Writing Challenge #6 - Skyway Buddha

Hi folks

This one’s going out a bit earlier because, well, it’s going out on the morning of Election Day.

I’ve said all the things in previous posts.

Deadline amnesty for time spent voting continues to apply yet today and tomorrow for that purpose.

So please get out and vote if you haven’t already done so.

Thanks!

Now, let’s get you that writing prompt…


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Challenge #6 - Skyway Buddha

Due: Thursday, November 7th, 12pm noon Central Time
(1pm Eastern Time, 11am Mountain Time, 10am Western Time for the US Time Zones)



As part of the primary day job, I have to take checks to the bank, and the most efficient way to get from my desk in the office over to the teller at the bank is to make my way through the twists and turns of the Saint Paul skyways.

There are some unusual corners.

And sometimes lurking in those corners are unexpected surprises.

One day as I was strolling along, just off in the corner, in a jog in the skyway path, in semi-shadow was…

Buddha?

No, it wasn't actually Buddha, of course - that’s just where my brain went.

It was a large African American man in one of those big motorized wheelchairs that also sometimes remind me of Davros or the Daleks from Doctor Who.

But on this particular day, this large smiling presence brought to mind the religious figure instead.

And it struck me as an odd idea - just Buddha hanging out where you least expect it.

Like running into a random figure from Greek or other mythologies at the bus stop or light rail station - or on the bus or train as a passenger.

People pray to Jesus and the Virgin Mary all the time but what if you actually crossed paths with them in the most mundane rather than grand of settings.

The bank, the local bar, an office cubicle.

(And now I’m thinking of Kevin Smith’s Dogma - that was weird film, but I have it in my DVD collection)

At any rate, it’s also hangover time from spooky season, so it could just as easily be any kind of supernatural creature or monster.

Take the everyday, and something or someone from an elevated plane of existence, throw them together and see what happens.

Or, as usual, ignore me and write whatever you want.

Just write something.


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If you’re not interested in this prompt, you can

try 2021’s challenge #6: Bigfoot By Moonlight

Or try 2022’s challenge #6: Mascots

Or try 2023’s Challenge #6: Art Gallery Titles

Or, you know, just ignore the prompts altogether and write whatever you want - as long as you’re writing and turning it in by the deadline, that’s all that matters for the challenge :)


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And because we call can get in our own way so easily, here’s some words of reassurance on the basics of this month:

Friendly Reminders - Answers To Common Questions:
(Follow the links to read me expounding on these items :)

Deadline Amnesty for Voting (and other handy challenge tips)

Don’t Stress About Writing A Full Play

Don’t Stress About FormatDon’t Stress About Sticking To The Writing Prompt

No.  Really.  I Mean It.  Don’t Stress About Sticking To The Writing Prompt

Don’t Stress About Finishing An Idea (You Can Add Later)

Don’t Stress About “Succeeding” or “Failing”

Don’t Stress About What You’re Turning In Each Day

Don’t Stress About November 28th (however you recognize the holiday weekend)


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How to submit your work for Challenge #6

You have options.  They are:

Save your script as a PDF or Word Doc and send as an attachment to an email sent to ThresholdWritingChallenge@gmail.com

OR

Copy and paste your script in the body of an email and send it to ThresholdWritingChallenge@gmail.com

OR

Post your script online (as a Google doc, or in a blog post, on your own personal website, etc.) - email a link to this script to ThresholdWritingChallenge@gmail.com
(If you’re going to Google doc route, just make sure to have the document public, or give permissions to our email address to open it)

When emailing us, make the subject line of your email - Challenge #6
(That just helps us sort through the email more quickly)
(Or, you know, just reply to this email if you want :)

OR

Post the link for the online document option noted above in the comments section below on this very blog post for today's challenge on our writing challenge blog


Again, this is: Due: Thursday, November 7th, 12pm noon Central Time
(1pm Eastern Time, 11am Mountain Time, 10am Western Time for the US Time Zones)


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And, just to reassure you, no, we are not going to be sticklers about you following these directions down to the minutest detail - the important thing is that you write, and then that you share it with us, so we can keep track of who’s writing every day.

We will be VERY understanding about technical difficulties and how they can screw up making the deadline on the first few days.  No need to fret about anything except the writing (and hopefully that’s not something causing you to fret too much either :)

Also, no, there is no penalty for finishing and submitting early - but it also isn’t a race, so give yourself all the time up til 12 noon Central Time on Thursday to write if you need it.  When you’re done, you’re done.

Again, remember, it doesn’t need to be great, it doesn’t even need to be responding to this prompt (the prompt is just there so you’re not staring at a blank screen to start with no idea what to write about :)

Doesn't even need to be complete - you could have the beginning or the middle or the end of an idea, maybe two out of three but not all, that's still fine. This is all about getting things started, you can write more later. You have 24 more days to build on whatever you come up with today, if you want. Just get anything on the page, even if won't make sense to anyone else, as long as it make sense to you.

It just needs to be something.


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And that something can be:



Lights up.

Moses, Buddha and Mohamed walk into a bar.

Jesus is the bartender, turning water into wine as usual
(show off, but he does have style)

Lights down.

The End




That’s always your escape hatch, every day.

That’s your base line.

Build on it.

Have fun.

Don’t stress.

Make an impulsive decision and run with it.

Breathe.

You’ve got the day.

Just write.

(After you vote, of course :)