[NancyBrooke]

Starting November 15th, your Challenge Admins will be launching a new series of challenges for each and every fanfication archive.

Each month, on or about the middle of the month, we will post a new seasonally relevant topic to provoke, inspire, motivate and otherwise encourage participants to write a work of short fiction - no less than 1000 words - for submission by the middle of the following month. Works of exactly 1000 words, poems, and works in progress are perfectly eligible for submission. As always, all usual OSA guidelines apply.

And, if you have a challenge topic you think it would be fun for us to use, please let us know by dropping a line to the Challenge Admins through the OSA support mailbox.
So sharpen those pencils, turn loose your imagination, schedule brunch with the Muse and watch this space for further announcements!

Cheers,

NB

[NancyBrooke]

In much of the world, Winter is a season of cold and warmth, darkness and firelight, dearth and heartfelt generosity when families and friends gather together. So, for this, our first monthly short fiction challenge let’s get into this season’s spirit with a tale of

Gift Exchange.

The gift may be metaphorical, spiritual or actual, exchanged between friends, enemies, family members or strangers, knowingly or unknowingly.

This challenge is open to all archives. Fic may be prose or poetry, finished or incomplete so long as the piece submitted is no shorter than 1000 words. Deadline will be in one month at midnight, December 14th, 2010.

A monthly challenge will be posted every month, and participants will have until the next month to complete the challenge. To contribute a challenge idea, visit the OSA Monthly Challenges thread in the Bunny Nursery of the Forum. Any problems or questions? Contact the Challenge Admins.

[DarkElfChilde]

We have until January? Sounds good..I'll try it. I've been in a writing mood lately, working on my novel and stuff. I like the challenge idea, so I'll try to do this. Hopefully I remember.

[NancyBrooke]

Yeah, that was an oops I didn't get to fix.

We ('cause I registered for this one), have until mid-DECEMBER.

Sorry for the confusion, and I hope you'll participate.

Cheers,

NB

[dolarabee]

[NancyBrooke]

[NancyBrooke]

My grandfather, a very imposing elderly gentleman and college professor, always used to ask this intimidated little girl “what did you learn in school today?” And, when I would stammer some reply, would gently encourage me to “learn something new everyday”. So, as we approach a new year – and new decade – let me encourage you to give your characters something new to think about, be it the big ‘A-ha!’ or the intimate ‘I see’, and weave a tale of

Epiphany

This challenge is open to all archives. Fic may be prose or poetry, finished or incomplete so long as the piece submitted is no shorter than 1000 words. Deadline will be in one month at midnight, January 14th, 2010.

A monthly challenge will be posted every month, and participants will have until the next month to complete the challenge. To contribute a challenge idea, visit the OSA Monthly Challenges thread in the Bunny Nursery of the Forum. Any problems or questions? Contact the Challenge Admins.

[NancyBrooke]

A reminder: if, like me, you sign up for a challenge and don't complete your fic by the deadline, don't let that stop you.

Just contact the Challenge Admins through the [Contact Us / Support] option on the menu. Your completed fic can still be included in the challenge even if the challenge has closed.

Likewise, if you are inspired by a challenge after the challenge has ended, go for it!

The bottom line is challenges are here to inspire, no matter when the inspiration hits or when the fic gets completed. We hope that deadlines encourage writing, not discourage it.

So write on!

[NancyBrooke]

Announcing OSA's Newest Monthly Short Fiction Challenge:

On the Doorstep

Anniversary’s such as New Year’s are often a chance to erase the old and embrace the new, remake ourselves, and take on change.

So, for this first short fiction challenge of 2010 make it your resolution to write about changes and/or transitions – anticipated, contemplated, begun, resolved or foresworn – whatever aspect of this tradition might inspire you.

This challenge is open to all archives. Fic may be prose or poetry, finished or incomplete so long as the piece submitted is no shorter than 1000 words. Deadline will be in one month at midnight, February 14th, 2010.

A monthly challenge will be posted every month, and participants will have until the next month to complete the challenge. To contribute a challenge idea, visit the OSA Monthly Challenges thread in the Bunny Nursery of the Forum. Any problems or questions? Contact the Challenge Admins.

[NancyBrooke]

“If I loved you less I might be able to talk about it more”- Jane Austen

To honor this month of Love’s holiday I invite you to speak for those unable to speak for themselves: the lovelorn, the terminally shy, the secret admirers, those who love best from a distance. So get out your Cupid’s bow and channel your inner Cyrano - if the message is heard, and how received is up to you.

“One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can’t utter” - James Earl Jones

This challenge is open to all archives. Fic may be prose or poetry, finished or incomplete so long as the piece submitted is no shorter than 1000 words. Deadline will be in one month at midnight, March 15th, 2010.

A monthly challenge will be posted every month, and participants will have until the next month to complete the challenge. To contribute a challenge idea, visit the OSA Monthly Challenges thread in the Bunny Nursery of the Forum. Any problems or questions? Contact the Challenge Admins.

[lissaselves]

Your latest prompt actually sparked... something, but it's a good thing I didn't sign up 'cause the bunny died on me. *attempts CPR*

Oh well - maybe next time!

*drowns sorrows with harmless stimulants*

[NancyBrooke]

Hey, Lissa, I'm still working on one inspired by the first challenge. The deadlines are to motivate, not to terminate! So if the bunny lives, and you get 1000 words you're happy with, let me know - it can still be posted as a challenge response.

I'm pulling for ya, Bunny!

[NancyBrooke]

“Spring has now unwrapped the flowers, day is fast reviving,
Life in all her growing powers towards the light is striving:”
Flower Carol, author unknown

Now, as Spring approaches (here at least) I invite you to write about

Awakening.

Let it be small as the first morning moment or as large as the season; intimate, political; literal or metaphorical.

This challenge is open to all archives. Fic may be prose or poetry, finished or incomplete so long as the piece submitted is no shorter than 1000 words. Deadline will be in one month at midnight, April 15th, 2010.

A monthly challenge will be posted every month, and participants will have until the next month to complete the challenge. To contribute a challenge idea, visit the OSA Monthly Challenges thread in the Bunny Nursery of the Forum. Any problems or questions? Contact the Challenge Admins.

[lissaselves]