SHORT FICTION CONTEST, 2022

[Sundrinker]

Hopefully I won't regret this, but sign me up!

I wanted to be sure and have something concrete written before committing, but now I've already have a cast of characters noted down and the whole thing feels less daunting.

I'll have to pray that the writing ~anxieties~ don't get in the way too much.

[RAVENEYE]

Feb 2, 2022 15:13:33 GMT -6 Sundrinker said:

Hopefully I won't regret this, but sign me up!

I wanted to be sure and have something concrete written before committing, but now I've already have a cast of characters noted down and the whole thing feels less daunting.

I'll have to pray that the writing ~anxieties~ don't get in the way too much.

Excellent! Adding you to the list. Sounds like we're all pretty much in the same boat. Gonna be a learning experience all around.   

[pelwrath]

550 words of pure unadulterated nonsense. Almost worth completeting it just to provide everyone with a good laugh.

[ScintillaMyntan]

Oh, I intended to sign up. I see I'm not actually on the participant list.

[pelwrath]

I won't be participating. There's other writing that calls. I could create a story but rushing has never produced good respectible results. I've saved what I have, I really feel there's somethng there to be nurtured. I do look forward to reading and scoring as many as I can.

[RAVENEYE]

Feb 3, 2022 7:40:58 GMT -6 ScintillaMyntan said:

Oh, I intended to sign up. I see I'm not actually on the participant list.

Gotcha on it now, Scintilla! 

[RAVENEYE]

Feb 3, 2022 10:01:07 GMT -6 pelwrath said:

I won't be participating. There's other writing that calls. I could create a story but rushing has never produced good respectible results. I've saved what I have, I really feel there'ssomethng there to be nurtured. I dolook forward to reading and scoring as many as I can.

I hear ya, Pel. Seems like I just get started on my novel again when it's time for another contest.   We respect your boundaries. Get that next book finished! 

Glad the prompt sparked an idea you'll work on later, tho! That's exciting. 

[Soliton]

Count me in for February Contest. I researched NOIR a bit and watched a few NOIR movies. Finished my first draft. It was so much fun to write. I just love 1st POV!!!

[ScintillaMyntan]

This is a tough one. I feel like I'm arbitrarily choosing disparate elements and hammering them together instead of actually 'having an idea.' Like:

What should I write about?
*lists some themes and topics*
Okay, I'll take these two and see if I can make them fit together.
But then why is this happening to the character?
*lists some possible reasons that match the theme*
I'll arbitrarily pick this one.

It feels contrived. It's not spontaneous. And it's proving really hard in the first place to come up with the things I need. But it actually is fairly fun.

[Alatariel]

I have been reading up on Noir and it makes me really excited to write it. Here are some things I found that may help others form their stories:

Narrative structure in noir is non—linear, complex and twisting and the story is commonly told in the first person by a male narrator. It may be told in a fragmented, maze-like manner or in flashback - a technique which adds to the sense of hopeless/fatalism, since the outcome has already been decided.

I love the idea of a non-linear story HOWEVER I want to emphasize that your narrator does not have to be male. There is tons of noir fiction and noir style films/shows that have a female or non-binary protagonist. Think Veronica Mars and Jessica Jones.

Contemporary noir fiction frequently features protagonists who are not law enforcement figures; they may be victims, victimizers, small or big-time criminals, or anyone who is morally flawed, fatalistic, or down on their luck. Themes are still dark, nihilistic, and violent.

This gives us all permission to write something out of our comfort zones. 

Film noir is often associated with an urban setting, but many classic noirs take place in small towns, suburbia, rural areas, or on the open road; setting, therefore, cannot be its genre determinant, as with the Western.

I thought it had to be urban, but I guess not! Feel free to be unexpected and set up a noir style story in a small sunny beach town.

In noir, dialogue is terse, snappy and is vital for moving along the story. Setting, too: The well-chosen word or phrase does much to paint a scene, create a mood. The best noir writers make us feel the sun's heat, smell the beer-washed bar, see the dark, musty basement.

[RAVENEYE]

Feb 4, 2022 12:44:52 GMT -6 Alatariel said:

I have been reading up on Noir and it makes me really excited to write it. Here are some things I found that may help others form their stories:

Oooo, yes, excellent tips. Will see if I can get my characters into the groove here. This is going to be hit-and-miss, for sure. 

[FoxxGlove]

Feb 4, 2022 18:15:23 GMT -6 RAVENEYE said:

Feb 4, 2022 12:44:52 GMT -6 Alatariel said:

I have been reading up on Noir and it makes me really excited to write it. Here are some things I found that may help others form their stories:

Oooo, yes, excellent tips. Will see if I can get my characters into the groove here. This is going to be hit-and-miss, for sure. 

@raveneye:  Preaching to the choir….. 

[Bird]

Feb 1, 2022 11:06:46 GMT -6 RAVENEYE said:

Jan 31, 2022 16:44:38 GMT -6 Mazulla said:

I really like the noir genre, but I haven't tried my hand at it myself. I'll tentatively throw my hat in the ring (pending ideas).

Question: Any kind of noir fiction? i.e. noir fiction with a sci-fi flair?

Jan 31, 2022 18:08:30 GMT -6 Alatariel said:

I'm not in charge but I'd say yes! Noir is more a style, I think, and it can be added to any genre. Thoughts, RAVENEYE ? I'd love to read a noir sci-fi or noir horror or noir fantasy! 

Or does it have to be traditional noir set on Earth in the 1920/30s? 

If we can do anything noir style I might already have an idea...

Jan 31, 2022 20:26:06 GMT -6 ScintillaMyntan said:

My stories are usually super tame. I've been wanting to try something a little darker or heavier; looks like now's the time.

Came to post the same question as Mazulla: are speculative elements okay? I looked up noir; would "dark, urban crime fiction where everyone's morally questionable" be a decent summary?

Absolutely! In the links provided in the Resources section of the announcement, there's mention of Horror Noir and Tech Noir, so why not sci-fi Noir or fantasy Noir? Bring it on.

Have y'all read the Jim Butcher novels? He's a detective/sorcerer in the modern real world. Not sure how Noir the series is, b/c the one novel I read seemed a bit light and humorous and ... shallow ... for Raveneye's understanding of Noir. Anyway... go for it. Give it your spin and have fun.

Y'all seen Bladerunner? Some movie critics call that film science fiction noir. (In fact, that is the first thing I thought of when y'all announced noir).

There's also:

Bladerunner 2049

The Fifth Element

Dark City

Terry Giliam's Brazil

Minority Report

Gattaca

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Akira

Ghost in the Shell

Donnie Darko

Cowboy Bebop (the Anime NOT that netflix trash show)

Jessica Jones

Um. That's all tech noir though. I'm not as well versed in other forms of noir. The original set of films that were labeled as "noir" all started with Hitchcock's The Woman in the Window (a remake of that one came out recently). A lot of Hitchcock's films got labeled as noir.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I was answering the film question and then forgot to say I'm gonna try to write something. Health permitting. We'll see. I really like tech noir, so will see if I have the health?

[RAVENEYE]

Feb 7, 2022 15:56:09 GMT -6 Bird said:

Feb 1, 2022 11:06:46 GMT -6 RAVENEYE said:

Absolutely! In the links provided in the Resources section of the announcement, there's mention of Horror Noir and Tech Noir, so why not sci-fi Noir or fantasy Noir? Bring it on.

Have y'all read the Jim Butcher novels? He's a detective/sorcerer in the modern real world. Not sure how Noir the series is, b/c the one novel I read seemed a bit light and humorous and ... shallow ... for Raveneye's understanding of Noir. Anyway... go for it. Give it your spin and have fun.

Y'all seen Bladerunner? Some movie critics call that film science fiction noir. (In fact, that is the first thing I thought of when y'all announced noir).

There's also:

Bladerunner 2049

The Fifth Element

Dark City

Terry Giliam's Brazil

Minority Report

Gattaca

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Akira

Ghost in the Shell

Donnie Darko

Cowboy Bebop (the Anime NOT that netflix trash show)

Jessica Jones

Um. That's all tech noir though. I'm not as well versed in other forms of noir. The original set of films that were labeled as "noir" all started with Hitchcock's The Woman in the Window (a remake of that one came out recently). A lot of Hitchcock's films got labeled as noir.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I was answering the film question and then forgot to say I'm gonna try to write something. Health permitting. We'll see. I really like tech noir, so will see if I have the health?

Yes, I love Bladerunner. It's so disturbing. So is the sequel. The sequel ends on a more positive note than pure noir, though. And I'm not sure I'd classify Roger Rabbit as Noir, LOL. It's way too comical and has a happy ending. Hardboiled detective satire, however? Yes. 

Ooo, Ghost in the Shell! I hadn't considered that one, but totally. Oh, gosh, there are so many more that fit the sci-fi noir combo. Maybe because it's easy to paint the far future as bleak, the ending uncertain and disturbing? 

[RAVENEYE]

So... all the ideas I brainstormed last week got tossed out the window. Got to kinda panicking last night because I hadn't started writing a thing yet, and all my ideas weren't feeling authentic.

Trashed 'em all. Got a new idea this morning and decided to start hammering it out before it, too, started feeling false or cliche. Not sure how it'll fly, but at least I'm finally writing my entry. Got a busy week ahead, hope I can get it finished in time.