Theme For The Next Writing Contest

What if we do the opposite? A story that takes place over several years?

@hermit,

If you haven't solved the problems the cliche causes, you're still using the cliche, even if you changed its superficial aspects.

And, well, I'd object to the multi-year story if I were doing the contest as a writer, but I'd like that as a judge...

Theme: Objects.

People PM the contest organizer with the names of unrelated objects (shrimp cocktail, tap shoes, potted daffodils, cough medicine, and so on) until there is a good-sized list (30-40). Contest entrants may submit no more than 1 object, as they must pick 5 objects with which to write a coherent story. Repeated objects will be replaced at the organizer's discretion.

I like that idea.

Me too.

Me three.

I approve.

I think I might try to submit a story this time...

Not to shoot down the "objects" idea, just offering a backup/alternative.

Metafiction: a story within a story or about a story.

Put a Shakespeare plot in a different setting.

End with a twist a la O. Henry or Twilight Zone.

How's about good old political satire? Ticks all the 'not the usual stuff' boxes...

That would be fun.

I'd love it, as a judge, but I don't know that most of the people here are even familiar with how to do that, let alone doing it well.

I still steadfastly stand by my "no speculative fiction" idea, at least for bonus points. I also like the "objects" suggestion.

Since I don't write speculative fiction in the first place, if that the theme was agreed on, should I try the opposite?

Why not just do some other brand of conventional fiction that you don't usually do?

True.

Hmmm - political satire involving objects as characters... Bagsie that idea! Might smell like Spec-Fic, but, hey...

I like the idea of an erotic fiction contest, seeing as I wasn't around for the first one.

Yeah, that one never panned out.

I actually just found out that it was the first writing contest. I started it. I feel special.

Presuming I judge, I'll make sure to remember this...

As for the erotic fiction idea, eh, I don't mind, but god help you if you write M/M slash fic, because I'll be there forever going all, dammit, do I really need to read this? WHY?! And then I shall put a pox on whoever wrote it, and their whole house.

Also, just curious; is there a reason for themes at all?

I presume it's to try and get people outside their comfort zones, and so that everybody has a very roughly similar concept behind their work, so the judges have a kind of relative point of reference to go on.

Something like that, yeah. There was more reasoning behind it when I started this, but that was so long ago I can't actually remember. Still, I like the structure the themes give.

@Parable: fair enough, I was just wondering if there was reasoning outside of that. Anyhow, I'd be cool with an erotic contest...the "non-speculative fiction only" MIGHT be okay, but it also might be too limiting for some writers. I'm not sure where Leradny's going with her "objects" idea; it sounds interesting, but I guess I'm just not getting it.

I like Flyboy's "no speculative fiction" idea. Which is ironic, because I'm terrible at coming up with non-speculative ideas for short stories. But it would serve to redress some of the imbalance I see in this subforum, and give writers who are more interested in realistic fiction a chance to shine.

I like a lot of the OP's prompts, too.

edited 15th Jan '12 2:57:24 AM by DoktorvonEurotrash

1) Writers go outside of their comfort zones by THINKING HARD to connect dots which might not otherwise have been connected (i.e. toilet plunger, anvil), which allows for greater creativity.
2) Everyone is involved with each stage of the contest instead of sitting around and waiting after the vote.
3) The judges have something to look for in an objective manner.