Each month a regular challenge is set to give Alpha Writers a chance to flex their writing muscles and engage in some friendly competition. Read on for details of previous challenges from Season X.
Challenge 1 Dust
Some of you may recall, I once wrote a story (I didn’t circulate it, I’m [fairly] sure) to the dullest title I could think of – it was called ‘Corrugated Cardboard’, but the title was very relevant to the story.
So for this challenge, I’d like you to write to the theme of ‘DUST’. You must give it a title that includes the sequence of letters DUST, so you could use DUSTING, or STARDUST, but corruptions like INDUSTRY are not allowed. You can write fiction, non-fiction or even a cliff-hanger, and I’m giving you extra flexibility in that the length can be between 250 and 350 words in prose. It shouldn’t prove difficult as we all know what dust is, and we can all write, and we all have very ingenious brains.
Challenge 2: Postcard
You have received this in the post.
In no more than 150 words (depending on how neat and tiny you write!) – what is written on the back of the postcard? The usual formalities at beginning and end can be used if you wish, but the photograph on the front of the card must be mentioned.
Challenge 3: the epicurean gourmet
This is a monthly food magazine and the editor requires fillers (no illustrations) of 250–300 words.
The editor is looking for pieces about a single dish (or an item on a menu), set in an anecdotal, personal or historical context, with or without a detailed recipe. The dish and the circumstances surrounding it should be of equal importance.
The editor assumes that writers are familiar with the magazine’s readership. They would be aware that readers of THE EPICUREAN GOURMET (as its name implies) are not interested in corner-cutting, fast food or cheap-‘n’-easy dishes. They’re discerning people who enjoy being informed, entertained and pleasantly surprised.
Challenge 4: Tweets
We probably know that a text message (or Tweet) can only be 140 characters maximum, including all spaces and punctuation. Below are three words – your task is to compose 3 texts/Tweets, one for each word. Though one word is poetic, another comic/slang, and another rarely used in conversational English, you can use each word as you like: by its strict definition, make up a new definition, write a poem or dialogue, use the word in a punning / witty / homophonic way, or break it into its constituent parts.
The three words: a. dolorous b. nark c. affable
There are only 2 rules: 1. each text/tweet may not exceed 140 characters in all 2. however you use it, each word must appear whole somewhere in its text/Tweet.
Examples using the word ‘palindrome’ as an illustration All the following would be acceptable: • A classic palindrome: a man, a plan, a canal, Panama • palindrome (n.): A place where the dyslexic go in order to board an aeropalin. • And Jesus said “Life is like a palindrome: whatever ye do, it shall return in equal measure.” • “PalindRome, PalindRome, wherefore art thou PalindRomeo?” “Romeo? Madam, I’m Adam” • I lost my pal in Rome She came back all the same Bless you palindrome! Without her, life is lame Though the first would score nothing for originality, they all obey the rules, and are mostly well within 140 characters, so there is a lot of scope.
Technical note : to get a character count – select your text then use the Word Count option in Word’s Tools menu … – you’ll see that Word not only gives you a word count, but also “Characters (with spaces)”. As a rough guide
Challenge 5 – Christmas Quiz
Challenge 6 – Alliterative Poem
Write an alliterative poem depicting change. Change of season, life changes, change of heart…
Your poem must be written in the quatrain style but in a tone of your choosing: serious, satirical or silly or…? Maximum length: 160 words. Deadline: Tuesday 28th January before midnight GMT
For examples of how to write a quatrain: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learning/glossary-term/Quatrain
Alliteration: Alliteration is derived from Latin ad- (expressing addition) + littera (letter). It is a stylistic device in which a number of words occur close together in a series, having the same first consonant sound.
Consider the following examples:
- But a better butter makes a batter better.
- A big bully beats a baby boy.
Both sentences are alliterative because the first letter of words (B) occurs close together and produces alliteration in the sentence. An important point to remember here is that alliteration does not depend on letters but on sounds.
Alliteration does not have to be silly:
Rain races onto the porch
Hitting hard like
Rockets rushing in a race to the glass.
Rattling rain, rattling the window panes.
The droplets dance daintily
Until they cleverly connect in
A pool of promise for a rainbow.
Many examples of alliterative poetry here:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/browse/#poetic-terms=38
Here is a good how-to – don’t forget to check out their Sample poems at the top:
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-Alliteration-Poems
Here is a site that provides a wealth of examples (just ignore the cheesy ads!):
http://grammar.about.com/od/terms/g/alliteration.htm
Challenge 7 – Word Invention
Invent 5 new words and write their dictionary entries including details of whether they are a noun, verb, adjective etc and any other information which might be needed to use them correctly, including two sentences illustrating their correct usage. Your TOTAL word count is 300 maximum to include both the dictionary entries (including the word) and the sentences. It does not have to be evenly split between the five words.
Challenge 8 – Pure Dialogue
You are to write 300 words maximum of pure dialogue with no extraneous words, ie no he said / she exclaimed etc and no “stage directions”.
The characters are totally of your choice but the opening line is to be:
‘I told you not to leave the window open’.
The rest is up to your imagination.
Give your piece a title (not included in the word count) and under the title you may indicate the setting and the identity of the characters – this is included in the word count of 300 words.
Challenge 9: Jelousy
Please write up to 300 words prose, on the theme of Jealousy. The title, of your choosing, is not included in the word count. Include in your entry, as seamlessly as possible, the word “departures”, “travel” and “smell.” No variations on these words.
Challenge 10: Musings of a Diamond Ring
To a maximum of 350 words, write the musings of a diamond ring. It might be a particular experience the ring has witnessed, or a lifetime of experiences, even general philosophical ramblings. I’m sure it’ll have a wealth of observations to make. Prose, verse; whatever the ring comes up with will be fine, written in the first person.
Season X
Challenge 3: The Epicurean Gourmet
The 2013 Alpha Christmas Challenge!
Challenge 6: Alliterative Poem