Fall 2006 Proverbs Challenge

Who hasn’t found a bit of wisdom in a Proverb? After all, isn’t that what a Proverb is? A wise saying that can help us to make a good decision, or give us a bit of encouragement on a dark day… Even Sue has shared a few gems in the show that we like to quote from time to time. With fall quickly approaching, as well as the hustle and bustle of the holidays and our traditional challenges that accompany them, we thought we’d post a quick challenge… a “short” one, if you will. Listed below are several Proverbs from all over the world. They don’t come strictly from the Bible, you know. We challenge you to choose a proverb and write a short story using it as your title, and within the story.

Now, before you jump in with both feet, there are a few other things we’ve added to make this a little more challenging! First, there is a maximum limit of 10,000 words. Yes, you read that right – 10,000 words! For those of you whom brevity isn’t quite so difficult, there’s also a 5,000 word level, a truly short story. And, before you begin, we’re going to kick it up a notch by asking you to specify which of the first four voting categories you are writing to (mystery, action, drama, comedy). You can only write directly to ONE of these categories, though your story may include elements of all; so plan your storyline carefully! We need you to note that in your description line along with your rating.

Oh, and one more thing… you are welcome to respond to any of the proverbs you wish – BUT unlike before, you MUST complete each entry BEFORE you can begin another. And you can use each proverb only once.

Option 1: The course of true love never did run smooth
(The course of true love…)

Option 2: There are no miracles for those that have no faith in them
(There are no miracles…)

Option 3: Where there is no vision the people perish
(Where there is no vision…)

Option 4: Many a sudden change takes place on a spring day
(Many a sudden change…)

Option 5: A promise is a debt
(A promise is...)

Option 6: Nothing is as burdensome as a secret
(Nothing is as burdensome...)

Option 7: Anything will fit a naked man
(Anything will fit...)

The stories will be judged by the readers within the following categories:

1. Best Mystery
2. Best Action
3. Best Drama
4. Best Comedy
(the authors have to specify to which of the above categories they’re writing to)
5. Best use of Proverb in story
6. Best Romance (J/S Pairing)
7. Best Romance (Other Pairing)
8. Best Original Character
9. Best New Writer (has had NO other stories/scenes on the board)
10. Best Story (5,000 words or less)
11. Best Story (10,000 words or less)

The Challenge opens immediately and runs through September 15, 2006, at midnight in your location. To enter, simply select the Proverb you are going to write and place its abbreviated version in the title (for example: The course of true love… - justme_jp3). Don’t forget to include your rating (G, PG, PG13, PG17) and the category you’re writing to in the description line! (ie: PG13, Action)

One more note before we cut the tape to open this challenge… our readers have asked us to mention how much they like substantive posts that contain more than a snippet meant only to tease and toy with them. So, PLEASE be kind and share your talent, not your teasing. Let the readers respond to your writing, not your pleas. In the long run, you’ll find you have a more loyal following and readers who care about your stories as much as you do.

And now, it’s time to start and let the challenge begin!!


The Admin Team

Please use this thread to post any questions or comments you may have regarding the Fall 2006 Proverbs Challenge...

Questions will be answered by the forum mod or site Admins. Thanks!

10,000 words. Does that include all the little words like "a", "and", and "the"? When I was in school, some teachers didn't count all the little words, made it harder to reach the minimum word limit for the essay. LOL

Just wondering,
Kim

I was kinda wondering if it had to be about Sue Thomas or could it be about another show?

Yup, it includes the small words too, Kim. Assuming you type up your stories in Word (and I would assume all word processing programs have this feature) if you look under tools, you'll see a 'word count' option. It'll automatically count all of the words.

In answer to your question, Okie, while creation of original characters is welcomed and encouraged, this challenge is exclusively for STFBE. Perhaps in the future we will consider a crossover challenge, but not this time.

Would it be too much to ask if you could give the meanings of the proverbs.. I'm Dutch and I do know how to speak the English language, but I would be at much more ease if I would know the meanings of them for sure, in stead of having to second guess. lol

Okay Sue&Jack, I'll give it a try. Part of the fun of these is that you can read your own meaning into them as well.

Option 1: The course of true love never did run smooth
(The course of true love…)

Creating a relationship isn't always easy and predicatable. Just because you're in love with someone doesn't mean that it will all work out easily -- there's bound to be bumps along the way -- misunderstandings, problems, difficulties to overcome. It never goes smoothly.

Option 2: There are no miracles for those that have no faith in them
(There are no miracles…)

You have to believe in a miracle in order to receive one. Some times the great things that happen in our lives is because we've believed with all our hearts that they could happen. We exercised our faith and got the results we hoped for.

Option 3: Where there is no vision the people perish
(Where there is no vision…)

This is from the bible. Without a clear view to the future to spur us forward, we would forever remain the the same, or worse go backwards. In biblical times if the prophets hadn't had a vision, the Israelites would never have reached the promised land, Moses would never have received the Ten Commandments, Joseph would not have been able to save his brothers' people from starvation...

Option 4: Many a sudden change takes place on a spring day
(Many a sudden change…)

I think this must come from the fact that spring weather is so unpredictable. Rain one minute, sunny the next, snow then wind and back to sun. I guess if you wrote about this proverb it would involve a sudden decision and the consequences that resulted because of it or a sudden change forced upon a character and how they dealt with it.

Option 5: A promise is a debt
(A promise is...)

Treat any promise you make as carefully as you would treat a debt you owed. It binds you to the person you make the promise to.

Option 6: Nothing is as burdensome as a secret
(Nothing is as burdensome...)

Secrets are hard to keep sometimes, making the person whose keeping them feel burdened -- weighted down with the responisiblity of keeping it.

Option 7: Anything will fit a naked man
(Anything will fit...)

Use your imagination on this one.... But I think it's pointing out that anything is better than nothing.

One more question. Does it have to be a completely stand alone story or can if have a tie-in with another story written by the author?

Kim

As you have seen other authors do in past challenges, we do allow stories to tie in with others you have written elsewhere on the board. However, you do need to consider the depth of your readership, since it would take new readers extra time to find and read your other story(ies) to get the background for this one. If it's a story already familiar to a lot of readers, no problem... but do consider the time factor since this is a short challenge.

Kav, thanks a lot - I appreciate the time you took in posting all those meanings.

can we link our stories in with the series e.g endings & beginnings?


cath

As with any ST stories on the board, it's fine if they connect with events in the series.

thanks for reply to previous question, now a stupid question

what if it's more romance than action, drama, mystery or comedy?or does jack taking action count as 'action?'

cath

Think of the way movies are categorized. An action film would be something like a James Bond movie, where there's romance to be sure, but the main part of the film is high action. The romance portion of the challenge will be taken care of in the other categories and we'll assign those.

Since it's a short story, you probably have some idea of the direction you are going to take it. If it's a tense cat and mouse chase kind of story then it would be action. If it's more about clue-finding and tracking then it would be mystery. If it's mostly serious and the main thrust of the story does not revolve around a case involving mystery or action it would be drama and if it's more light-hearted with lots of laughs that would be classified as comedy. Hope this makes sense!

kav

yeah it did make sense & confirmed that it dfoesn't fit into any of the four categories

thanks

cath

Thanks for tackling that question, Kav! Cath...I would think that most stories, if they are not action, mystery or comedy, they most likely will contain some drama, yes? These are the four categories we have always used for voting in the past, and you're right, not all stories fit into them. This time, we're asking people to write their stories with these categories in mind, as that is part of the challenge. Any stories that don't fall into one of the four categories will be up for one less award.

Will all stories be judged together, or as with other challenges, will there be a junior writer category, as well? I know the definition of the new writer has changed for this one. Is that now the case with junior writers?

We definitely did mix things up a little bit this time around, because we seemed to always have the same groups vying for those two awards...besides, many of our 'junior' writers (you included, missy!) are of the same caliber as the older ones.

lol, a very relative comment.

Thanks for the clarification. I know what you mean. I enjoy the refreshingly different format. Makes it challenging in different ways.

Well, and next month, I won't be a "junior writer" anymore, anyways. Very weird to think about. lol

You said each proverb could be used only once. I assume that means I would not be allowed to write a 10,000 word story using "Nothing is as burdensome as a secret" (for example) and also a 5,000 word story using "Nothing as burdensome as a secret." Am I correct? I guess that would be using the proverb twice, but just making sure....
~Cristy

Yup, you're correct.

I have a question, it's the same question as last time, can I write AU?

Absolutely Rosa that would be loverly!!!!

kav

Thank you Will put the plan in motion.