Words Painting Pictures
As I've seen you all trying to make more positive changes to your style of writing and including more detail, I thought I could host a little contest for a week or so that could promote you all to be descriptive and utilize imagery more effectively. That being said, I have conjured up this little idea: Words Painting Pictures.
The Idea
You all know that good writing tantalizes the senses. I, among plenty of others, get taken to an entirely different world when I read. Whether or not you are a reader or a writer (preferably both), you have experienced something similar while you are reading. As writers aspiring to be novelists, poets, columnists or just effective communicators, appealing to all of the senses by using vivid imagery is certainly an important trait you need to perfect as much as possible.
That all being said, you can exercise the ability to use descriptive writing in many ways. I've chosen one for you.
Your Task
Your job is to find a picture off the Internet, in a magazine (providing you upload the picture along with it: I need to see it), or even a painting. Once you have your image, you will need to create a substantial description of it as well as a story to go alongside it. You are permitted to write in poetry or prose; it doesn't matter to me. If you choose to write poetry, it will be a narrative piece. If you choose to write in prose, I'd prefer it be a short story. I am not going to read a novella just because you felt like overachieving.
Remember to keep your image. You'll need to submit it to me along with your work.
Rubric
Essentially, what I'm looking for - or, rather, what will win the contest - is a piece that follows these guidelines specifically, but not too closely. I hate writing in formulas, so please: do not make your work a carbon copy of what you see on the rubric. I need to stress that the piece can be any form of poetry or prose, I simply do not care. Here's what needs to happen:
When you've completed your piece, simply post it in the "Words Painting Pictures [Submissions]" thread which can be found here. Do not PM it to me. Do not post it here. Do not ask me to look at it. I will see it in due time. Please follow the submission guidelines given on the thread using the correct format.
All discussion of the contest belongs in this thread. Any submission posts here will be ignored. Thank you.
Submissions end on August 31, 2010 at 12:00 AM EST.
The winner will be announced shortly thereafter.
Remember: vivid imagery. Tantalize the senses.
As I've seen you all trying to make more positive changes to your style of writing and including more detail, I thought I could host a little contest for a week or so that could promote you all to be descriptive and utilize imagery more effectively. That being said, I have conjured up this little idea: Words Painting Pictures.
The Idea
You all know that good writing tantalizes the senses. I, among plenty of others, get taken to an entirely different world when I read. Whether or not you are a reader or a writer (preferably both), you have experienced something similar while you are reading. As writers aspiring to be novelists, poets, columnists or just effective communicators, appealing to all of the senses by using vivid imagery is certainly an important trait you need to perfect as much as possible.
That all being said, you can exercise the ability to use descriptive writing in many ways. I've chosen one for you.
Your Task
Your job is to find a picture off the Internet, in a magazine (providing you upload the picture along with it: I need to see it), or even a painting. Once you have your image, you will need to create a substantial description of it as well as a story to go alongside it. You are permitted to write in poetry or prose; it doesn't matter to me. If you choose to write poetry, it will be a narrative piece. If you choose to write in prose, I'd prefer it be a short story. I am not going to read a novella just because you felt like overachieving.
Remember to keep your image. You'll need to submit it to me along with your work.
Rubric
Essentially, what I'm looking for - or, rather, what will win the contest - is a piece that follows these guidelines specifically, but not too closely. I hate writing in formulas, so please: do not make your work a carbon copy of what you see on the rubric. I need to stress that the piece can be any form of poetry or prose, I simply do not care. Here's what needs to happen:
- Precise details.
- Entertaining, stimulating storyline.
- The writing needs to be relative to the image (obviously).
- Lots of effort needs to go into this. Don't send me a half-assed job.
- Please, please, please don't make it suck.
When you've completed your piece, simply post it in the "Words Painting Pictures [Submissions]" thread which can be found here. Do not PM it to me. Do not post it here. Do not ask me to look at it. I will see it in due time. Please follow the submission guidelines given on the thread using the correct format.
All discussion of the contest belongs in this thread. Any submission posts here will be ignored. Thank you.
Submissions end on August 31, 2010 at 12:00 AM EST.
The winner will be announced shortly thereafter.
Remember: vivid imagery. Tantalize the senses.