Harlequin Romance Challenge: Sign-Ups Open!

[reikah]

So! The dust has settled from the Canon vs AU Olympics, and the comm has settled back to its usual routine. Well, that's no fun, says I! What else to do but liven it up with a fanfiction Challenge?

A challenge is not the same as a contest; there are no winners, and nobody will be scored. It's a prompt fest, with a deadline, and this promptfest centres around a specific kind of writing: Bodice Ripper Romance novels.

I'm not just talking romance like, well, most shipping fics are by their nature. I'm talking cheesy, amazingly questionable paperback romance novels, also known as Harlequin or Mills & Boons.

This challenge is inspired in part by the successful spn_harlequin on livejournal, although this will obviously be of a smaller scale given the size difference between the Tsubasa fandom and the Supernatural fandom. You can see here what kind of prompts they posted and how they arranged their sign-ups!

If you're interested, you'll sign up to the challenge here (more to give me an idea of how many people to expect & how many prompts to organise). Sign-ups will be open for a little over a week, giving people time to sign up & me to work how how many prompts to assemble! On Saturday 23rd June at 8pm GMT (12pm Pacific Standard Time, 5am 24th June Australian East Time), I'll post the prompts - and a bunch of them, to give people some variety! You'll pick one prompt (although you can go back and grab another one after you've finished the first). Prompt claiming will end on Sunday 30th June at 11:59 GMT (3:59pm Los Angeles, 8:59 am on Monday 1st July Sydney).

There is a minimum word count: 1,000 words (although we hope you'll write more!). You will have 2 months to write your fic and then post it, which given the above times for sign-ups mean your fic will be due on September 1.

Q. Do I have to read the book?

A. Nope! You'll only have the summary and/or title to go off (unless you happen to have read said book). The goal is to write your own bodice-ripper.... er, trouser-ripper using the original idea as a sort of vague structure, but you can stick to it as closely or loosely as you like!

Q. I'm not on dreamwidth.

A. Anon-commenting is enabled! If you're not a dreamwidth user but want to take part, sign up here but include a link to where you usually hang out, like:

I'm game! I'm reikah and I'm from tumblr
http://inmyvortex.tumblr.com

When you finish your fic, email me the link to wherever you posted it - LJ, tumblr, fanfiction.net, message board - and I'll post a 'fake' cut tag to the kurofai comm directing dreamwidth users to your story. :D

Q. Will you be using those prompts from spn_harlequin?

A. Nope! I'll be picking a completely new set of prompts from the online catologue of famous bodice-ripper publishing houses. However, I will try to grab a fairly even selection of various types of romance for you guys!

Q. Can my story include other pairings?

A. Sure! This is a kurofai contest though, so the pairing of Kurogane and Fai does need to be fairly obvious. XD

Q. This is an awesome idea/terrible idea, can I steal it?

A. Absolutely! After all, so did I!

Q. Can it be crack?

A. ... There's a way to do Kurogane/Fai harlequin romances without crack?

The fills can be as silly and fluffy and cheesy as you like! They can also be dark and 100% serious. The point is to have fun!

Without further ado, comment here if this looks like something you'd do.

Comments

[reikah]

I DON'T CARE IF IT'S UNCOUTH TO SIGN UP TO YOUR OWN CONTESTS

BODICE. RIPPER. KUROGANE.

WHAT'S NOT TO ADORE

[eijentu]

ALL THIS=AWESOME!

/SIGNS UP BEFORE SHE IS OVERCOME BY OH GOD SIGN-UP ANXIETY

\o/

[reikah]

WE WILL DO THIS THING JO. WE WILL TRIUMPH. IT'LL BE AMAZING.

[farenmaddox]

*____*

I am so doing this. I think I will find out I am terrible at harlequin writing, but I am DOING THIS. o/

[reikah]

I AM EXCITE HON

<333333333

[zelinxia]

I AM SO THERE!

FOR ALL THE SATIRICAL REASONS!

[reikah]

WELCOME TO OUR HOUSE OF PLEASURE, MR KUROGANE.’In a seedy tavern in the backstreets of London a case of mistaken identity leads respectable Youou Kurogane to be unwittingly ravished by a devilish colonel: Lord Fai D Fluorie. Now he’s had a taste of lovemaking, and against his better judgement he craves it again…But the Colonel has ruined his honour, and there is only one way they can avoid a scandal: Kurogane must marry his blue-eyed seducer! Now Kurogane must decide between a life of chastity…or succumbing to his husband’s irresistible temptation…

omg there's over a week to go until i post the prompts & i am having WAY TOO MUCH FUN inserting names into random summaries off the mills & boon website

[aija]

I'm actually very tempted to do this, not just because the idea is cracktastic, but because this will really challenge my grasp on the english language.
Also, I've read the german variety of those when I was around 11. Dozens of them, because my grandma collects them and has a whole room full of them. So I think I could actually do this.
It's hard to know exactly which type of mood/connotation goes with certain synonyms and expressions. It might turn out really bad. But since that's somehow part of the fun...I'll try my best to deliver something suitable...

*slightly tentative sign up, but a sign up*

[reikah]

*excited \o/*

this isn't meant to be a pressurized challenge! We give you the structure (and the deadline, which I hope will be generous enough) just to keep it slightly inline, but having fun is the most important part. i'm very excited to be presenting it & i do hope everyone enjoys themselves :DDD

[kittenkin]

...I think I need to do this, just for the glory-shame of changing Kurogane's name to Hawk Blacksteel and having him flex his oiled muscles in the fading light of a Texas sunset. My busy schedule can go take a flying leap at a brick wall.

[reikah]

I would say 'two months is totally enough time to put out 1,000 words' but i know you and it'll be more like '10,000, and I need an extension' XD

looking forward to it~

(although the name changing is optional! you can keep him as kuro. XD)

[irenegerke]

Pffft - I remember reading Harlequin type books when I was around 12. I would love to do this and I have time for once.
.
.
.
Now that I think about reading those books at such a young age may have warped my personality somewhat :P

[reikah]

COME ON CHUMS LET'S DO THIS

LEEEEEEEEEEROY

[mindlessadri]

I'm not quite sure I understand what "Bodice Ripper Romance" is but count me in anyway.

[reikah]

Here's the wikipedia page article on the subject, but you can get a feel for the type of books that qualify by looking at the catologue on the Mills & Boon or Harlequin website! Basically, they are the cheesy romance stories supermarkets carry for 99 cents/99p by the checkouts. XD

[mikkeneko]

Well, you know I'm up for anything KuroFai! =)

[reikah]

Sent to Were Mountain to negotiate a fight over a series of enchanted hot springs, dragon shifter Damon Frost runs into Sasha Moore, werewolf princess and heir to the Were throne—his ever-enchanting first love. Forbidden to be together, Damon and Sasha spend one last night in each others arms, proving that although loyalties may fade, passion never die.

DRAGON SHIFTER

THIS IS AN AMAZING THING

I THINK I'VE FOUND MY CALLING IN LIFE

[tsubasafan]

I want to do this, but have no idea how to even approach it

[reikah]

um, it's like this: on the 23rd i'll post a bunch of summaries & titles from existing published harlequin romances. you'll pick one you like (the following is just an example): -

2. The Siren

It's a man's world, but she's the one on top. Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different-more serious, more personal-and she's sure it'll be her breakout book...if it ever sees the light of day. Zachary Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards-in six weeks-or it's no deal. Nora's grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining...and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous-staying away from him...or returning to his bed? Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.

... and you'll rewrite that plot loosely using Kurogane and Fai instead of "Zachary Easton" and "Nora Sutherlin"! It'll be up to you how much you keep and how much of it you throw aside. :D

[uakari]

HI I'M AMANDA AND I'M FROM THE INTERNET
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m48s8kK5wB1qzya49o1_500.jpg

I WANT TO PLAY TOO.

[reikah]

[caffeine_buzz]

Ooh, sounds fun! Sadly I don't know if I'll be able to participate this time since my computer is currently broken (typing this in my iPod right now). If it gets fixed any time soon I might try to join in.

[mikkeneko]

Oh noes! Broken computer of one of my favorite fic authors is a sad event. ;_; Here's to hoping it's corrected soon~

[jezzra]

I can't sign up this time around due to Reasons, but you can bet I'll be watching this. XD If I get things squared away and such maybe Ill write one and post it before the deadline.

No commitment, that's how I roll. XD

[reikah]

\O/

GOOD LUCK JEZZ

[cloverfield]

BABE, AS IF YOU COULD STOP ME FROM DOING THIS

AS IFFFFF

(and hey, I already had practice with law student!novelist!Fai and his series of pink-spined novellas about that dashing young repairman, lololol, and I do have a tendency to purple up my prose, so...)

This is my incredibly concise way of saying YES PLEASE I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN IN WITH THE TROUSERBODICE RIPPING~

[reikah]

I WENT LOOKING FOR A ROMANCE NOVEL FEATURING A PLUMBER, BUT ALAS FIREMAN OR POLICE SHERIFF WAS THE CLOSEST I COULD COME

[tarmachan]

Since there's such a long time to write, it gives me time to derp around in real life too! I sell Mills and Boons where I work, so I have time to do some research XDDDDD

I'm in.

[reikah]

HOORAH

THE WORLD NEEDS MORE HARLEQUIN ROMANCES

+1 Reader FOR SURE!

[(Anonymous)]

OH MY GAWD... it sounds promising. ;)
I'm kinda new to the kurofai fandom, (there is so much good stories to read still!! -thanks to you girls!) well I'm just a reader, my English is far~faaaaar away from the writing level, but you can be freakin' sure I'm gonna read all of those bodice ripper stories!!!
At first I didn't know that the heck a bodice-ripper story is and when you mentioned in the comments your grandmas, it clicked: my grandma had those too (mostly doctors and patients/nurses affair's, I think she liked that topic) and I 'borrowed' these paperback booklets too. :)
I suggest you to read these books: http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/pages/searchres.htm, they're quietly sitting on my bookshelf right now.
I definitely want to see Kuro-sama as Maddox *nosebleed*

"Every night for thousands of years, he has been murdered and sent to the fires of hell… Cursed by the gods, bound to a rage-filled spirit he can barely control, Maddox has all but forgotten his humanity – until Ashlyn Darrow comes to his prison in Budapest seeking help. Maddox finds his anger is soothed by her presence. But he can’t help question why a beautiful innocent has come looking for the Lords of the Underworld. Ashlyn is tortured by voices from the past – and her knowledge might be enough to free Maddox from his death-curse. When an extreme sacrifice is demanded, will Maddox’s superhuman strength be enough to save them both? "

Re: +1 Reader FOR SURE!

[(Anonymous)]

Sorry, I failed with the link I was referring to Gena Showalter's books.

~Egwene the newbie kurofai fangurl

[perfectworry]

I am so in on this! ♥

[reikah]

yay! It's going to be super! :D

[artemisarch3r]

*Tentative sign-up*
I haven't written any kind of fic in ages but this just sounds like too much fun! Hope that summer will give me time to really brush the rust off my writing skills!

[reikah]

YAY! The more the merrier, lovely to have you! :D

[escaliers]

Oh, why not. This is pretty much my favourite genre after all. I'm in.

[reikah]

Welcome to the challenge!

[veryviciousv]

YESSSSSS! I'm in!!

I don't read much romance novel but I do read the manga that they inspired, those drawn by Misao Hoshi and the like.

The prompts from the Supernatural Fandom are awesome (the And baby makes three and the Revenge Brides ones are usually the staple of what I read, and I'm pretty excited about the rest). Looking forward to this.

[reikah]

ME TOO! HAPPY TO HAVE YOU ONBOARD! \O/

YES CAPS ARE A REQUIREMENT

[bottan]

OKAY, I'LL SIGN UP, TOO, BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT! LET'S DO THIS SHIT! \o/