Never underestimate the value of writing challenges. We should do some more here. Anybody up for it?

Hi, everyone. I'm still around and would be THRILLED to get this thing going again OR to train someone more active at Hatrack to pick up the baton for me.

Back in the day, we called it the Rewrite Challenge. It was something like the Liberty Hall Flash Challenge, except the trigger was generally a story (old fairy and folk tales mostly) rather than a word or picture or phrase, and entrants had a month to come up with a first draft. We never really had a voting system, mainly because it simply started out as a way to get people writing (and I'd have no clue how to set something like that up and I think a voting system would be daunting with longer stories anyway).

Basically, we gave you an idea to work with and you rattled that idea around in your head until something interesting started to happen. Then, BAM!! A story! A few of which have been published.

When it was all done, we posted the first 13 lines of our completed stories and Hatrackers could request a read if they wanted.

Go here to see an example of a previous challenge (the very first, actually), rules and all:
http://www.hatrack.com/forums/writers/forum/Forum11/HTML/000403.html

We did end up increasing the word limit to 5000 I think, as well as a couple other minor tweaks.

How about letting those who weren't here then, or who didn't participate then for whatever reason, have another crack at it?

Even those who did that first challenge may have thought of another way to do it, and they could participate, too.

And/or someone could come up with another well-known story if people didn't want to do "The Three Billy Goats Gruff."

Heinlein is supposed to have said that there are three plots:

Boy meets girl

The Little Tailor

One who learns better

So how about "The Little Tailor" an example of which can be found here ?

1) Twist the story.

2) Write in the style of another well-known author.

3) Combine the tale with another of your choosing.

4) 5000 word limit.

5) Due by March 21st.

6) Post the first thirteen in this topic.

Nobody actually listed anything, that was just the culmination of what I got from Kathleen's link and djvdakota's post.

So, I think that the best way to do it is as noted above, to post the first 13 lines in the appropriate forum and then circulate the stories via email.

Here's how I understand it works:

1. Kathleen suggests a rewrite story (she already has, above)
2. Everyone agrees on the rules, schedule, posting etc
3. You write your story, which is a rewrite of the original. You choose one or more of the 3 alternatives (posted above) to use in your writing. For example, the twist. Your story can diverge wildly from the original, but only insofar as it can still be considered to be derived from the original.

For example: Jack & The Beanstalk might be rewritten as Jill & the Corporate Ladder, which would clearly be derived from J & The B.
4.You post your first 13 lines on the assigned forum as notification that you are in the game.

Everyone who actually gets that far then sends their story via email to the others for comments.

5. Somehow you arrive at a conclusion of who 'won'. In actuality, because you (plural) wrote and completed a story, you all won.

That's how I see it.

I suggest two weeks to write and no more than 10,000 words.

3.5 You go to the appropriate forum and state that you are in and which of the 3 options you are pursuing.

Perhaps we should start another thread called "Writing Challenge First 13" in two weeks time (or whenever the official submission date is) and put URLs in each one so people can easily navigate from one to another.

Then we can use this one for general comment and that one for just the first 13.

PS: I can see Fragments and Feedback getting real busy real soon.

So WHEN do we start, already?!!

Though, I'd like a little longer than two weeks, at least three. I have a lot to juggle.

PS - I agree with naming a new topic to post the results in, but not until the due date. That way it won't be cluttered.

So, what I'm wondering is if it's possible for Kathleen to set up a separate area for Challenges. We can post Rewrite challenges there, Mike can post Liberty Hall info there, anyone who wants to throw down a challenge can do so. Would that work? Or would it just be ignored? Otherwise I'll post the challenge in Fragments and Feedback with secondary threads for 'registration' and 'rewrite discussion' in Open Discussions.

Anyway, whatever is decided, I'm planning on posting the OH-ficial Challenge on March 1st. But I think I'll give a full month for the challenge to be completed, giving time for first-draft critiques and edits. If those participating use this full month to the fullest, they could potentially have a submit-ready story by March 31st.

Thanks to mike, Kathleen, and hoptoad for all the input and explanation.

Final-ish rules:

*Challenge will 'open' March 1st 2007 and 'close' March 31st 2007.

*Participants will submit a COMPLETED story of no more than 5000 words (but of course that's flexible )

*Submitted stories will be 'inspired' by a posted original story (links will be provided);

*Rewrites CAN be done in any, all, or none of the following ways (these are just ideas to get you going, folks):
1. Twist the tale to your own creative bent;
2. Combine the tale with another of your choosing, creating something entirely new;
3. Retell the story in your own style and words, fleshing out the simple tale into something full and rich. Fairy tales are told in a heavily narrative style, with very little characterization or motivation, tons of plot holes and dropped threads. Fill in the plot holes, give the characters motivation and 'life!' For instance, in The Three Billy Goats Gruff, what motivation do the younger goats have for sacrificing their older brothers to the troll? Who would do that? Why?
4. Write a "What if..." version of the story (prequel, sequel, outright mauling) of the original tale;
5. As Mike said, "Your story can diverge wildly from the original, but only insofar as it can still be considered to be derived from the original." Or, as Kathleen said when the rewrite was first born, "...don't restrict yourselves to [proverbial] goats and ogres."

*On or before the deadline, submit the first thirteen lines of your COMPLETED story on the original Challenge post. DO NOT use the original Challenge post to ask questions or make comments. Another thread will be set up for that.

*AFTER MARCH 31ST, all those who participated may send their COMPLETED story to all other successful participants (those who completed and submitted their first 13); CONVERSELY, if you participate, you can expect to receive copies of the other entrants' work. PLEASE critique as many as you can.

*AFTER MARCH 31ST, any non-participating Hatrack members may request the story from the author for critique.

*Paricipants may post 'in-process' requests for critique in the Fragments & Feedback for Short Stories forum, NOT on the Challenge threads.

*This Challenge is open to any suggestions that might make it more successful!

I love it when people get excited about things like this.

It's right above the Literary Boot Camp area.

Enjoy.