Theme For A Writing Contest

In the near future we would like to have another writing contest for the troper community. The past two have had a theme of sort that laid the basis for what kind of story was expected of the contestents.

The first one was the Erotica Contest hosted by rumetzen. It was, as the title suggests a contest for works of the erotic variety.

The Second TvTropes Writing Contest hosted by myself, Scholastica Parable, had the theme, "Now and Then" which was described like this, "You write one part of the story from the perspective of one point in time and the second part that takes place at a later date. The two parts should deal with the same characters, settings, storyline, or whatever it is you're writing about and compare and contrast the differences between, well, now and then!"

I think it would be fun to have another contest soon but I lack any good ideas for a new theme. It would be fun to encourage new and intersting things for our contestants to write about while at the same time giving them enough room so as not to dicate what the have to write.

So anyone have any ideas to offer?

Crime!. From the likes of mobster stories ala Goodfellas and the Godfather, to the gritty police dramas like The Wire, or The Departed. To the cleaners and middle-level fellows in organized crime. And the citizen who dabbles in white collar crime. That I like to try out!

Or try Romance.

edited 2nd Feb '11 9:50:36 PM by QQQQQ

The End of the World as We Know it!

Zombies! Or Ugly Girl dates Hot Guy Unironicly!

Benzine Bicarbonite?

Crime and Romance: overdone to the point of vomit-induction. Not necessarily bad if they can be narrowed a good bit tho.

Zombies: horribly overdone, but easy and fun to write about. I'd actually say go with this one, if only to find something new...

Benzine Bicarbonite: now that's a theme.

I myself could only be able to suggest Leaving Behind a Pet, Rights v/s Responsibilities, Symbols/Simulacra as Misused by the Mass Media, or Trust and Public Transportation.

^ Those are all cool ideas and I'd totally write for them— except for "leaving behind a pet," it seems to narrow. Maybe it could be broadened to "leaving behind a..."?

Some random ideas: Animal motifs, magic vs mundane, genre mix (like Western Noir, Steampunk Thriller, Sci-Fi Rom Com, etc.).

My random and insane ideas...

1. Cosmic Horror Stories that are not Lovecraft Lite.
2. Fantasy without The Dark Lord and Black-and-White Morality.
3. Science Fiction with Dwarves!
4. All three of them at the same time!!!

A Romantic Comedy with Horror themes! That would be a challenge, but probably great fun!

Sounds similar to Shaun Of The Dead, and in a way Zombie Land. That could be worth a shot.

@Ronka: a good point on the pet, although I'd generalize from the other side: ... a pet.

genre mix (like Western Noir, Steampunk Thriller, Sci-Fi Rom Com, etc.)

Steampunk Thriller

Tidal Wave's idea also sounds like it is going to be no ends of fun.

Let's see:

1) Black comedy war stroy.

2) Tabletop RPG session where everyone beside the GM is sucked into the game world and the GM is a sociopathic jerk.

3)Science fiction with dragons.

4)Murder mystery in a fantasy setting.

Something about a contrast of one time of year to another

Ten Things (Character) Never/Always Does

A study of characterization via short yet important scenes.

The short story has to take place on a train/subway?

An exploration of character(s) dreams — what they imagine under the bedsheets at night. From semi-structured stories like Inception to the wildly Lynchian surreal.

^^^ Didn't you suggest that last time?

Wow, great ideas guys. I'm sure we won't run out of ideas for future contest any time soon. Now if we can just narrow it down to one for the coming contest.

I Like Q's dream idea.

I like Q's idea, too.

Overall, I think you ought to do something with a lot of room for variety like the two previous contests or Q's idea.

I know these next two are bland and broad, but I notice a lot of tropers write fantasy and sci-fi.

The dream idea is neat.

Dream it is then.

Screw it! I'm gonna right a Benzine Bicarbonate themed story regardless of the theme chosen! Granted I need to find out what Benzine Bicarbonate is.

Oh, a little too late, but I wanted to suggest that the prompt has to be about the main character dying.

But...but...but I write happy stuff! D:<

You're a zombie spambot and you like to write happy stories? Does not compute.

But if anything, think of it as a challenge.

Here's an idea: A story focused on one girl's Great Ass.