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Our last challenge we presented was this:
a flash fiction piece, no more than 250 words, that included the word, staircase. We received numerous submissions on a huge variety of topics; we have chosen several of our favorite stories from the challenge to include here. Our hope is to jar the normal thought processes in order to help with those times when writing may have become difficult; there is always another way!

The stories we have chosen to include are:

Sophia Argyris: The Myth of Family

Brigette Yanes: The Staircase Ate My Little Brother


Dennis E. Noonan: Killing Moon


C. Martinez: The Scapegoat

Donna Vorreyer: Excuse (Cleaning the House After She is Gone)


Joanne Faries: Don't Look Down


Faith Mingus: unkempt class:


Lydia Swartz: Hungry Condo


Dan Powell: Piece by Piece



The next challenge we present our lovely readers is this:

Choose ONE of these famous works of art to make your own literary creation.  Write either one flash fiction piece (250 words or less) or one short poem about the painting you have chosen:

Click the thumbnails for a larger view!

 

The Temptation of St. Anthony by Salvador Dali

and

Vincent van Gogh's  Room at Arles


 


We will choose several of our favorite submissions
to display in issue #11 (October) for everyone to read.
Our intent is to dislocate your usual thought processes!


Deadline: October 1st, 2010.

Email your "Challenge Submission":
challenge@upthestaircase.org

Please note that we will only respond to the pieces that we will be including in our next issue.
If we choose your story, you will receive an email from us by October 10th, 2010.