Madam Pomfrey’s One-Shot Triathlon 2012-MAJOR CHARACTERS-RESULTS POSTED
Madam Pomfrey’s One-Shot Triathlon 2012
Welcome to the Character Clinic One-Shot Triathlon, running from 1st June to 31st August 2012.
The triathlon is – like the name already suggests – divided into three parts. The first part, running throughout June, will be about major characters, the second part, running throughout July, focuses on minor characters, and the final part, running throughout August, will be about original characters.
What does the triathlon entail?
At the beginning of a month, I’m going to post a couple of prompts/situations to hopefully inspire you. These prompts will change each month. You then pick one character and write a one-shot for one of the prompts/situations. You can use any character you like, but the character must fit into the parts, meaning in round one, you can’t write about Susan Bones as she clearly is a minor character, or when we are in round three, you cannot write about Harry Potter as he isn’t an original character. If you are unsure whether your chosen character is a major or minor character, take a look into the respective subforums. The master list of major characters is here and minor characters here. If a character is not on either list, but is mentioned in canon (this includes non-named characters, for example, Blaise’s mother and Hermione’s parents), they s/he is a minor character.
You don’t need to have a thread for your original character in the Character Clinic, but I encourage you to have one because the comments and questions from fellow members will help you develop your OC into a believable character.
Participation is free for everyone, and no one has to do all three parts, unless you want to. If you don’t feel like doing round one, but round two and three, go ahead.
Rules:
- For each round, you may enter as many one-shots as you like, and will receive five points per story per round.
- You may ONLY enter one-shots. No chaptered stories are allowed.
- All stories must be between 1,500 and 10,000 words. Bear in mind the archive word count is usually higher than word program word counts, so if your story is 10,000 words to the dot in your document, it will probably be over that on archives.
- Stories are to be submitted into the most suitable category (e.g. if you write about Scorpius Malfoy, then your one-shot probably belongs into Next-Gen or Other Pairings).
- All standard MNFF rules apply. You must include appropriate warnings, use correct grammar etc, etc.
- You can use any ratings and any warnings you wish.
- Your story does not have to be from the perspective of your chosen major character, but you need to make it clear who the focus is on. So when writing not from that character's perspective, it must be clear who is the main character in your story, and which one is subordinate to that.
- There are no claims on characters. If someone else has already written a story on the character you wanted to use, then that's fine.
- I recommend you use a beta, but it’s not compulsory.
- Entrants receive five points participation per round, regardless of the number of entries. If you want to write on the same character, then you can, but the stories will be judged against each other and should work independently.
Each round will have three finalists, depending on the number of entries. First, second and third place for each round will receive 20, 15 and 10 points respectively. The overall winner will receive 25 points.
If you complete every round, but do not place, then you will still receive a bonus 5 points.
Submissions for round one open on the 1st June and close on 30th June. Submissions for round two open on the 1st July and close on 31st July. Submissions for round three open on the 1st August and close on 31st August.
As long as your story is in the queue by the deadline, it will still be eligible for judging. However, I recommend you submit it before then, just in case it gets rejected. That way you’d have time to make changes, and resubmit.
Once your story has been validated, please post it here with the following information:
PHP Code:
[b]Username:*[/b]
[b]House:*[/b]
[b]Prompt:*[/b]
[b]Title (and story link):*[/b]
[b]Summary:*[/b]*
<b>This is [your name] of [your house] writing for Round [One, Two or Three] the 2012 Character Triathlon.</b>
The Minor Characters and Original Characters will have their own threads in which you can post your submissions.
Clear? Any questions, please ask in the question thread here. This thread will be for posting prompts and completed fics.
This is a modified version of the challenge Bine/ Luinrina set two years ago. Thanks to Karaley Daragen and ToBeOrNotToBeGryffindor for looking over this--anything which does not make sense is entirely my fault.
MAJOR CHARACTERS!!!
Major Characters can be difficult. We know more about them, and therefore in some ways are restricted in what they can do. One of the greatest challenges of writing major canon characters is to make them recognisable, yet present a fresh, fascinating story and plot. The best writers can always surprise, entertain and interest us even with the most familiar of character’s, and how well one does in this respect is directly related to how well one will do in this round of the Triathlon.
If you have any questions about your chosen major character, then do feel free to ask in the thread for that character in the Character Clinic.
PICTURE PROMPT:
Clicky Here
Please do not feel too restricted by the age, gender or colour of the couple in this pairing. It’s a very emotive image (at least I thought so) with a very powerful mood, and it’s that which I hope will inspire you.
WORD PROMPT:
I’ve been like a beggar since then, left out in the cold,
With the whole town indifferent toward me.
Since then I’ve been like mown grass,
Piles of it scattered in uneven rows.
Since then I’ve been myself ––yes, myself, to my own misfortune,
And I, with that misfortune, am not myself, neither another nor anyone else.
Master, my dear master, Fernando Pessoa
Feel free to let a single phrase or image inspire you, or the whole mood of this fragment.
DIAGON ALLEY PROMPT
Your character is walking down Diagon Alley, and sees something which sparks a memory. This may be another person, with whom they then interact, an object in a shop window, something a stranger is wearing, or even something like a colour.
The story can be entirely about the memory, or about the character thinking it over afterwards.
MISSING MOMENT PROMPT
Write about a missing moment. This is something that we know to have happened to said character, either because it happens to every witch or wizard (for example, a Sorting, or taking exams), or because we know about it through reported speech, either from the character or from another. Be creative!
Don’t feel too restricted. As long as it’s clear that the prompt in some way inspired your story, then that’s fine--it can be as clear or as oblique as you want.
And with that, enjoy writing!