Writing competitions?

[Dr. Briggs]

I wasn't jumping on this because of storms knocking out my cable and internet. BUT with that in mind I'd love to be a part of this, either as competitor or judge

[Creamy Goodness]

I wasn't jumping on this because of storms knocking out my cable and internet. BUT with that in mind I'd love to be a part of this, either as competitor or judge

Score. Sounds good, man.

[DragonBlues]

I wasn't jumping on this because of storms knocking out my cable and internet. BUT with that in mind I'd love to be a part of this, either as competitor or judge

In the spirit of spirit of TRUE competition, I'm throwing your hat in for you as a competitor, Briggs.

[Chainsaw Brutality]

*BUMP*

[Creamy Goodness]

I just started working on a story that's been kicking around in my head the past week or so. I really didn't want to start this without the right amount of people. The more we have participating, the better it will be. Ten was the magic number I was shooting for. I'd settle for nine. We still need at least two more participants and a judge. Here's what we've got so far:

Participants:
1. DragonBlues
2. CarolinePar
3. Dodgson
4. Mfish618 (Maybe? Yes? Okay.)
5. Sobriquet
6. Creamy Goodness
7. Mr. Briggs Inc
8.
9.
10.

Judges:
1. LolliePop
2. Chainsaw Brutality
3.

I was just going to work on my own stuff until we had enough entrants. Wasn't sure what else to do. I'm open to suggestions.

[Scarecrow]

I'm in for sure! Writing that is.

[Creamy Goodness]

Participants:
1. DragonBlues
2. CarolinePar
3. Dodgson
4. Mfish618 (Maybe? Yes? Okay.)
5. Sobriquet
6. Creamy Goodness
7. Mr. Briggs Inc
8. Scarecrow
9.
10.

Judges:
1. LolliePop
2. Chainsaw Brutality
3.

If we can't find another judge, I'll do it but I'd probably participate as well.

[Scarecrow]

Do you know what theme you want to do?

[Creamy Goodness]

I haven't given it much thought, no. Just trying to get the right amount of people first.

[Scarecrow]

How about horror porn?

[CarolinePar]

How about horror porn?

sounds interesting...the closest thing I've done recently was "hurt/comfort" style fan fiction.

but you've got me interested - what guidelines (rules) would you have for writing this genre?

[DragonBlues]

Horror Porn?! I am TOTALLY in!! exdev:

[Creamy Goodness]

Probably won't be doing horror porn. At least not right off the bat. Guidelines would mainly be a deadline (you'd probably have an entire month to prep your story) and word count (I'd start at 3,000 words and possibly increase it as/if the competitions became a regular deal). I always preferred to make a thread for the contest for entries to be posted inside of rather than making individual threads for each story, so that'd probably be included as well. That's about it as far as guidelines go. I'm open to suggestions, as always, but that's pretty much all I had in mind.

As for a theme, I'm not entirely sure. I've always wanted to write a big monster story and I definitely want to experiment in other genres (sci-fi and crime come to mind), but I don't want to switch genres until we get a few horror ones rolling. I'd probably eventually make a list and then either make a poll or see which ones you would all like to do. I don't like planning out the genres too far ahead of time. The contests are meant to be spontaneous. Thinking too long about the theme feels kind of like cheating to me.

[CarolinePar]

I think there should be at least one "specialty" rule per contest - example: if we were to do something based on Friday the 13th it has to be a weapon or way of death seen in one of his films...

no rubber chickens!

[Creamy Goodness]

I used to throw in some sort of random item/object/body part/etc to be used in the story, as well. I think the last one I threw in was "heart." I don't exactly remember what I called it though. Having to include the weapon or one of the deaths seen in one of the F13 films (just as an example) seems really predictable though. Maybe using one of the weapons from the films as a throwback or adding a new twist on one of the kills from the films. Is that what you meant and I just read it wrong?

I think for past themes, I didn't get the chance to really get creative before I canned the idea due to not many participating. I think I mainly just did holidays and specific months. This time around, I mainly just planned on writing down about a half a dozen ideas, throwing them into a hat, and pulling out what would eventually become our theme.

[Dr. Briggs]

I thought it'd just be freestyle, but now that a few ideas have been thrown around, I'm liking the sound of writing within a theme...

[Creamy Goodness]

Freestyle seems too easy. I like the idea of being confined to certain rules and guidelines to churn out a story. It's more of a challenge. I definitely want others to come up with guidelines for the contest, as well. Just to mix it up a bit.

[Scarecrow]

The Christmas theme was the best out of the all that we've done. I wish I could find Flashing Red Lights, again.

[DragonBlues]

I definitely like having a theme to stick to, or at the very least a "challenge" of some sort. ie: working the phrase, "The monkey didn't do it at all, it was the ferret," coherently into the story.

I really hope we get enough participants for this to work!

[Sobriquet]

This will be interesting writing in a new genre for me...