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Author Topic: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread  (Read 18919 times)

Offline xiagan

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[Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« on: June 01, 2017, 12:45:10 PM »
Gangsters and Crime Lords


'Crime Lord' by Jordy Knoop

Al Capone. The Godfather. Kingpin. There are many infamous crime lords in history and pop culture. Your job this month is to bring them into a fantasy setting.
They don't need to be the main character but a crime lord and their unerground organization have to play a significant role.

Rules:

1. This must be prose or poetry.
2. The story must contain gangsters and crime lords in a fantasy setting.
3. Prose must be 500-1500 words long.
4. Poetry must be 100-750 words long.
5. One story per person or writing team (not per account).
6. You will be disqualified if you exceed the limits, full stop. That's why they're called limits.
7. Your entry can't be published somewhere else before.
8. This is a writing contest, not a "I have written something like this ten years ago" contest. So if you happen to have a story that fits one of the themes, I'd like it to have a major overhaul/edit. Work for it. ;)
9. Please add your story's word count and, if you have, your twitter handle.
10. Please put your story in [ spoiler ] tags to make the thread easier to handle. :) You can find them above the smileys next to the 'youtube' symbol.

If you want so submit your story anonymously you can do so by choosing 'post anonymously' while posting it (see here how it works) or sending it in a personal message to @xiagan.

Entry will close June 30th/July 1st, 2017 and voting will begin somewhere around the same time too.

All members are eligible to join. If you are not a member you can join here. Sign up is free and all are welcome! :)

The winner will have their piece displayed on the main Fantasy Faction website sometime in the next months.
Submitting a story counts as published. The author retains all rights to their work.

Please post your entry here.

Note: This thread is only for questions or discussing this month's writing contest. Good luck!
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Offline m3mnoch

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Re: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2017, 02:18:51 PM »
darn you, @xiagan!  this is going to be so hard NOT to write for!

*grumbles about wips*
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Offline The Gem Cutter

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Re: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« Reply #2 on: June 01, 2017, 02:28:29 PM »
It's almost as if @xiagan ...

is making you an offer you can't refuse.
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Offline ScarletBea

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Re: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« Reply #3 on: June 01, 2017, 03:06:36 PM »
Quote from: m3mnoch on June 01, 2017, 02:18:51 PM
darn you, @xiagan!  this is going to be so hard NOT to write for!

*grumbles about wips*

See xia, he totally saw through us ;D
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Offline Henry Dale

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Re: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2017, 05:48:46 PM »
First in. Sorry to everyone who didn't get a role. Can't fit everyone in  ::)
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Offline ScarletBea

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Re: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2017, 06:03:15 PM »
Quote from: Henry Dale on June 01, 2017, 05:48:46 PM
First in. Sorry to everyone who didn't get a role. Can't fit everyone in  ::)
LOVE IT ;D ;D
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Offline Doctor_Chill

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Re: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2017, 06:05:01 PM »
*Starts laughing maniacally*

Yeah, I'm doing this month.
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Offline JMack

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Re: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« Reply #7 on: June 03, 2017, 01:20:44 PM »
Unexpectedly, I find I'm in the world of one of my prior stories. I have the characters, the plot sketch, and some fun ideas. Now... how to fit all this in 1,500 words. It's like a squirrel trying to stuff three trees worth of nuts in one hole.
« Last Edit: June 03, 2017, 01:25:45 PM by Jmack »
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Offline Jeff Pryor

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Re: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« Reply #8 on: June 04, 2017, 03:26:23 PM »
I've been building a collection of short stories related to my first novel (and the four that will complete the series). This theme fits perfectly with a period of the world's history that I haven't really covered yet, and would be a good bit of background for the upcoming second book. I hope I can keep it under 1500 words though!
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Offline Doctor_Chill

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Re: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« Reply #9 on: June 04, 2017, 09:02:03 PM »
1st draft sits at 1.3K. Now for the rewrite.
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Offline NightWrite

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Re: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« Reply #10 on: June 04, 2017, 09:37:35 PM »
I've been meaning to develop a thought I had about places where psychoactive drugs are mixed with magic. Perhaps this will give the needed push.
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Offline LightRunner

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Re: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« Reply #11 on: June 05, 2017, 02:47:40 AM »
The worldbuilding on this is getting out of control...how can you have a reasonable criminal operation if you don't know what laws they are breaking and why?

It's been a fantastic exercise for me, though I don't quite have a story yet. I do, however, have a situation I am excited about.

I love how these contests are pushing me out of my comfort zone and providing me with a lot of opportunities to experiment.
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Offline JMack

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Re: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« Reply #12 on: June 11, 2017, 04:28:13 PM »
1,622 words for draft 1.
Incredible what the word limit makes you do that's often quite good. I ended up with a very different ending than I'd expected.

Now I'll mow the lawn, pay the bills, do some work work, before I come back and figure out what to cut.
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Offline Nora

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Re: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« Reply #13 on: June 11, 2017, 05:03:16 PM »
Well, I got a genius idea when watching Wonder Woman. Crime lords and gods.... I'm not too inspired with a specific tone or mood or even character. For once I really know what the set is like and what the tension is about but I have to come with people to fit it in. I'll try and write most of it tonight if I can. I want time to spend on my wip.
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Offline JMack

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Re: [Jun 2017] - Gangsters and Crime Lords - Discussion Thread
« Reply #14 on: June 11, 2017, 05:32:45 PM »
Quote from: Jmack on June 11, 2017, 04:28:13 PM
1,622 words for draft 1.
Incredible what the word limit makes you do that's often quite good. I ended up with a very different ending than I'd expected.

Now I'll mow the lawn, pay the bills, do some work work, before I come back and figure out what to cut.

Yeah, well, didn't do any of that.
1,497 words.
Yes!!!
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Change, when it comes, will step lightly before it kicks like thunder. (GRMatthews)
You are being naive if you think that any sweet and light theme cannot be strangled and force fed it's own flesh. (Nora)
www.starlit-lands.com
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