Short Story Contest #9 Theme

[Arcisal]

It's been awhile since we had a short story contest and just to get the ball rolling. Here are some ideas I had in mind.

• A Curious Case: Writers are to depict an unusual or unexpected event that occurred. It can be fictional or simply retelling a past tale.
• Macabre Classics: Contestents are required to twist any classic fairy tale of their choice into a grim somber version whilst keeping with the classic fairy tale elements.
• Story Noir: Writers must come up with a story that clearly displays noir-like elements. However, the story simply doesn't have to be all about sex drugs and the mafia, it can also be a simple tale but retold in a sort of "incognito" way.
• Tales of Azeroth: Participants must come up with a story that shows an event set in Azeroth, or the Universe of Warcraft. The story can either be fictional or a retelling of events but must be set in the Warcraft Universe.
• Surrealism: Contestants are required to create and weave a fictional surrealistic world using pen and paper through the eyes of another. The world can simply be a strange new land through the eyes of a foreigner, or as surreal as Alice in Wonderland.

Thoughts, ideas?

[kari0003]

Im not clear about the themes used before, but the idea I'd like to share is:
Finish a base story. Everyone have a base story, and contestants have to create an unexpectable ending for it.

It may not be a good idea for the contest, I found it interesting, so I shared it.

[Pharaoh_]

I'd like some creation of lore for a character/location in a fantasy universe.

[Skycraft]

I don't want any of that 'knife-edge' stuff we had last time, or anything similar to it. It was too confusing.

[Arcisal]

Writing lore would be more of a "documentation" rather than a short story, unless you can show the world through something like through the eyes of another.

And yeah, nobody understood that knife-edge stuff.

Giving a pre-set scenario would probably give an unfair advantage to others. Unless you generalize it enough before letting it become to vague.

Really guys, let's drift away from that swords, guns and mythical creatures kind of thing. I was thinking more peculiar events set in the 1930's. Don't really know what to call it, but very akin to most of Roald Dahl's short stories.

[HammerFist132]

I have idea about theme named: Betrayed - man is betrayed and you should make it like how his life looks after that

[Arcisal]

Really? Nobody is interested?

Just in case this does get approved, might as well mention it. I suggest submitting anonymously, with only the names of the writer available to the Host and the Judge. And the names of the writers will not be shown on the poll, instead only their story names. This is to prevent anyone from judging biasly or voting based on the users themselves instead of the story itself. I believe this method was mentioned by Apheraz Lucent? WIPs will also be hidden from the users.

[-Peper-]

Actually, the ones that catched my mind were only Tales of Azeroth and Macabre Classics.

[Amargaard]

Whatever.. I'm in a contest-mood, so I might enter the contest no matter the theme :b

However, I'm not a fan of the anonymity-idea. That way, you can't get feedback from the community.

[Grey Nightmare]

I'll enter if we enforce the anonymous rule, I'm sure you'll be able to get feedback after the contest ends.
Which in my opinion, is exactly how it should be.
The twisted Fairy Tale sounds like it could be very interesting.

[Arcisal]

Anybody else? I see nobody is interested in becoming a judge, which to be honest, neither am I.

[GunSlinger21]

The Macabre classics should be nice

[Grey Nightmare]

I judged one... Was it #8? or #7? I think it may have been the one before Knife-Edge (I said that theme was bad, right from the start), in which case I'm not elgible to be a judge, I'm sure it says somewhere you can't have judged the last contest.

If we can ignore that or if it was the one before it, I'll happily judge again.

[Arcisal]

I think everyone sort of enjoys the Macabre Classsics theme. But we have four or five contestants right now? And, fortunately, a judge.

Would you think we would need two judges? Or do we continue to wait for people to respond?

[Grey Nightmare]

Two would help, if there's enough interest, that is...