MLK Writing Contest #22!

[Regulus]

I see a way to combine four of the five all into one story, actually.

But I have something even better in mind.

[DGFone]

But I have something even better in mind.

Said every single overly-ambitious guy in this contest who didn't finish their story in the end.

[FlipMode]

I wrote the first two paragraphs, then made the fatal error of reading back over it and then did that thing where you go "Screw it, that sucks".
Oh, MLK Writing contest, you do toy with my emotions so...
I'm fine with the writing bit but how is a guy like me with no original thought in his head other than tea and food supposed to get an idea for a story?

[DGFone]

^ Hammer to the head. Or an arrow to the knee, which ever will inspire you better.

[Regulus]

But I have something even better in mind.

Said every single overly-ambitious guy in this contest who didn't finish their story in the end.

Nah, I have something truly awesome in mind for this one, and it's right up my alley when it comes to writing style. I'm going to get started on it this week, so I'll be submitting something for sure.

It'll be one of those stories that you'll read, and you'll immediately know it's a Regulus fic. But I'm not going to spoil it.

I wrote the first two paragraphs, then made the fatal error of reading back over it and then did that thing where you go "Screw it, that sucks".
Oh, MLK Writing contest, you do toy with my emotions so...
I'm fine with the writing bit but how is a guy like me with no original thought in his head other than tea and food supposed to get an idea for a story?

Try something new. Hint: try something new.

I mean, think outside the box. Don't do what comes to mind at first; instead, do what you know hasn't been done before. Take a risk, if you have to. At worst, you'll end up with a sucky story. At best, you'll have something new and interesting.

You could also make a concept map, or something. You could write down each prompt on a sheet of paper, and then make a few different mental images of what each would be like. Then, make a list of the potential consequences of each scene, that would follow the events as you imagined them. Then make a list of the events which could take place before each prompt scene, and see if you can find something interesting in there.

So, for example, a story on Kovu's training could have the following plot lines:

• Scar chooses Kovu as his heir, and they begin training together.
• Something happens to Zira, which causes her to realize that she needs to train Kovu to be a killer.
• Kovu is taken away from his true family to begin his training.
• In an alternate universe, Kovu is older than he is canonically, and his training starts before Simba returns. As an adult, Kovu joins with Scar to fight Simba.
• In an alternate universe, Kovu is trained to be a king in the Pridelands.
• As part of his training, Kovu learns to hunt.
• As part of his training, Kovu must kill another lion.
• As a cub, Kovu doubts himself, struggles to learn how to fight, and worries about disappointing Zira.
• As a cub, Kovu becomes arrogant because his training goes well, and he makes a near-fatal mistake as a result.
• Kiara watches Zira teach Kovu how to kill.

Feel free to use these ideas, guys. I'm just throwing these out here, because this is how I brainstorm. It's a very effective method for me. If you sit down and do this for at least 30 minutes, maybe even an hour, you'll have one or two good ideas at the end.

[Carl]

^ The funny thing is that I've already started writing from one of those ideas, and thought of several of them.

[DGFone]

Contest ends this Sunday!

I would have said this sooner if I had a working computer...

[DGFone]

One day left everyone!

I have only two submissions so far.

[Gemini]

We get all Sunday to submit one, right? I've been planning to write a story but I don't think I'll have it in tonight.

[DGFone]

Yeah. You guys will have all of Sunday to submit.