Literature of the Week, Discussion thread. Options

[metaldevil]

Many thanks to throwingks for this terrific idea.

If anyone's familiar with SOTW (sig of the week), then you'll pretty much know how this works. Well, the Lit of the Week (LOTW) will be a weekly contest that we'll hold here in which you have to write something. It can be a short story, a poem (either short like haikus or longer ones like Edgar Allan Poe's poems), or anything else that requires us to write.

In here, you can toss around ideas about what you'd like to see in these contests. For example, what length (number of words) should a short story or poem be, and what subjects we should write about.

I'll stay hot on this so we always keep active. We'll take submissions for one week of a contest and hold a voting period of one week for that contest. At the start of the voting week, we'll start a new contest and so on. That way, it won't be one week writing and one week voting; it'll be every week writing with some voting thrown in.


I'm thinking about a short horror story theme to break the ice. Anyone have any other suggestions for the first contest (and future contests)?

__________________________________________________________________

All LOTWs (plus winners):

LOTW #1: Haiku, Freestyle [StrictPuppet]
LOTW #2: Short Story, Disgruntled Videogame Characters [throwingks]
LOTW #3: Story Of A Picture, How'd this happen? [metaldevil]
LOTW #4: Shadow Writing [UNDECIDED]
LOTW #5: Poem, Vertical Message [hamwbone]
LOTW #6: Comic Template, Fill in the bubbles. [Vfreitas]
LOTW #7: Short Story, I am the terror that flaps in the night. [Raging Walrus]
LOTW #8: Poem, There's love in the air.

This post has been edited by metaldevil: Apr 30 2007, 07:46 AM

[throwingks]

I think this is a wonderful idea.

People should not be scared to get involved. I vote for Haiku for week 1. Something as simple as a Haiku takes 10 seconds to write. It doesn't require any prep time, and gets the creative juices flowing.

In case someone doesn't know, a haiku, is a minimalist poem. The only structure, more of a guideline, is to use 17 syllables or less, and usually 2 or 3 sentences. As it is art, you can make it however you want. Some examples can be found here:
http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=563598
Or a quick search off google also.

[metaldevil]

Sounds good. We need to generate enough interest in this, though. SOTW got off to a slow start, too. Once we fall into a routine, it'll get more people involved.

[throwingks]

Maybe we should do a Lit of the Month? 3 weeks of submissions, and 1 week of voting. The 1st - 21st for entries and 22nd till end for voting.

Just until we get some momentum.

This post has been edited by throwingks: Nov 20 2006, 10:54 PM

[metaldevil]

Well, maybe 2 weeks for a haiku since they don't take long to write.

[Modderxtrordanare]

I just had an idea for the second LOTW/M.

Shadow writing. We did it in English, we were given a passage of writing (was a poem) and we had to re-write it to our experiences and what-not and follow their technique of writing. If I can find the paper I did, I will post the original poem and then mine.

[throwingks]

I have never done that. I would try it.

I was also thinking we could try speed writing. With no edits.

Something like a 2 minute contest. We would have to plan ahead and have everyone know what time to be online and expect it. Then the OP would give the rules and close out entries after 2 minutes. Voting could take place whenever. The OP could not participate though. I thought of it, I could do it. But, I would want to be in the next one if it goes well.

[metaldevil]

Great ideas, guys.

^^I thought that Mx was going to post an example.

[Modderxtrordanare]

I lost my binder with my English work in it, but when I find it, I will post it.

[throwingks]

I had another idea. What about a short story that has to end with the same sentence or punch line.
I.E. The Aristocrats. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Aristocrats_%28joke%29
The whole fun is the journey to get there.

This post has been edited by throwingks: Dec 3 2006, 12:13 AM

[metaldevil]

So what should we hit up for the next LOTW?

[lostboyz]

dunno but a multi-media thing would be cool, teams someone write something then make an image or vice versa, dosent even have to be teams

[metaldevil]

I started jotting down an idea for the next LOTW in this post, but then I decided to post it as the next contest once I began coming up with examples. lol

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=571027

[metaldevil]

It's time to get the third LOTW up and running! Any suggestions or preferences from the ones listed earlier in the thread?

[throwingks]

I like lostboyz idea. We would have to get people to commit from both the Graphics and Literature forums before we can get that rolling though.