The Genre-Twist Challenge

[ilthit]

So, I decided to go ahead and create a Genretwist challenge, because nobody stopped me and I found myself already writing scenarios.

Here's how it works:

Participants sign up with a numbered list of either 10 or 6 characters, an email address and the genre they want to twist to - so some other genre than the original. You can (currently) choose between the following genres: SCI-FI, CRIME/THRILLER, ROMANCE, FANTASY, HORROR and WESTERN.

The mod will then send the participant an email with a list of 10 scenarios to write within the chosen genre. Everyone choosing a specific genre will get the same ten scenarios, but they will have to use the characters they listed when signing up.  There are several lists of scenarios that I try to spread out more or less evenly.

Seven of the scenarios will list specific roles for specific characters (by number), whereas the last three will be more freeform.

Example: You've chosen sci-fi, and your first three characters are Frodo, Gandalf and Eowyn from Lord of the Rings. The first scenario could be "Desperate to protect the galaxy, #1, a member of the galactic parliament, has made a secret deal with the famous space pirate #2 to amass a mercenary force to oppose the rebels lead by the long lost Royal Heir, #3." Thus you get space pirate Gandalf. Cracky, but fun!

You write as many of the scenarios as you like, though the ultimate winner of the challenge would write all ten.

The challenge is OPEN-ENDED, so you can take as long as you like.

The sign-up post is here.


Edit: You can now also select the genre HORROR. 
Edit 2: The post originally said I had only one list per genre per character count, but that is no longer true. I have several lists per character count per genre. Helps keep things fresh, you know? 
Edit 3: RPF is now allowed, since it seems to be working all right in the Deadline Challenge.

Comments

[helens78]

Oh, this sounds awesome. The one thing that concerns me is coming up with ten characters; for some fandoms, you really have to scrape into tiny minor characters to get a full ten. (Six would be a lot easier!)

[ilthit]

Hmm! Well, nothing's set in stone yet, we could make it so you can select either 6 or 10 - I can write new genre-specific scenario lists using just six characters (but since I already went ahead and wrote ones for ten characters, you could do either).

I'll add that option in. Why not?

[helens78]

\o/ That's just awesome of you. And this challenge still sounds terrific! :D

[ilthit]

Whee! :D I just like the idea of changing genres in the first place.

[nagaina]

I agree that the ten characters might be a touch too many for some fandoms, but I otherwise think this is a great idea and I would love to participate.

[ilthit]

Changed it! You can now select either 6 or 10.

Alright, I'm in!

[nagaina]

Fandom is World of Warcraft/Warcraft which is already something vaguely resembling the high fantasy genre. I would like to twist this to ROMANCE and the pairings are:

Asric/Jadaar
Jaina/Thrall
Kael'thas/Illidan

Re: Alright, I'm in!

[ilthit]

Awesome, glad you're interested!

Unfortunately this isn't the sign-up post yet - I'm putting that up on Friday. Also, you can't select your pairings beforehand but there is a loophole - the last three challenges are more open than the others, and one is "use any scenario with any three characters from your list", so you'll be able to select the pairings you like even if they're not what comes out naturally. Since this challenge is completely malleable and open you can even write the prompt #10 as many times you like (so basically ignore suggested pairings and character roles) and still consider it fulfilled.

I hope that's not too complicated...

I'll send you your prompts (tomorrow) taking the characters you listed above as 1. Asric, 2. Jadaar, 3. Jaina etc.

Can you give me your email, or shall I just send you a private message?

Re: Alright, I'm in!

[nagaina]

No problem -- sorry about the mix-up, my brain is only function on half its usual cylinder count. :P

My email is milady [dot] serpent at gmail [dot] com.

Re: Alright, I'm in!

[ilthit]

Thanks! I'll send you your list first thing in the morning.

Re: Alright, I'm in!

[jack_of_none]

Asric/Jadaar

I'm just lurking here at the moment (at least, until I figure out which of my fandoms might go best in this challenge), but Aaaaaaa~ someone else likes my favorite obscure WoW pairing :)

Re: Alright, I'm in!

[nagaina]

Oh, man. Since I posted this list, they've both become actual alternate personalities, sitting comfortably in my head alongside Tyki Mick and Ravi from D. Gray-man and snarking all the day.

[cypher]

Questions!

- What's the minimum word count for pieces written to this challenge?

- Is it okay to ask for multiple lists at a time (say, 10 characters in one fandom for western, 6 characters in a different fandom for fantasy)? (...even if your track record for finishing entire lists is pretty bad?)

[ilthit]

No minimum word count. The scenarios tend to lend themselves to longer fic but if you can fit it in a drabble, by all means!

Yes, you can ask for as many lists as you like and I won't check up on you or your track record! :D You can mix fandoms too. The only stipulation is that the characters can't be from the same genre as the genre you're twisting to - so no sci-fi scenario list for Babylon 5, for example, or even for a mixed-fandoms list of characters with just Ivanova and nine fantasy characters.

[my_sam_dean]

my_sam_dean@yahoo.com

I'd like to change these sci-fi characters into western genre:

1. Dean Winchester
2. Sam Wiinchester
3. Mary Winchester
4. John Winchester
5. Jo Harvelle
6. Jesica Moore
7. Bobby Singer
8. Missouri Mosely
9. Madison
10. Layla

[ilthit]

Cool. I'll send you a PM in a moment!