Idea for a writing contest (opinions needed please)

quadraptor's picture
So I've been thinking about the way I write my stories. You guys might know that I am a huge fan of music - I listen to a lot of different genres, ect. What you might not know is that a lot of my stories are inspired by music. I'll often listen to a song over and over, and I'll visualize different things that I'd like to have happen in my stories.

For example, my first TEF story, Divine Intervention, had the song Second Chance by Shinedown as it's themesong. I'll take you through the first few lines to show how I got inspired:

My eyes are open wide
And by the way, I made it
Through the day


Quad's birth at the beginning of the story was influenced by these lines. He was able to see the world for the first time, and even though he almost died as a fawn, he 'made it through the day' and was able to live on.

I watched the world outside
By the way, I'm leaving out
Today


This line inspired me to write about him having a journey, where he had to leave the Forest to learn more about himself.

I just saw halley's comet
She waved
Said why you always running
In place?


This line helped me decide that there were supernatural forces at work in the Forest, those that drove various 'prophecies' that all were tied to Quad, and later on in the series were tied to his enemy, Iugulare.

Tell my mother,
Tell my father
I've done the best I can
To make them realize
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying...
Sometimes goodbye
Is a second chance


Quad's learning how to live his life even though he never really knew his parents. The last line has to do with his mother, who gave him to the Twin Gods even though she never got to raise him. He had to say goodbye to her to get another chance at life.

Anyway that's kind of what I look for in lyrics. The idea I had for you guys was this (and this topic isn't the official signup or anything, just wanted to get some opinions/ideas):

1: Each person that participates will choose one song, and then those songs will be randomly assorted among each participant. So everyone would get a different song.

2: You would have to write a short story based on the song, pretty much by what you got out of the song.

3: And then probably I'd get some friends to help me judge a winner, and maybe offer a necklace as the big prize to whoever wins (maybe art, but mine's kind of crappy so I don't know)

It would ultimately be a way to discover how you can become inspired by music to write, draw, and dream like I do. It's a good way to come up with storylines, to add things you probably wouldn't have, and to ultimately create something beautiful.

So what would you guys think about having a contest like this?

Hm, sounds like a cool

Hm, sounds like a cool idea.
One thing would be that you'd need to have a wide range of songs, or maybe have a 'music drive' and let people donate songs they think are suitably inspiring?
Either way, if I have the time I'll defiantly give this a shot! Laughing out loud

Tally's picture

I'm not 100% sure if i would

I'm not 100% sure if i would be able to participate but this is a great idea!!

I would pick a few songs and have us write based on them.

(If you picked any songs by 'Jacks Mannequin', who inspires me alot in the same way, I would go out of my way to try and participate)
quadraptor's picture

I just thought of another

I just thought of another way I could conduct this:

What if each person that participated chose one song, and then those songs were randomly assorted among each participant. So everyone would get a different song.




Bylah's picture

Quad: I think that idea you

Quad: I think that idea you posted about people submitting songs, and then redistributing them, is awesome. You could do like a list - everyone gets a number, and then you, as the judge, could write down all of the numbers on scraps of paper, toss them into a hat or something, and then draw each number back out, doing down the list for people. It'd be a good way of keeping things random/fair!

I'd certainly participate. Or at least try!


quadraptor's picture

Mhmm, that way it's not my

Mhmm, that way it's not my selection of music but rather the selection of a fellow participant. I think that's the way I'm going to do it.

I'll wait and see what everyone else thinks before I make an official topic. Thanks for the comment.


Pegasicorn's picture

I need to exercise my

I need to exercise my writing skills again, so this might be good motivation for me to attempt it. =]

---
The Dragonfly Deer's Biography
Pega's Forest Philosophy: "Look for Friends. Let Love find you."
"If you don't like something, tolerate it."
MickKreiger's picture

It's a good idea, but i

It's a good idea, but i couldn't do it. I need songs, to be chosen by me for me to be able to write to them.

You Know You Love Me XOXO
Mick<3MikaNateMickenerIlyanaLithium<3PilgrimAnima
--Mick--
Bylah's picture

Mick: You could try. That's

Mick: Smiling You could try. That's not me being snarky, smart-alecked, or factitious. From one writer to another - and my older age to your younger age, if your birthday on your profile page is correct: one does not advance their writing skills without experimentation. I've been writing since I was about 14 or so and I did not get where I am now by limiting myself to what I thought I 'could do'. I stepped outside of the box - heck, I tore it down, cut it into little pieces, and then duck-taped it back together several times.

I have learned what I know about writing by experimentation, taking inspiration from strange places, and doing very odd, unorthodox things. Please don't not try something, just because you think you 'couldn't do it'. You seem to enjoy writing a lot! Be willing to try new things! Even if you don't do as good as you'd like, you at least made the effort.

Ten years from now, it will be easier to say, "Why did I do that? That was so stupid!" than it will be to say, "Why didn't I do that? I'll never have that chance again." You can always apologize for the mistakes you make. You can't apologize for not trying.

Laughing out loud! Brought to you by the people who like to see other people succeed!


I think that's an amazing

I think that's an amazing idea :3 Music inspires me very often, whether its character-creating or writing. I can't actually remember the last time I wrote without having music as I did so xD Most of my best writing has been inspired by a song, whereas with the rest I have to actually find a song that fits :3
/ramble

Anyway, amazing idea 8D;; I don't think I'd join since I'm a procrastinator and have no faith in my so-called writing skills, but still. <3

-- Dannii <3
MickKreiger's picture

Here, mine writing

Here, mine writing blog:

http://endlessforest.org/community/my-writing-blog-words-fallen

You Know You Love Me XOXO
Mick<3MikaNateMickenerIlyanaLithium<3PilgrimAnima
--Mick--
Laruna's picture

I really like this idea,

I really like this idea, Quad. I'm no writer, but I'd be willing to try, to support your contest. (:
I love the idea of writing to a random song! Just the thought of it is different, challenging, and inspiring. I love writing to music already; many of my stories have little soundtracks, and for some I've even designed the art for the CD. Anyway, about how long would we have to write and submit our stories?
quadraptor's picture

I'd give a good amount of

I'd give a good amount of time, a few weeks I guess after all the participants sign up. I might have a set number of slots because I'd have to randomize the songs so I don't think I could accept late participants. Maybe tonight I'll make the official topic for this Eye