It's January. This month is great for quite a number of reasons. It's the coldest month of the year (for the US), it's the month I was born in, and it's the beginning of a new year. So we've reached 2011, how about that? I'd like to honor the special occasion with a challenge.
It's a simple writing challenge. Your piece can not be more than 5,001 words (and must be at least 1,000). But, there are some elements your story must include in order to be counted:
- A Cool Title
- At least ten characters with dialogue
- A Minority Character
- An Alien
- A Chase Scene
- A Disney Death
- A Celebration
- Brains
- A Team
- Mood swings
- An IOU
You can interpret the above list in any way you'd like, as long as you include each of them. Some are deliberately vague so that you can add some of your own creativity and perspectives (does 'Brains' mean someone smart, a zombie apocalypse or something completely different?). There's 11 things in honor of the year.
So starting today, you can begin entering your products. You can only enter once, but you can continue to edit the post with your work in it until the end date: January 25th at 11:59 PM EST.
Judging along with me is Bored, Light and Silver. So if you want to win, suck up to us. Of course, we will be judging on who best incorporates all of the above requirements to make a kick ass story. Oh, and of course, the prize...
1st place will get you $50 (if you're okay with giving me your address) or a rank of your fancy.
If you have any questions, go ahead and ask. Otherwise, good luck with this January Challenge!
Quote from: KJ on January 05, 2011, 03:30:26 PM
. But, there are some elements your story must include in order to be counted:
(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tvsquad.com/media/2010/06/the-a-team-635fp061010.jpg)
I'm okay with this.
>3,500 words max
I'm not okay with this.
Quote from: Sin Jecht on January 05, 2011, 03:59:19 PM
>3,500 words max
I'm not okay with this.
1000 words minimum, bro.
Quote from: Cyan Garamonde on January 05, 2011, 05:00:11 PM
1000 words minimum, bro.
My short stories tend to hit the 7,000 word mark... And that's with only 4 characters. 10 characters will make it WAY too long for me.
Disney Death?
Quote from: Sin Jecht on January 05, 2011, 05:07:52 PM
My short stories tend to hit the 7,000 word mark... And that's with only 4 characters. 10 characters will make it WAY too long for me.
I wanted to make it longer too. But then I realized I (and the other judges) had to read every single entry. So that's one of the main reasons for the shortness. Also, it provides a challenge.
Quote from: Kayo on January 05, 2011, 06:41:23 PM
Disney Death?
You know, when a character appears dead, but then they come back.
Quote from: KJ on January 05, 2011, 07:00:44 PM
You know, when a character appears dead, but then they come back.
Tell that to Mufasa
Quote from: Sin Jecht on January 05, 2011, 07:26:44 PM
Tell that to Mufasa
Mufasa was too awesome to get a Disney Death. He got Killed Off For Real instead.
Disney death is a fake death? Really? Because, as I recall, almost every single villain in Disney history has had a death that was not only real, but gruesome.
Or does this just apply to hero characters?
Quote from: Sora on January 05, 2011, 10:40:24 PM
Disney death is a fake death? Really? Because, as I recall, almost every single villain in Disney history has had a death that was not only real, but gruesome.
Or does this just apply to hero characters?
You're thinking of a "Disney Villain Death", which is a completely different thing. This (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Laconic/DisneyDeath) is a Disney Death.
WAIT I WANNA JUDGE
but ALL those elements in such a short space? I'll try.
Quote from: Kayollini Pomodoro on January 06, 2011, 01:03:30 PM
but ALL those elements in such a short space? I'll try.
True, I did add some elements from my initial outline. I'll max it out at 5K words. Although I still think 3.5K would work, since a lot of the elements can be grouped together.
Quote from: KJ on January 07, 2011, 11:46:58 AM
True, I did add some elements from my initial outline. I'll max it out at 5K words. Although I still think 3.5K would work, since a lot of the elements can be grouped together.
Watch me end up at just over 5K and not be able to cut anything out without ruining the whole thing.
Still too short
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j14/Rayquadian/dealwifit.gif)
Quote from: Neko on January 07, 2011, 04:31:30 PM
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j14/Rayquadian/dealwifit.gif)
I like that gif.
The deadline's next week. Here's a reminder to get your work in. And remember, the winner gets prize money amounting to $50 (if, and only if, there are at least three contestants).
Quote from: KJ on January 17, 2011, 08:26:43 AM
The deadline's next week. Here's a reminder to get your work in. And remember, the winner gets prize money amounting to $50 (if, and only if, there are at least three contestants).
Next week I'm in Florida. For the next few days until then, several midterms.
Don't think I'll be able to finish this. :(
...Has anyone entered anything?
OH AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY KJ
Quote from: Culex on January 24, 2011, 04:15:11 PM
...Has anyone entered anything?
OH AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY KJ
THANKS
And no, but I'm extending the deadline because I'm way too busy with exams to do anything with this for right now anyway. So this has until February 10th now.
Unfortunately, there were no winners.
...Actually that's good. I was afraid I was going to have to part with $50. Anyway, that's the end. So, adieu.
NSFCD is too lazy for these types of things, silly.
How depressing.
Ouch. I should have sent mine in. What i had done at least. ;-;
Still too short
Quote from: Magnum on February 13, 2011, 09:34:54 PM
Still too short
Is that what she said to you, Magnum?
Quote from: Kayo on February 13, 2011, 10:36:05 PM
Is that what she said to you, Magnum?
You don't remember last night, do you?
Quote from: Magnum on February 13, 2011, 10:49:09 PM
You don't remember last night, do you?
I was drunk, what happened?
There's a chat for that.
IOU one story
this is why we can't have nice things
Quote from: Mace on February 15, 2011, 12:57:45 PM
this is why we can't have nice things
If only I hadn't completely forgotten about it during a week of midterms and poop then never remembered again.
Quote from: Kayo on February 13, 2011, 10:58:41 PM
I was drunk, what happened?
12 year old's don't drink silly.
Quote from: SilverHunter35 on February 15, 2011, 01:49:43 PM
12 year old's don't drink silly.
No no, they have pancakes as their avatars.
Quote from: Kayo on February 15, 2011, 01:59:09 PM
No no, they have pancakes as their avatars.
And they listen to Underoath.
And Linkin Park.
Make it longer, extend deadline, and I'll do it