Contest Story Troubles

[Hi! My name is: Katie]

I had some spare time today so I thought I would start on my allegory for the contest this Halloween. Anyway, I'm having a really hard time with it. Has anyone else got an idea for their contest stories? Any ideas on what to do with writer's block? Someone once told me that having sex will help people clear their minds so they can write. Anyone had any luck with that?

[Vesnic]

Shameless plug time!

For those of you who were absent or mentally indisposed or not yet lucky enough to be here, I was the winner of the 2007 writing tournament with my story The Country from Hell. I proposed a new topic for next year's contest, which is elaborated here:

http://forums.infinite-story.com/showthread.php?t=200

Katie, in direct answer to your question, I have only vague ideas so far, nothing worth verbal sewage though.

Sex, sex, I haven't gotten laid in so long. Oh lord.

But back on topic, yes, the theme for this contest is "Allegory"!!

Woohoo!!

[donteatpoop]

I'm not even sure if I'm doing this one.

I think I'm going to concentrate on some of my stories that need some work, and a novel or two.

[Vesnic]

Well POOP on you.

[Hi! My name is: Katie]

DEP not doing a contest?! I thought they originated with DEP. That's like church without God.

[End Master]

I'm not sure either. I'm going to be concentrating on Primal. I put Primal on the back burner when I was trying to finish up Legend, and it's looking like it's probably going to take up a lot of my time.

[donteatpoop]

DEP not doing a contest?! I thought they originated with DEP. That's like church without God.

Yeah, I originated it and stuff. I almost didn't enter the childrens contest (and after writing it I probably shouldn't have).

But as many have probably noticed; I tend to start a lot of stories and finish very few. I think it's time I concentrate one some of the stories I have started and finish them up. Paco, Ducky, and High Score will get the bulk of my attention.

[Vesnic]

You're all a bunch'a bloody bastuhds. :D

[Vesnic]

This is directly from my old thread. Did you need more rules than this?

The Allegory of my Cave

Consider the following definitions:

Allegory:

An expressive style that uses fictional characters and events to describe some subject by suggestive resemblances; an extended metaphor.

A figurative mode of representation conveying a meaning other than the literal

A form of extended metaphor in which objects and persons in a narrative, either in prose or verse, are equated with meanings that lie outside the narrative itself. Thus it represents one thing in the guise of another—an abstraction in that of a concrete image…

A story or visual image with a second distinct meaning partially hidden behind its literal or visible meaning...


This is your mission, should you choose to accept it. It can be happy or sad, backwards or forwards, furry or flat, but the one thing it cannot be is literal. I charge you all with the sacred quest of creating an allegorical story for the IWT5.

Entries will be due on October 31, 2008.

[Vesnic]

Well I'm glad to hear that, Michael, but it also seems to be why lots of other people are flaking out on me.

Christ, folks, I just wanted to do something different.

[ChubbyTeletubby]

That's what I told the police last time.

I feel your...pain...Ves.

Not really. Sorry, dude.

Sorry.

[Hi! My name is: Katie]

I love the idea of doing an allegory. The execution of doing an allegory is a bit more of a struggle than I initially believed it would be. Still, I want to attempt it, and I hope some other people will as well.

[donteatpoop]

I love the idea of it, Ves.

I lack the commitment.

[apotheosis]

Generally when I have sex it doesn't clear my mind, it just makes me want to do it again. (speaking from my vaaaaasssstttt experience)

[End Master]

There's nothing wrong with the idea, it's just I never get too motivated for contests in general. I like writing at my own pace.

Then again I usually do end up participating in these things, so who knows I might enter something.

[Hi! My name is: Katie]

The question isn't so much if I'll do it. I really want to challenge myself to do this. However, the question is how I can find the inspiration to do this. I just keep drawing a blank. I have a general idea of the allegory I want to do. However, I'm not sure the best way to execute it.

[Usoki]

This is true...allegories are hard enough, let alone CYOAing them... Though, I guess if the allegory was a quest for goodness, the character could fail... Hrmm...

[Vesnic]

Actually, I'm pretty sure that parable is included within the definition of allegory. Just make sure that the actual events of the story aren't about the struggle between good and evil, but rather that this is what is suggested by them. It sounds like a good idea to me, Usoki.

[Usoki]

Exactly...it's sorta like Pilgrim's Progress. The main character is "Christian" He leaves behind...Hope, or Faith or something... to go into the woods, the classical puritan devil symbol? The guy could just be going to the marketplace the next town over (probably called Jerusalem) for a cup of sugar, and the thing is still an allegory because he's a good man battling evil and then getting rewarded at the end. Just by walking through the woods for some sugar.