Challenge FAQ
What Is A Challenge: A challenge is a set of parameters for a story the challenger would like to see written, but does not intend writing her/himself.
Who May Set A Challenge: On most lists, anyone may set a challenge. There are some lists and sites, however, where only a specific person or persons may set a challenge. It's best to double check if you're unsure.
What Should A Challenge Look Like: There are several formats for challenges. The first thing you need to decide is whether your challenge is a specific situation, a laundry list, an inspirational poem/song/line, or a combination of more than one of these forms. Below, I've put examples of each style of challenge, so you can see what I mean by each.
Situational: Buffy and Giles go on a picnic.
In other words, the challenge is to put the characters in this particular situation and see what happens.
Laundry List: B/G fic. Must include all of the following: a loaf of French bread, cufflinks, a Harry Potter reference, soap-on-a-rope, somebody whittling stakes.
In other words, the challenge is a list of objects, references and/or actions that may or may not be related on the surface that must all be worked into the story.
Inspirational Poem/Song/Line: Write a B/G fic around Shakespeare's sonnet #140 :
Those lips that Love's own hand did make,
Breathed forth the sound that said 'I hate',
To me that languished for her sake:
But when she saw my woeful state,
Straight in her heart did mercy come,
Chiding that tongue that ever sweet
Was used in giving gentle doom;
And taught it thus anew to greet;
'I hate' she altered with an end,
That followed it as gentle day,
Doth follow night, who like a fiend
From heaven to hell is flown away.
'I hate', from hate away she threw,
And saved my life, saying 'not you'.
In other words, the challenge is to write a story either using the words of the poem, song, or line of dialogue within the story, or simply as inspiration for a story.
Most challenges actually combine elements of two or more of these forms. Many combine all three. See below for examples:
Situational/Laundry List: Buffy and Giles go to the movies together. Must include ALL of the following: a Godzilla reference, Dawn trying to tag along, stale popcorn, a chance meeting with Clem.
Situational/Inspirational Song: Buffy and Giles are doing laundry together. Use the lyrics to the song Two Of Us by The Beatles.
Laundry List/Inspirational: Write a B/G story using the lyrics to the song If I Wanted To by Melissa Etheridge. Must include ALL of the following: a balloon animal, tulips, tea, an empty wallet. Must include at least TWO of the following: a photograph of Giles as a child, a letter from Ethan Rayne, a hat, playing cards.
Who May Answer A Challenge: Unless the challenge is personal or otherwise specifically restricted, anyone who feels inspired may answer. Because of this, you may get twelve answers to your challenge or you may only get one. Sometimes, nobody is inspired, but don't let that stop you trying again.
Can I Stop Someone From Answering My Challenge: No. If someone is inspired, by your challenge they can write it. Even if you do something as a personal challenge, there's no guarantee that somebody else won't want to write it as well, and why would you want to keep your challenge from being answered anyway?
How Do I Write An Appealing Challenge: Try to keep a balance between being specific and leaving room for the prospective author to come up with their own story. For instance, if your challenge is seven hundred words long and doesn't include the lyrics of a song or epic poem, chances are you've made it too long and too involved. If the challenge is ten words long, chances are you won't get too many answers because people don't feel they know what you're looking for. Try to give more than one condition, but if you know exactly who is paired with whom, what point in the story they break up, and the specific relationship of every single character to all the others as well as three or four major crises in the story, perhaps you'd do better to try to write it yourself.
What If My Challenge Is Too Weird: In my time as a ficwriter, I have answered - and set - many challenges. I have seen answers to challenges I set that included such bizarre requirements as: Giles in drag, a BtVS/American Pie crossover, Lindsey being publicly humiliated with his pants down, the story of how Joyce and Dracula met, and the list goes on. Some of the more perverse challenges I have answered include: Spike/Riley smut - with Spike in drag, a B/G bodyswitch fic including graphic sex, two Buffy/Manchild crossovers, a Buffy/Star Trek: The Next Generation crossover, a story in which Spike finds the next Slayer before the Council does, a story in which the Scoobies write personal ads for one another, and a bingo game to decide the fate of the Buffyverse. Trust me, if you can imagine it, so can someone else.
Can I Require That Certain Things Not Happen In My Challenge: Of course. If there is something you feel concerned will be brought up by someone likely to answer, or just want to make sure you don't end up wading through piles of answers filled with images that disturb you, feel free to add negative requirements, such as: no BDSM, please no character death, no fluffybunny Spike, etc.
Someone Answered My Challenge! Now What Do I Do: Send feedback. Tell them you saw the answer, and what you liked about it.
What If I Didn't Like The Answer: At least acknowledge the fact the challenge was answered. Don't get too specific, and certainly don't flame. Do say thanks for answering.
Nobody Answered My Challenge. Can I Set It Again: If nobody answered it the first time, it's unlikely they will the second time. If you're going to re-post an unanswered challenge, please at least wait a significant length of time. A week is not enough. Try more like six months.
I Like My Challenge So Much, I Want To Answer It Myself. Can I: It's unusual, but it's been done. In fact, I've done it in the past, so I see no reason you can't.
Challenges are fun and always a surprise. You never know who, if anyone, will answer and whether the answer will turn out to be anything like what you were expecting. Give it a go! You'll never know how fun it is until you try.