Fanfiction Challenge

[Skykat]

Thanks guys! I'm made up because I was really unsure about this entry, it's really different to anything I've ever wrote before and I had to ask Jess several times whether she thought it was good enough before I even considered entering it!

I just want to say a really huge thanks to I Love Music who read my intitial draft of this story and who's comments, suggestions and constructive criticisms really helped so much in writing this story. Nobody writes better Sally fics than you ILM so you were the obvious choice to ask for advice.

I'm so pleased that people liked it, it's a subject I've wanted to cover for ages because I hated the way it was dealt with in Home and Away, (I thought they forgot it too easily) but I found it really difficult to capture the emotions I thought sally would be feeling. Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed and said nice things about it!

I also really want to say well done to everyone else who entered, the quality of stories was superb.

I think I would like to host the next challenge and I have one pretty much in mind, again with I Love Music's help so just let me know how soon you want it up and I'll post it. Hopefully you'll all enter!

Thanks again.xx

[aejdude]

Well Done SkyKat. I'd like the idea to be up soon, but post it when you're ready.

[sevenpuddings]

Well, its your challenge, so your welcome to put it up in the thread any way you please. And people will always ask if they are confused about any part of the challenge. I can't wait to see what it is

[-Annie-]

Congratulations Skykat! And to everyone else too! I look forward to the next challenge.

[I love music]

CONGRATULATIONS, Kat!

And don't be so modest, the story was your idea and your work, all I did was tweak a word here and there.

[Skykat]

FANFICTION CHALLENGE # 4

Thanks to I Love Music for letting me bounce ideas off her.

Okay guys I'm leaving this challenge pretty open to hopefully encourage more people to enter. These are the only restrictions:

1. You must include an interaction of any sort between a past and a present character. The past character can be somebody who left recently or somebody who left years ago. I like the idea of an unconventional pairing so I’d either like to see characters placed together who weren’t on the show at the same time, or, who were but had nothing to do with each other.

Remember it doesn’t necessarily have to be characters in a romantic pairing. It can be two characters who hate each other, two characters who are friends etc.

Suggestions: See this link but I'm sure everyone on here is capable of coming up with something on their own.

Be as creative as you like in the pairings but the idea is to make the pairing in your story realistic and not unconventional at all if everybody understands what I mean by that.

2. The fic has to have a strong emotional theme. Don't be content with the obvious like sad or romantic. Go for sad or romantic if you want, but remember emotions can also include anger, happiness, laughter, loneliness, hate, disappointment, nostalgia, triumph, terror, contentment, hope...the list is endless.

It doesn't matter if you choose only one emotion or if you choose several. The only restriction is that there IS emotion! Make the reader laugh or make them cry, it's YOUR choice!

Hint: For those who think this sounds difficult, they key is in description. Don't be content with just saying something, instead try and describe it. If the reader can see it then they are more likely to feel it. Litery devices are really good too. Comparing something to something else is a good way of creating emotion.

Examples: Instead of 'she stood up and stretched' go for something like 'she stood up and stretched out her long, perfectly tanned legs'

Instead of 'Sally began to cry' go for something like 'Sally could hardly contain the avalanche of tears that threatened to spill down her drawn, weary face'

'She kissed him and he knew he loved her' go for something like 'as she kissed him he felt his stomach lurch like something inside it was somersaulting, his lips tingled with her touch and in that instant he knew that he loved her.'

I know they're not the best descriptions because I'm rushing but hopefully those people who think they can't create emotion can get an idea of some ways to do it. I'm sure if anyone wanted advice there's lots of writers on here who would be willing to offer tips.

3. WORD COUNT. Sorry Nicole and other ramblers but it’s to be one shots only and I’m imposing a pretty strict 1,500 minimum to 2000 words maximum. The reason for this is that in my opinion too short a story doesn’t leave enough time to really create emotion (hence the minimum length) but too long a story can overwhelm it (hence the maximum) if that makes sense.

They're the only restrictions I'm imposing, for everything else you can do as you please. Any setting, any genre, any theme any time, etc, etc.

I hope the strict word count doesn’t prevent too many people from entering, it is pretty open and I’m going to give a bit more than a three week deadline to allow ramblers and word count haters a bit extra time for editing. If you really want to enter and have something cooking but can't meet the deadline let me know. I'm willing to make minor adjustments in order for more people to enter.

As it stands, the deadline is the 30th September UK time.

If anybody would like me to proof read their entry please PM it to me in advance of the deadline and I’ll get it back to you for editing. If anybody would like opinions, advice, suggestions etc please say so on the top of the PM and I’ll do my best to help you out, bear in mind I’m not perfect though!

Any questions or if you're unsure of anything PM me or post them in this thread, thanks.

There you go then. I hope people don't think I've left put too many restrictions on it or left it too open because I'm really looking forward to reading lots of entries.

Good luck.xx

[-Jade-]

Sounds great skykat. I want to enter, and I've got an idea but it really just depends on my life. lol I hope to write something though. The idea sounds good even though the word count will be slightly tricky - but I'm all up for a challenge!

[sevenpuddings]

Ohhh, I like it SKYKAT, its so different, I can't wait to see what people manage to come up with.

Just one thing, with the word limit, do you think we could possibly have a 10% leeway either side of it? I've allowed for it in the other challenges, but I'm just worried that I won't be able to make the minimum limit with the idea I've got in mind.

[-Annie-]

Sounds great Skykat! I'm not sure if I'll enter though.

[Skykat]

Ohhh, I like it SKYKAT, its so different, I can't wait to see what people manage to come up with.

Just one thing, with the word limit, do you think we could possibly have a 10% leeway either side of it? I've allowed for it in the other challenges, but I'm just worried that I won't be able to make the minimum limit with the idea I've got in mind.

I'm sure that'll be allowed Jess, I want you to enter so consider your request granted!

Sounds great Skykat! I'm not sure if I'll enter though.

Is there a reason for that? Anything I can do to persuade you to enter?