Fortnightly Writing Competition: RIVER (Deadline August 28)

[Baron]

We're all familiar with plot twists and meandering plots. Does your story flow? Does it branch? Is there danger and excitement, a sense of wonder, or placid tranquility that tickles the soul? This fortnight, I invite you to write a story on the theme of ...

RIVER


The theme is flexible - any stream that flows will do. I can even open it up to the liquid nitrogen flows of ice worlds or the atmospheric rivers that bring nothing but rain right when you don't need it. Artificial or natural, industrial or pristine, channeled or free, raging or calm - rivers form a backdrop to our lives, but also run through the heart of them. Vacations, transportation, romantic venues, water source, obstacles, flood threats, habitats, drowning hazards, recreation ... rivers are infinitely flexible plot elements. The metaphoric flow of a river also mirrors that of storytelling, starting at the beginning and wending its way towards some sort of conclusion. Will your story drift like Huckleberry Finn's raft through childhood adventure or tumble tragically over a waterfall like Roland Joffé's Jesuit missionary?

Deadline is August 28, 2025 at midnight Hawaii time. No word limit. Good luck to all participants.

[Sinitrena]

Oh, this topic has some ideas flowing already, let's see where my mind swims!