Kacie Cunningham's picture
Kacie Cunningham from Indiana is reading too much to keep this updated September 30, 2014 - 2:09pm

So far I see 'scare us' 'teleport us' and 'arrest us' for horror, sci-fi/fantasy and crime genres. 

List your ideas for events here. 

How about 'woo us' (romance) 'thrill us' (suspense/thriller) 'inform us' (short essay) ... even 'seduce us' if erotica is an accepted genre here. (I'm new, so if it isn't, hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes!) 

How about 'surprise us' for those stories which do not fit comfortably into any of the classic genres?

Aud Fontaine's picture
Aud Fontaine from the mountains is reading Catch-22. Since like, always. September 30, 2014 - 2:21pm

Seduce Us. Oh my god. That needs to happen. All about it. Can we start a petition or something? I feel like you should post this on the community board so that Nathan guy who knows everything about everything sees it. I've never read erotica but I want to write some...it sounds like fun.

Kacie Cunningham's picture
Kacie Cunningham from Indiana is reading too much to keep this updated September 30, 2014 - 3:05pm

I've never written any either, but I'd like to try my hand at it.

Seb's picture
Seb from Thanet, Kent, UK September 30, 2014 - 3:11pm

I'm sure 'Seduce Us' has been suggested before, but it's a great idea. Perhaps mention it to Nathan here.

Nathan Scalia's picture
Nathan Scalia from Kansas is reading so many things September 30, 2014 - 7:55pm

We'll be wrapping up Arrest Us in the scarily near future, so I'm all about thinking on the next event idea. Suggest away, and I'll keep an eye on this thread when we get ready to start researching our next contest idea.

Anna Gutmann's picture
Anna Gutmann from Ohio is reading American Gods October 1, 2014 - 3:02pm

"Tickle us" for comedy? And I can't think of a good title for this, but a contest for children's short stories, which would be a broad age range for MG and YA or something.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest October 1, 2014 - 4:54pm

How about Drug Us? Cause, you know,it's a much safer way to roofie someone.

Kacie Cunningham's picture
Kacie Cunningham from Indiana is reading too much to keep this updated October 1, 2014 - 8:10pm

Anna, I think "humor us" for comedy works better. Tickle us has a vaguely ... naughty vibe *grin*. But maybe that's just me being childish because it's late lol. 

What about "Little us" for the children's/YA genre? 

"Culture us" for the literary stuff that doesn't fit neatly into a genre. 

 

L.W. Flouisa's picture
L.W. Flouisa from Tennessee is reading More Murakami October 1, 2014 - 10:37pm

"Displace us" for those of a 2 minutes in the future bent.

"Intoxicate us" for those of a buzzed bent. Ok that ones a joke.

"Genre Jar Us" for those of a spaceships out of place but there in contemporary Nashville bent. This used to be one of my favorite things. Nothing like a Time Machine in a University of 2015. I'm really not sure of anything good, the last two were jokes. The first a half joke.

"Stagnate Us" for those of a distant future with contemporary tech bent. That one is closer to being serious.

I'm open really.

Aud Fontaine's picture
Aud Fontaine from the mountains is reading Catch-22. Since like, always. October 1, 2014 - 10:34pm

Anna! What are you doing on a forum?? That's awesome! What about...yeah, wow, I don't know. Raise Us? Enlighten Us? What the fuck is YA supposed to do exactly? Inspire Us?

Oooo... Drug Us could be fun. I just started read Jesus' Son and am now and have always been all about the heroin. I still think my vote is for Seduce Us, though.

What about one focusing on creating dynamic female characters? That could be interesting since this site, as well as the literary world in general, consists of mostly male writers. Could be interesting, maybe?

L.W. Flouisa's picture
L.W. Flouisa from Tennessee is reading More Murakami October 1, 2014 - 10:42pm

^This, I want to read some of that.

I need to try out what's available, I'm so unused to themed competitions.

Josh Zancan's picture
Josh Zancan from Crofton, MD is reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck October 2, 2014 - 10:36am

Baffle Us

I'd love to see people mix it up with absurdism.

Seb's picture
Seb from Thanet, Kent, UK October 2, 2014 - 2:56pm

Seduce Us is a definite in my book. My suggestions are:

Invade Us - war stories

Wiretap Us - spy thrillers

Disturb Us - bizarro stuff

Disappear Us - magic or something

Survive Us - post-apocalypse

Anna Gutmann's picture
Anna Gutmann from Ohio is reading American Gods October 2, 2014 - 12:56pm

OMG Aud ... "Feminize Us." WOOHOO!

And I just recently started forum hopping after you mentioned in a PM about posting something on here. Didn't you see my "Tonight, instead of writing ..." post about no pants? It was the bomb diggity.

Oh, crap. Did I really just say "the bomb diggity?"

Aud Fontaine's picture
Aud Fontaine from the mountains is reading Catch-22. Since like, always. October 2, 2014 - 6:09pm

Haha I probably did but I don't remember... I just read it now though and I have to respectfully disagree with you. Flannel pajama pants are my preference. Pantslessness would get cold, man! But I'm so glad you're here now!

L.W. Flouisa's picture
L.W. Flouisa from Tennessee is reading More Murakami October 2, 2014 - 6:20pm

MindFuck Us - For stories that defy genre conventions, and while seem confusing actually make upon a second reading.

My favorite genre before Dystopia.

Redd Tramp's picture
Redd Tramp from Los Angeles, CA is reading Mongrels by SGJ; Sacred and Immoral: On the Writings of Chuck Palahniuk; The History of Sexuality by Michel Foucault October 2, 2014 - 8:34pm

Oh shiiiit, Drug Us. That'd be so cool, I love writing about drugs.

Redd Tramp's picture
Redd Tramp from Los Angeles, CA is reading Mongrels by SGJ; Sacred and Immoral: On the Writings of Chuck Palahniuk; The History of Sexuality by Michel Foucault October 2, 2014 - 8:42pm

Embarass Us for stories that make your cheeks red? Ranging from bizarre accidents to like akward social situations.

 

L.W. Flouisa's picture
L.W. Flouisa from Tennessee is reading More Murakami October 2, 2014 - 8:56pm

I'm wondering if Intoxicate Us would be a companion time competition?

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest October 3, 2014 - 3:48am

Here's a list of twenty off the top of my head for good measure. Enjoy. 

 

1. Lose Us - Stories so disjointed and meandering that the reader will inevitably get lost

2. Baby Us - Dirty Dancing Fan Fic (see what I did there?)

3. Commit Us - Stories from the psych ward

4. Deliver Us - Stories about birth

5. Lick Us - Stories whose protagonist is a dog

6. Date Us - Stories about first dates and/or dating in general

7. Bite Us - Vampire stories

8. Supersize Us - Stories that take place at a fast food restaurant

9. Indoctrinate Us - Stories involving cults (personally, I really like this one)

10. Kill Us - Stories about serial killers

11. Medicate Us - Stories involving medicine or medicating

12. Forget Us - Stories of amnesia

12. Forget Us - Stories of amnesia (again, see what I did there?)

13. Build Us - Stories whose main focus is world building

14, Bling Us - Stories about wealth and the its lifestyle

15, Dream Us - Stories about dreams

16, Exorcise Us - Stories of demonic possession (I like this one too)

17. Imprison Us - Stories that take place in prison

18. Divorce Us - Stories about divorce

19. Marry Us - Stories about marriage

20. Hypnotize Us - Stories of hypnosis (think The Manchurian Candidate)

And finally, 21. Fuck Us - Penthouse style erotica (come on, we were all thinking it)

 

Jenn Collins's picture
Jenn Collins from Wisconsin, USA is reading Spunk and Bite October 3, 2014 - 7:24am

Dirty Dancing Fan Fic.

Thread over.  R.Moon wins.  

I'd love to see Seduce Us, Imprison Us or Disturb Us.  Especially Disturb Us.

 

 

 

SConley's picture
SConley from Texas is reading Coin Locker Babies October 3, 2014 - 8:05am

A non-fiction one would be cool, like essays or memoirs or whatever.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest October 3, 2014 - 10:48am

^^^ Good idea ^^^

L.W. Flouisa's picture
L.W. Flouisa from Tennessee is reading More Murakami October 3, 2014 - 6:09pm

Your choice of hyponotize us was my favorite.

Plus it reminds me of the 96 film The Trip. Though that's more Drug Us.

Seb's picture
Seb from Thanet, Kent, UK June 8, 2015 - 8:49am

There's not been much talk of this for a while. Does anyone have any idea when the next one will be?

Jimothy Scott's picture
Jimothy Scott from Canada is reading The wise mans fear July 4, 2015 - 10:02am

R.Moon was a big fan a noir. Perhaps...Hardboil Us

Strange Photon's picture
Strange Photon from Fort Wayne, IN is reading Laurie Anderson lyrics July 5, 2015 - 6:33am

^^^ This would be cool.

Also, I think it'd be awesome to see another WAR. With Thunderdome actually keeping a small but relatively consistent momentum these days, I think there's enough interest for something more officially competitive, like WAR.

Jimothy Scott's picture
Jimothy Scott from Canada is reading The wise mans fear July 5, 2015 - 4:37pm

I forgot about war. That would be cool

SConley's picture
SConley from Texas is reading Coin Locker Babies July 7, 2015 - 3:41am

Or a transgressive contest. Surprised that hasn't been done.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 8, 2015 - 7:29pm

@SConley - If you are being 'transgressive' as part of a organized thing aren't you missing the point?

Drive us - Stories from the open road and/or travel.

Kill us - Stories regarding dealing with your own mortality.

Hit us - Stories of violence.

Slap us - Stories of domestic violence.

Rob us - Stories of heists. 

Sail us - Stories on the water.

Betray us - Stories of backstabbing.

Heal us - Stories of doctors and hospitals.

Burn us - Stories of fire.

Eat us - Stories of cannibalism.

Drop us - Stories of falling.

Long for us - Stories about missing someone.

Jimothy Scott's picture
Jimothy Scott from Canada is reading The wise mans fear July 8, 2015 - 8:50pm

Lol

Sail us and drive us sound like they'd be fun as long as it doesn't turn into a collection of I went to europe after highschool and found myself stories

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated July 9, 2015 - 3:27pm

Depends on how it was done. I'd love to see that well written, but I'd admit the odds are low.

L.W. Flouisa's picture
L.W. Flouisa from Tennessee is reading More Murakami July 13, 2015 - 8:16am

I'd say High Contrast Us? Exploring cultures duality between the present urban 21st and historical rural 19th centuries? Magic Realism Us has less of a ring to it. And Hallucinate Us edges close to Drug Us, which I think was already done?

Josh Zancan's picture
Josh Zancan from Crofton, MD is reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck July 17, 2015 - 7:21am

@Jimothy

Agreed, although I've never really understood how people find themselves on those European excursions.  But I'm biased.  Because mine would be, I went to Europe for two weeks and came back frustrated and confused and broke and hungover.

Sounds like a terrible experience, but it was a blast.

Aud Fontaine's picture
Aud Fontaine from the mountains is reading Catch-22. Since like, always. January 10, 2016 - 9:26pm

I know I've been gone a long time and everything and everyone has changed but I'm bumping this because something seriously needs to happen with it already, please. I mean, I can't be the only one who thought Arrest Us was a wildly good time. Why can't we have another wildly good time? It'd probably be fun or whatever.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated January 17, 2016 - 5:16pm

We need an us!

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like January 19, 2016 - 8:32pm

Stump Us!

Rob's picture
Class Director
Rob from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update this January 21, 2016 - 9:28am

Hey everyone! Just wanted to give an update on where things stand: 

We're very happy to see this level of enthusiasm for another contest. And Nathan has been staying on top of us, to make sure we know how important it is to everyone.

We'd like to do another one soon. The problem is that it's a huge time commitment--and a lot of us are so buried, we can't commit the same amount of time we did in the past. 

One of the ways to rectify that--which we've explored--is to hire someone to handle the workload. We realized two things: It takes a lot of time and effort, and the site can't afford to appropriately compensate someone for all that time and effort. This ain't exactly a champagne-and-caviar operation. 

So, for as much as we want to do one, it comes down to two issues: Time and money. 

That's not to say it's off the table. We're currently hashing out details for this year's AWP (we might be hosting a really cool party; more on that soon, hopefully). Once we've got all that settled, we can circle back. 

I will tell you the genre we're thinking about, and we're not married to it, but maybe to spark some discussion: 

Erotica. 

Jose F. Diaz's picture
Jose F. Diaz from Boston is reading Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel January 21, 2016 - 11:11am

Perhaps a cross-breed of what was proposed earlier.

Creative non-fiction erotica.

Invade us erotica.

Transgressive erotica. (How do you transgress something that is, in itself, a crossing of boundaries? Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, anyone?)

 

Or would these be too narrow? OR ... narrowing down the field will limit the submissions, meaning less commitment, but if they are run more often, spread it out, say one a month or every other month, then, the following year, you repeat the ones that really got people pumped and you come up with new ones for the ones that kind of flopped.

February is erotica; March, War (march forth ye young warriors to glory and death or death); April, Magic and Tricks; May, Space (obvious); June, nothing, because it's too hot to work; July, Romance; August, Endings; September, Culture (kids go back to school); October, Hmm, what could be in October; November, Betrayal; December, myth and spirituality; January, Overcoming the elements.

Or something like that .... but you keep a flow, keep it diverse, you can plan ahead, hire help as necessary, (I'm sure you can get a hold of some universities and hire interns only seeking references, which gives them a leg up and you get the unpaid help you may need).

Maybe turn this into a church, us the congregation, skip the taxes, etc.

And I should get back to work instead of finding more ways to not do work...and wasting y'all's time.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated January 21, 2016 - 7:45pm

Maybe go the other way with it? Anti erotica, anti Valintines day. Sexual excitement varies so much by person (gay erotica won't do nothing for me, pretty girls nothing for a gay guy, romance nothing for asexuals, etc) but it might be possible to do something that disgusts everyone.

Thuggish's picture
Thuggish from Vegas is reading Day of the Jackal January 21, 2016 - 10:59pm

Am I wrong in thinking of erotica as porn in the written form?