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The Marauders Map Challenge Update #2 |
| Harry and Ginny stopped at the top of the ladder to catch their breath before entering through the trap door in the floor. They were following the dots of Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. But they were more surprised the map showed the Shrieking Shack because they thought it was beyond the Hogwarts property. “I’m going to take a look.” Harry whispered to her. Ginny nodded in understanding. Slowly opening the door, Harry stuck his head out so he could see around the room. The place looked beat up and long discarded. He could see the layer of dust on the floor near his face. But the footprints and what looked like something dragged beside the person walking was clearly evident. What was worse was the one, raggedy-dressed man sitting at a dilapidated table in the corner looking back at him. “Hello Harry. And Ginny I believe I see behind you. Please come on in. You two are probably safer in here than you are in the castle. Especially, Harry, since I’m your godfather.” More on shock than anything else, Harry raised the trap door higher and started climbing into the room, only extending a hand to help Ginny. This word story can be told in many ways. This is just one example to get you thinking. |
| Sir Ollivander on 2008.12.20 - 09:07AM () |
Comments
Spenser Hemmingway came out of the woodwork on 2008.12.23 - 09:47AM to say:
There are actually three objectives in writing a story for a SIYE Challenge. The first two are obvious; the first being to promote Harry and Ginny and naturally the second one is to have fun. The third goal is just as important. It's to push ourselves as writers and therefore (hopefully) to learn something. If Sir Ollivander were simply to ask you to write a nice story set during Harry's third year, we'd get some nice submissions and probably a few yawns. Instead we are given an obstacle course and ask to beat our best time running it. The conditions, standards and theme narrow the path and make us work, but in the end that fun is enhanced. Look at past Challenges and how the authors rose to them, accomplishing what was asked and giving us some incredible work. They weren't asked to wade across the creek, but rather to swim the river with Kreacher on their backs. I'll point out that the river is not that deep, house-elves are not that heavy and when you reach the other shore it is extremely satisfying. So is completing a Challenge story. Out of forty-eight stories I've written for this site, twenty have been for Challenges, and I know that I'm the better for having participated in the contests. I strongly, strongly encourage everyone to enter this one as well! Great luck to you! Eric B.