Hatrack River Writers Workshop: First 13 Challenge #8 Synopsis

This is topic First 13 Challenge #8 Synopsis in forum Writing Challenges at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by JustInProse (Member # 7872) on :

Deadline: I will post all entries in one session on Friday, May the 16th.
Mailing Format: Email to Justinwtf(at)hotmail(dot)com with "First 13" and your Hatrack Nick in the subject line. (This will allow me to run a search through my email.)

I'll close the polls on rising the following Tuesday and post the results that evening.

Rules:

• You can begin the story from any chronological part of the synopsis.

• Ensure it is only 13 lines. Read this thread for instructions on how to be certain.

• Any details not specified in the plan can be made up as long as they do not SERIOUSLY alter the story.

• Include all italic and bold formatting code in the text so the moderator can just cut and paste the text when he/she posts them.

• Remember, this contest is ABOUT mastering the hook--so have one.

• When you have finished email it to the moderator (by WEDNESDAY) (***Thursday this week***). The moderator will then assign it a number and record the authors name next to it. The moderator will then post it with the number only, not the name, in a separate thread from the story outline thread as he/she receives them. *PLEASE don’t look at what other people have done until after you have sent yours to the moderator.*

• Edit your work before sending it—no corrections will be made after it has been emailed, and email it only once. Put your HATRACK name at the top of the 13 lines, the moderator will remove it before he posts it, replacing it with a number.

• From Thursday onward voting/analysis can begin. The moderator will post the list of who did which intro on Saturday. **No voting for yourself**

Then a new moderator volunteers (it’s not much work--unless you consider creating the outline difficult) and then we start again.

Future moderators

1) Grex42
2) Wolfe_Boy
3) Bent Tree
4) Doctor

MORE VOLUNTEERS??

Synopsis:

Kevin lives in a small cabin in a village nesting on the outskirts of the forest. It was started as a small camp in the forest 63 years, and now holds over fourty thousand inhabitants. Most of the villiagers are Human, although other various races (your choice) have come to find it home. Kevin's cabin is outside of the forest.

The villiage is within the borders of a small country, but it is independant of its control. A state of war has not existed for thousands of years, but skirmishes are ongoing. Inside of this small country, the villiage has an informal militia to defend itself against attacks. Few men ever die during these attacks, and fewer still kill.

The villiage is attacked from the inside of the forest one day at high noon. An army of men, spirits, and beasts beat the militia out of the forest. The attacking men and spirits hold within the forest while the beasts make their way throughout the rest of the town.

The beasts range in size from a small dog to a lion, running on four legs. They have no claws on any of their feet. A leathery skin covers all but their underbelly. On their underbelly is a thick plate of skin, covered in spikes and quills.

They attack by first shrieking, defeaning those around it for a couple seconds. They then charge over their prey, using their underbelly to pin the prey to the ground.

As the beasts head throughout the villiage, a beast (or two or seven) breaks into Kevins home. The only thing you know about kevin is that he was once part of the militia several years ago, he has weapons ranging from knifes to swords in his home, and he is moderatly skilled in combat.

One last thing...Kevin is blind.

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Sorry about the late posting, I started the laundry on friday and accidently flooded our top stairs with an inch of water...which leaked down into the basement.

Anyway! Now that my excuse is given, get me those first 13 by thursday night, 12pm Central time.

Posted by Doctor (Member # 7736) on :

Can't you post them on Thursday? That seems to be the tradition, and gives us more time to consider the entries and provide thoughtful reviews.

Posted by Doctor (Member # 7736) on :

BTW nice synopsis, I like it. I think it has a lot of interesting starting points and flexibility.

Posted by Wolfe_boy (Member # 5456) on :

My only point about this outline (which is in itself quite good) is that, with 40,000 inhabitants, I think we passed by the village size descriptor a while ago. 40,000 people generally equates to city, regardless of the time period you're in.

I'm excited to try this one.

Jayson Merryfield

Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :

Because he got his synopsis posted late, JustInProse is fair in giving the potential participants a little more time to get their entries to him.

Posted by smncameron (Member # 7392) on :

How much flexibility is their in this piece? Can we ignore Kevin and focus on the attack?

Posted by Doctor (Member # 7736) on :

That is a valid point Kathleen, but I would guess that most people would rather see their writing in print (even if it is digital) earlier and won't need several days to write a 13 line piece. I would guess that most people would be finished by or before Thursday. (Though I could be wrong) Maybe we should have a vote? Anyway it's your choice, obviously, but, for what it's worth, I think we should stick to Thursday.

Posted by JustInProse (Member # 7872) on :

Full flexibility is allowed and encouraged. My favorite part about writing this synopsis is the varied results that will follow. I purposefully left several things ambiguous to allow broad interpretation.

All you have to do is make it sound pretty :P

(Kevin does not have to be the MC, and it could in fact be more interesting from a different POV)

Posted by JustInProse (Member # 7872) on :

Wolfe_Boy, I suppose city could be a better word for 40,000, but I wanted the feel that a villiage gave, as opposed to a city. I didn't want to spend paragraphs explaining it, so I opted for villiage. Feel free to use city or anything else in your entry.

As far as entry dates and postings, I will begin posting them on tuesday. This will allow everyone to get a feel for many of the submissions and prepare comments on them ahead of time (If anyone does that?). I will still be holding out the submission deadline until Thursday.

When it comes down to it, I feel it is more important to give an extra day for submission than an extra day for voting. (Comments can always come after the official vote is done).

Posted by Doctor (Member # 7736) on :

Oh okay, that's fine. I mostly just wanted to see my entry in glowing digital letters sooner rather than later.

Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :

Does Kevin also work as a lawyer?

Posted by Tiergan (Member # 7852) on :

Man, I am so slow. I hope its just the fever. Another day of it, and I will have to go to the doctor and have it checked out.

Are we referring to Daredevil here?

quote:
Does Kevin also work as a lawyer?

Posted by Doctor (Member # 7736) on :

You should probably go to the Doctor.

Doctor's orders.

Posted by Patrick James (Member # 7847) on :

Bad puns are not permitted on this site!

Hey, good luck Justin with the moderating.

Posted by JustInProse (Member # 7872) on :

He is a lawyer, but he doesn't where the red leather suit thingy... :P

*Note* He isn't actually a lawyer

[This message has been edited by JustInProse (edited May 13, 2008).]

Posted by Doctor (Member # 7736) on :

So when are the entries going up?

Posted by JustInProse (Member # 7872) on :

I apologize once more for a slight delay. There are two main reasons. The first is the lack of entries I have recieved. I don't know if it is my synopsis, moderating, or outside circumstances, but I have very few. I was hoping to wait for one or two more before posting.

The second is the current state of my house. Right now I am in my brothers room, with a table against his closet. I am sleeping on the floor right next to the computer (I have to move the computer chair to sleep lol). My house was flooded and I have been temporarily computerless/internetless several times. On top of this, our entire family is pitching in daily to fix the problems that have occured. Tearing down sheetrock is kinda fun when you get to kick it though

I will put the current entries at 5 pm Central time today. For everyone to think about, the less people who enter, better chance to win! (This could be your week)

P.S. Do I sound like a salesman :P

Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :

Is there a prize?

Posted by Bent Tree (Member # 7777) on :

Only miniscule bragging rights that are blatently ignored

Posted by Patrick James (Member # 7847) on :

Blatantly ignored! With no exceptions!(seconding Bent Trees's sentiment.)

Sorry to hear about the house Justin.
If you didn't live so far away I would ask if there were anything I could do.

Good luck in any event.

Posted by Patrick James (Member # 7847) on :

Also, say hi to your pops.
Us highwaymen without masks should stick together.

Posted by Tiergan (Member # 7852) on :

Somehow I go lost from the list. So here goes again.

Future moderators

1) Grex42
2) Wolfe_Boy
3) Bent Tree
4) Doctor
5) Tiergan

MORE VOLUNTEERS??

Posted by JustInProse (Member # 7872) on :

Even though I've been busy, being moderator has surprisingly been less a chore, and more a learning activity. It's so fun I want to do it again!

1)Grex42
2)Wolfe_Boy
3)Bent Tree
4)Doctor
5)Tiergan
6)JustInProse