GWJ Writer's Throwdown: December 2012: 'Tis the Season!

Oh, December...they tell us we should be merry. They say it's the season of giving, of brotherhood; the season that brings out the best in us. "They" have obviously never tried to get near a mall, or deflected the insane desires of rapacious children pumped full of advertising. But we know, my gweejer friends...we know. This month's challenge; tell us a holiday story. Make it happy, make it tragic, but make it less than 5000 words. Decorate it with lights, or show us the shadows, bring us the joy, or show us the the tragedy of unrelenting cheer. Make us laugh, make us cry, but wrap up your story and present it by Christmas morning.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to tell us a holiday story. Pick any of the holidays available in December; there's a ton. See this list.

Bonus: work in a crazy holiday like Bicarbonate of Soda Day or Mitten Tree Day.

Ridiculous vocabulary bonus (actually pretty easy this time): Icicles, Wassail, Mincemeat, Creche, Dreidel, Nostalgia.

Now, put down your credit cards, put on your elf hat, and get to writing.

Sorry this is a couple days late guys. My son's birthday was this weekend, and riding herd on 10 year olds hopped up on sugar during a sleepover...frankly I still don't think I've recovered.

Label me a skeptic if you will but I don't think there are enough days for all those days.

Oh, this will be interesting indeed.

Cooking up a story as we speak...

This isn't my "official" submission for the month, but I just wanted to share this with you all. It's based on something I went through at work last Friday.

I'm not sure I'll have something done for this round. My story tilted pretty heavily towards horror...and with the shooting last friday, I cannot...I just can't...I can't write about death. I can't even stop crying. I walk through my house, and see all the christmas stuff, and I think about those parents with hidden presents on shelves who will never get to give them...and I just break down. For someone who isn't connected to this tragedy in any way except as a member of a mourning nation; I don't know why it's hitting me so hard.

I don't know if I can find it in myself to write anything that isn't sad, and I don't want to make anyone else sad right now.

duckideva wrote:

I'm not sure I'll have something done for this round. My story tilted pretty heavily towards horror...and with the shooting last friday, I cannot...I just can't...I can't write about death. I can't even stop crying. I walk through my house, and see all the christmas stuff, and I think about those parents with hidden presents on shelves who will never get to give them...and I just break down. For someone who isn't connected to this tragedy in any way except as a member of a mourning nation; I don't know why it's hitting me so hard.

I don't know if I can find it in myself to write anything that isn't sad, and I don't want to make anyone else sad right now.

I'm with you on that one... I've been having trouble getting my head straight from imagining myself being in the shoes of the parents of those children. My daughter is starting to get seriously annoyed at my constant, desperate hugging.

I'm gonna try for a lighter tone story - I haven't even started - once I get around to rekindling some of the holiday spirit.

duckideva wrote:

I'm not sure I'll have something done for this round. My story tilted pretty heavily towards horror...and with the shooting last friday, I cannot...I just can't...I can't write about death. I can't even stop crying. I walk through my house, and see all the christmas stuff, and I think about those parents with hidden presents on shelves who will never get to give them...and I just break down. For someone who isn't connected to this tragedy in any way except as a member of a mourning nation; I don't know why it's hitting me so hard.

I don't know if I can find it in myself to write anything that isn't sad, and I don't want to make anyone else sad right now.

It's hitting everyone hard, I think. No one could think about what happened there and not feel an incredible sense of sadness for everything that's been lost.

You're a good person, Ducki. *hugs*

This dark cloud is hovering over most of us I would guess. At this point in my life I don’t have any children of my own, but it still shook me up enough to make me spend some extra time with my sister’s kids this week. For those of you with kids I can only imagine the complexity of emotions that have played across your lives in the past week or so. I know my heart aches with shared grief for the children, and families involved in this tragedy.

This mood I’m now in though has thrown a large wrench into the gears of my creative process. I had planned on writing something more on the light-hearted side, but what began for me as a fun little tale with a dark twist in the middle has become far too dark for me to finish right now. Each time I try to continue it I just can’t seem to pull it back out of this downward spiral. So, I still plan on putting something up for this month, but just not what I had been working on.

Regardless, I hope each of you has a holiday with at least a few smiles and genuine belly laughs.

You know what; I love you guys. And even if we don't get anything done this month; I've got a good idea for next month on Resolutions. Maybe we should all give ourselves an early Holiday present, put these stories aside until we're ready to address them again; and start thinking about Resolutions...and how to write a story around them.

As an aside; I cannot tell you how much this writing group has meant to me. The encouragement to keep writing; the chance to read some really astonishingly good stuff, a community where critique isn't considered a personal attack....it's been the best writer's group I've been in...well, ever. I thank you guys for your your inspiration, your words, and your presence. You all rock!

I may yet contribute a little something to this month's thread, but aside from that, I would like to second Ducki's sentiments.

I want to wish you, fellow writing G'jers, and all G'jers at large, the best for these holidays.

This little club we have had become one of the highlights of my year as it's become a relatively safe outlet for me to share my little creativity knowing that nothing but intelligent critiques and observations will be directed my way. That, in today's internet, is a rare luxury. Perhaps even unique.

Happy Holidays!

Ok gang, new challenge, new year. I can't wait to read your stories!

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