origfic challenge!!!

[lobelia321]

Yes, folks, you know I'm back when the quest for origfic continueth!

I know that some insane souls out there are doing the nano-thingy (which, btw, impresses me no end) but how about some *shorter origfics* for all of us starved origfic droolers? (Okay, that is all *three* of us or some similar sad number but this thing may yet turn into an avalanche!)

So, CHALLENGE TIME:

Write an origfic.

Make it short. (1,000 words max in Word.)

Don't expend excessive words on "worldmaking" or description of location. Hint at location.

Ditto characters. Sketch them in. Give them an evocative name. Describe *one* item of what they're wearing.

Make them talk. Make them do stuff. Don't make them think or muse or go off into long backstories.

In fact, you're only allowed one sentence of backstory.

Now: go!

Er, and be sure to tell me you've done it. By linking to it here or somesuch.

REWARD:
Copious effbee from me. And, er, snow! For the avalanche!

Comments

[untitled06.livejournal.com]

having read the requirements of your challenge (re: everything sketched rather than detailedorama, dialogue and action, and one sentence of backstory), i went to myself "sweet lord, i can't do that!" but since i started doing nano, i've been trying to force myself out of normal modes and conventions in writing that i've fallen into. bad habits, you know. well, not necessarily 'bad' but habits that keep you from learning anything.

so i've gotten eager to try my hand at new things and was like "alright, i'll bite." your challenge is very counterintuitive to me and my style of writing. then i remembered that i'm doing nano and my eagerness shrunk a little bit in the face of meeting daily quota and writing another origfic. but if you're still keen for origfic when december rolls around, i'm your girl.

i am excited to see what other people come up with, though.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

I know, my requirements always run away with me... And yes, December, January, whenever!!

your challenge is very counterintuitive to me and my style of writing.
It wasn't so much trying to foist a style upon people as enabling them to write something fast and short (and, or so I fondly imagined, less scary). It also arises from my own musings about the problems that arise in moving from fanfic to origfic and one problem I've noticed is the tendency to over-compensate for the lack of an already existing shared world with familiar characters by over-explaining and over-describing. This is why I said not to overdo that aspect.

I'm going to try and respond to my own challenge as well. Because it is also counterintuitive to my own style. But I have had to learn that my own 'intuitive' style isn't always best. Sometimes I have to force myself into an unfamiliar mould to produce something good. Or at least, new.

[azewewish.livejournal.com]

*dies laughing*

OMG, sounds like how I write all the flippin' time.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Tailor-made, you see!!!!

[not-fledged-yet.livejournal.com]

hi, I don't know you, I found this page through mcee, but I thought I'd let you know that if it's original fiction you're after I've got a whole wackload of it over at my fiction journal blackwellcourt...

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Ooh, ta!

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

There's such a lot! Do any of the fics fulfill my challenge criteria?? (Am not overly fond of fantasy, I'm afraid...)

[not-fledged-yet.livejournal.com]

probably some of them do - I don't have anything that I've written specifically for your challenge, though. All of the originalfic at that journal is written in the same (fantasy) universe, although on a couple of different timelines, so if fantasy's not your thing you probably won't like any of it. Sorry to have disappointed - hope you get lots of good entries for your challenge!

[brightest-blue.livejournal.com]

Oh oh oh!!! *head explodes* I do have a long weekend coming up . . . Now if I can just find at least one of my old origfic bunnies.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Yes! Yesyes! *gets out pig to look for Natasha origfic truffles*

[brightest-blue.livejournal.com]

Help! Call off the pigs!

Natasha runs through the woods, tripping on roots, branches snatching at her face and hair, breath coming in sharp ragged gasps. The crashing and snorting draws ever closer. This is surely the vicious boar Grandmother had warned her about, the one who swoops into the village every winter to carry off a virgin peasant girl. "Damn! I should have let Hans go all the way the other night in the hay loft," she thinks.

Momentarily distracted, she runs straight into a large tree. "Hoom," the tree says. (just kidding, wrong universe)

When Natasha finally comes to, she is flat on her back on the mossy ground. The snorting and snuffling is right above her head. Certain she will be ripped to pieces at any moment, she opens one eye. Something is licking her ear. She opens the other eye and turns her head. A little pink pig is sniffing at her. Natasha sits straight up and rubs the back of her head. "I'm sorry I don't have any truffles, little piggy," she says. "But I could tell you a story."

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Wow.

Hahahahah!

And you clever cheat, you - you smuggled in *two* sentences of backstory by making one a "thought"! Don't think I didn't spot it!

Raucous and rollicking! You have again confirmed why I crave origfic!

[brightest-blue.livejournal.com]

I SO did not cheat! That was totally unintentional, I swear!

[brightest-blue.livejournal.com]

Wow, this looks flat-out crazy out of context like that. The sane folks will be wondering why I'm going on about pigs and truffles! *g*