Flash Fiction Challenge: Choose Your Motif

Last week’s challenge: “Photos of Impossible Places.”

Motif.

What, is it, you ask? Besides someone explaining that they have plenty of chompers in their mouth? (Wait for it, you’ll get it. I’ll just stand here while you… ah, good, you got it.)

A motif is not a theme.

It is not a mood.

It is a recurring element. A repeated symbol or overarching image.

(Birds are a motif found in my novels Blackbirds and Mockingbird.)

So, today, I’m going to give you 10 motifs.

You will choose one. Randomly, either by d10 or by random number generator.

This motif will be a significant symbol or element in your story. Symbolically and/or literally.

I’ll also toss in two other categories: setting and subgenre.

Choose (randomly or otherwise) one from each.

You have, as usual, up to 1000 words. Post at your site, link back here.

Due by Friday, February 1st, noon EST.

Ready?

Motifs

Birds
Skulls
Blood
Eyes
Snakes
Swords
Water
Storms
Mirrors
The Moon

Subgenre

Dystopia
Erotic Fantasy
Noir
Paranormal Romance
Comic Fantasy
Cozy Mystery
Transhumanism
Ecothriller
Wild West (In Space)
Mythpunk

Setting

A train
A virtual reality world
A king’s bedroom
A labyrinth
Inside the mind of another character
An amusement park
A restaurant in space
A villain’s volcano lair
In the chamber of the gods
Route 66