Dollar Challenge (August/September 2024) - Let the Magic Begin

I know I haven't pushed it much, but early in August, I set you another dollar challenge. Here are the responses, and (aaalllll the way at the bottom) your prompt for September:

Here's the challenge:

Here's the TL;DR, if you are loathe to click it (it's fine, I didn't need that ha'penny anyway):

L.C. Schäfer's Spectacular One Dollar........

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Challenge - Quote Me Baby (Suspense Edition)

The Prompt

It's another quote, (obviously,) but this time from a film. Not just any film either, one of my favourite films. One of the best films. If you are tempted to argue, do not! IT IS BEST. We had a meeting. Shhh!

The prompt this time is, We're not going to make it.

The Responses

Here are the stories spun in response to this prompt:

Here's mine:

Addison Alder also did a poem:

Thank you to all who took part! A dollar is winging its way to my fellow micro scribblers!

September Challenge

Today is September the first, and as we all know, this means this is the day Harry Potter boards the train at platform nine-and-three-quarters with his owl and his trunk to go back to the castle where he learns magic.

Miriam Margolyse claims this is for kids, and grown ups need to get over it. To that I say, I love you, Miriam, but stop talking colly-wobble.

For September's Dollar Challenge, please use a Harry Potter quote to inspire your story. You can use any quote from the books or movies. Here are a few to get you started (apologies, these are Dumbledore heavy):

• “To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.” –Albus Dumbledore
• “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” —Albus Dumbledore
• “Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike.” —Albus Dumbledore
• “I am what I am, an’ I’m not ashamed. —Rubeus Hagrid
• “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” —Sirius Black
• “Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.” —Ginny Weasley
• “Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth.” —Albus Dumbledore
• “Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving.” — Kingsley Shacklebolt
• “It is impossible to manufacture or imitate love.” —Horace Slughorn
• “Just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn’t mean we all have.” ―Hermione Granger (This is my personal favourite, and will guarantee you a tip.)
• “We’ll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat.” —George Weasley
• “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” —Albus Dumbledore
• “What’s life without a little risk?” —Sirius Black
• “Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect.” —Luna Lovegood
• “It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” —Albus Dumbledore
• “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.” —The Marauder’s Map
• “Always.” —Severus Snape
• “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” —Albus Dumbledore
• “Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself.” —Albus Dumbledore (Hermione says it in the movies, but Dumbledore says it in the books, and books trump films. Sorry not sorry!)

Them's the rules

Word count: Same as before: Microfiction, 300-600 words. Please include an author's note if necessary to bring your piece up to Vocal's 600 word minimum for the Fiction community.

Prize: Just like last time, I'll tip my favourites a dollar each.

Winners: Again, same as last time!

• Only a few entries: I'll just pick one or two people
• More than 10: I'll pick 3
• More than 20: I'll pick 5

Content: Last time, your story had to include the quote. You don't have to include it this time, but it definitely needs to be inspired by it, and the link should be clear, even to a Muggle. If you do choose to include it, it should be seamless. Either way, please highlight the quote you used at the end in your author's note. Please also link to this piece!

Limits: This is not a fanfic challenge. I've written it with micro fiction in mind, but you can submit basically anything creative (bar fanfic or erotica) and I'll give it a look, provided it fits the prompt.

If there are lots of responses, then poetry, or stories over the word count, will be the ones I skip. You can submit as many as you like, but if there are loads of submissions (I'm not anticipating there will be) then I'm only promising to read the first two from each person.

Closing date: 11:59PM GMT, Monday 30th September 2024

Really important: Please do link your story below! I would be gutted to miss anyone.

If you aren't a Vocal+ member: You can still enter and leave your link in the comments on Facebook. I will leave a link to this challenge in the following Facebook groups:

Vocal Social Society

Great Incantations: A Group Dedicated to Writing Challenges

Or, heck, I dunno, just post it in one of the nine berjillion Vocal Facebook groups and tag me so I don't miss it! Here's my Facebook profile: L.C. Schäfer

Before you go...

If you can think of a quote from a song, book, or film that you think would make a good prompt, please let me know! Talk to me in the comments. I am open to suggestions, and will tip you if I use yours.

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Thank you for reading!

If you took part in August, THANK YOU!

If you give it a bash in September, THANK YOU!!

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