The Courage Competition:

2007 has been the year for compelling literature competitions, we've had the ugly, the beautiful, the haunted, and the Thank You Contest currently being run by `GeneratingHype, and now, I'm spinning another your way.

Your next stop? Courage.

What is courage?
Dictionary.com dictates that courage is defined by the following:

Cour.age
Pronunciation: [kur-ji, kuhr-]

1. The quality of mind/spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

2. Obsolete. the heart as the source of emotion.

3. Have the courage of one's convictions, to act in accordance with one's beliefs, esp. in spite of criticism.

But this competition isn’t just about a dictionary definition, I want to know what Courage means to you, or how you interpret it.

Is courage about the BIG things such as an exam or dumping your partner? Getting married or confronting a lying lover? Can you un-cliché the clichés hidden in these acts?

Is it the potential courage? That split second moment when you, or a friend, or a character realises they can do it. Or the failed courage, the disappointment, the anguish. What happens before, or after? It's your choice.

Show me what courage means to you, consider the components that make up the word and letters added to make another word: i.e. encourage.


Now while you reflect on your conception of courage, take a moment to refresh:

Intricate details are a bonus, show the potential/failure of courage and the subtleties of character, and you'll be well on your way.

Un-cliché the cliché. I’m looking for fresh ideas and approaches, a new spin on an old cliché or an original perspective.

Decent spelling and grammar. This includes proper paragraphing, breaking up large blocks of text.


Your entries can be poetry OR prose.
Poetry - less than 150 lines
Prose - 3,000 or less.

Any style, any genre. Fiction or Non-Fiction.


*
In the words of Maria Tumarkin, "Sometimes ordinary life takes more guts than the grand gesture."

So with that advice, give me a piece of writing, a story, poem, or a trip down memory lane that’ll make me laugh, cry, or slip off my seat.

Submissions can to be noted to *Amberlouie.

All Entries should be sent by: 30th November, 2007.

1st Prize: 12 month sub + print
2nd Prize: 3 month sub/print
3rd Prize: 1 month sub/devwear


** Prizes donated by *Amberlouie, ^StJoan & *poprocksandcharlotte.

: Any other prizes, re: subs/journal features/anything else you can think of would be appreciated, and can be noted.



- write, write, write!