, well done you :) I've now awarded places and decided on prizes, and have popped over to let you know *drumroll* :)

    You've come in Tenth Place out of 384 entries - fantastic job!!! I'm with Alleged Author, your entry definitely made the blood pump, why can't we all have our own gorgeous demon to hunt ;)

    Well done again - make sure you pop by my blog to see what you've won!

    Hugs,

    Rach

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  52. Oh my! I'm at a loss for words, so I'll just say congrats on your win. You deserve it.

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  53. Love demon-hunters! And the name Soren...very original! Congrats to you!

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  54. Wow! Thank you, Rachael. And thank you to all those who helped out. I'm still blushing.

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  55. I'm with Alleged Author...hottie demons do it for me lol! Congrats on your win! Oh Yeah!

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  56. ooo - naughty demon! This whole piece really rolls. Congrats on the win!

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  57. Hi Christine, congratulations on winning one of the prizes from the first campaign challenge! The signed copy of Please Ignore Vera Dietz is my gift to you, but I can't find an email address to contact you at so I can get your mailing address. Can you email me at tellgreatstories@yahoo.com so I can get your name/address to send your prize to you?

    Thank you!
    Sommer Leigh
    http://www.sommerleigh.com

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