This is your ruler, Snapper the Wonderful, presenting you with the latest hook challenge. If you are unfamiliar with this writing challenge allow me to explain.

The theory is most editors, due to the volume of submissions they receive, will reject the majority of the submissions based on the first page. With the title, information required, and guidelines (double spacing, size font) the first page is usually the first 13 lines of your story. This exercise is to see who can write the best opening with the same story synopsis.

Each challenge a new synopsis is presented. This weeks is written by the brilliant Tiergan. Other future synopsis writers are...

(Nobody, all used up)

If you like to provide a future synopsis copy the list above and add your name to it in your post in this thread.

If you are not sure what '13 lines' is, it is Courier 12 pnt in a 65 character line. (Kathy will probably provide a template). If your submission is longer than 13 lines it will get cut down to size (whining will do you no good).

Now here are the rules.

1) All submissions are based on the synopsis below. You can start anywhere you like in the synopsis as long it is how you would start your version

2) All submission are to be sent to me (my email address is up there) Send your email in the subject line
13 line hook challenge
and place your submission in the body of the text. Please write your submission as such

Your hatrack name

Entry # (I'll fill it in)

Title

Your wonderful 13 lines etc, etc, etc...

3) I will start posting submission when I get a sufficient number. The competition will last about a week after I post this message.

4) Voting will begin after I close the submissions. Please do not post anything in that thread until I close the submissions and open the voting. Everyone that submits an entry is encouraged to vote for your top three and favorite title (which can be part of the hook). All that did not submit an entry but would like to vote are encouraged to do so. And no voting for your own (that's lame)

5) At the close of the voting I shall tabulate the votes. First gets 5, second 4, and third 3. Winner is declared and you get to wear a pirate hat and say ARRGGH all week.

Now for this weeks synopsis...

quote:

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Action/Adventure star Brent T. Jones and his pop-star girlfriend Lita are on their way to a video shoot in the artic when their plane goes down. Miraculously they survive along with 2 other people, Albert the computer geek who runs the cameras and computers, Ed the forty-year old pilot who somehow brought the plane down on an icy slip only saving have the crew. The radio is busted beyond repair.

They need shelter fast, and the only place they see sits atop an icy cliff. There they find an abandoned research facility and they set up home base. But there is a reason its abandoned and been sealed shut. But they have no choice as to stay outside is to die, at least inside they have a fighting chance of surviving the elements.

They force their way in and find that the place still has power, and the inside temperature is warm. They are not alone, or are they? What kind of research went on here? There are signs of genetic experiments gone bad, mutated humans and beasts floating in cylinders of goo. And the next day one of the four wakes up with a pounding headache, and his eyes seem to roll back into his head.

Will they escape, and what horrors does the research facility hold. Mutated Monsters, or is it all in thier minds, and they are just victims of Cabin Fever?

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