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Many you may have noticed there wasn’t a blog yesterday. The real world intruded and every second of computer time I had, I used to meet my professional obligations. However, I had some thrilling news I wanted to share and it works perfectly with the contest for this Friday.
I've decided to Serialize Saturdays.
I know many of you are writers, many of you are readers who have lots of ideas, and many of you are both. This weeks contest is very special to me.
I have never offered a serialized story before and I think this would be a great way to celebrate our weekends. We talk about books, about reading, and writing—but so rarely do we get to actually read any fiction on the blog.
There is a wonderful article on the Bijou Blog titled, They'll Never Get Out Alive!--The Cliffhangers about the original serialized matinee movies. Many are still familiar with “The Perils of Pauline” starring Pearl White.
My contest this Friday is unique. I would love to collaborate with one of my readers to create this Saturday Serial—to last eight consecutive weeks. Eight scenes of the same story, each ending with a cliffhanger.
The challenge to all of you is to come up with an idea for a story fraught with danger and excitement. It can be modern, like the television series 24, or fantasy like Xena: Warrior Princess, or horror like Clive Barker’s Books of Blood. The only limits are your imagination (well, and keep it PG13ish ;)
Here’s how to enter:
Write a (very) short description of what you envision in each category:
Proposed Title:
Genre:
Time Period:
Main Character:
Villain:
What’s at stake:
An example for The Terminator might look like this:
Proposed Title: Cyborg Killer
Genre: Sci-fi adventure
Time Period: near future
Main Character: Sarah Connor, future mother of the leader of the resistance.
Villain: Cyborg creature intent on killing her to stop the birth of the world’s future leader
What’s at stake: The survival of mankind
The winner will work closely with me on each scene and be credited as a collaborating author, headlining the by-line. If you are not a writer and would prefer to be the creator of the serial, rather than the author, you will be credited in that manner if you wish.
How to win:
Post your idea in the format offered above by Thursday May 28th.
On Friday, the 29th, I’ll list all the ideas in a separate post. Readers will help choose the winning entry by naming the title they are most excited to read. While my decision will be based heavily on the reader’s choice, the ultimate decision will be mine.
Readers will ‘vote’ through the weekend and the winner will be announced on June 1st. I’m truly thrilled at the idea of working with one of you and I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
If you have any questions, please ask! ;)
Warmly,
Jenny:)
P.S.
When the entries are listed next week, they will include a link to your own blog or website as well ;)
15 comments:
Proposed Title: Terminal Jack
Genre: Sci-fi/thriller/horror
Time Period: Near future
Main Character: Graham Black, homicide detective transferred to the Cyber-Ops Division, The unit designed to handle crimes involving cyborgs and cyber criminals.
Villain: Jack Janczek, a psychopath who is caught when his is nearly killed in a shootout with police. In order to serve out his sentence, he is fitted with a total body prosthetic, and is to be “re-programmed” via cyber link via a downloaded program. He discovers the ability to overwrite the programming, and can connect with anyone neuro-jacked directly into the net.
What’s at stake: How do you catch a serial killer who is still in prison, and can “be” anyone, anywhere, at any time?
AWESOME!!!
This looks really cool. I'm sure the readers are going to think this is exciting!!
Warmly,
Jenny;)
Proposed Title: Sin Eater
Genre: Horror/Fantasy
Time Period: Modern
Main Character: Mary Margaret, ex-nun and one of the rare breed of Sin Eaters, whose job it is to save human souls from the demons, but can she handle a full-scale invasion like the world has never seen?
Villain: Asmodeus, Lord of the Demons (and his horde of demons), bent on collecting the soul of every human on earth and becoming the Dark Ruler of Mankind
What’s at stake: The souls of mankind and the fate of the Earth
June, you're gonna make this really hard on the readers to decide which ones they're most excited to see!
We might just have to continue Saturday Serials forever! LOL! :)
Warmly,
Jenny:)
Proposed Title: The Childress Enigma
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Time Period: Modern
Main Character: Jennifer and three of her friends have been curious about Carterville’s weird legends and mysteries from early childhood. Why aren’t they allowed to explore the reputedly haunted Childress Homestead? Why did Indians say the place was taboo? What happened to the first settlers, the Childress--why did the wife go crazy and murder her husband and child? Determined to find out, they visit the cursed property one Halloween night and discover much more than they ever imagined.
Villain: The “giant” bird-like things (Pterodactyls)
What’s at stake: Spiritual bonds were trespassed when Jenifer and her friends discovered the TRUTH. And now the enemy threatens to rip Carterville apart. Even though the four friends arise to the challenge, attempting to save their town, Carterville will never be the same again.
Jenny,
I don't know how to leave a comment. I'm NOT "anonymous" but Sharon. I have another entry, and "anonymous" will be SHARON on that one, too.
Sharon
Proposed Title: The Pets
Genre: Sci-fi/Horror
Time Period: Modern
Main Character: Jason, an awkward “geek” in high school and an avid science enthusiast and astronomer, witnesses a strange “light” land near the outskirts of Canyon Town, a remote rural mountain community. Soon the weirdness begins. Townspeople start losing their dogs and cats, and several carcasses have been discovered in a deep brushy ravine next to the high school. Reports of something snarling, with “silver eyes” makes people believe they are been invaded by predators, such as wolves. Then people begin to go missing. Jason and a policeman friend attempt to get to the bottom of the mystery. What Jason discovers is “out of the world.” Accused of only wanting attention, Jason is ignored. He discovers what the falling weird light really was, befriends the occupants, and unfortunately, the townspeople discover the TTUTH, too, and forming a mob, they seek to destroy the occupants of the “light” which really was a UFO. The revolt threatens an “alien” retaliation. Jason, working with his “new friends” seeks to avert an intergalactic war. And they need to “recapture” those escaped “pets.”
Villain: Mistakenly the “space aliens”--in reality their “pets.”
What’s at stake: Canyon Town is threatened with obliteration. The upheaval expands to encompass the whole world. Jason, working with the policeman, and in tandem with their new friends, “the aliens” seeks to avoid intergalactic disaster brought about by misunderstandings, prejudices and anger.
Anonymous is SHARON
Jenny,
I misunderstood your contest request and offer two ideas. which is unfair to any others.
One of mine can be ingnored.
Sorry to mess up you blog like this. :(
You didn't mess ANYTHING up, Sharon! It's awesome to have you here and you've always got such GREAT ideas!! :)
Warmly,
Jenny:)
Hello everyone, this is my idea for Serial Saturday.
Proposed Title:
Letters to the 5th Direction
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror
Time Period: now
Main Character: Juliana
Juliana’s a 12 year old girl who has just inherited a trunk from her beloved grandmother’s abandoned attic. Among old photos and embroidery appears a box of letters her grandmother wrote to Juliana before passing. While reading the letters Juliana accidentally opens the 5th Direction, the super highway to other worlds.
Villain: Murcielaga
Created during the era of the first humans, Murcielaga, is one of the oldest banished creatures. She resides in the world where imaginary beings are kept so as not to harm humans.
What’s at stake: Murcielaga is angry she has been banished for so long. She is deploying her henchmen by the dozens through the 5th Direction into other worlds to create havoc. As revenge she is erasing and controlling people’s memories once she sneaks into their imagination. The history of the human race is about to be lost forever.
Each week we read another letter that leads our heroine into and out of peril. To further complicate the situation, her grandmother suffered from Alzheimer’s causing clues to be out of order, have mixed up names and clues written in different languages.
Proposed Title: Dance with the Devil
Genre: horror
Time Period: Modern Day
Main Character: Marlene Andrews has always wanted more than she had. When her husband loses his job as a college Professor, she takes a walk and finds her dream house. A gothic mansion made of gray stone. When she is invited in, Marlene gets more than she bargained for.
Villian: The devil is intent on getting Marlene's baby to raise as his own son and inherit his abilities to trick people.
What's at stake: Marlene’s baby, raised as the son of the devil, could change the balance of good and evil in the world. When Marlene Andrews doesn’t fulfill her part of the bargain. The world becomes darker than it ever has, greed feeds and grows with the evil presence.
Proposed Title: Blood Moon
Genre: Supernatural/Alternative Earth
Time Period: Modern
Main Character: Cascade, a twelve year old girl on the verge of puberty, discovers that she’s not who she thought she was. She’s not human. Can she survive the “change” without becoming a dreaded Ka-Ghawze (a blood-seeking non-human vampire) or can she overcome her blood-thirst to become one of the Ghawze (one who lives on human energy without killing)? Will she find her uncle McKay, a Ghawze scientist, in time to save herself and possibly the world?
Villain: Dillon, the leader of a group of Ka-Ghawze and Vazpa (humans that the Ka-Ghawze have turned into vampires), works to get Cascade to turn vampire and to help him defeat the Ghawze (who have co-existed with humans for centuries, helping the humans along the way).
What’s at stake: Cascade’s life and those around her, and ultimately, the fate of the world for both human and Ghawze.
Title: Hannibal Fairfield
Genre: Drama
Time Period: 1860's Civil War era
Main Character: Hannibal, a 14 year old boy from Arkansas during the civil war era. Recently orphaned, Hannibal has a secret, he's really a girl: Hannah Eleanor Fairfield. Upon her mother's death, Hannah changes her appearance to that of a boy and changes her name to Hannibal. Hannibal tries to join up with the Rebel army.
Villain: Sgt. McNeil of the army of thinks he may know Hannibal's secret and tries to get Hannibal expose it at every opportunity.
What's at Stake: If Hannibal's secret is exposed, Hannibal will no longer get to live as a boy and will be sent to live with strangers. She will lose her freedom.
Genre-Romantic suspense
Time period-modern
Main character: Kathi Ann, a feisty trial lawyer and single mother of six year old Michael. Dark secrets come to the surface and a shocking truth is about to explode.
Villian: Charles Jackson has always had a thing for Kathi. He has been burned once by her, but this time it won’t happen. He’s been waiting for the proper moment to set things straight.
What’s at stake: Kathi Ann's dark secrets could be fatal to her and her son, Michael. She can trust no one, not even Miki Bronson.
Her ex, police lieutenant, Miki Bronson shows up at her door demanding custody of her son. Michael age six is kidnapped. Was it her ex or some other evil at force? Kathi doesn’t know who to turn to when her life is turned into a nightmare.
Reposting this Jenny, accidently forgot proposed title.
Proposed title: Juggling Michael
Genre-Romantic suspense
Time period-modern
Main character: Kathi Ann, a feisty trial lawyer and single mother of six year old Michael. Dark secrets come to the surface and a shocking truth is about to explode.
Villian: Charles Jackson has always had a thing for Kathi. He has been burned once by her, but this time it won’t happen. He’s been waiting for the proper moment to set things straight.
What’s at stake: Kathi Ann's dark secrets could be fatal to her and her son, Michael. She can trust no one, not even Miki Bronson.
Her ex, police lieutenant, Miki Bronson shows up at her door demanding custody of her son. Michael age six is kidnapped. Was it her ex or some other evil at force? Kathi doesn’t know who to turn to when her life is turned into a nightmare.
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