Prose that Blows: crowdsourcing some ideas

24 posts / 0 new

Wed, 01/27/2021 - 16:03

doubleintegral

So there's been some interest in reviving the old Prose that Blows contests. Just as a refresher for those who aren't familiar...

The crux of the concept is to impose restrictions on writers. The restrictions are creative mechanisms that force us to find interesting and effective ways of writing ourselves out of the jam we've been put in.

Writers submit their stories, then they are published anonymously for voting. This is to eliminate any inherent biases when reading the stories. Once voting ends the winners of various categories are revealed, and stories are matched up with writers' names.

Some of the restrictions we used in the past included things like:

Word count restrictions (e.g. write the best story you can in 500 words or less)
Vocabulary restrictions (e.g. don't use the words "balloon", "blimp", "inflate", etc.)
Thematic restrictions (e.g. Halloween; inflationary superhero/villain)

I'm open to suggestions on where to go from here. The old PtB site is still up at http://prosethatblows.wordpress.com if you want to refer to everything that was done before.

Stories I have written

Wed, 01/27/2021 - 16:12

doubleintegral

I'll put this idea out there: a madlib-style theme. Not in the traditional sense of madlibs, but writers would be given a list of phrases of dialogue that they must incorporate into the story somehow. Haven't you always wanted to read an inflation story that includes a line like "What are you doing to that chicken?" Obviously this is a more absurd example - the real lines of dialogue would be appropriate for an inflation story, yet also vague enough that they wouldn't all be used in the same way.

Stories I have written

Thu, 01/28/2021 - 16:45

(Reply to #2) #3

happyguyprime

I love this one!

Thu, 01/28/2021 - 03:36

Murkstorm

Hmm. Ideas, ideas...

Professional theme - all stories set in a specific industry. Professional wrestling, education, police stories, circuses, laundry & uniform delivery, casinos, etc.

Thrill-seekers. Would-be balloons who are voluntarily risking their lives for non-sexual reasons.

Marriage proposals take popping the question to new heights. Likewise for a best man/burst man pun at the wedding reception.

Crowdsourcing your life leads to bizarre incidents (I recently read "In A Green Dress, Surrounded By Exploding Clowns")

Courtrooms & the legal aspects of inflating people. Is popping murder, assisted suicide, or a completely acceptable way to deal with a business partner? If you are running an inflation-based business, what kinds of insurance concerns and contractual clauses are involved? If an Oompa-Loompa turns FBI informant, how much trouble is Mr. Wonka going to be in from blueberrying Miss Beauregarde?

Inflation as a technique used therapeutically? Whether for psychological reasons, physical therapy, gym-free bodybuilding...

Thu, 01/28/2021 - 23:52

Succoria

Some of the ideas that come to mind include "Public vs Private"(With stories picking a side), non-chronological plots, dreams, or meta plots (stories concerning artists, writers, or video producers making infllation content, though the potential for subtweeting may make this iffy).

Fri, 01/29/2021 - 18:55

happyguyprime

Just brainstorming (although I love the "madlib dialogue")

- 2 public places: The inflation must start in one public location and end in another

- turnabout is fair play: The inflation must affect someone other then the intended target

- The mcguffin: The inflation must center around an object that doesn't actually have a use or do anything in the story

- Things are not what they seem: The inflatee must be involved in decieving the reader

Fri, 01/29/2021 - 21:08

(Reply to #6) #7

I-Am-Betrayal

I like that turnabout idea, I feel it could be worked with decently well, with a creative method.

Sun, 01/31/2021 - 02:01

Cosinusitis

restriction: male inflation only

More seriously, I have a few...:

Abstractly Full: Traditional tangible fillings such as water and food, and all sorts of gasses are prohibited! Your victim must fill with something abstract! Like love, rage, pride, a bunch of quantum mechanics formulas or the concept that the heat death of the universe is inevitable, what have you.

Zeppelin Destructus: The inflation must involve considerable amounts of collateral damage, whether it be from the victim's sheer size or any potential resulting explosion.

Redshirt Balloons: Whoever gets inflated in your story must not be named. You know, the kind of nameless extra who has so little detail in the story that you might as well not really care if they pop or float off.

_{My username is stupid.}

_{Better known as Poqato on the art scene.}

Sun, 01/31/2021 - 17:16

(Reply to #8) #9

Overblown

These honestly sound really fun. >3>

Tue, 02/02/2021 - 05:35

(Reply to #8) #10

doubleintegral

Meaning no disrespect to anyone else who contributed ideas (including myself), this is the first post I've read in this thread where I felt we were truly on the right track.

Stories I have written

Tue, 02/02/2021 - 20:44

(Reply to #11) #11

safaristeve29

Love the redshirt idea!

Wed, 03/24/2021 - 01:46

(Reply to #8) #12

Finesse

Love the "Abstractly Full" idea.

Sun, 01/31/2021 - 06:56

#13

clovis

I think it would be interesting to give everyone the same opening paragraph or page and then see where they take it.

Tue, 02/02/2021 - 05:36

(Reply to #9) #14

doubleintegral

This is also an excellent idea!

Stories I have written

Fri, 02/05/2021 - 19:08

#15

Pennsylvania Ki...

A one-word theme: Safety.

Check out my stories that I've written...!

Wed, 02/10/2021 - 15:42

(Reply to #14) #16

doubleintegral

Slightly related: I DO like the idea of the one-word theme. That could be really interesting!

Stories I have written

Fri, 02/12/2021 - 11:48

(Reply to #14) #17

Themarkoftheslayer

I like this, this has potential.

Sat, 02/13/2021 - 00:46

#18

perchedontheloon

I like the idea of having a starting paragraph or starting word and see how others interpret the idea into a story.

My humble suggestion would be to give more than a word but less than a paragraph. Like you get a noun, a verb, and a place.

To go full madlib style, create a form with the inputs blank with a shell of a story. Then it could be filled out by others.

Additionally, I've had an idea of a journal of inflation and think it would somewhat fit. The idea goes; a hiker finds a cabin and his curiosity gets the better of him so he explores inside. Many older items are scattered about but a notebook catches his eye. It doesn't appear to be worn and faded like everything else. Inside, the front page says; ,"If you find inspiration in these pages, write down your tale". He then reads about the inflatable adventures of those making journal entries.

So basically, each person would write a journal entry about their inflatable experience at the cabin.

Tue, 02/16/2021 - 10:19

(Reply to #17) #19

Toxic Waste

That cabin idea is really cool. If it's not the prompt for this one, I might just steal it if that's all right :)

Tue, 02/16/2021 - 10:18

#20

Toxic Waste

I think stories that feature in-universe inflation art/stories would be a neat idea. I would be very excited for a Prose That Blows revival.

Wed, 02/17/2021 - 03:29

#21

Cosinusitis

Hey, let's get meta - we write about someone writing for Prose That Blows. Story in story. What do they feel like writing about? Do what they have around them influence their inspiration in any capacity? What is even the Prose That Blows' theme in the story?

Literature itself can invite dumb shenanigans. Magic writing, recalling of old experiences, etc.

_{My username is stupid.}

_{Better known as Poqato on the art scene.}

Thu, 02/18/2021 - 12:53

#22

yeahshippo

one word theme: Sports

Thu, 02/18/2021 - 22:38

(Reply to #21) #23

Lopni

ho ho ho, stretch wider, hold tigher, fly higher! ^_^

Fri, 04/02/2021 - 10:12

#24

doubleintegral

Hey y'all. There's a lot of good ideas here, but it's unlikely that I'll get around organizing this anytime soon. If someone else wants to step up, pleae feel free to do so.

Stories I have written

Prose that Blows: crowdsourcing some ideas

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