zigzackly

Thursday, July 01, 2010

The #TwyttyrLytton contest

You've heard of the Bulwer-Lytton Prize, right? (If you haven't, get thee hence immediately. Come back when you're done!)

I think the problem with that otherwise brilliant contest is that the entries are, inevitably, very long. Take the 2010 winner:

For the first month of Ricardo and Felicity's affair, they greeted one another at every stolen rendezvous with a kiss--a lengthy, ravenous kiss, Ricardo lapping and sucking at Felicity's mouth as if she were a giant cage-mounted water bottle and he were the world's thirstiest gerbil.

Great stuff, but, hey, can you retweet it?

So, gentlefolk, I propose the #TwyttyrLytton contest.

The basic rule is the same:
Outdo Edward George Bulwer-Lytton's opening sentence to Paul Clifford. ("It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents—except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.")

In addition:

• Entries must be posted on Twitter.
• Entries must be up to 125 characters long, including spaces, and include the #TwyttyrLytton hashtag. (125 characters is what you have left after the hashtag and a space.)
• The contest stays open 24/7.
• Winners will be decided by public acclaim. i.e., you'll get retweeted
• Prizes? Hah.
• Oh, and you give me permission to post my favourites to this blog.

p.s. Short URL for this post: http://tinyurl.com/tlytton

Blogged for thee by @ 10:59 pm | 1 Comments | Post a Comment | Link Love? |

1 Noble Readers have commented.

On Tue Jul 06, 02:28:00 pm GMT+5:30, the Hon'ble Ravages/CC said...: Saar, super idea. I put my entry. Thank you!


zigzackly's omnium-gatherum *
Quid quid latine dictum sit, altum videtur
Reactions, suggestions, any kind of feedback is always welcome. Recent Posts Irregular Conjugations Modern Proverbs The break-Up poem Buzz Farmwon't Idjut ramblings May you always have dreams to chase Enough to eat,... I'm a Bhopali So we should all stop linking to Newscorp stuff? The (Twitter) Gospel according to St Peter D Mervin Ffingir writes, and having writ, moves on: September 2003 \| December 2003 \| January 2004 \| February 2004 \| March 2004 \| April 2004 \| May 2004 \| June 2004 \| July 2004 \| August 2004 \| September 2004 \| October 2004 \| November 2004 \| December 2004 \| January 2005 \| February 2005 \| March 2005 \| April 2005 \| May 2005 \| June 2005 \| July 2005 \| August 2005 \| September 2005 \| October 2005 \| November 2005 \| December 2005 \| January 2006 \| February 2006 \| March 2006 \| April 2006 \| May 2006 \| June 2006 \| July 2006 \| August 2006 \| September 2006 \| October 2006 \| November 2006 \| December 2006 \| January 2007 \| February 2007 \| March 2007 \| April 2007 \| May 2007 \| June 2007 \| July 2007 \| August 2007 \| September 2007 \| October 2007 \| November 2007 \| December 2007 \| January 2008 \| February 2008 \| March 2008 \| April 2008 \| May 2008 \| June 2008 \| July 2008 \| August 2008 \| November 2008 \| December 2008 \| January 2009 \| March 2009 \| April 2009 \| May 2009 \| June 2009 \| July 2009 \| August 2009 \| September 2009 \| November 2009 \| December 2009 \| January 2010 \| February 2010 \| March 2010 \| June 2010 \| July 2010 \| August 2010 \| October 2010 \| November 2010 \| December 2010 \| January 2011 \| February 2011 \| March 2011 \| April 2011 \| May 2011 \| August 2011 \| September 2011 \| December 2011 \| February 2012 \| March 2012 \| August 2012 \| December 2012 \| April 2013 \|	Thursday, July 01, 2010 The #TwyttyrLytton contest You've heard of the Bulwer-Lytton Prize, right? (If you haven't, get thee hence immediately. Come back when you're done!) I think the problem with that otherwise brilliant contest is that the entries are, inevitably, very long. Take the 2010 winner: For the first month of Ricardo and Felicity's affair, they greeted one another at every stolen rendezvous with a kiss--a lengthy, ravenous kiss, Ricardo lapping and sucking at Felicity's mouth as if she were a giant cage-mounted water bottle and he were the world's thirstiest gerbil. Great stuff, but, hey, can you retweet it? So, gentlefolk, I propose the #TwyttyrLytton contest. The basic rule is the same: Outdo Edward George Bulwer-Lytton's opening sentence to Paul Clifford. ("It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents—except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.") In addition: • Entries must be posted on Twitter. • Entries must be up to 125 characters long, including spaces, and include the #TwyttyrLytton hashtag. (125 characters is what you have left after the hashtag and a space.) • The contest stays open 24/7. • Winners will be decided by public acclaim. i.e., you'll get retweeted • Prizes? Hah. • Oh, and you give me permission to post my favourites to this blog. p.s. Short URL for this post: http://tinyurl.com/tlytton Blogged for thee by @ 10:59 pm \| 1 Comments \| Post a Comment \| Link Love? \| 1 Noble Readers have commented. On Tue Jul 06, 02:28:00 pm GMT+5:30, the Hon'ble Ravages/CC said... Saar, super idea. I put my entry. Thank you! Post a Comment Kind souls who have linked to this post include: <$BlogBacklinkAuthor$> on <$BlogBacklinkTitle$> @ <$BlogBacklinkDateTime$>: <$BlogBacklinkSnippet$> Create a Link < < Home < <	Note: [*] = The site linked to requires registration. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Follow this blog