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This is a writing challenge I saw somewhere, and I thought it sounded interesting and good. Because there are so many heated discussions going on, all the time, and things people are passionate about. So I thought I'd give it a try.
We all have themes, ideas, that we are passionate about, that we have strong opinions on, be it War, Marriage, Love, Hope, Loneliness, Loyalty, Patriotism, Childhood, Freedom, Law, and so on. The challenge here is to comment with a theme that you are passionate about. I will then write a short piece illuminating one view of this theme. And in return, you have to respond with a piece illustrating the other side.
There are only a couple of rules:
1) No matter which side of the issue you end up illustrating, you have to treat it fairly and seriously.
2) You cannot attack the people who advocate the other side, or the writer of any piece. This is an exercise in understanding, in seeing the other point of view, and the person writing may not even believe the words they write. So keep it clean!
3) The piece may be of any kind. Fanfic, original, long, short, poem, prose. Whatever. The only limits are that it must be linked to its partner viewpoint, treated with respect, and attempt to adequately express your understanding of the issue in question.
4) Try not to write leading pieces. This is not meant as an attempt to get people to say what you want them to say. If you are the host writer, do not deliberately set someone up to say something. The aim of the game is to introduce yourself and others to different aspects of an issue, not to engage in one-up-manship.
5) No propaganda, and no attacking specific groups if it can be avoided. The realms of the imagination that we as writers tap into are surely wide enough to speak of an issue without citing specific real-life examples that may cause pain to readers.
6) Do not take things too seriously. Treat the exercise with respect, but do not forget that life is wide and short, and there is humour even in what pains us. Do not bring grudges to this, and do not take them away.
7) There are no taboo issues, but it is inevitable that some people will not wish to read/see some. Therefore, writers may choose to pass up a prompt, if it strikes too close to home, but if possible, do try. Also, pieces should carry warnings, so that readers may pass over them if necessary.
I thought it sounded worthwhile. Feel free to take part, or pass it on. I give anything a try.
We all have themes, ideas, that we are passionate about, that we have strong opinions on, be it War, Marriage, Love, Hope, Loneliness, Loyalty, Patriotism, Childhood, Freedom, Law, and so on. The challenge here is to comment with a theme that you are passionate about. I will then write a short piece illuminating one view of this theme. And in return, you have to respond with a piece illustrating the other side.
There are only a couple of rules:
1) No matter which side of the issue you end up illustrating, you have to treat it fairly and seriously.
2) You cannot attack the people who advocate the other side, or the writer of any piece. This is an exercise in understanding, in seeing the other point of view, and the person writing may not even believe the words they write. So keep it clean!
3) The piece may be of any kind. Fanfic, original, long, short, poem, prose. Whatever. The only limits are that it must be linked to its partner viewpoint, treated with respect, and attempt to adequately express your understanding of the issue in question.
4) Try not to write leading pieces. This is not meant as an attempt to get people to say what you want them to say. If you are the host writer, do not deliberately set someone up to say something. The aim of the game is to introduce yourself and others to different aspects of an issue, not to engage in one-up-manship.
5) No propaganda, and no attacking specific groups if it can be avoided. The realms of the imagination that we as writers tap into are surely wide enough to speak of an issue without citing specific real-life examples that may cause pain to readers.
6) Do not take things too seriously. Treat the exercise with respect, but do not forget that life is wide and short, and there is humour even in what pains us. Do not bring grudges to this, and do not take them away.
7) There are no taboo issues, but it is inevitable that some people will not wish to read/see some. Therefore, writers may choose to pass up a prompt, if it strikes too close to home, but if possible, do try. Also, pieces should carry warnings, so that readers may pass over them if necessary.
I thought it sounded worthwhile. Feel free to take part, or pass it on. I give anything a try.
