CONTEST: a shopping trip?

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original posting 28 July 2009

A quest, a quest...

I was thinking about our challenge -- to write a quest story. And it struck me that quest sounds so serious and major. And I think there is a common quest that most of us engage in fairly regularly.

I call it a shopping trip. You know, where you set out to go to the grocery or a shopping center -- some store -- to get something. That's a quest.

Of course, most of the time, our shopping trips are rather boring. Especially people like me who tend to go directly to the appropriate store, pick up the items on the list, and come back. Not very exciting.

So what would make it more interesting? Clearly some complications along the way. Getting there can be more complicated -- the roads are out, there's a flood, the car breaks down, and so forth. Perhaps the store isn't where we thought it was, or we aren't quite sure which store is the right one?

Having arrived at the place, there are a number of possible problems. What happens when you're supposed to buy bananas, but yes, we have no bananas? Or the bananas we have are strange little green ones? Or perhaps the shopping list isn't so clear? Flower? Which one of the varieties? Or a bundle? Or could that be a bag of flour?

This is when cell phones are useful.

Other possible diversions? Well, there's all those other people, all kinds of advertising and things that aren't on the list, even the simplest store offers a number of sidetracks. And that's before the robbers break in, the roof caves in, the flooring gives way, the freezer unit fails, and all those other little bits and pieces.

But having battled our way to the store, found what we were supposed to get, what's next? Aha, the dreaded checkout. Plastic or paper? Do you have a club card? Cash, credit card, check, debit card, fingerprint and blood samples...

And through the might of cold cash, he won free of the final Guardian of the Gates, and carefully placed the golden eggs in a simple paper bag. He lifted the hard-won prize into his arms and bid the store farewell.

Of course, as we all know, between the store and home there are possible problems. That pedestrian deciding to cross the road without looking? The cat that decides to freeze in the middle of the road. The paper bag that slides off of the seat and onto the floor, with a hearty crunch of egg shells. Or perhaps it's simply the popsicles melting in the sunshine? Flat tires, a song on the radio that scrapes the heartstrings, who knows what could go wrong?

You do. You're the writer. You decide whether the shopping trip is going to be pretty straightforward, or whether it's going to be a fight for life through the hurricane, to bring back the baby food to keep the kittens alive?

A shopping trip. What are we going to get? Who's going to get it? Where do they need to go? What problems and conflicts block them from getting it and returning? What resolves the problems and helps them get the golden eggs?

Or a heroic quest.

However you want to think about it, write.
tink

And just in case you missed it -- here's

The Contest!

In a Nutshell: Write a Quest Story. Submit it to the list. YEAH!

At lengthy...

1. Write a story. Here is the topic:

From What If? By Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter?

Write a linear story, in which a strong main character is on a quest for something important and specific (e.g., a shelter for the baby, medicine for a sick mother, or the key to the storehouse where a tyrant has locked away all the grain from a starving populace). The object is a given -- don't explain its importance. The main character starts acting immediately. She then meets a (specific) obstacle; finally she triumphs over the obstacle by means of a magic or supernatural element that comes from the outside (like Dorothy's red shoes in the Wizard of Oz). You may introduce minor characters but the narrative should never abandon your main character. This story should be told through action and dialogue.

In Checklist Format:

1. main character is on a quest for something important and specific
2. Start with action
3. Have them meet at least one specific obstacle
4. Have them triumph over the obstacle by means of a magic or supernatural element that comes from outside
5. Focus on the main character
6. Action and dialogue

When? Write NOW. But the quota is -- first ten stories posted makes a contest! Or the end of August (when we will start preparing for the big Halloween Contest, right?)

How long? How many? As long as you need, and as many as...

Crits? Yes, please critique/comment on the stories.

And yes, when we have a pile of stories and crits, we shall vote and pick winners!

So, get on your keyboards, pencils, or other writing implements, and write!