NaNoWriMo Day 28, 29, and 30 Challenges
Word Challenge: parturition
Definition: The process of bringing forth young; the act or process of giving birth
Word Challenge: esprit
Definition: sprightliness of spirit or wit; lively intelligence
Word Challenge: dissolution
Definition: the act or process of resoling or dissolving into parts or elements; the resulting state; the undoing or breaking of a bond, tie, union, partnership, etc; the breaking up of an assembly or organization; dismissal; dispersal; an order issued by the head of a state terminating a parliament and necessitating a new election.
Theme Challenge: Birth, Life, and Death (The Cycle of Life)
For the final three challenges, work in the entire cycle of life; birth, life, and death. It can be of one individual, of a family, or of connected individuals. That said, there should be a relation between these people so the entire cycle can be shown; the death of a complete stranger isn’t a part of your main character’s life cycle, for example. As a theme, show how the basic progression of life, from birth to death, impacts individuals and those close to them.
Plot Challenge: The Life Cycle (as a plot)
Incorporate the specific events of life in your plot; these need not be connected, as the theme challenge. One plot point should be birth, one plot point should be one of the ‘major events’ in a person’s life (marriage, house acquisition, moving, graduating school, becoming an adult, and so on) and the death of a character.
Tie each of these events to your current plot arcs.
Character Challenge: Coping with Life
From the view point of one character, have them deal with all of the elements of life; you can have the main character observe the consequences of these elements on a friend or acquaintance. However, one character must deal with all three of these elements in life, preferably within a short period of time. Show how the character is impacted and changed as a result of these things.
Alternatively, you can repeat elements of life (One character dealing with three deaths close to them, for example…)
Conflict Challenge: Tarot Readings, Ouija Boards, Crystal Balls, and Superstitions, Oh my!
Major events in people’s lives can cause a sudden and dramatic change of characteristics. One of your characters has snapped. Take one of your characters who is not typically into tarot readings, Ouija boards, and superstitions, and make them obsessed with the teachings and ideals of those who typically use these things.
Explore the major conflicts such a shift can cause in a group of people. Tie in the plot and character challenges for a little extra flair.
Build three conflicts relating to the use of these fortune telling tools. Explore Man vs Man, Man vs Nature, and Man vs society conflicts. (Man vs Man being disagreements between two individuals, man versus nature being a conflict between a character and the environment around him, and man vs society being the views of a group of people against his or her beliefs.)
Fun & Games: A Night on the Town
Your characters, by now, are likely at the final stages of their adventure. Or, if you’re writing a full-length big fat fantasy, are right in the thick of things.
Your characters go out for a night on the town. Include three of the following elements:
Plundering, Mayhem, Arson, Concert, Movie Theater, Explosions the characters caused, Explosions the characters didn’t cause, drunken debauchery.
Let’s just say they really light up the town.