Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Perhaps a Contest is in Order

Everyone seems to be doing contests lately, so like the joiner I am, I figured I might as well do one of my own.

I have the contest idea all set, but I didn't know what the prize would be (except that warm fuzzy feeling you get from winning, of course). I can't offer manuscript critiques, seeing as I'm not an agent/publishing professional, and I don't have any published books with my name on it to offer. Hmm ... a conundrum.

How about this? I will purchase a novel (or nonfiction work), for the winner*, of the winner's choice. Simply leave your choice in the same comment with the contest entry, and we'll go from there. The contest will close on Thursday, December 31, 2009, with the winner(s) announced a week later on Thursday, January 7, 2010.

Oh, you wanted to know what the contest was? Hmm ... that does sound like a good idea.

So without further ado I present:

The Ten-Word Novel Contest

Many years ago, Ernest Hemingway was challenged to write a novel in six words. The famous line? "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

Since six words seems kind of short to me, I figured I'd add a few on gratis. The challenge to you then, dear readers, is to compose a novel that consists of ten words.

It can be quirky, dramatic, funny, introspective, or any other adjective that I can't think of right now. The only rule, and I do mean the only rule, is that it has to be ten words or less. Oh, and you have until the end of the year to enter (two weeks plus two days).

Paste your entry and choice of prize into the comments section of this post. Happy writing!

* Edit because Adam felt the need to point out the original sentence was unclear. :-P

48 comments:

fairyhedgehog said...

Sounds like fun! Is it just one entry each?

Matthew Delman said...

fairy --

As many entries as you want.

Adam Heine said...

I will purchase a novel (or nonfiction work) of the winner's choice.

I assume you will purchase it for the winner as opposed to yourself ;-)

I was going to ask if the ten-word novels could be previously published, but I realized it's moot. I want to win this with fresh creativity :-)

I'll be back with some entries.

Adam Heine said...

Double moot. All my flash fiction are longer than 10 words. *sheepish grin*

Matthew Delman said...

Yes of course for the winner. :P

And I edited the post to show that.

Renee Pinner said...

oooh, yea! A contest. And, you're buying. What could be better? I'll be back.

Joshua McCune said...

Great contest idea.

Natalie said...

Ooo, I bet this will be harder than it looks, but I'll try.

L. T. Host said...

I will be back! Gotta hone my ten words...

Davin Malasarn said...

Very cool contest. I'm working on mine.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

This is a toughie. What a great idea! ;-)

Stephanie Thornton said...

Ohhhh- great idea! I'll be thinking on this one!

Susan R. Mills said...

Love it! But it sounds tough. Perhaps, I'll give it a try.

Anita Saxena said...

This sounds fantabulous! I'll be back with my ten word masterpiece.

dolorah said...

Oh palease! Ten words; no way for me. But I'll be back to enjoy all the entries.

.........dhole

Adam Heine said...

Some actual entries...

The broken sleigh smelt of firewood and barbecued reindeer meat.

The aliens took our chickens. Afterward, nothing tasted the same.

Air pirates kidnapped my daughter. Need money to fix dirigible.

My toddlers shoot at helicopters. Today, they actually hit one.

Our satellites crippled, invasion was only a matter of time.

(That's probably enough for now, yes?)

Stephanie Damore said...

Okay, here's two for now.

1. Sweet death felt good, this time.
2. Santa called, Christmas is canceled.

Stephanie Damore said...

Here's another:
Re: Manuscript - Call me, big news!

Renee Pinner said...

Looking up from the forest floor, I saw disembodied legs.

Deb said...

Great contest idea. Challenging for the writer's and for the judge I'm thinking!

KatieGrrr said...

Oh cool! I've got one.

Yesterday I chewed off all my fingernails. Today, my fingers.

Anonymous said...

Human....Whoops, I mean chicken quirks.... The Chicken Dance!

Bane sent me over! :O)

Matthew Delman said...

KatieGrrr & destrella --

Welcome to the insanity!

J.B. Chicoine said...

The corpse in the desert wasn’t related to his sister.

Joshua McCune said...

Bane has ADD. Can't read instructions. Copy then pastes:

Euthanized monkey for sale. Won't bite. Doesn't like children.

Adam Heine said...

"But faster-than-light travel isn't possible!" "YOU tell the Borg then."

Stephanie Thornton said...

Here's my first entry!

The walkway was half-shoveled, blood splattering the snow.

dweawuzhere said...

The atmosphere altered: Laughing gas? Happy day!

dweawuzhere said...

My day began well but ended with "Bang!" Dead. (sigh).

Nighfala said...

"He wanted to kiss her, but it was only November."

(an actual line from one of my early stories.)

Nighfala said...

I returned penitent, with flowers, but she was already gone.

Nighfala said...

Shots, surgery and six months later, Snoopy gleefully strays again.

(I hope this isn't prophetic!)

LuKeNuKuM said...

the last human died in it's arms, the robot cried

dweawuzhere said...

entry revisited:

My day began well, but ended with "Bang!"

(deleted last two words. SNIP!)

KatieGrrr said...

I has another.

Sam never suspected his morning doughnut enjoyed digesting human innards.

Renee Pinner said...

Two lines registered. The test forever changed their future.

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

We likes the 10 words contest. Crunch! Slurp! . . . Gag. Dead.

Stripped of Ever-Skin, heat, and now dignity. Time to die.

The almond scent lingered on her lips. Revenge tasted sweet.

Molecules spiraling, the end was fast. No dessert after all.

Balance required focus. Imbalance, just bad luck. Mine and hers.

Apparently, I like to write about death. Who knew?

And one for laughs:

Bad luck owned me. Until Octopus paid cash, bought trouble.

Anita Saxena said...

The comet, a purple ball of flame, entranced the villagers.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Dad died. Mom crumbled. Years later, siblings were together again.

Stephanie Thornton said...

Another entry!

I woke up. The pink monkey was still on me.

Mohan Dutt said...

He looked forward to a happy ending. Time stood still.

robert l'oiseau said...

I love this idea. Here are my entries.


They came, they saw, they conquered. They had cool horns.

Even in his great agony, he mustered up a laugh.

"What tools these mortals be," she muttered under her breath.

Eager to prove them all wrong, she lit the hookah.

"They're not laughing now," she slurred. "I'll bet they forgot!"

L. T. Host said...

I've run out of time, but still I go on.

fairyhedgehog said...

They came in peace. If only we'd known.

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

Last minute additional entries:

Icy water stole her while I wrote, unseeing. Cursed pen.

They all knew about the body, but not the bomb.

L. T. Host said...

Getting into it now...

It was ten minutes after I fell that I died.

Susan R. Mills said...

Matt had a contest I couldn't win. I killed him.

You know I'm kidding, right? I mean, about the killing you part. I'm serious about the entry. It's all I've got.

Renee Pinner said...

The spork quivered in his neck. Black crud spilled out.

The dandelion seed committed suicide in a pool of honey.