Print Page | Close Window

Genre Fear

Printed From: NYC Midnight : Creative Writing & Screenwriting
Category: GENERAL DISCUSSION
Forum Name: Creative Writing Corner
Forum Description: Discuss NYC Midnight Creative Writing Competitions or Creative Writing in general.
URL: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=37763
Printed Date: 28 Mar 2024 at 3:34pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Genre Fear
Posted By: CostumeJuliery
Subject: Genre Fear
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 6:46am
Well....I did it. 
I signed up for the short story challenge 2021. 
A newbie...a rookie...a grasshopper. 
The anxiety, the perfection paralysis, the voice that says “You probably won’t even write anything...what a waste of money” can step aside. 

I just read through all the genres and definitions and realized that it will be much easier to silence that voice for some genres over others. 

What genre are you afraid to be assigned? 
Why?
Do you/how do you prepare for that possibility?

This grasshopper thanks you 🤟🏼



Replies:
Posted By: JanetM
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 9:42am
Welcome to the very addictive party! Consider it money well spent in writing motivation, at the very least. It's also great to share your story on here and get helpful feedback .And to get a chance to read other people's stories. You'll read some awesome ones here.

I'm always afraid of political satire and comedy. 

Sometimes I read over the definitions (like you already did) and think of vague plot lines and characters for stories I'd most like to write. Once I get my prompts my laser focus ends up on those. haha. I'm one of those people who really tries to make the object an important part of the story. Not that you have to. Anyway, it usually shapes my story. 

Welcome again, grasshopper!


-------------
G81 SS http://tinyurl.com/23p4jhsk" rel="nofollow - The Momento
Micro250 http://tinyurl.com/5n6k3rns" rel="nofollow - The Younger Man HM
R2 G10 Rhyming The Substitute HM


Posted By: jennifer.quail
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 10:15am
I dread political satire. I have resigned myself that for three SSCs in a row so far I have always been assigned Horror in round one (hey, NYMC, if I wanted to constantly write horror stories I'd enter a horror contest.) But I guess it's better than political satire.

-------------
250 R1: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic56891_post611502.html#611502" rel="nofollow - What Even Is a Mirliton
SSC R1: https://bit.ly/49hAP39" rel="nofollow - Dissolution


Posted By: theinquisitor
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 11:54am
For me, it would be anything that required me to be funny on demand. But it's easy to get too hung up on the genre definitions - they're only guidelines and they're pretty malleable. I'd suggest the best way to prepare would be to have a look through the review forums for previous years and read the stories that have done well.

-------------
https://shorturl.at/flBN6" rel="nofollow - MF250 R2
https://bit.ly/3aRQtG6" rel="nofollow - Archive


Posted By: Oryx
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 12:28pm
Welcome from a fellow grasshopper! Well, I'm sorta a fellow grasshopper, the current FF competition is my first and it just finished up, so maybe that promotes me to shrubberyhopper or something. You're going to be so glad you joined, because this competition is a blast! 

Comedy scares me. I feel like usually when I succeed at funny, it's an accident. But I got rom-com the last round and had such a blast writing for it!


Posted By: nod1v1ng
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 1:35pm
I'm not entirely sure any of the genres "scare" me anymore. I dreaded PolSat until I got it, and it wasn't as bad as I had thought. 

The only things I haven't gotten are Crime Caper, Mystery, Rom, and RomCom, so I'm not sure how I would tackle them specifically but my standard process when I get prompts I don't like is to WTF for a bit, then stream genre appropriate movies while rolling my sleeves up and just getting it done. Kind of  stubborn, vengeful rage writing. Don't judge; it's a process. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  

Anything comedic (comedy, caper, romcom) annoys me since humor is so horribly subjective. HistFic can be tough because sometimes the object can limit your time period. Mystery for Flash seems like it might be a bit of a challenge, but for at least R1 Short Story, there's lots of room to plant your red herrings and twisty misdirects.

And of course, when in doubt - genre mash! 


Edited to add: oh, I really do not want ghost story though. Not because I'm afraid of it, but because I've had it 8 billion times.


-------------
https://shorturl.at/pOW45" rel="nofollow - SSR1
https://rb.gy/i8cxfo" rel="nofollow - 250R2


Posted By: kristina_f
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 2:11pm
What genre are you afraid to be assigned? 

My least wanted for short story would be mystery or spy. I've never had either though, so I won't be upset if I get them.

Why?

Mystery: Mystery has to really balance out what you hide and reveal to get a satisfying ending. I don't believe all mystery relies on a big reveal, but if everything is too easily predictable, it's not likely to be satisfying. If, on the other hand, you just end on something never once hinted at even a little bit, it's bound to feel hollow and cheap. All genres require balance, but I feel with mystery, it's one of the most difficult types of balance to achieve without prior experience or talent in the genre.

Spy: My associations with spy are bad. While I know there is much more to the genre than Bourne and Bond, my exposure has largely been to the aspects of spy which cater to male fantasy--aspects I have a toxic relationship with, I guess. 

Do you/how do you prepare for that possibility?

Mystery: Remind myself that most people in the group will be no better equipped to write mystery than I am. I don't have to write a best-seller or genre-defying masterpiece; I have to write a competent mystery that is enjoyable to read. Find a simple, yet satisfying core concept. Research mystery fundamentals and basic formulas. Write a mystery which, while not earth shattering, is compelling even if a little formulaic in places. Focus on my strengths in terms of prose and hitting emotional cues.

Spy: Get over myself, I guess? Likewise, for spy, I'm going to reach for core aspects of the genre and more basic formulations (unless something crazy pops into my head that I just have to run with). Then I'm going to take everything I hate in the genre as I've been exposed to it (none of which is essential to the genre) and write the version of spy I feel good about.

Any other genre: As with mystery, railing against genre conventions isn't inherently good. It may feel like you can win points with originality by subverting expectation. If done well, you can. But convention drives genre to a certain degree and that's not bad. When you're unfamiliar with a genre, strip it down to the basics. What are the core elements, and what makes a person drawn to them? Don't overcomplicate. Then consider where your strengths are as a writer and just marry it all together. Bringing your own voice and perspective to the work will already add some originality. 

tl;dr 
I just remind myself that (within reason):
formulaic is not mutually inclusive with bad, and
innovative is not mutually inclusive with good.

When in doubt, create a simple plan based on core aspects of the genre, then focus the rest of my energy on my strengths as a writer in general.


-------------
FFC2 GR68: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic43619_post455562.html#455562" rel="nofollow - the astronomer


Posted By: kristina_f
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 2:17pm
[accidentally quoted myself instead of editing]


-------------
FFC2 GR68: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic43619_post455562.html#455562" rel="nofollow - the astronomer


Posted By: bluevervain
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 2:42pm
This year's flash fiction contest was my first ever. I'd never written anything but drama and comedy before, so I was kind of terrified by ALL the genres. I ended up getting drama (yay!) and then sci-fi (uh-oh), and then the dreaded pol sat (blergh). And for round 1 of micro, I got historical fiction. I ended up with an honorable mention in FF, and I'm happy with my first round micro story, and beyond that, I feel a sense of accomplishment for having written something outside of my comfort zone. So at this point I'm not really scared of any of the genres. Lots of fiction genres really aren't my cup of tea, but trying to use my own voice to tell a story I wouldn't normally tell is such a fun challenge.

-------------
https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r2-g35-tronics_topic55071.html" rel="nofollow - Tronics


Posted By: Reasonably_Crazy
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 2:50pm
Originally posted by kristina_f kristina_f wrote:

Spy: My associations with spy are bad. While I know there is much more to the genre than Bourne and Bond, my exposure has largely been to the aspects of spy which cater to male fantasy--aspects I have a toxic relationship with, I guess.

I also hate spy. When I got it in Short Story it got me knocked out, so when I got it again in round 2 of Flash Fiction I felt doomed. I went in with an "Eff it" mentality and wrote a story about Amish people and tomato plants that technically had some spy elements (one was spying on the other and sabotaged his tomatoes for the harvest festival). No spy gadgets, no real intrigue, no "Bond girls" or guns or really any sort of danger.

I placed first.

I think in Short Story, the year I got bumped with my more traditional espionage story, one of the ones that advanced was set in an office where a woman accidentally sent an embarrassing email to her boss and was trying to delete it from his computer before he read it.

So I think the genre's more forgiving than it might seem on the surface!


-------------
https://bit.ly/HtLFF" rel="nofollow - FF R3: Hard to Love

https://bit.ly/RCNyC" rel="nofollow - Links to all my NYC midnight stories!


Posted By: kristina_f
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 3:29pm
Originally posted by Reasonably_Crazy Reasonably_Crazy wrote:

So I think the genre's more forgiving than it might seem on the surface!

I think they have to be. If they wanted to be hardliners about genre, too many stories would be penalized. My suspicion is a story that is (to the judge) better written or more interesting will typically win out against a story that is more true to the genre as long as it was still in the right ballpark. I'd always go with the story I thought I could write better.

One of the difficulties of genre is figuring out what really defines it. I know NYCM has its definitions, but I don't know how much the judges use that themselves. 

I've always been one who felt setting and tropes rarely define genre. If the only two options were fantasy or sci-fi and I was asked to categorize Star Wars, I'd put it in fantasy, no problem. But if I worked at a book store, I'd end up stacking Star Wars fiction in sci-fi (even if not instructed to do so).


-------------
FFC2 GR68: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic43619_post455562.html#455562" rel="nofollow - the astronomer


Posted By: nod1v1ng
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 3:52pm
Originally posted by kristina_f kristina_f wrote:


Spy: My associations with spy are bad. While I know there is much more to the genre than Bourne and Bond, my exposure has largely been to the aspects of spy which cater to male fantasy--aspects I have a toxic relationship with, I guess. 

Yeah, I have no interest in the whole male fantasy spy story either so I gagged a little when I got it.

And then I wrote a Mythology genre mashup where my MC was a sassy 3/4 siren lesbian who was hired by one Greek Muse to find out what one of the other Muses was planning for Zeus's birthday. There were no guns or skimpy outfits. There weren't even any male characters. There were however harpies and a charm bag that sneezed & shriveled up when she threw cayenne pepper on it. 

Took top marks.

Writing a creative story that you are happy with trumps genre tropes any day.
 


-------------
https://shorturl.at/pOW45" rel="nofollow - SSR1
https://rb.gy/i8cxfo" rel="nofollow - 250R2


Posted By: chrissie0707
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 5:23pm
Honestly, I dread being given Spy in the first round, but only because I bombed out last year and didn't even get my Spy story written and submitted. (The idea I had was waaaaaaaay too big for the word count, and my anxiety toppled me.) 

Though I've written twice now, I still have a bit of dread for Romance. The trick I've learned (from some really BAMF writers in these comps) is to take a genre that's not your strength or not something you'd ever choose to write, and make it your own. I've had some success with genre mash-ups in these comps, and I know others have as well. I've mixed assigned Romance with Sci-Fi twice, and assigned Crime Caper with Fantasy. 


-------------
FFC#1 https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic42474_post440210.html#440210" rel="nofollow - Accident-Prone
FFC #2 Magic Hour


Posted By: jennifer.quail
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 6:59pm
Originally posted by kristina_f kristina_f wrote:

Originally posted by Reasonably_Crazy Reasonably_Crazy wrote:

So I think the genre's more forgiving than it might seem on the surface!

I think they have to be. If they wanted to be hardliners about genre, too many stories would be penalized. My suspicion is a story that is (to the judge) better written or more interesting will typically win out against a story that is more true to the genre as long as it was still in the right ballpark. I'd always go with the story I thought I could write better.


OTOH, my experience is deviate much from their formulaic little descriptions and the judges will be completely clueless. If you draw comedy, don't go dark or sophisticated, if you get romcom, crib the movie cliches or else.  

So basically, you're at the mercy of three/four randomly-assigned judges hired off Craigslist who may or may not be literate.


-------------
250 R1: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic56891_post611502.html#611502" rel="nofollow - What Even Is a Mirliton
SSC R1: https://bit.ly/49hAP39" rel="nofollow - Dissolution


Posted By: BarbaraFL
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 7:44pm
I just got rom com three times and I will have a slight meltdown if I get it again for short story.

I have used up all of the brain cells and creativity I can for rom com at this time. Literally can't imagine even submitting if I get it (but will still try). 


Posted By: NERdling
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 9:40pm
I had a false start with the 2019 flash contest where I cobbled together some trash for Ghost Story round 1 because I was traveling for work. Then I completely forgot about round 2 - also because I was travelling for work. 

This year I got Poli Sci, Horror, Drama, and open and I honestly think some people were so intimidated by Poli Sci that they didn't even attempt the first round. The trick for me is to obsessively research each genre instead of writing and then completely panic write something. Honestly, I am more interested in the forum feedback than anything. It has gone a long way in repairing a really bad experience with feedback I had as a lit major in a creative writing class in college. 

I felt super comfortable in micro with a Fairytale, but I am nervous about Short Story because I've never done a longer word count before. I am also still a bit intimidated by suspense and comedy. I know I'm funny (I tell my husband about 8 times a day), but it's like when someone asks me what my favorite book and and all of a sudden, by brain convinces me I've never heard of books. 


-------------
https://tinyurl.com/fnl500" rel="nofollow - 500 Final
https://tinyurl.com/nycm5" rel="nofollow - Archive


Posted By: CostumeJuliery
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2020 at 6:07am
This is so relatable. 
I actually didn’t even get to the feedback part of the college class....the room was full of people who used words like ‘juxtaposition’ in everyday language. I behaved a lot like a person with imposter syndrome and convinced myself that I had no business in that class. 
I think an online forum will help me over that hurdle. 




Posted By: dashesndots2
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2020 at 10:16am
Originally posted by theinquisitor theinquisitor wrote:

For me, it would be anything that required me to be funny on demand.

^This.  I've never had Comedy or Romcom and I don't want them.

I managed to squeak through 1st round of 2020 Short Story with a Crime Caper that *I* found funny, but I don't think what I find funny corresponds all that well with what other people find funny.

I've pulled PoliSat once in 2018 Flash Challenge 3 and managed an HM, but I didn't enjoy it.

This years' Flash gave me Spy first round, and I probably wrote the most cliche "young Russian female spy confronts a figure from her past" thing possible.  14 points. Ermm  I actually like the story I wrote, but I was surprised.

Although, if I'm being honest, the genre I'm dreading the most for this year's SSC is Historical Fiction.  I've had it 4 times now since 2017, twice in Flash and twice in SSC, and I'm getting sick of it.  I hate doing research apparently, LOL. At least if I get it again I'll have eight days instead of 48 hours to do all that research. 






Posted By: ophelialit74
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2020 at 2:40pm
Welcome to the party! 

I've found through the various challenges that there are genres I fear because I'm unfamiliar with them (historical fiction, spy, sci-fi) and genres I fear because they sound impossible (political satire). There are also genres that I loathe because they're so far outside my areas of interest and skill (romance, comedy, romantic comedy--see a theme there?) aaaaaand there are genres that I love in general but don't necessarily do well with in contests (ghost, horror). 

But that's why NYC Midnight contests are so dang cool. I've been pleasantly surprised that the unfamiliar genres have become weird little faves, and I tend to do pretty well with them...I've also learned to stretch wayyyyyy outside my comfort zones and try a bunch creative approaches because the prompts offer nearly limitless interpretation. I always check NYCM's genre definitions and examples before I dive into something new, and that helps quite a bit. 

My best advice? Jump in with both feet and wallow around in the creative muck with the rest of us! Big smile


Posted By: Christobelle
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2021 at 10:40am
Historical fiction and political satire are the two I most fear I think... That said, I would have never thought I'd write a romcom, yet I got given that genre and didn't die....and romance.... and then spy, which though completely foreign to me was the first genre in which I'd scored points!

I honestly would never have placed myself in any of those genres had I not entered the competitions.

Most recently I was given fantasy. I'd never written anything remotely fantasy-inspired, and was like a stunned mullet trying to think of something to write. Once the ideas came though, I was surprised beyond belief. Now I cannot wait to write more!!!!!! 

Fear of the unknown is quite bizarre. I've found these comps throw me in at the deep end, and on each occasion I find myself swimming out at the other end.... Smile

So though fear of the unknown is definitely apparent, you never know what might be set alight inside once the spark ignites....

-------------
https://tinyurl.com/542asfdp" rel="nofollow - R2 500 2023 Violet and the Fly

https://tinyurl.com/mr2ye9f6" rel="nofollow - Christobelle's tales in NYC Midnight



Posted By: northernwriter
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2021 at 2:58am
I'm terrified of horror. I don't like scary things. Thriller is challenging also for me. The nice thing about NYCM is that because of the randomness of the prompt assignments, you learn about yourself as a writer. When I started writing, I had no idea that I could write comedy until I got it assigned to me. Then I started getting high scores in it. So now I always pray for comedy, romcom, romance, or political satire or anything I can make funny. So if I get horror, you guessed it - I'm making a comedy/horror mashup. :) Good luck in short story! My next one is Screenplay in April. 

-Alex


-------------
Microfiction 2021: 4th place overall
Flash Fiction 2020: 8th place overall


Posted By: kristina_f
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2021 at 3:13am
Originally posted by northernwriter northernwriter wrote:

I'm terrified of horror. I don't like scary things.

On the bright side, if you ever get horror, you can just write a story about you getting horror assigned as your genre. You'll be guaranteed it's terrifying to at least one person.


-------------
FFC2 GR68: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic43619_post455562.html#455562" rel="nofollow - the astronomer


Posted By: northernwriter
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2021 at 3:16am
Originally posted by kristina_f kristina_f wrote:

Originally posted by northernwriter northernwriter wrote:

I'm terrified of horror. I don't like scary things.

On the bright side, if you ever get horror, you can just write a story about you getting horror assigned as your genre. You'll be guaranteed it's terrifying to at least one person.

Hee hee - well hello there, fellow comedy writer! :) How did I know you were a comedy writer? (Or a comedy writer at heart?) Because that post is hilarious! Now if you haven't gotten comedy yet, I wish it upon you - you'll do great! Best of luck!

-Alex


-------------
Microfiction 2021: 4th place overall
Flash Fiction 2020: 8th place overall


Posted By: catnamedeaster
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2021 at 8:03am
For some reason I was terrified of Historical Fiction, and then I got it and it was fine. I wrote a story I really liked and got really good feedback. I also dread comedy, got it once and made myself laugh my butt off with the finished product. At least I made one person laugh.

The others I dread and haven't gotten yet are Crime Caper, Spy, and Political Satire. But I try not to freak myself out about it before the assignments are posted. It is nerve wracking though when you first click on your name and see what you get. 


Posted By: jennifer.quail
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2021 at 5:39pm
Given the current political climate, if they were SMART, they'd eliminate political satire entirely. It's just asking for trouble. 

And I always find it funny how things some people dread (Spy, Historical Fiction) are ones others would love to get. Seriously, if I get Round One Horror AGAIN I'm sending a nasty e-mail. If I wanted to just enter horror competitions I'd go find one of those. I don't dread it, I'm just sick of it. 


-------------
250 R1: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic56891_post611502.html#611502" rel="nofollow - What Even Is a Mirliton
SSC R1: https://bit.ly/49hAP39" rel="nofollow - Dissolution


Posted By: northernwriter
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2021 at 5:49pm
Originally posted by jennifer.quail jennifer.quail wrote:

Given the current political climate, if they were SMART, they'd eliminate political satire entirely. It's just asking for trouble. 

And I always find it funny how things some people dread (Spy, Historical Fiction) are ones others would love to get. Seriously, if I get Round One Horror AGAIN I'm sending a nasty e-mail. If I wanted to just enter horror competitions I'd go find one of those. I don't dread it, I'm just sick of it. 

Universe: I'm hearing a message from somewhere. . .I think Jennifer Quail should be assigned. . . how about horror?




-------------
Microfiction 2021: 4th place overall
Flash Fiction 2020: 8th place overall


Posted By: BarbaraFL
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2021 at 6:27pm
Originally posted by BarbaraFL BarbaraFL wrote:

I just got rom com three times and I will have a slight meltdown if I get it again for short story.

I have used up all of the brain cells and creativity I can for rom com at this time. Literally can't imagine even submitting if I get it (but will still try). 

Now it's four times and I feel this even more intensely LOL


Posted By: Draiglas
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2021 at 7:04pm
I think I'd loathe RomCom for microfiction. In general, political satire sounds horrific. In fairness, though, I thought I'd hate historical fiction and then got it for the 250 word contest. While I am 95% sure I bombed it, it was actually quite interesting - mainly because I was with my folks that day and my mum looked up as many chocolate-related facts as she could and occasionally burst in to tell me a new one (my assigned action was eating chocolate).

-------------
http://tinyurl.com/yc58xfbf" rel="nofollow - MF250 R2
http://tinyurl.com/exfj9cz6" rel="nofollow - MF250 R1
Others


Posted By: td333777
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 1:33am
I've done eight of these NYCM contests now; four flash and four short story.  At this point, out of the 25 heats I've been in, I've been assigned almost all of the 18 genres they have.  All I'm missing is Romance, Romantic Comedy, Comedy, and Horror.  Unsurprisingly, I'm dreading the Romance/Comedy stuff because although I have written funny stories and romantic stories before, the comedy wasn't the focus and readers weren't expecting/demanding that I BE FUNNY.  BE FUNNY NOW.  MAKE ME LAUGH, WRITER-MONKEY!

On the flip-side, when I first joined, I was DREADING political satire, historical fiction, and fairy tale...and each time I got those genres (after the initial period of self-loathing and/or projectile vomiting) I did very well.

Bottom line: you're scared until you do it.  Then, the genres lose their mystique.  Don't get me wrong, I'd rather NOT write another political satire, but when it happens, I'll be ready.  I'd LOVE to have Jennifer Quail's horror curse--I think a few of those would be fun.  But I also remember someone (nodiving, I think) getting some RIDICULOUS amount of ghost stories in consecutive contests--like 6-7 out of 10.  That would kill my enthusiasm pretty quickly.

TD


-------------
FF '17 - 1st, SSC '18 - 2nd, FF '20 - 7th


Posted By: northernwriter
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 5:07am
Originally posted by td333777 td333777 wrote:

I've done eight of these NYCM contests now; four flash and four short story.  At this point, out of the 25 heats I've been in, I've been assigned almost all of the 18 genres they have.  All I'm missing is Romance, Romantic Comedy, Comedy, and Horror.  Unsurprisingly, I'm dreading the Romance/Comedy stuff because although I have written funny stories and romantic stories before, the comedy wasn't the focus and readers weren't expecting/demanding that I BE FUNNY.  BE FUNNY NOW.  MAKE ME LAUGH, WRITER-MONKEY!

On the flip-side, when I first joined, I was DREADING political satire, historical fiction, and fairy tale...and each time I got those genres (after the initial period of self-loathing and/or projectile vomiting) I did very well.

Bottom line: you're scared until you do it.  Then, the genres lose their mystique.  Don't get me wrong, I'd rather NOT write another political satire, but when it happens, I'll be ready.  I'd LOVE to have Jennifer Quail's horror curse--I think a few of those would be fun.  But I also remember someone (nodiving, I think) getting some RIDICULOUS amount of ghost stories in consecutive contests--like 6-7 out of 10.  That would kill my enthusiasm pretty quickly.

TD

Didn't you get romance in microfiction? I remember that because I met you here and made an offhand comment that you should get romance sometime, and then you did, and I thought I had hexed you. 


-------------
Microfiction 2021: 4th place overall
Flash Fiction 2020: 8th place overall


Posted By: CostumeJuliery
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 6:40am
I’m really glad I posted this thread. 
As the contest approaches, I have less anxiety instead of more. 
These replies of personal experiences were incredibly helpful in helping shape my perspective; no matter the genre....I will be stretched as a writer. 
That’s always a good thing. 


Posted By: Shadies01
Date Posted: 13 Jan 2021 at 12:23am
Mine was Political Satire until I got it...and it was every bit as horrible as I'd feared. My story was abysmal. Since then, I decided I've faced the worst of it. 
I was dreading Historical Fiction and got it on the last round. I ended up writing one of my favorite stories ever!

I'm a little afraid of getting Horror ( she says while wearing her Pennywise the Clown watch band) because there is no way I can write like my literary idol and I unfairly put that pressure on myself. 




-------------
https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic44920_post470795.html#4707959" rel="nofollow - R3 Flash Fiction

https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic44614_post464691.html#464691" rel="nofollow - R1 Micro 250 words


Posted By: Will703
Date Posted: 15 Jan 2021 at 12:08am
I started with the flash fiction this summer, and it is a super addicting competition (especially when you mess up your first entry - rom com - and then place 1st in round 2 - ghost story - but don't average a high enough score to qualify for round 3 and then it becomes a personal goal to prove you can make it out of the first round haha). I've finish 7th in the first two rounds of the flash (top 5 move forward) and 15th (HM#5) in the micro-fiction (top 10 move forward), so I've been close twice, but haven't gotten there yet. However, I've learned so much from the writers in the forum after my first entry and reading the various entries using the same prompts. Seeing comparisons of similar stories really helped me to hone in what I like and what I think works well for the competition. I also highly recommend the Beta process, which helps you to see your piece from an outside perspective and produce a better piece. Welcome to the competition!

In terms of genres, I was really excited about all of them when I first started, and then I got assigned rom com and realized I wanted anything else haha. Eventually, I'd like to try it again to try and conquer it, but I'm really enjoying trying the different genres. Never thought I'd write a ghost story, but that one was a lot of fun. Action/Adventure seemed like it would be easy, until I only had 250 words haha. 

I think the genres I'm most concerned about are Comedy or Historical Fiction. I think funny would be really difficult for me, and Historical Fiction seems not only limiting but would require a lot more research to make sure your piece is accurate. 

I would like to try something like Fairy Tale or Fantasy just because they seem like the most free ranging genres. Political Satire seems to be the unanimous vote for the toughest, so that would be a cool challenge I think. 

Most of the time, I try to remind myself that the prompts are outlandish and you are competing with everyone else who is struggling to fit these puzzle pieces together. Plus regardless of what I write, the judges have to read it and give me feedback so I can continue to improve. 

Excited to read what you come up with in round 1! :) 


-------------
SS R1 https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic57770_post622757.html#622757" rel="nofollow - "Birthday Boy"
Rhyme R2 https://shorturl.at/rGP24" rel="nofollow - "Unraveled"





Posted By: DrJen
Date Posted: 16 Jan 2021 at 2:21am
So I got horror, which I didn’t want and haven’t written before, so I’m looking for some advice. I don’t want to do a slasher flick or anything close to torture porn. I’m thinking of doing a typical day that turns uncanny at the end, more Twilight Zone, but I don’t know if that is “horror”-y enough. What type of horror tends to do well?
Thanks!


Posted By: Dark&StormyNight
Date Posted: 16 Jan 2021 at 2:29am
Originally posted by DrJen DrJen wrote:

So I got horror, which I didn’t want and haven’t written before, so I’m looking for some advice. I don’t want to do a slasher flick or anything close to torture porn. I’m thinking of doing a typical day that turns uncanny at the end, more Twilight Zone, but I don’t know if that is “horror”-y enough. What type of horror tends to do well?
Thanks!

Horror would be my horror.  My advice would be to look at the round one results and find some stories on the master list thread that placed well.

Good luck to you!


-------------
https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic58105_post627703.html#627703" rel="nofollow - 250 R2
https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic57058_post613559.html#613559" rel="nofollow - 250 R1 5th


Posted By: turtlevibes
Date Posted: 16 Jan 2021 at 6:55am
Dr Jen if you're interested in seeing different approaches to horror in different formats, I recommend browsing around the /nosleep subreddit. Here's a post with some of its recommended stories from over the years: https://www.reddit.com/r/NoSleepOOC/comments/arqcvh/ive_been_reading_rnosleep_for_years_here_are_the/" rel="nofollow - https://www.reddit.com/r/NoSleepOOC/comments/arqcvh/ive_been_reading_rnosleep_for_years_here_are_the/ .

Most of these are above 250 words, obviously, but it's a cool place to check out for figuring out how to build that horror feel, whether through the supernatural, a certain narrative approach, or other creepiness.

(On the subject, my favorite story on the subreddit is "Has anyone heard of the left/right game?"( https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/7asz8x/has_anyone_heard_of_the_leftright_game_part_1/" rel="nofollow - https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/7asz8x/has_anyone_heard_of_the_leftright_game_part_1/ ), but it's quite long and I would not recommend anyone start reading it until after they post their story!)


-------------
https://bit.ly/3Bs1tF3" rel="nofollow - FFR2
https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-g93-mystery-nicholas-sheas-missing-radio_topic42627.html" rel="nofollow - FFR1


Posted By: DrJen
Date Posted: 16 Jan 2021 at 12:37pm
Thanks!


Posted By: HeatherHaze
Date Posted: 16 Jan 2021 at 10:07pm
I love NYC Midnight contests because they push me out of my comfort zone.  I welcome odd and challenging genres.  They force me to grow as a writer.  That said, the deadline is the real enemy here.  Not all genres flow as easily as others.  But that's part of the "fun".   Uh...right?  LOL

Fear no genre!

-------------
)-|-( Heather Haze
MFC-100 2021 Round 2: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/c2-g12-irreconcilable-sci-fi_topic43041.html" rel="nofollow - Irreconcilable


Posted By: Christobelle
Date Posted: 16 Jan 2021 at 10:16pm
Originally posted by Christobelle Christobelle wrote:

Historical fiction and political satire are the two I most fear I think...

I jinxed myself... I got historical fiction 😂 


-------------
https://tinyurl.com/542asfdp" rel="nofollow - R2 500 2023 Violet and the Fly

https://tinyurl.com/mr2ye9f6" rel="nofollow - Christobelle's tales in NYC Midnight



Posted By: jasminegeekface
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 2:14am
The stuff of real nightmares, though, would be satirical historical political fiction!

-------------
Fatima
(she/her/hers)
Writer, educator, unpaid emotional laborer
Website: pumpkinspicelassi.com
IG & Twitter: @jasminegeekface


Posted By: HeatherHaze
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 7:09am
Originally posted by jasminegeekface jasminegeekface wrote:

The stuff of real nightmares, though, would be satirical historical political fiction!

Oh, that's easy.  Just turn on Fox News for inspiration.  LOL


-------------
)-|-( Heather Haze
MFC-100 2021 Round 2: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/c2-g12-irreconcilable-sci-fi_topic43041.html" rel="nofollow - Irreconcilable


Posted By: Cosima
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 1:43pm
I'm back after a bit of a hiatus, and looking forward to participating!!!

Hoping I don't get mystery, crime caper, or spy. Anything else is okay.


-------------
SSC 2021 R2: https://tinyurl.com/jt9p568d" rel="nofollow - Complex Fracture
SSC 2021 R1: https://tinyurl.com/4d9bw9uf" rel="nofollow - Before Her Time 2nd


Posted By: amlewi08
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 5:10pm
Honestly, I think I've gotten all the genres I dread already except for spy.  So. Like. That's probably what I'll get.


Posted By: LameeseS
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2021 at 5:35pm
I really hope I don't get political satire or fantasy. I hate those genres with a fiery passion. Knowing my luck in the past I'll probably get one of them. 


Posted By: Heartstart
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2021 at 10:43pm
Originally posted by Reasonably_Crazy Reasonably_Crazy wrote:

Originally posted by kristina_f kristina_f wrote:

Spy: My associations with spy are bad. While I know there is much more to the genre than Bourne and Bond, my exposure has largely been to the aspects of spy which cater to male fantasy--aspects I have a toxic relationship with, I guess.

I also hate spy. When I got it in Short Story it got me knocked out, so when I got it again in round 2 of Flash Fiction I felt doomed. I went in with an "Eff it" mentality and wrote a story about Amish people and tomato plants that technically had some spy elements (one was spying on the other and sabotaged his tomatoes for the harvest festival). No spy gadgets, no real intrigue, no "Bond girls" or guns or really any sort of danger.

I placed first.

I think in Short Story, the year I got bumped with my more traditional espionage story, one of the ones that advanced was set in an office where a woman accidentally sent an embarrassing email to her boss and was trying to delete it from his computer before he read it.

So I think the genre's more forgiving than it might seem on the surface!

I had a similar experience. The first year I did the Short Story contest, I got 'Spy' in Round 1, and wrote a traditional spy story, set in the 1980s, featuring actual Russian spies. I got knocked out (with an HM though). 

In my third year, I made it through to Round 2, and got 'Spy' again. This time, I did a more creative take on the genre. My story was about two dinner party guests who search their hosts' house for a secret family recipe that they want to copy. I placed first. 

So I am no longer afraid of the 'Spy' genre! The genre that I really don't want to get is 'Fairy Tale'. It's just not my cup of tea - too whimsical - and something I have little interest in writing. 


-------------
https://forums.nycmidnight.com/r1-g215-romcom-nan-overboard_topic52345.html" rel="nofollow - R1 Nan Overboard


Posted By: kristina_f
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2021 at 12:12am
Originally posted by Heartstart Heartstart wrote:

So I am no longer afraid of the 'Spy' genre! The genre that I really don't want to get is 'Fairy Tale'. It's just not my cup of tea - too whimsical - and something I have little interest in writing. 

I just pulled fairy tale. I don't mind, but I had hoped to pull something meatier for the first round of short story. 2500 words is room to add some depth, and while that's possible in fairy tale, I have to watch straying too far from the genre. For flash or micros I'd be happier to draw it.


-------------
FFC2 GR68: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic43619_post455562.html#455562" rel="nofollow - the astronomer


Posted By: CostumeJuliery
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2021 at 8:34am
Well...I was assigned Drama in the first round 🙏🏻
I feel kinda blessed 



Print Page | Close Window

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Copyright ©2001-2022 Web Wiz Ltd. - https://www.webwiz.net