Excerpts from literary parody contest

AP via SFGate ^ | 8/13/8

[SmithL]

Here are some wince-inducing excerpts, characterized by interminable tangents and inane prose, from the 26th annual Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, a literary parody contest sponsored by San Jose State University.

Winner:

"Theirs was a New York love, a checkered taxi ride burning rubber, and like the city their passion was open 24/7, steam rising from their bodies like slick streets exhaling warm, moist, white breath through manhole covers stamped 'Forged by DeLaney Bros., Piscataway, N.J.'"

_ Garrison Spik, Washington

[SmithL]

love touches you, and marks you forever

'nuf said

[GnuHere]

Oh thank you! I love to read entries to that contest. What a hoot.

[wideawake]

I liked the Rowling reference.

[Flycatcher]

the wheezy shriek was just the sort of sound he always imagined a baby moose being beaten with a pair of accordions might make.

That was from a runner-up, and I have to say, that actually is GOOD writing if the genre was satire or comedy.

And that's my pet peeve: Most people believe that serious drama is more difficult to write than comedy. But it ain't so. Don't believe me? Try it. Try to be intentionally funny. Not as easy, or pretty, as it looks.

[sodpoodle]

Best satire on FR is John Semmens - search for his name. He has a weekly(?) article. But you probably already knew that;)

The first rule for satire is to expose a flaw in yourself and build on it. Satire should charm a chuckle from the churlish and lure laughter from the lost...it really should not bite.

sod

[Flycatcher]

You said it. John Semmens of AZConservative is a brilliant satirist. And, yes, he even pings me sometimes when he posts (and I thank him for that).

Now as for you, you've got quite a way with words too! Thanks for the response.

[parsifal]

Poor Stanley did not know if it was the best of times and the worst of times, or simply an average of best and worst times, since he had failed statistics and had a completely wrong idea about mean deviations. parsy, who always forgets to enter this contest.

[SunkenCiv]

Ping!

[Tublecane]

lol

I hate statistics (cause I’m stupid).