Discussion -- May 2011 Challenge

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The Judge

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Ursa's started off the month early -- and I don't know about anyone else, but I'm having panic attacks already!

Urban fantasy? Help!

Buses running on time? Streets without dog mess, chewing gum, litter, or feral pigeons?

This is why I live in the country. I don't do urban. Or urbane...
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

Now you know how we felt with Paranormal Romance. :)


And don't worry about the innocent-looking topic. There'll still be a long string of dark, heart-wrenching tales in that thread by the 23rd of May.
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

ACK!

While this is the particular bailiwick that I prefer to write in this could present its own problems just because it is the area I prefer. After reading the Genre and Theme I was stoked and then I became quickly frustrated. The more and more I tried the less and less I could come up with anything not a derivative of my current WIP or in excess of the word limit!

Paranormal Romance was actually easier.

. . . I can't believe I just typed that last line. :eek:
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

Urban Fantasy? Is it something about rappers daydreaming about scantily-clad women in a swimming pool? I think I'll have to do some research, even if it's not about rappers.
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

And for anyone who is freaking out about the theme because they are under the impression that it's all about vampires and werewolves -- it most definitely is not -- here is one place you can read a broader and more accurate definition:

Urban fantasy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For those who don't want to read the longer definition, I'll boil it down: The story should take place in a city. If possible (and it may not be in 75 words) the urban setting should be in some way integral to the plot. In addition to some sort of fantasy element, that's it.

No vampires, werewolves, paranormal romance, or female detectives who have ghosts for roommates are required. Of course you may use them if you choose, but a story can fit well within the genre without them.

*****

The real challenge here, so far as I can see, is the combination of theme and genre! Urban fantasy does tend to be dark and gritty ...
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

I did take the opportunity of looking up that article before I decided on the genre. As with Paranormal Romance, people have a very skewed view of what constitutes Urban Fantasy (as did I, before reading the Wiki entry).

And Teresa is correct: the real challenge is either to produce something a bit more cheerful than we usually do, or take a slightly different perspective on that (inherent?) darkness.


And if anyone is still worried, be assured that I have absolutely no idea what I'll be entering. In fact, I suspect, for the third challenge in two months (I'm including the 300-word one) I'll be bumping up against the deadline again.

Good luck to everyone (including me :))!
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

Considering that I usually get more votes with my darker stories, I was thinking that I would end my story for May with the total obliteration of all life on Earth.

With special emphasis on the death of kittens.

Now, with the theme of Friendship, I may have to rethink that.
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

I'm glad I gave someone paws for thought. ;):)
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

Some examples of Urban Fantasy: Butcher's Dresden Files, Harrison's Hollows Series, Riordan's Percy Jackson Series and Richards' GreyWalker series these are just a few authors books. In movies and TV other than the adaptations of the above there is also Highlander, Charmed, The Witches of Eastwick to name a few off the top of my head.

Highlander, Charmed and the Witches of Eastwick for instance did not once to my memory include vampires and werewolves. Though Charmed had its share of ghosts, ghouls, demons and the like. Witches of Eastwick and Charmed both had plenty of magic and witches as well. I am (hopefully) sure we all know about Highlander and the Immortals involved. Urban Fantasy is a great genre, it is really just moving fantasy into a more modern setting.

Why just typing this out I have had a ton of new ideas not related to my WIP. I think I am getting amped up!
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

Having only seen a few scenes from the film (which I know isn't the ideal way of determining these things), I'd have categorised The Witches of Eastwick as a paranormal romance.

(Amped up? Isn't that Frankenstein? ;):))


But be pleased I didn't specify Suburban Fantasy (or Mundane SF).
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

I guess it could be both. . .

I never thought about it. When I last watched it I had never heard of Paranormal Romance. Isn't the one a sub-genre of the other to begin with?

Well there is always the TV Show "Eastwick" which is a spin off of the movie and contains very little romance and is very dark. It lasted about a season. :p
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

Ok, I started out thinking, "what in holy hootin' heck (or something like that) is Urban Fantasy? But with a few explanations and a look at the wiki thing, I had even managed to conclude that the Dresden Files were an example before MstrTal said so, so I may have a bit of a handle on it. Yikes!

Teresa, I'm right in there with you! Friends who work toward the total obliteration of life in the cities, with particular emphasis on alley kittens, perhaps?
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

Am I going to have to resort to posting images of cute kittens?


(Or sound files of purring?)






;):)​
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

Suburban fantasy? That's Barbara Good/Felicity Kendal, isn't it...? (Though probably only for British gentlemen of a certain age.)


As for urban fantasy, I thought at once of John Meaney's Tristopolis stories (Bone Song, Dark Blood) -- so I shall be re-reading and ripping them off... er... I mean... paying homage to them.


EDIT: All this kitten-killing -- so much for the chance of having nice stories this month...

... though Nice is a city, isn't it...
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

* Imagines TJ, and Mouse, putting the homme into homage. *
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

Purrhaps the kittens in service to the Goddess Bastett can save the world from being destroyed by the Mongrels intent on sending everyone to their Lord Anubis? A trying tail of strife, friendship and beaded butter milk dripping whiskers in 75 words or less?
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

I did say that I was going to rethink the massacre of the kittens.

As of now, I haven't even the vaguest idea of how I will approach the genre and the theme.

I know that Urban Fantasy doesn't require that the city be a contemporary one or even a relatively modern one. I know that like most sub-genres of Fantasy, it overlaps with quite a few others -- Steampunk, Fantasy of Manners, Paranormal Romance, to name a few -- but even knowing all that doesn't bring me any closer to a story concept right now.

I do like the idea of trying out different genres we perhaps haven't attempted before, though. It should give us all a chance to stretch ourselves.

If only I didn't creak so much when I try to stretch.
 
Re: DISCUSSION -- The 75 Word Challenge May 2011

Teresa Edgerton said:
If only I didn't creak so much when I try to stretch.
Click to expand...

Haha! I know the feeling.

Sorry for sounding stupid but what is classed as an Urban Fantasy.

Not having read that sort of thing, I'm lost:confused:
 
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