Story: EN25-016
Ex Factor
Word count: ~500
Comments
This story was written in the context of a Furious Fiction Challenge.
This was the original assignment:
- Your story must take place on a GAME SHOW.
- Your story must include a metaphor that describes the host.
- One contestant must be eliminated in some way during your story.
- Your story must include the words BUNDLE, NEVER, VIOLENT.
Publications
| # | Published | Publisher | Online | Podcast | eBook | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #001 | 2025-11-26 | Furious Fiction | Yes | ||||
| Published as part of the Furious Fiction November showcase. | |||||||
Contests
| # | Awarded | Publisher | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #001 | 2025-11-26 | Furious Fiction | Shortlisted | |
| The original title of the story was 'HAPPILY DIVORCED: THE SHOW,' but the jury suggested a much better title: 'EX FACTOR' (which is now the new title of this short story). This is what the jury wrote: "Many stories this month began with a ‘welcome back' moment but this one cleverly drops us mid-question into the action and we can’t help but be engaged in this battle of wills and waffles. Well, this has all the elements we were looking for in a made-up game show. The ever-eager crowd, the desperate contestants and of course the gleaming host. With a trio of similes (yes, they also count as metaphors!) and a big smile, this host commands the stage as things go from divorced to absurd. Perhaps the only thing that could improve this is to have called the show ‘Ex Factor'!" Those are great comments, but there's one thing the jury didn't know: I didn't invent the show. It already exists in Belgium: 'Gelukkig gescheiden'! |
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