The Friday Challenge - 9/24/2010

This week in THE FRIDAY CHALLENGE

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Critical Thinking discusses meeting an editor from the Christian Brokers Association and wonders how the next Big Name author will be found when everyone in publishing is looking for clones of the last Big Name author. Join the discussion...

Ultimate Geek Fu delves into the world of science fiction movies which are so bad they're good. Some wonderfully horrible movies surfaced in the discussion. Share your favorite...

Splattering Guts for Fun & Profit explains why alternate history is so tough to write, including detailed examples of the chain of events that led to the development of a couple of iconic weapons. Join the discussion...

Ruminations of an Old Goat has the temerity to begrudge a ninety-year-old man his latest Hugo Award, draws the ire of one-time Hugo Award Administrator, and then things get really interesting. Join the discussion...

Bruce Bethke discusses what readers look for in an author's "Best of..." anthology and wonders what title to use if Rampant Loon published his anthology. Contribute your title idea...

Also, Fitz of Distraction explains the perils of discussing research for your latest novel with the neighbors, Topher and Ben-El share the win for "The Kid, the Boy, and the Creature", and the inmates discuss the view from their respective places in the asylum. All this and more, this week in, THE FRIDAY CHALLENGE.

Just one tiny, practically insignificant change...

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Turning now to the 9/17/10 lesser Friday Challenge, "Just one tiny, practically insignificant change..." as of the deadline we have received the following five entries:

Van, the Quish, "Hearst vs. the World"

Watkinson, "Just one tiny, practically insignificant change..."

Avery L. Maxwell, "Avery L. Maxwell's Citizen Kane" (drop.io, password "challenge")

Arvid Macenion, "The End War and the Rise of Tian" (drop.io)

Carmine Vrill, "mki'tfegmwah ohsf'bauw" (drop.io)

If we've missed any entries, or if anyone has snowdogged in an entry after the deadline, please let us know so we can fix this list.

But wait, we have two Friday Challenges due this week!

Read Me a Story

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Next up is the 9/3/10 greater Friday Challenge, "Read Me a Story." As of the deadline we have received the following eight entries:

Ellen, "Daddy's Worst Supper" and "The Treasure in the Creek" (drop.io)

Van, the Quish, "A Bedtime Story: of Chivalry and Snails"

the bandit, "The Boxes"

Miko, "The Doors of Wickham's Hall" (drop.io)

Al, "Quinn in Trashland" (drop.io)

Carmine Vrill & Arvid Macenion, "My Dead Uncle Rob"

M, "Once Upon a Thyme-Sprig" (drop.io)

If we've missed any entries, or if anyone has snowdogged in an entry after the deadline, please let us know so we can fix this list.

As always, even if you haven't posted an entry this week—even if you never enter in any week—you are invited to read, comment on, and vote for your favorites. Don't be shy about leaving feedback on the writer's sites, either. Writers thrive on knowing that somewhere out there, someone is actually reading the words they have written. The winners of the challenges will be announced Sunday evening.

And now for this week's new challenge.

Writing the Winner

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We told you we had something different in mind for this challenge and we won't disappoint! Some day, no matter how much you may try to avoid it, you may find yourself required to a story based on an idea by someone else. It happens to screenplay writers all the time and probably to authors who work on a long-running series such as The Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew. You are about to have the chance to join those illustrious, anonymous writers!

Your challenge this week is to write the alternate history story presented in the winning outline for the "Just one tiny, practically insignificant change" challenge. I know, we haven't announced the winner yet. That's why we're going to give you two weeks to complete this challenge.

As always, we're playing by the loosely enforced Official Rules of the Friday Challenge, and playing for whatever is behind Door #3. This is a major challenge so the deadline for this one is midnight central time, Thursday, October 7.

Now, go read those outlines with an eye toward writing one them! We'll announce the outline you must use Sunday evening and will update this post with that information.