contest question

icerose · Apr 25, 2006

I posted this in the mystery section but wanted to ask it here as well. The contest is they provide the first chapter, you write the second and the outline of the rest of the book.

I read the first provided chapter. I don't think I can write something that starts like this, it makes my head hurt just glancing at it.

Valley girl meet hopeful writer.

http://www.mustardweb.com/mystery/chapter1.htm

Are most (any?) mysteries written like this?

Excerpt:

The curator of the National Mustard Museum is missing, totally missing, completely missing, missing in a large way, and is presumed, so sad to report this news to you, dead. As in totally dead, completely dead, and dead in a large way. The grieving widow dropped him at the museum at exactly 8:00 a.m. She remembers the eight o’clock news beginning the instant he stepped out of the MustardMobile with keys in hand, approaching the front door to the building that houses more than 4,500 different mustards from all over the planet.

The Curator is irretrievably missing. Strangely missing. Suddenly missing. And, we presume, irretrievably, strangely, and suddenly dead. The very thought of this circumstance makes fans of the golden condiment turn away from their normal joys. A pity, a shame, and a bad bundle indeed.

Curiously missing. Horrifically missing. Tragically missing. We must presume that he is also dead, dead, dead, in the same adverbial ways. You are wondering: how did this come to pass? Did he suffer? When is the funeral? Who is catering? Most important of all, what will the widow wear?

Christine Lorang · Apr 25, 2006

I think it was supposed to be funny.

Sassenach · Apr 25, 2006

Mysteries are as diverse as any other genre.

Why are you entering a contest for a genre you're unfamiliar with?

icerose · Apr 25, 2006

Sassenach said:
Mysteries are as diverse as any other genre.

Why are you entering a contest for a genre you're unfamiliar with?

Christine, I sincerely hope so.

Sassenach, my question does not mean lack of familiarity. I have read almost every book Mary Higgins Clark has written as well as Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys in my younger days, I have read several other mysteries and have also worked on a few. I was asking a writers forum where there are many who are well read and perhaps could shed some light on this particular piece of work. If it had become typical, was at one time, or if it was meant to be a smirking type book.

James D. Macdonald · Apr 25, 2006

No entry fee, and $5,000, for a short story?

Dudes, I'm entering this one.

icerose · Apr 25, 2006

James D. Macdonald said:
No entry fee, and $5,000, for a short story?

Dudes, I'm entering this one.

Exactly, which is why I was wondering. I didn't know if the story was serious, or if it was taking a humorous look at mysteries.

Maryn · Apr 25, 2006

This contest has been around for several years, at least. Because the prize is so big, the competition is pretty stiff. The mystery writers I know have wondered aloud if the first chapter is deliberately written in a way that makes it really difficult to write a second. It certain narrows the field--probably more than creative use of mustard.

Maryn, ketchup fan

icerose · Apr 25, 2006

Okay, that makes a lot of sense, because from what I understand, if you are continuing the book, you have to assume that writer's voice in order to make it flow. That is extremely difficult, especially if the style is near painful for the writer.

ChaosTitan · Apr 26, 2006

Did anyone else read that passage to the tune of "Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead"? :tongue

Jamesaritchie · Apr 26, 2006

chaostitan said:
Did anyone else read that passage to the tune of "Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead"?

I didn't, but now that you put that tune in my head, I can't read it any other way.

kayebee · Apr 26, 2006

Thanks for posting this --I had a lot of fun giving this a try.

Karen

icerose · Apr 26, 2006

kayebee said:
Thanks for posting this --I had a lot of fun giving this a try.

Karen

No problem. I got the otherside look at it, and you got to try it along with me and a few others.

It will be fun to see who wins, whether it will be someone we know or someone we don't.

contest question

icerose

Lost in School Work

Christine Lorang

Sassenach

5 W's & an H

icerose

Lost in School Work

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

icerose

Lost in School Work

Maryn

I Tried

icerose

Lost in School Work

ChaosTitan

Around

Jamesaritchie

kayebee

icerose

Lost in School Work