Short Story Contest #9: Theme Discussion

[Celaquil]

Disclaimer: I am not taking it upon myself to host this contest.

That said, since we've all pretty much agreed (some more reluctantly than
others) that "Lore" is a pretty dumb idea for the (speculatively) next short
story contest, should it ever happen, we need some fresh themes on the
table. So come all, come to my counter, where wares are not sold but
accepted for astounding textual insight.

Some ideas:

- Ancient Architecture.
- Evolution.
- Ascension.
- Arrangement.
- Mountain (Swamp, Island, Forest and Plains).
- Wedding cake in the middle of the road.
- Manipulation.

Actually, come to think about it, I'd love "Island" as a theme, think of all
the various ways that word can be interpreted into various intriguing plots.

 

[Traxamillion]

One prompt I've worked with before is, "center a story around a wedding cake in the middle of the road" which is nice on many levels. I'd enjoy some ideas that are more specific like that instead of the more vague. Even with a specific theme there is tons of room for diversity. I'll post when I have some decent ideas.

 

[Chen]

Manipulation-A normal story then some comes and learns that all are manipulated somehow by a shit guy or something like that

 

[Apheraz Lucent]

~Subbing.

Yes, "Center a story around an object" goes to poll for sure.

 

[Razosh]

I vote for "center around an object" such as mountain.

 

[Kyrbi0]

Is this a poll, or a preliminary-to-poll Ideas submission thread?

Either way, I've already submitted mine. I think the ideas are fine, but in general I want to steer clear of generic, wishy-washy buzz-words (e.g. "Despair", "Eloquence", "Transcend") and come up with simple (but deep) one-or-two-word concepts (e.g. some of the ones already submitted (e.g. "Mountain", "Ruins", "Island", etc). The "Wedding Cake in Street" kind of concept sounds weird, but interesting I guess.

 

[Traxamillion]

I've also worked with a prompt where we look at 1 inkblot Rorschach image and create a story based on what we see.

 

[Apheraz Lucent]

That's a bit odd tho for this, as it's used more to gain insight of a person than it could be useful for a competion.

There should always be an "Action" theme so I'll suggest "Last Stand". Of a war or one's sanity, up to writer.

 

[Traxamillion]

The problem with "Last Stand" and other cliches like that is it naturally produces cliche work. We Need more specific ideas that haven't been overused.

 

[Celaquil]

I don't know that I agree that "it will naturally produce cliché works"
is a valid argument against a theme. What stories are produced by a
contest is up to the contestants, not necessarily the theme.

Following that logic, you could say any theme could produce a cliché story.

A theme should merely be a guideline, I say, to channel the creativity
in the contestants. And in that sense, I honestly don't see the absolute
problem with "Last Stand".

Personally, I don't like too restrictive themes, but seeing as I probably won't
enter the contest myself, I won't voice too badly against it.

 

[Traxamillion]

I'm not saying you can't take a cliche theme like "Last Stand" and produce something new and interesting; I'm just saying that with a cliche theme it is easier to fall into a cliche scenario. For example, the idea of Beowulf's lone survivor that has been rehashed out over and over to ad nauseam.

I will also say that specific over vague tends to produce more interesting results, as opposed to the over-expansive possibility of something vague. With something vague you may as well just have a theme that is completely open seeing as the limitations are virtually limitless.

 

[Chen]

What about "Cliché" where you need to use LOTS of clichés and use them in a nice way that your story still feel unique.

And also a story where you will base it upon a fairy tale/nursery rhyme but a different plot and different characters.

Or maybe Plot Twist where you make a story with a MAJOR plot twist in the end.

 

[Traxamillion]

Good God...

 

[Apheraz Lucent]

One of ideas for earlier story contest that was supposed to be hosted but people dropped out, was Macabre Classic, where people were required to transform a standard fairy tale into a more dark world.

 

[Silva]

"Story around an object" theme sounds promising. I vote for that. Shows how creative people can be. Altho, the top suggestions aren't so bad either.

 

[Kyrbi0]

Or maybe Plot Twist where you make a story with a MAJOR plot twist in the end.

Again, that's what every story should contain. If you have a Plot without any Twists... What are you telling a children's-book story? There's a place for that, but not (IMO) a creative story-telling Contest.

One of ideas for earlier story contest that was supposed to be hosted but people dropped out, was Macabre Classic, where people were required to transform a standard fairy tale into a more dark world.

Hmm... Interesting, although to be fair, that's pretty much just reversing what Disney did to the classic Grimm fairy tales (i.e. all the 'standard' fairy tales had dark settings & occurrences).

 

[WerBackIII]

May I suggest pilgrimage/spiritual journey instead of mountains/plains/forests? It has a specific theme, which incorporates the geographical motifs in it.

 

[Apheraz Lucent]

One idea also might be fables. A story with a strong message with it we're supposed to learn from.

For those who don't know what they are, http://www.aesopfables.com/aesopsel.html

 

[Traxamillion]

One idea also might be fables. A story with a strong message with it we're supposed to learn from.

For those who don't know what they are, http://www.aesopfables.com/aesopsel.html

most stories tend to have a didactic aspect to them. Including it is good, but I think making it the theme will force out an "in your face" representation of a teachable moment.

 

[Apheraz Lucent]

Hm, might be true.

 

[Celaquil]

So, if we're all done discussing the theme, I'll move onto making a poll.

I'll give it a couple days first, though, in case there's to be some last minute
suggestions.

 

[The World Is Flat]

I'd love to drop back to some fundamentals. Why don't we do a story set in a Blizzard IP. Like a story set during the events of Warcraft III, its expansion, or any novels released before World of Warcraft?

 

[Chen]

I'd love to drop back to some fundamentals. Why don't we do a story set in a Blizzard IP. Like a story set during the events of Warcraft III, its expansion, or any novels released before World of Warcraft?

Well this sounds cool and I feel making an Overwatch story. Though there may be stuff life copyright stuff but we aren't publishing this so I think it's safe. Not sure how mods can decide though.

 

[Celaquil]

It is safe, fan fiction isn't illegal as long as you don't make money on it.

Also, I like that Overwatch idea, basically: Tell the back-story of one of the characters.

 

[Apheraz Lucent]

Will maybe sound stupid, but what would it be like? Taking a character, such as Naisha or Jaina and then telling her side of the story fit into the current lore, or making it before/after Wc3 happened?

 

[Chen]

Will maybe sound stupid, but what would it be like? Taking a character, such as Naisha or Jaina and then telling her side of the story fit into the current lore, or making it before/after Wc3 happened?

Anything that take place on a Blizzard universe.

 

[Apheraz Lucent]

So it's basically making anything but with a pre-defined already existing char? Seems cool.

 

[Celaquil]

Exactly, and as far as I know, none of the Overwatch characters have a back-story yet,
so basically, you don't have to reinvent it either.

 

[Chen]

Exactly, and as far as I know, none of the Overwatch characters have a back-story yet,
so basically, you don't have to reinvent it either.

Oh well, there are shorts coming about in 2016 on march somehow but we could as well write for Warcraft, Starcraft(maybe to add epilogues to characters since Starcraft 2 story already ended as of yesterday) or maybe Diablo with it lack of stories and what I'm interested at is Blackthorne, RnRR and Lost Vikings.

 

[Kyrbi0]

I'm not particularly interested in Blizzard Backstories. OC is where it's at. But hey, let's vote.

 

[Apheraz Lucent]

I wouldn't like a SC2 specifically only theme tho. I thought Overwatch was a title, not a pre-defined set of chars to pick from. For one, because I never played, and prolly never will, anything from SC series.

I do like the idea to write a random sidekick's story from Wc3 universe. We could expand that to sc2 universe too I guess.

 

[The World Is Flat]

I'd be down to be as broad or narrow as anyone wants in regards to which blizzard IP. I do believe that it is a very interesting challenge to create your own original space within the confines of another story, environment, or character. So yeah, I'd love to do a story set within any one of the blizzard worlds.

 

[Traxamillion]

It's not a bad idea. I think it's safe to say we are all fans of various blizzard stories, creating something within one of their universes is challenging yet doable. I'm also very much for original content. At this point I say we vote on some of the things we have and get the ball rolling.

 

[The World Is Flat]

It's not a bad idea. I think it's safe to say we are all fans of various blizzard stories, creating something within one of their universes is challenging yet doable. I'm also very much for original content. At this point I say we vote on some of the things we have and get the ball rolling.

Yeah. Vote Vote!

 

[Razosh]

I'd have to agree too, firstly I think it would be a great concept and secondly I think it's easier for people to get sucked into a story if they know the characters. Don't get me wrong if you sit down and read something like the Inheritance Cycle you're going to get great attachement to Eragon, Solembum and Arya. But the amount of attachment that people feel toward a newly made up short-story character is always going to be limited.

 

[The World Is Flat]

I'd have to agree too, firstly I think it would be a great concept and secondly I think it's easier for people to get sucked into a story if they know the characters. Don't get me wrong if you sit down and read something like the Inheritance Cycle you're going to get great attachement to Eragon, Solembum and Arya. But the amount of attachment that people feel toward a newly made up short-story character is always going to be limited.

Well, sure (maybe), but just to play devil's advocate, is that not the true challenge of short-form narrative, doing much with little? The ability to develop that attachment, or at least involvement in the story you are telling with few words placed well is the hallmark of strong writers. Its what defines a lot of writers, like Leo Tolstoy or Ray Bradbury or Issac Asimov or Stephen King or Poe.

That being said, I believe the skill to mold another's work into your own involves challenge of the same degree, but in an altogether different vein. How much can you truly make that world your own, and how much is leveraged against the existing strength of the body of work?

 

[Apheraz Lucent]

Poll?

 

[The World Is Flat]

If nobody else makes it, I'll make it tomorrow.

 

[Razosh]

What happened to this?

 

[Chen]

Yeah, it's pretty interesting.

 

[Silva]

Think we need judges..

 

[Warseeker]

Short story? Who's in this contest? Can I participate?

 

[Razosh]

Short story? Who's in this contest? Can I participate?

Yes, no one officially though many have put their name forward and yes.

 

[Warseeker]

Alright then, I can make a story

 

[Razosh]

Alright then, I can make a story

Ehm, you know that the contest hasn't actually begun yet?

 

[The_Silent]

A story around the point of view of a very fanatic person, the person cannot share your point of view, as that would ruin the point of the excessive.

 

[Warseeker]

Ehm, you know that the contest hasn't actually begun yet?

Yay I know , I'm just preparing myself for this contest !

 

[Rufus]

Just throwing in a post in order to revive the contest, if people are still interested!

Manipulation, corruption etc. sounds pretty interesting!

 

[Kyrbi0]

Eh, I'm still here. And as of tomorrow my finals will be over, so I'm *slightly* less busy.

 

[Traxamillion]

I've been horribly busy lately, but I'll still interested.