FLASH CHALLENGE: September '08

[kailhofer]

The 200 Challenge:



There is a theory that you only get 200 words to attract your audience to your writing, regardless of whether it’s an article, a short, a novella, or a book. After that, readers turn the page, click the link, or put the book back on the shelf because they’re no longer interested.

I can’t argue with the theory. The average first page of a paperback has about 200 words on it, and if I don’t like them, I won’t buy the book.

Regardless if you believe the theory or not, the hook is an extremely important part of a story, and this is a perfect opportunity to hone your skills.


I challenge you to write the most enticing 200-word story opener you can, and then we’ll vote to see which one makes people most want to read the story that could follow.

DO NOT SEND THE WHOLE STORY. The challenge is only for the first 200 words. If you are moved to write a whole story after composing the hook, great. I’m sure Robert would love more good submissions, but don’t send the whole thing to me.

Please see three examples of the concept at the end of this post.



REQUIREMENTS: (1) Your one story starter must be in the general genres of SF, fantasy, or horror; (2) 200 words or less; (3) This is a Rated 'PG-13' challenge; (4) The characters and setting must be new, or not previously published in Aphelion; and (5) Give your story starter a title and include a byline for when I post the list of authors. Do not bother sending me a bio. I won't use it.

If, in my judgment, any requirement is missed, I won't post the story for voting. Sorry, but rules are for everyone.

HOW TO ENTER: Starters should be submitted to me by PRIVATE MESSAGE, and NOT posted into the thread. If you've never sent a PM, all you have to do is log into this forum and click the 'PM' button at the bottom of this post. That will take you to a special message board, a kind of Aphelion-only email, where you paste your story into the body of the message and then send it to me. You are responsible for doing your own formatting, and for the sake of uniformity, leave an extra line between paragraphs, just like when you see them in the 'zine. I'm allowing different colors for now, but I'm not going to allow changed fonts or sizes, artwork, or any other embedded or external links. I want all the stories to display the same on everyone's computer. DO NOT send a regular email to me--I don't want to risk a spam filter blocking someone's hard work.

NOTE: ONLY REGISTERED MEMBERS who have posted at least one message may submit a story starter. Without that one post, the system will not let you send a PM. So if you wish to join the challenge, post a hello or introduction, or just put your two cents worth in on any of the discussions going on anywhere in the Forum. We'll be glad to meet you.

DEADLINE: Stories should be in by 10 p.m. Central Standard Time (GMT -5), Thursday, September 25, 2008. The stories will then be posted for voting. Voting will close at 10 p.m. C.S.T. on November 1, 2008.

VOTING: Starters will be posted "blind"--without the author's name on them, and the vote results will stay hidden until the poll is closed. This is to make things as fair as they can be, without favorites to be played, and allows for anyone to enter, from newbies to editors. Names won't be on the poll for voting, and all the story titles are literally tossed into a hat and chosen at in random order. When I close the poll after the voting week, I'll post a list of the story starters and who wrote them. No guest votes are allowed. You must register to vote.

If more than two starters are tied at the end of voting, there will be a succession of one-day runoff votes until a single winner is chosen or the number of winners is reduced to two.

WHAT YOU WIN: Pride and the knowledge that your story starter was voted by your peers the best against strong competition--there are some outstanding pieces each time. Writers get improved short fiction skills, increasing their chances in the marketplace, without the lengthy investment in time a longer story would take.

If the challenge can stay in good graces, winners will once again be published in the annual "Best Of" issue in February. Many thanks to the Editors for that.

An example of what may be done follows.


Examples, not eligible for entry:



[align=right]140 Words[/align]

Gone to Sea

By:
N.J. Kailhofer



The creak of boards surprised Nick. She was next to him.

He dared not breathe. He hadn’t seen her coming through the heavy fog.

He watched her from the corner of his eye. Any sound, any movement, from him and she would go. He’d waited his whole life for this.

“The night will be cold,” she said.

Her tone was so beautiful he could scarcely believe it. Her voice was supposed to be raspy.

“Nicholas,” she said, still looking out over the water, “I know you want to ask me something. Ask it.”

He looked at her. The elders had said she had no skin, only a tangle of seaweed, but she had a woman’s face. A beautiful woman’s face. Smooth skin, bright, loving eyes.

Nick swallowed hard. “Why did you kill me?”

She smiled. “Because you wanted me to.”


[center]The End[/center]



[align=right]199 Words[/align]

Egg Paragon & The Spruce Tree Helpers

By:
N.J. Kailhofer



[area]The trees chose as their champion a man who was their sworn enemy. He was a man of despicable qualities, intemperate disposition, and of a shady, low past.

He was also considered the greatest hero in the history of the world.[/area]

Ed winced. Some helper painted "Egg Paragon" across the side of his hangar in six-foot letters. He had slight speech impediment when it came to the letter ‘D,’ so people thought his name was Eggward. It was annoying enough as a nobody, but now that he was famous, it really got under his skin.

He never tried to be an environmentalist. He used to be a truck driver for a company that hauled toxic waste, and he loved it. He was known for an uncanny ability to empty his truck faster than all the other drivers. His other passions were obtaining money and flying homemade helicopters.

Until fate stepped in.

Swallowing his apprehension, he stepped in through the side door. There were pots and bags of soil all around the room. Ed swore to himself that he’d make the Damn Thing stop spitting out all those trees and give him his office back, come hell or high water.


[center]The End[/center]



[align=right]200 Words[/align]

Nightwatch: The Pursuit of Happiness

By:
N.J. Kailhofer



The rain thundered down, flattening the edge of rain forest he tried to hide in.

Josue's cry betrayed his position, and Simon dove behind a wide mesua tree. Lead spat into the bush just inches behind him.

"Damn you, Callow!" Simon shouted as he stuck his 9mm out around the side of the trunk and emptied his clip blindly toward his pursuers. "This wasn't in the training video!"

His eyes searched for a way out. Josue's English garden may have been wide open, but the Sinhajara was dense jungle cover. If he could make a dozen meters, he could vanish into it. He took a single step back and heard the click, the metallic spring of the trip wire. He spun to his right, lunging for the far side of the tree, back into the hail of bullets.

Dirt sprayed at him.


The mine vaulted up from the ground.

[align=center]***[/align]

Simon struggled against the continual pounding on his body.

"Hey," Tom called. "Wake up, already."

Simon's eyes finally responded, snapping open. "I hate monsoon season."

"I can't imagine why." Tom was soaked despite his camouflage rain poncho. "How'd you fall asleep in this, anyway?"

Simon frowned. "I've been here before."


[center]The End[/center]


No, you can’t submit a Nightwatch piece. Jeff never gave answer on this one, so I might as well get some use out of it as an example. Although 2 years of waiting I should probably consider a Pocket Veto...

[kailhofer]

I thought that maybe I should add a look ahead, just in case this particular challenge isn't your cup of tea. Some people write the beginning last, so they might have trouble with this one.

October will go back to full flash stories, focusing on Classic Horror. In November, it will be magic in Fantasy. December will once again have a Holiday theme.

So consider that a heads up. Good luck!


Nate

[kailhofer]

1 week into this 200-word challenge, and there is only one entry so far.

The field is wide open. You have until the 25th.

Good luck!