Contest ideas?

[Nathan Bransford]

Hey everyone, I'm thinking of having a contest on the blog in the coming weeks, and while I have some ideas I'm kicking around I thought I'd see what people here would like to see. While I won't be able to use every idea, if I go with yours I will give you full 100% credit!

[Josin]

Flash fiction from a writing prompt?

[Harper Karcz]

A short story of 100 words or less, which must incorporate 5 wacky keywords of your choosing.

[shadow]

Opening sentence hook contest.

[otherside89girl]

Main character name! haha.

[Erica75]

One sentence: Why is your book important?

Or, one sentence: Why should I buy your book?

[Quill]

Best 25 word logline, humorous or otherwise.

[lightelement94]

Steal NPR's Three Minute Fiction contest (300 word or less short story based on a photograph they supply). Or else, er...

Best pseudonym?

[abc]

I'm with Josin on doing another writing prompt. That contest (teen diary) was definitely the most fun. Specific ideas might be: a letter from OR to your long lost sea captain dad (inspired by my current reading of Pippi Longstocking to my daughter); a description of a haunted house (inspired by House of Leaves. Sorta); write about being in an amazing moment (or seeing something amazing) while also describing a memory IN CHARACTER (e.g. 17 year old Greg is riding on a roller coaster but remembering the time his older brother accidentally killed his pet bird--but, you know, better and cooler) (inspired by Hollis Frampton's very awesome experimental short film Nostalgia).

Another idea, we could pitch for a book that's not ours and is already published.

[Jaime]

Who can come up with the best faux book title?

Something that would make you want to buy the book without reading the blurb :)

[Colonel Travis]

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse decide to expand and are looking for a fifth member. First question on the job application is: "What is your calamity, your horse color and how would they improve our organization?"

[BlancheKing]

How about:

"Pick a famous work of literature and write a (insert number here) word parody of it."

Something like "Harry Potter and the One Night Stand"

[charlotte49ers]

elevator pitches
opening line (or opening hook for a query letter)
some sorta prompt (the teen diary entry was so much fun!)

And yay for more contests. I love 'em!

[Matthew MacNish]

Best line/paragraph of dialogue from a colorful character?

[emptyrefrigerator]

Most hookable first word. Or first letter of first word.