’Tis the Season to Spin a Celebratory Story
Fictions December Prompt & Newsletter #5
Hopefully, it’s not too blasphemous to admit that while I love people, I detest Christmas parties. I can count on one hand the celebrations I’ve actually enjoyed attending over the years. I’m not a grinch, per se, I just feel awkward and overwhelmed in large groups when everyone tries to talk simultaneously.
There are a few holiday movies that forever have my heart, however. No Christmas feels complete without Diehard, for instance. For me, The Family Stone captures my ambivalence around family get-togethers, which seem to ferment as much drama as they do delight.
But Love Actually is at the top of my list, with its charming ups, messy feelings, and gut-punching downs. The absurdist party held at the art gallery featuring holiday nudes is a high point. Every time I watch, I hope that Sarah (Laura Linney) finally scores with her office crush, Karl. I’m always incensed how Harry (Alan Rickman) overlooks his lovely and devoted wife.
Parties are just like that — they hold the potential for a moment of profound existential drama or life upheaval.
That’s why we’re inviting you this month to write a story with a Celebration in it. It doesn’t have to be a holiday party — you might include a pagan handfasting or a wild underground rave in the style of The Matrix. What would happen if your characters showed up at a dinner party only to learn they’re unable to leave, like in Luis Buñuel’s classic film, The Exterminating Angel?
The second piece in your narrative puzzle is a star. Feel free to be creative with where the star appears and what it means. A wistful lover might make a wish upon one; a startled protagonist might encounter a movie star in the bathroom.
Did I mention Jim Hopper (David Harbour) from Stranger Things was at the hockey game I attended last night? I may have gone total fangirl.
If you aren’t yet a writer for Fictions, please look at our Submission Guidelines and send your draft to fictionsatmedium@gmail.com.
Make sure you tag it TimeToParty so we can sort it properly!
November Prompt Entries: To Boldly Go
Thanks to all you wonderful folks who entered our Exploration prompt this past month! We didn’t have a ton of entries, but they covered an exciting range of genres. There’s something for everyone!
Not quite done with Halloween horror, the ever-spooky Lisa Gerard Braun kicked off the month with a bang in “The Jack of Hearts and the Dark Shadows that Haunt Her.”
Then Mary DeVries swerved from her trademark science-fiction brilliance to deliver a heartfelt tale about google maps, parenting, and choice in “Following the Road Map of Life or Charting Your Own Course.”
Amid her own November writing challenge, Ali found the time to pen the riveting tale, “A Groupon For A Four Night Stay.”
I started writing for the prompt and discovered I had a new series on my hands, “Salvaging Our Fragile Lives Under a Snow-Scoured Earth.” If you’re a fan of apocalyptic sci-fi, give it a gander! Part 1 & 2 now out.
The prolific Simon Dillon journeyed into the past for his prompt entry, kicking off a new and thrilling novella in 7 parts set in Dark Ages England. Do yourself a favour and check out “Bloodmire.”
If you didn’t get your story finished, don’t fret! We’re still happy to accept it. You can find all of the entries and the prompt here.
If you haven’t been to our main page in a while, go see what other great fiction we’ve got! Paul Combs served up a new Last Word story just in time for the holidays, Aimée Gramblin pillaged her archives for a lusciously descriptive mother-daughter vignette, and Patrick Metzger — well, I won’t ruin the surprise, but if you see a sign announcing, “Glenbailey,” it might be best to turn your car around.
Can’t wait to see what you all have for us this month!
And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter if you haven’t yet. Thanks for being a part of this creative and inspiring community!
