Based on ideas from tnwilz and KDW, the triggers are ansibles and blazing guns.

I look forward to some great entries.
Pat
 

We need 12 contestants to make the contest run, and so far we have about 5.

To appeal to Fantasy as well as SF writers there's a broader set of triggers.

Cheers,
Pat
 

[This message has been edited by TaleSpinner (edited May 27, 2008).]
 

[This message has been edited by WouldBe (edited May 27, 2008).]
 

We need twelve contestants to run the contest and so far we have about eight.

To appeal to both SF and fantasy writers, triggers include an ansible or other long distance communications device ringing in the kitchen, an old man trudging up a lane, and a couple of either men, women, aliens or evil robot monkeys busting in with their choice of weaponry.

Timescale is about a month to enable everyone to fit it with their other writing, work, life, etc.

Everyone will get a few crits, guaranteed, and nobody will have to crit more than eight stories. (Crit three with your vote, the other five within a week or two of voting.)

And, of course, everyone will be a winner.

Cheers,
Pat
 

[This message has been edited by TaleSpinner (edited May 28, 2008).]
 

I think one way this works is that the constraints of triggers and a 1000 words actually provoke creativity you didn't know you had. But severe constraints can stifle it.

Shall we say that one of those lines or their equivalent have to be somewhere? Would that perhaps encourage more contestants?

Cheers,
Pat
 

If you answer it, the Voice from Afar will tell you that we need twelve contestants to run the contest and right now we have eleven.

Triggers and closing dates have been relaxed slightly because as skadder, IB and the Voice from Afar have said, the idea is to give everyone an opportunity to write a flash piece, give and receive crits.

More at:
http://www.hatrack.com/forums/writers/forum/Forum7/HTML/000046.html

Scroll down to today's post for revised triggers and dates.

Cheers,
Pat