Micro Fiction Challenge: Famouser Last Lines
Posted by David Duhr in 
Discussion question: Using fifty words or fewer, write a line following the famous last lines of one, two, or all three of these beloved novels.
Some books are renowned for their last line. “He loved Big Brother” comes to mind. Fitzgerald’s “So we beat on…” Atwood’s “Are there any questions?”
“Isn’t it pretty to think so?” closes The Sun Also Rises, though I kinda prefer A Farewell to Arms‘ “After a while I went out and left the hospital and walked back to the hotel in the rain.”
Imagine, here in 2026, trying to pull off Melville’s “Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!”
But what if some of these famous writers had continued past the last line?
The Contest
Your task this week is to write a line following the famous last line of one, two, or all three of the books below.
There’s only one rule, the one rule that governs all of our micro fiction challenges: Your line must not exceed fifty words.
Be serious or be hilarious. I always appreciate funny, but it’s not a requirement. If you want to flex your lyricism and one-up a famous writer, I won’t stand in your way.
Leave your entry/entries in the comments. Enter as many times as you wish. Please preface your entry with the number of the book you’re using.
I’ll keep comments open until 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, August 3.
Leave a thumbs-up if you like a fellow writer’s response!
And good luck! But mostly, have fun.
Guest Judge
Author Jennifer Reeves has graciously agreed to choose winners for all three last lines. Thanks, Jenn!
Jenn knows a thing or two about writing a good last line. Her new novel, Hot-Blooded Woman, ends with this:
He chuckles, eyes twinkling. “Not for long.”
I know, I know, technically that’s two lines.
So what is “he” talking about? Buy the book to find out! My second copy is already in the mail. (Long story…)
The Famous Lines
1. He was soon borne away by the waves and lost in darkness and distance. (Frankenstein, Mary Shelley)
2. Somebody threw a dead dog after him down the ravine. (Under the Volcano, Malcolm Lowry)
3. Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my vision. (To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf)
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WriteByNight writing coach and co-founder David Duhr is fiction editor at the Texas Observer and co-host of the Yak Babies podcast, and has written about books for the Dallas Morning News, Electric Literature, Publishing Perspectives, and others.
He was soon borne away by the waves and lost in the dark and the distance.
He had already died before, and was ready to enter eternity again, fully knowing that this time there would be no rebirth….his mind embraced the coming peace of sleep…when suddenly, a metallic CLANG! shook his mind and body….painfully the creature looked up and saw VLADIVOSTOK lettered on the conning tower….
Laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my vision….
The lunatic princess wiped her hands and softly sang…bring me a blanket for my head, and see that my grave my grave my grave is kept clean…outside her window a backfire bang and six ancient cylinders spoke their piece….the curly headed stranger grinned a lopsided grin and put the Buick in gear….
3. Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my vision. She REALLY needed to trade the ayahuasca for some melatonin.
Entries from Phillip:
1. He was soon borne away by the waves and lost in darkness and distance. Still inflating his chest as if it would make a difference.
2. Somebody threw a dead dog after him down the ravine. After five days no one could tell which smelled worse.
3. Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my vision. But what good would it do me now?
Somebody threw a dead dog after him down the ravine. He called to his favorite cat, Caesar. The others, named Cobb, Waldorf, Garden and Spinach followed as well. Despite their names, they were definitely carnivores..
“Dinner is served!”, he called, pointing to the dog.
Obeying the same silent impulse, the cats attacked and devoured him, ignoring the dog completely
He was soon borne away by the waves and lost in darkness and distance. I put my hand in my coat pocket, caressing the poem he had written for me.
(1) And not for the first time as his cavalier approach to navigation (an astrolabe pressed into service as door stop spoke volumes) and resultant un-vectored bobbing on unfamiliar seas often sent him scrambling to top of main mast’s rigging to proclaim himself “King of the world.”
He was soon borne away by the waves and lost in darkness and distance. (Frankenstein, Mary Shelley)
Until one night, he saw a light.
2. Somebody threw a dead dog after him down the ravine. (Under the Volcano, Malcolm Lowry)
As it came down to him, he thought he could see it moving; it was.
3. Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my vision. (To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf)
Her hair would never return again.
For #3 :
It is now here on this canvas.
Besides, a trip to the local package store must be made. Post haste.
Can’t make up this crap without seeing little birdies dance around the head.