Young Writers discussion

Hey, everyone!

For the next two months, I'm going to be working on a short story, which will be entered in a contest for an annual writing conference I attend. I am, unfortunately, going to be running against adults for this particular contest, but I want to have the best shot at victory that I can.

So…I'm asking for help from all of you on this huge project. Here, I'll post the things I need help with, from story selection to brainstorming to outlines to actual drafts. I want to have this story completed by November 1, 2013, so we need to get started.

If you could, spread the word to other groups. I want as much feedback as I can get on this project so that I can create a truly memorable piece of fiction.

Thank you!

Attn. moderators: This thread was approved by Brigid.

So, the first step is for me to choose a story. While I posted this in a fantasy folder, there are some steampunk and dystopian stories I'm considering as well. Here, I have several story options. What I would like is for you to determine three or four of the most unique concepts, as my goal is to choose something that will be sure to stand out in the stacks of entries judges will have to review.

Story 1: Reincarnation -- In a world where light and sound are worshipped as the manifestations of two gods, a team of clerical researchers has the age-old duty to map the history (and hopefully the origin) of Echoes -- the reincarnated souls of all living things. When a young woman stumbles into the sacred Echo Hall bearing twins and begging to know who she was before, the priests make a surprising discovery about their work.

Note: The actual plot of this story needs a lot of brainstorming. All I know is that they need to make an important discovery. Whether that involves a woman or twins needs to be determined.

Story 2: Oscillators -- Nevin is among a group of individuals called Oscillators -- those whose bodies vibrate at a speed such that they can step into an unseen plane, a whole world of ethereal cities and shadowy landscapes. However, Nevin is Dampened and can only flicker to the other plane for a fraction of a second. When the nation's most infamous gambler finds out about Nevin's defect, he hires the boy to use this flickering to gather information from wealthy Oscillators who spend days within the other plane participating in nearly unknown meetings. But when Nevin accepts another offer to have his abilities repaired, he finds that not being able to spy has greater consequences than he intended.

Story 3: The Dog -- Asper lives and breathes machinery. In a city enclosed by the Walls, he spends his day making mechanical repairs on everything, from his robot nanny to the streets to the zoo animals. When a dog befriends him and then bites him, Asper wrestles with his identity as a machine different from the rest.

Story 4: The Library -- Four children wake up inside a locked library. In an attempt to figure out how to get out, they begin to read the books within the library. As they get to know the characters inside them, they also discover a little bit about themselves and come to understand why they were put there.

Note: Not a strong fantasy. More of a moral tale.

Story 5: Eyenapper -- By the year 2056, the United States government has done away with all currency in order to save on its production and create jobs in its recycling. The new system involves a monopolized banking industry where the citizens access their accounts by means of iris-scanning technology. Ana is a young static-producing musician who keeps updated on the latest leather-and-lace fashion, and when she is suddenly kidnapped in order to use her eyes, she is exposed to a new motive of human trafficking that nobody had anticipated.

Story 6: Meaningless Service -- In order to increase citizen productivity, it is required that each individual complete a mandatory amount of service. Those who do not follow the laws slowly lose their rights -- the right to vote, the right to leave their house…even the right to live. Despite the good intentions of these laws, a young man finds himself trapped in his house, and he decides to work with a heavily indoctrinated woman and a young gambler to escape the system and find a place where their agency is their own.

Story 7: Inverted Existence -- Imagine a hollow planet in which the inhabitants live on the inside surface. A fine balance between a man-made star and the outside celestial bodies maintains the fine balance and keeps the whole planet from crumbling.

Brommel is a young farmer who works in one of the rare oases in the desert landscape. When he hears news of cities being lifted into the sky and consumed by the star, he begs for the local government to help him figure out what is causing the problem. When he finds little support, he bands together with a few citizens to explore one of the cavities left behind by a destroyed city. What he discovers goes against everything he knows about the world he lives in, and he will need to adjust quickly if he is to keep it from all falling apart.

Story 8: Glassflight -- Sil is a Glassflight, a member of a family that has the valued ability to fly. This is made possible through a gas that fills their veins instead of blood, which is a highly coveted substance. She is being hunted by a number of foes -- a white cat obsessed with refilling his veins with the gas, a rich lord with a gaze that could crumble buildings, and an odd woman on a horse with more connections to the family that she would like to admit. Sil must stay on the run and, at the same time, learn what the purpose of the glass of her wings.

Story 9: Clockwatch -- Caden has successfully run away from home and is hiding out in a cave not too far from his house. As he explores, he discovers thousands of clocks of all shapes and sizes hanging on the walls. Soon, he meets a man in tattered clothing who keeps the clocks running. When he presses the man for information, Caden learns that each clock keeps a person alive, and when it stops, that person dies.

Note: Not sure how to end this story. If you're interested in this concept, I can discuss some of the possible endings I've worked through.

Story 10: Body in Glass -- In this steampunk tale, a group of scientists has invented a method for resurrection of the dead. It is accomplished using a giant glass machine powered by the soil from the dying place of others. In the city of Fumefloat, the townspeople keep this soil in a special lamppost. When Remy's hobby of making fireworks breaks the lamppost, Remy agrees to go on a mission to retrieve more soil to bring his father back to life.

Story 11: Pollution Expedition -- In this alternate history fantasy, the Industrial Revolution has gone horribly wrong. Pollution has made the Earth's surface uninhabitable. To remedy the situation, magicians engineered floating cities that would sit above the dirty air. But the people do not learn their lesson, and they begin to pollute their cities. One young man has heard of a purifying substance on the surface, and goes with a group of people to find it.

Wow, that's an impressive collection of ideas, Taylor! My personal favorites are stories #2, 5, 8, and 9, especially 8 and 9 (although, in #8, Sil has glass in her wings? Or gas??). But in #5 how does Ana's interest in fashion help develop the story? Is it just part of her personality? Just some questions for you to think about ;)

@Dana

OMIGOSH A COMMENT. :D

In response to your questions:

I don't know where I posted a snippet of this story, but basically she has a gas instead of blood, and this gas allows her to fly. This would make a lot more sense if you saw the painting that inspired this, but Glassflight wings look like stained glass. Those have other magical properties.

Whoops, forgot the other question.

Ana's interest in fashion is merely a method for me to show off an aspect of the society -- their steampunk clothing that they've adopted for various reasons -- to be different from the older generation and to mock the technological condition of this futuristic America, which basically stops progressing after a certain point.

Wow they are all really good ideas. My personal favourite would have to be #9 i think it old be really interesting concept that if done correctly could be a real page turner. Good luck with he competition.

Inverted Existence, Meaningless Service, Eyenapper, or Oscillators (I might have spelled that wrong.)

Thanks, Helix!

I'm actually picking Clockwatch! It was by far the most popular when I asked a lot of people. I'll be posting some brainstorming things as soon as I can.

Clock watch was my favourite I would love to read a story about that,

me too!

I wish I hadn't noticed this topic so late. I rather liked #3.

You should just do them all.