The 2003 Regular Monthly Challenges
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Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is Reflection. |
Include the Following Challenge:
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Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... champagne, paper hats, streamers and ice cubes. |
Song Challenge:
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Write a fic based on, or inspired by, one of the two following songs. It does not need to include the lyrics. HIGHWAYMAN THIS KISS |
Holidays, Birthdays, and Anniversaries Challenge:
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Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions... New Year's Day - Jan 1 |
AUs Challenge:
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Holding Out For A Hero - Time to turn your favorite characters into comic book heroes...costumed, caped crusaders... who will they be? What powers will they have? What weaknesses? Who will their Arch Nemesis be? Anything goes, from re-writing your characters as the X-Men, Legionnaires or Justice League to turning them into superheroes of your own creation. |
Beginnings Challenge:
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Write a fic starting with the following first sentence: "I think it's time to end the pretense." |
Shakespeare Challenge:
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Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc: "I follow him to serve my turn upon him." |
Ripped From the Headlines Challenge:
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Use the following news item as a basis to build a fic around... After ignoring warnings, a snowmobiler is buried under avalanche. |
RANDOM CHALLENGES:
Letter Writing -
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A lost art that the first week of January is dedicated to... your challenge is to write a fic that centers around a letter, or series of letters. Who is doing the writing? Why are they choosing a letter to communicate? Will they send it? Who is the intended recipient? A lost love? A child (or parent) they've never met? A friend they wish was so much more? |
New Beginnings -
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Your character either breaks free of an abusive relationship, or helps someone else to get out of one, stirring up memories and/or repercussions from their own past. |
Doldrums -
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Your characters are feeling the usual January let down... holidays over... long, cold winter stretching ahead. What will they do to spice things up again? Will it be a vacation to someplace warm and tropical? Or settling in for long nights of hot chocolate and cuddles in front of a roaring fireplace? |
February
REGULAR CHALLENGES:
Quickie Challenge:
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Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is Steam. |
Include the Following Challenge:
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Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... snowballs, hot chocolate, a cable-knit sweater and a camera. |
Song Challenge:
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Write a fic based on, or inspired by, one of the two following songs. It does not need to include the lyrics. CLOSE TO YOU IMMORTALITY |
Holidays, Birthdays, and Anniversaries Challenge:
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Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions... Chinese New Year - Feb 1 |
AUs Challenge:
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My Heart Will Go On - Put your characters onto the Titanic. Happy ending or sad. How did they come to be onboard? How will the tragedy play out for them? Will they be among the lucky few? |
Beginnings Challenge:
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Write a fic starting with the following first sentence: "Bet you can't seduce him." |
Shakespeare Challenge:
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Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc: "Journeys end in lovers meeting, |
Ripped From the Headlines Challenge:
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Use the following news item as a basis to build a fic around... A box of kittens found abandoned and half-frozen on the side of the road. |
RANDOM CHALLENGES:
Triangle Past -
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A significant someone from your chosen character's past returns to attempt to re-kindle the relationship, igniting sparks of jealousy in a current (or potential) partner. Who will they choose? |
Juxtaposition -
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move your fandom's characters into a different movie or TV show... not a crossover, where the one group meets the other, but a replacement of one group of characters with another... just as an example... what if the characters on M*A*S*H were suddenly running the Love Boat? Henry Blake becomes the captain, but who is the cruise director? The doctor? The Bartender? Or maybe the Magnificent Seven take their new places as the crew of Firefly? Any TV show, any movie... your choice. |
Fortune's Fool -
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Horoscopes, palm readings, tarot cards, fortune tellers, tea leaves... somehow your character seeks to find out his or her fate. Can they believe the future revealed to them? Can they change it? Will they want to? |
March
REGULAR CHALLENGES:
Quickie Challenge:
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Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is Irish Eyes. |
Include the Following Challenge:
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Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... a telephone, a four-leaf clover, a dirty magazine and a pint o' Guinness. |
Song Challenge:
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Write a fic based on, or inspired by, one of the two following songs. It does not need to include the lyrics. THAT WAS A RIVER DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING |
Holidays, Birthdays, and Anniversaries Challenge:
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Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions... National Pig Day - Mar 1 |
AUs Challenge:
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Exotic Dancers - time again for a little spice in our lives. Don't we all wish we could see these favorite guys of ours do a little strip-tease now and then? Haven't we wanted to shout "take it ALL off" when they've occasionally lost their shirt on TV? Here's our chance. |
Beginnings Challenge:
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Write a fic starting with the following first sentence: "Where's the lube?" |
Shakespeare Challenge:
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Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc: "Et tu, Brute?" |
Ripped From the Headlines Challenge:
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Use the following news item as a basis to build a fic around... a fire ignites at a popular night spot, many missing; a survivor's story. |
RANDOM CHALLENGES:
Pet Sitters -
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the first week in March is dedicated to them. So, let's use fic to sing their praises. Your character volunteers, or is somehow or other roped into, looking after the beloved pet of a friend or acquaintance. What hijinks ensue? |
Role Reversal -
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Let's say one of your characters is assumed to be, or usually written as, the more dominant character, the more intelligent character, more of a smart ass, more in control... whatever it is, your challenge here is to shake those stereotypes up... switch them around. Can you make it work? |
Procrastinators Week -
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it's the second week of March... but we won't rush it. ;) So... when we get around to it... *bg* one of your characters has been procrastinating... putting off something till it's almost too late. What is it they're avoiding doing, and why? Will someone else beat them to it? |
April
REGULAR CHALLENGES:
Quickie Challenge:
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Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is Rainbows. |
Include the Following Challenge:
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Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... a guitar, a garden, a diamond and daffodils. |
Song Challenge:
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Write a fic based on, or inspired by, one of the two following songs. It does not need to include the lyrics. REBORN FROM THIS MOMENT ON |
Holidays, Birthdays, and Anniversaries Challenge:
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Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions... April Fool's Day - Apr 1 |
AUs Challenge:
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General Hospital - no, not the soaps... let's move your fandom's characters into a different profession this time... Doctors, nurses, EMTs, pediatricians, obstetricians, oncologists, lab technicians, pathologists... you name it, as long as it's part of the medical profession. For example, instead of cops, Starsky and Hutch are EMTs and partners, saving people's lives in a new way. |
Beginnings Challenge:
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Write a fic starting with the following first sentence: "Can I die now?" |
Shakespeare Challenge:
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Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc: "Asses are made to bear, and so are you" |
Famous Quotations:
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Again, use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc: "Through the fiery furnace your steps I'll pursue, |
Ripped From the Headlines Challenge:
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Use the following news item as a basis to build a fic around... Killer flu 'on the way' |
RANDOM CHALLENGES:
In Sickness and In Health -
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It's STD Awareness month... not a common subject in fanfic, I know, but I guess that's what makes this one a challenge. *g* So, maybe your main character is volunteering at a clinic, or has reason to visit one himself, either way, how will this new awareness change his life, and the lives of those around him. |
It's Poetry Month -
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and the challenge will be this... to write a poem as your chosen character... if Jim had to write a poem for Blair for example, or Jayne for Simon, or Vin was writing one for Ezra... what would the poem say? Would they finish it? Or abandon it? And how will the recipient like it? |
Love-Hate -
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They hate each other and everyone knows it. Why is it then they fall into each other's arms the moment they are alone together? Which is the truth behind their relationship? True love in disguise? Pure lust? Can they survive either one? |
May
REGULAR CHALLENGES:
Quickie Challenge:
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Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is May: the Merry Month of Masturbation. |
Include the Following Challenge:
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Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... a police officer, a stolen emerald, a condom and a hospital emergency room. |
Song Challenge:
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Write a fic based on, or inspired by, one of the two following songs. It does not need to include the lyrics. I KNEW I LOVED YOU DARK LADY |
Holidays, Birthdays, and Anniversaries Challenge:
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Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions... May Day - May 1 |
AUs Challenge:
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The Dirty 30's - for this month's AU theme, think Gangsters, Prohibition, Al Capone and the Untouchables. Or maybe the 30's bring to mind the Depression, FDR, Annie and Amelia Earhart... Whatever comes to mind, your challenge is to re-write your characters into that decade. Maybe they are Federal Agents like the Untouchables, fighting to bring down Al Capone and other criminals. Maybe they are searching for Amelia Earhart after the aviatrix disappeared? |
Beginnings Challenge:
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Write a fic starting with the following first sentence: "No good deed goes unpunished." |
Shakespeare Challenge:
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Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc: "Is whispering nothing? |
Famous Quotations:
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Again, use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc: "Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet, |
Ripped From the Headlines Challenge:
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Use the following news item as a basis to build a fic around... An unidentified body is found in a ditch. |
RANDOM CHALLENGES:
Insomniacs R Us -
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In honour of Better Sleep Month, one of your characters is in desperate need of sleep and having trouble finding it. Why? Noisy roommate? Over-eager lover? Busy working overtime on long stakeouts? Stressed out? Bedside vigil? Whatever the reason, eventually, the need for sleep will have to catch up with them. |
When Life Hands You a Lemon... -
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Car troubles abound, whether your character is the one having car trouble or they're coming to the aid of someone else. Flat tires, over-heated radiators, broken gas gauges, leaking brake lines... anything and everything can go wrong here. Is your chosen character the calm, laugh at life type? Or more the road ragin' type? |
Opportunities Lost? -
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For whatever reason (fear, denial, guilt, anything) your chosen character at some time in the past, rejected the overtures of a friend who wanted to be more. Now, suddenly, they've had a revelation. They're seeing things in a new light, wanting to revisit that old offer and change their answer. Is it a change of heart in time, or too little too late? |
June
REGULAR CHALLENGES:
Quickie Challenge:
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Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is Weddings. |
Include the Following Challenge:
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Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... a string of pearls, a pitcher of iced tea, a rose garden and an ant hill. |
Song Challenge:
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Write a fic based on, or inspired by, one of the two following songs. It does not need to include the lyrics. THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM BEER FOR MY HORSES |
Holidays, Birthdays, and Anniversaries Challenge:
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Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions... Donut Day - June 1 |
AUs Challenge:
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Let's Rewrite History - Take any turning point in history and rewrite it to turn out differently. For example, the South wins the Civil War... how does this change affect your fandom, whether it be the Magnificent Seven a few years later, or Starsky & Hutch, centuries later? What if man had not walked on the moon? What if motor cars, "horseless carriages" had never been invented? What if the steam engine, the entire Industrial Revolution, had never come along? How would any of these differences affect your fandom? |
Beginnings Challenge:
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Write a fic starting with the following first sentence: "What just happened here?" |
Shakespeare Challenge:
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Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc: "Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em." |
Famous Quotations:
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"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you." |
Ripped From the Headlines Challenge:
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Use the following news item as a basis to build a fic around... Oreo Cookies: Fun For Kids or LETHAL WEAPONS? |
RANDOM CHALLENGES:
Death Takes a Holiday -
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someone comes back from the dead, whether a canon death or one written specifically for the story. Through the miracle of magic or modern medicine, science fiction or the supernatural, cloning or cryogenics, somehow a character thought to be dead, comes back alive. |
Surprise! -
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one of your characters deceives another, maybe for all the right reasons, maybe not. The bigger the surprise, the better. What happens when the truth comes out? |
Take Your Pet to Work Week -
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seems rather self-explanatory. LOL Your character takes his or her pet to work, and naturally, hijinx ensue. |
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