A Prism of People

         Write a queer character who’s looking at something for the first time, but don’t tell us where your character falls within the rainbow. Let us figure that out by the words you use, the emotions the character might be feeling. For us to understand why this emotion overtakes your character, you need to know where this character’s coming from and why this focal point in this moment is so crucial. You’re gonna need a lot of backstory you won’t use…it’s not busy-work…in order for you to capture the most emotional impact, you have to know why this spectacle means so much. Your job is to translate your character to us.

Points of Judgment:

         Word Count: A minimum of 1,000 words to a max of 1,500

         Please make an attempt with punctuation, even if you don’t have the most confidence. It isn’t about right vs. wrong so much as working to improve your craft, and the lack of punctuation will take every reader from your story every time.

         Do your best to stay away from words like “(character) wanted”, “he needed”, and “she thought that”…those are indications of telling as opposed to showing. You can tell us in less words outside of the story what the character wanted, needed, or thought (outside of dialogue tags, this one), but since you’re telling a story, there’s more art to it than that. Let us discover your character through your character’s reactions.

         Within your story, do not tell us where your character lies within the rainbow. Let us figure that out in the story you’re telling. Let the character tell us.

         A vignette-type story is very okay here. It’s not necessary to have a plot or an arc; just give us a glimpse of how you see your character by what he, she, or they is/are telling you. And go easy on yourself. You know what you’re doing more than you realize.

         Deadline will be on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at noon, WDC time.

         Two winners will receive the 10K teal ribbon and will be featured in the October issue of the newsletter; no alternates, though Honorable Mentions might be awarded at the discretion of judges. To be considered, drop your piece off as a b-item or entry-item in the message thread "August’s Challenge"   in the forum "Invalid Item" .