The 2005 Regular Monthly Challenges
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Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is Charity. |
Include the Following Challenge:
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Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... an empty journal, a locket with something inside, an old, faded wedding photo and a lace shawl. |
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 COULD USE A HERO I'LL NEVER DO BETTER THAN YOU |
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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this time, let's rewrite our favourite character(s) as disaster relief or humanitarian aid workers. Let them be UN Peacekeepers, or Peace Corps volunteers, or maybe they work for the Red Cross, or UNICEF, or World Vision. Or maybe they're just regular people who help out in any way they can. |
Beginnings Challenge:
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Write a fic starting with the following first sentence: "Ready?" |
Shakespeare Challenge:
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Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc: "The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief." |
Famous Quotations:
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"We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance." |
Ripped From the Headlines Challenge:
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Use the following news item as a basis to build a fic around... Court Backs Firing of Waitress Without Makeup -- A female bartender who refused to wear makeup at a Reno, Nevada, casino was not unfairly dismissed from her job, a U.S. federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday. |
RANDOM CHALLENGES:
Changes -
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Your character decides it's time for a change... a change of pace, a change of profession, a change of living arrangements or location, a change of scenery. Major or minor, something in their life needs to change. How will this decision impact those around them? |
Healthy Weight Week -
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(Jan 16 - 22) your character comes to the conclusion that they're a bit out of shape after the overindulgence of the holidays. What might they do to burn a few calories and put the bounce back in their step? |
Treasure of the Heart -
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Pick an object, any object... something that has emotional significance to your character and tell it's story. What is it? A stuffed animal? A pendant? A watch? A wedding ring? And old guitar? A tattered baby blanket? Whatever it might be, how did it come to belong to your character? Why is it so important? |
February
REGULAR CHALLENGES:
Quickie Challenge:
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Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is Loneliness. |
Include the Following Challenge:
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Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... candy hearts, a tree stump, a broken down old pickup truck and a wide-brimmed hat. |
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. LIKE WE NEVER HAD A BROKEN HEART THREE HORSES |
Holidays, Birthdays, and Anniversaries Challenge:
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Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions... Groundhog Day - Feb 2 |
AUs Challenge:
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Welcome to Stepford -you know the story... the desire for a perfect spouse taken too far. Move your favourite characters into Stepford and let the story begin. |
Beginnings Challenge:
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Write a fic starting with the following first sentence: "Just give me some kind of sign." |
Shakespeare Challenge:
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Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc: "Tempt not a desperate man" |
Famous Quotations:
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"The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself." |
Ripped From the Headlines Challenge:
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Use the following news item as a basis to build a fic around... Court OKs Masturbation At Home |
RANDOM CHALLENGES:
Chocoholics Anonymous -
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write a fic around your favourite chocolate creation (recipe included). |
Romantic Gestures -
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your character(s) get involved in a wager about who can be the most romantic. Will the grand, elaborate gestures win, or the humble, simple, personal ones? |
The Anti-Valentine -
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Your character is alone. The Scrooge, the Grinch of Valentine's Day. Can anything (or anyone) silence his "Bah, Humbug" disgust with the romantic holiday? |
March
REGULAR CHALLENGES:
Quickie Challenge:
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Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is Blarney. |
Include the Following Challenge:
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Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... a bottle of brandy, a bucket of ice, candles and a pot of tulips. |
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. WICKED DREAMS YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND |
Holidays, Birthdays, and Anniversaries Challenge:
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Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions... Beer Day - Mar 1 |
AUs Challenge:
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End of the World As We Know It - this time, try transplanting your characters into some kind of post-apocalyptic "Mad Max" or "Jeremiah" kinda world. It could be the world after a nuclear holocaust, or it could be after some kind of natural (or engineered) biological epidemic, or even after some kind of global natural disaster, like a new ice age. Whatever it is, it will dramatically change the way of the world. |
Beginnings Challenge:
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Write a fic starting with the following first sentence: "Congratulations, it's a girl!" |
Shakespeare Challenge:
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Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc: "I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it" |
Famous Quotations:
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"True luck consists not in holding the best of the cards at the table; luckiest is he who knows just when to rise and go home." |
Ripped From the Headlines Challenge:
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Use the following news item as a basis to build a fic around... Pentagon Spurned Plan to Initiate Enemy Homosexuality |
RANDOM CHALLENGES:
Doctor's Orders -
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maybe your character isn't feeling well, maybe it's time for their annual physical... whatever the reason for the visit, the symptoms (ulcers, high blood pressure) are clear and the doctor is adamant. Your character MUST reduce their stress level. But will the "cure" be more stressful than the problem? |
Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day -
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In honour of this holiday (Mar 27) take any quirky country music song title, and use it in a fic. Examples: Jack Daniels, You Lied To Me Again; Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Me; Flushed From The Bathroom Of Your Heart; Does Your Spearmint Lose Its Flavour On The Bedpost Over Night; Did I Shave My Back For This?; When You Leave, Walk Out Backwards - So I'll Think You're Walking In |
Luck o' the Irish -
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your character catches a leprechaun, by accident or design, and is offered the granting of three wishes for the wee creature's freedom. What'll it be? |
April
REGULAR CHALLENGES:
Quickie Challenge:
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Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is Poetry Month. |
Include the Following Challenge:
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Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... a frog, a guitar, sweet peas and a diamond ring. |
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. MY HEART HAS A HISTORY SOMEBODY'S SOMEBODY |
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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Wrong Side of the Tracks - let's move our characters into the darker, more sinister side of life (and fiction). This time, let's make them sex trade workers or peddlers of some sort... exotic dancers, escorts, pimps, prostitutes, call boys and girls... anything. Maybe they're trying to get out of the life. Maybe they're trying to unionise. Maybe it's all legal and above board in this new universe. You decide. |
Beginnings Challenge:
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Write a fic starting with the following first sentence: "It was a dark and stormy night..." |
Shakespeare Challenge:
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Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc: "The lady doth protest too much, methinks" |
Famous Quotations:
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"They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel." |
Ripped From the Headlines Challenge:
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Use the following news item as a basis to build a fic around... Porn flick filmed at uni party |
RANDOM CHALLENGES:
Suspicious Minds -
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One of your characters is suspicious of the actions or motivations of another. Is it jealousy? Is it founded or unfounded? How can they maintain any kind of relationship, be it working or personal, if there is no trust between them? |
Do Over -
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here's your big chance. Re-write the outcome of any event that you really hated in your favourite fandom. Maybe your favourite character was killed off - here's your chance to see them survive. Maybe they married the wrong person, or didn't marry the right one. Fix it. Maybe they left the show. Bring them back. Whatever was wrong, fix it, and see how it affects everything that follows. |
Private Eyes -
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your character discovers that they are being followed by a PI. Why? Who hired them? What are they looking for? |
May
REGULAR CHALLENGES:
Quickie Challenge:
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Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is Mayday. |
Include the Following Challenge:
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Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... a greeting card, an unmatched sock, a diary, and some sea monkeys. |
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. DEVIL'S DANCE FLOOR WHEN YOU COME BACK TO ME AGAIN |
Holidays, Birthdays, and Anniversaries Challenge:
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Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions... Mother Goose Day - May 1 |
AUs Challenge:
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The Fifties - think Happy Days and the Fonz. Think poodle skirts and sock hops. Drive ins and soda shops. Now put your favourite characters there. |
Beginnings Challenge:
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Write a fic starting with the following first sentence: "Good morning, sleepyhead." |
Shakespeare Challenge:
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Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc: "To mourn a mischief that is past and gone is the next way to draw new mischief on" |
Famous Quotations:
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"Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change." |
Ripped From the Headlines Challenge:
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Use the following news item as a basis to build a fic around... Runaway Bride Can't Hide From Media |
RANDOM CHALLENGES:
Hometown I -
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bring your favourite character(s) to the town/city you call home. Why are they there? What will they do? Is there a mystery to solve? Or maybe it's a special event to attend? Or maybe they're just passing through on vacation. |
Wrong Place, Wrong Time -
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your character(s) get caught up in a bad situation. A bank robbery, a hostage situation, maybe someone slips something illegal into their pocket at customs. Whatever the situation, how will they escape the entanglement? |
Hometown II -
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this time, take your character(s) to the town/city that was their childhood home. Why have they gone back? Are the memories good or bad? Are things the same as they remember or completely changed? For the better? Or worse? |
June
REGULAR CHALLENGES:
Quickie Challenge:
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Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is camp fires. |
Include the Following Challenge:
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Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... a stray cat, a pearl necklace, a thorny rosebush and a silk tie. |
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. BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS IF THIS ISN'T LOVE |
Holidays, Birthdays, and Anniversaries Challenge:
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Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions... Leave the Office Early Day - June 2 |
AUs Challenge:
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Bottom's Up! - this time, let's write our characters into a bar or nightclub. Are they the manager? A bartender? Maybe an exotic dancer? How did they come to be working there? Is it a small, neighborhood pub where "everybody knows your name", or a jam-packed every night, standing room only nightclub? Or is it something else entirely? |
Beginnings Challenge:
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Write a fic starting with the following first sentence: "Blind dates should be against the law." |
Shakespeare Challenge:
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Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc: "Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt." |
Famous Quotations:
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"Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye." |
Ripped From the Headlines Challenge:
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Use the following news item as a basis to build a fic around... Offenders ordered to attend church |
RANDOM CHALLENGES:
I'm Alive! -
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in honor of National Cancer Survivors Day (June 5) write a fic where your character is a survivor and ready to celebrate life. |
I Scream, You Scream -
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write a fic where your characters put their favourite ice cream to some more interesting use than just eating it in a bowl or off a cone. |
Surprise! -
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write a story where one (or more) people try to throw a surprise party for a friend or partner. Can they keep the secret? Or will it all backfire? Does their 'victim' love surprises or hate them? |
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