The 2002 Regular Monthly Challenges
January - June

Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is Resolutions.

Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... a blizzard, a blanket, a chocolate bar, a teddy bear.

Write a fic based on, or inspired by, one of the two following songs. It does not need to include the lyrics.

IT'S JUST ANOTHER NEW YEAR'S EVE
(Manilow/Panzer)

THE WARRIOR
Scandal

Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions...

New Year's Day

Move your fandom's characters into any Fairy Tale of your choice... is Beauty and the Beast your favourite? Or maybe Rapunzel? Or is it Sleeping Beauty or The Frog Prince? The Ugly Duckling? Adapt your fandom to the fairy tale, or the fairy tale to your fandom.

Write a fic starting with the following first sentences:

"It was the worst day of my life, and the best. And it all began with the simple ringing of the telephone."

Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc:

"Now is the winter of our discontent."
--King Richard III (I, i, 1)

Write a story inspired by the headline:

AMERICA IS RUNNING OUT OF MEN! (Weekly World News)

Your chosen character, through either internal or outside forces, reverts mentally, physically or both, back to a child or child-like state.

It's a new year and time to try new things. Write a fic in a fandom you've never written anything more than a drabble in before. What's your newest obsession?

Write a fic where the bad guy wins... he doesn't get caught, humiliated or otherwise foiled in his dastardly plans... and he gets the girl (or guy as the case may be) in the end.

Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is Chocolate.

Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... a flower, honey, a hole and body paint.

Write a fic based on, or inspired by, one of the two following songs. It does not need to include the lyrics.

I DO
Paul Brandt

GOOD MORNING, BEAUTIFUL
(Zack Lyle/Todd Cerney)

Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions...

Groundhog Day
Valentine's Day

Destined to Love (aka the Reincarnation challenge) Write a fic where your characters are reincarnated. Will they be drawn to the same people, share the same relationships as their previous incarnations? Will Fate be kind or cruel? Will they have the same problems to overcome or entirely new ones?

Write a fic starting with the following first sentence:

His heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc:

"Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps."
--Much Ado About Nothing (III, i, 106)

Write a story inspired by the headline:

SPACE ALIEN GAL CLAIMS ASTRONAUT GOT ME PREGNANT (Weekly World News)

Write a fic where your character is somehow imprisoned or confined, whether it be jail, prison, an asylum, the brig, confined to quarters, a dungeon, or anything else you can come up with. Is their imprisonment just or unjust? Do they escape? Are they rescued? Or do they earn their freedom? You decide.

Write a fic where any two characters played by the same actor meet. For example, Jim Carrey's Ace Ventura meets Stanley Ipkiss or The Mask.

Write a story where your character places a personal ad or answers one.

Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is A Spring Fling.

Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... a popsicle, an umbrella, a camcorder and a fountain.

Write a fic based on, or inspired by, one of the two following songs. It does not need to include the lyrics.

SOMEDAY I'LL BE SATURDAY NIGHT
Bon Jovi

SONG FOR A WINTER'S NIGHT
(G. Lightfoot)

Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions...

St. Patrick's Day
Vernal Equinox
Spring Break

Pirates! Think Captain Blood or Sea Hawk... think swashbuckling privateers and buried treasure... think wind-whipped hair, white shirts open to the navel, tight black trousers and thigh-high leather boots... think men alone at sea for months on end... *eg* Move your favourite characters onto the High Seas!

Write a fic starting with the following first sentence:

"Fire!"

Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc:

"Friendship is constant in all other things
Save in the office and affairs of love,"
--Much Ado About Nothing (II, i, 182-183)

Write a story inspired by the headline:

YOUR DEAD PET'S GHOST MAY BE PEEING ON YOUR CARPET! (Weekly World News)

Jury duty, that is. Will your character serve or try to squirm out of it? Will they succeed? And what sort of excitement is there in store for them in the courtroom?

Your character is having nightmares. What triggered them? Who will comfort them? And how?

Take any (or all) of the worst soap opera cliches... evil twins, amnesia, being buried alive, miracle cures, surprise paternity results, etc... and write your characters into them. Turn Cascade (or Four Corners, or Chicago or the Enterprise or wherever else) into soap opera central. *g*

Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is Showers.

Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... a bottle of champagne, a Jacuzzi, bubble bath and a rubber ducky.

Write a fic based on, or inspired by, one of the two following songs. It does not need to include the lyrics.

WHERE MY HEART WILL TAKE ME (FAITH OF THE HEART)
(Russell Watson/Diane Warren)

CRASH AND BURN
(D. Hayes/D. Jones)

Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions...

April Fool's Day
Easter
Earth Day

Let's try the distant future... think 'Space... the Final Frontier'. Think 'A Galaxy Far, Far Away'. Think flying cars and robot maids. ;) Maybe it's a Fleet searching for the Thirteenth Colony. Or maybe it's something entirely new. Whether you're writing about Jim and Blair, or Ezra and Buck, or Starksy and Hutch... whoever your characters may be, move them into the future. Spaceships and lasers and force fields, oh my.

Write a fic starting with the following first sentence:

"That's quite a serious bite."

Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc:

"O, beware, my lord of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on."
--Othello (III, iii, 165-167)

Write a story inspired by the headline:

WANT HOT SEX WITH AN E.T.? WEAR A FLOWERY HAT! (Weekly World News)

Your favourite character is forced somehow into a situation where he or she must face their deepest fear(s). Do they manage to overcome them? Or are their fears stronger? Just to kick-start some ideas... a recent poll listed the top 5 fears for men as follows: 1) Being Buried Alive, 2) Heights, 3) Snakes, 4) Drowning and 5) Public Speaking. The top 5 fears for women were: 1) Snakes, 2) Being Bound or Tied Up, 3) Buried Alive, 4) Heights and 5) Public Speaking.

Your character, whether eagerly or reluctantly, agrees to go on a blind date arranged by a friend. Who is it? What happens?

Your character(s) challenge each other to a game. Will it go to far? Will they find out more than they wanted to know? How will the game end?

Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is May - The Merry Month of Masturbation.

Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... a park bench, a picnic basket, a bucket of ice, and a playground.

Write a fic based on, or inspired by, one of the two following songs. It does not need to include the lyrics.

TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD
(J. Steinman)

I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE SOMEWHERE
(J. Hayward)

Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions...

Mother's Day
Memorial Day
Beltane

Let's call this one Arabian Knights. ;) Think desert dunes and sandstorms; think sheiks and harems... maybe the Dance of the Seven Veils; or maybe it's magic carpets and genies... Mulder of Arabia? LOL See what you can come up with.

Write a fic starting with the following first sentence:

"Ow, ow, OW! Stop it... that hurts!"

Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc:

"Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin
As self-neglecting."
--Henry V (II, iv, 74-75)

Write a story inspired by the headline:

SUPERMAN IS GAY...Says Crackpot Preacher! (Weekly World News)

Maybe it's the worst pickup line your character has ever heard... maybe it's the worst they've ever used. Either way, write us the whole story. Lines like "If I told you that you had a nice body, would you hold it against me?" or "Is it hot in here or is it just you?" Or maybe "How about you sit on my lap and we'll straighten things out?" More Bad Pickup Lines

Your characters have some kind of secret to protect, but rumours are flying; maybe people are nosing around.... What do they do to distract everyone from the real truth?

Maybe it's West Side Story? Maybe it's a prison guard and an inmate? Or maybe a Borg and a Starfleet officer? What about a Union soldier and a Johnny Reb? The Fates are aligned against your star-crossed lovers, but love will see them through. Or will it? You decide.

Write something short... a poem, a drabble, a snippet, a limerick... our theme is Picnics.

Use at least three of the four listed items in a story... a kitchen table, a bowl of fruit, a pitcher of lemonade and a wooden spoon.

Write a fic based on, or inspired by, one of the two following songs. It does not need to include the lyrics.

I WILL HOLD ON
Moxy Früvous

ALL OUT OF LOVE
Air Supply

Write a story in keeping with one of this month's special occasions...

Father's Day
Summer Solstice

Let's call this one Survivors. Maybe it's shipwrecked on a deserted island, like Swiss Family Robinson and Blue Lagoon. Or perhaps orphaned in the Jungle, more along the lines of Tarzan and Mowgli. Or maybe it's even a group of favourite characters playing a certain ultimate game of survival. You choose.

Write a fic starting with the following first sentence:

"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?"

Use the quote in some way, whether title, dialogue, theme, etc:

"My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!"
--Romeo and Juliet (I, v, 140-141)

Write a story inspired by the headline:

VAMPIRES FROM OUTER SPACE SUCKED OUR BLOOD! (Weekly World News)

Your character's best friend is getting married. Do they approve? Is it a happy occasion? Or is it happening for all the wrong reasons? Will your character stand by and watch it proceed or try to stop it? Speak now or forever hold their piece?

Or sex in any public place for that matter. Time to bring on a bit of the wild side. An element of danger to add to the excitement. But... will they get caught in the act?

One of our members suggested we try this one on for size. Not too complicated, but challenging nonetheless. Your mission is this... to write a story where each subsequent paragraph begins with the next letter of the alphabet. You may begin with any letter, but must run through all 26 letters at least once.