1984 - An Unofficial Challenge

THIS CHALLENGE IS NOW CLOSED. NO MORE ENTRIES SUBMITTED WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR PRIZES.

Welcome to one and all, I have another unofficial challenge for you.

Here are the results of my last one which has all of its entries on there as well.

Slightly different vibe to my last one as well where the last one was quite a specific prompt that had a very specific direction. This one I am hoping could go in any direction.

My idea here is this:

Take one of the most well known, loved, studied and acknowledged fiction stories of all time - 1984 by George Orwell. We are going to copy the first sentence, and see where you go with it. For those who are unfamiliar, the first line is as follows, please in your entry use this as your first line as well, and that is the one and only prompt rule.

“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”

Criteria:

Short stories only please! I would like anything under 800 words. This could be stretched, but not by a lot as I am hoping this could gain a bit of traction, and get a few entries, fingers crossed.

Must start the story with the first line; “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”

Once your story is published comment on this post, and link your story otherwise I won't find it!

I will add the stories I see in the comments onto this post, so check back after a few days to make sure your story got added, and if it didn't, comment again to give me a new notification.

Yes, you absolutely can link stories already written and published if they fit the criteria!

You may submit as many entries per person as you would like!! As long as they all fit the criteria :)

Please link this challenge in your story as well, so others can get attracted to the challenge and add their own entries!

And most importantly, have fun, enjoy yourself, and don't stress out too much, because I know I do!

P.S. Yes I did copy most of this wording from my previous challenge.

Deadlines:

I'm starting this challenge on the 1st September 2024, and the last submissions will be accepted at 11:59 (GMT) 3oth September 2024.

Depending on how many submissions there are will depend on the results, but I will aim for Sunday 13th October.

Both my partner and I will read them and decide which we love the most!

Prizes?

Yes, you will get some prizes, I promise. I have a small pot that I can dip into, so I will gift $10 in total.

Prizes as follows;

1st: $5

2nd: $3

3rd: $2

Please come back to this page in early October and make sure your story got added to the post! If it didn't, once again nudge me and I'll sort it!

If you can please spread the word, I would love for this to reach as many eyes and brains that it can!

I think that's everything, if you have any questions comment them down below!

Thank you and enjoy!

P.S. Some of you keen eyed Vocalians (thanks Alex for the name) may have noticed that its not yet the 1st September, there's a simple explanation to this - my partner and I are moving house and are unlikely to have Wifi for a couple of weeks, and for some reason the website on my phone doesn't work for me creating/publishing stories, no idea why.

Liam Storm

1. Modern Times - Mikey Singleton

2. When the Clocks Strike 13 - Sarah Parker

3. Neuro Master - Kenneth Cruz

4. Haunting Hour - Donna Fox

5. Undeniable - Donna Fox

6. 13 O'clock - Mark Gagnon

7. There Comes a Time - JBaz

8. Voices III - Rick Henry Christopher

9. Cold Dream - Sid Aaron Hirji

10. Quiet the Bells - Shaun Walters

11. Midnight at the Carnival - Antoni De'Leon

12. Deal with the Devil - Rachel Deeming

13. Diary of a Slave - Sk parihar

14. The Haven - Paul Stewart

15. Jolt - Alexander McEvoy

16. Dizzy - Mackenzie Davis

17. Subtle Shift of Shadow - Teresa Renton

18. Incense and Iron - Matthew Fromm

19. Endless - Paul Stewart