Challenge Angstmongers Anonymous | Angst Challenge & Discussion Thread | Next up: Angsty Settings Roulette!

With 31 entries complete Shh-Kirr's life as a Jedi archivist ends here in the life of Shh-Kirr

 

And Padmé and Obi-Wan's angsty adventure continues with prompt #3's "Progress".

 

Thank you for embracing the challenge so completely! I'm so glad you were inspired by the prompts!

And once again, I have to thank @Mira_Jade for proposing this version of the challenge and for helping me come up with such an awesome list. Same time next year?

 

Hello, everyone! We've reached the official end of our inaugural Angstober event, which means it's time to say congratulations to our very first Angstober Completionists! These two tireless authors managed to write for every set of prompts on our list, so please join me in giving a big round of applause to:

@devilinthedetails and @earlybird-obi-wan!
​

Marvelous job to you both! And thank you to everyone who participated in the Angstober challenge! It was a lot of fun diving headfirst into all that delicious angst, and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. Remember, the challenge period may have officially ended, but you are still free to continue writing for the Angstober prompts and posting your progress in this thread. As an added bonus, anyone who finishes all thirty-one sets of prompts will receive honorary Angstober completionist status on our index!


That's all for now, but I'll be back soon with our next challenge!

 

lol you and me both! I'm definitely going to be returning to these prompts throughout the next year.

Aw yeah, I can't wait to see what else we can come up with.



And speaking of "challenge still accepted," I finished a fic for prompt set #5!

Ruminations of an Alchemist

 

@Findswoman has submitted In You the Roses Speak for our 2023 Angstober challenge, using elements from prompt sets 2 & 31! So awesome to have you join in, Finds! You're making me want to get back to some of my unfinished Angstober ficlets.


And since I'm here... HELLO, MY ANGSTMONGERS! It's been a hot minute since we've gathered here, hasn't it? Rest assured, now that the Kessel Run has wrapped up, we're going to dive back into the angst with a new challenge (and maybe even a new discussion), so be on the lookout for that very soon!

In the meantime, if anyone has any angst-related topics or questions they would like to discuss with the group, don't be shy! What angsty thoughts are lurking in those brains?

 

I’m writing some pretty unprecedented-for-me angst coming up and could use advice on telling the difference between “my brain thinks this mess has to further the story and it has to stay in the plot” and “I’m doing this because I need therapy.”

 

Is there anyone these days who doesn't need therapy? Stories have plenty of room for angst because people deal with varying level of angst all the time, from dropping a cookie on the floor and being a responsible adult and not eating it anyway all the way up to genuinely crushing grief or trauma. The trick, as you clearly already realize, is to avoid gratuitousness.

Does the angst in question further the plot by telling the reader something they'll need to know later? Does it further a character arc by showing us why someone is the way they are, why they might self-sabotage relationships or avoid commitment or fear success or failure? Does it lay groundwork for a later story development that you'll want the reader to say, "oh, that makes sense" even if it's not necessarily what they'd want to happen? Does the angst feel authentic to the situation and characters involved, or do you have a sneaking suspicion in the back of your mind that it's a bit much? If you took it out or toned it down, how would the story/plot/characters be affected? Do the plot and character arcs feel easier to follow without it, or is something missing now?

This is all pretty general advice, but it's the sort of questions I ask myself when I'm not sure if I'm getting carried away with any strong emotion in my writing

 

I think this is just about perfectly worded, Devil. I don't think there's a person alive who isn't dealing with some form of trauma, and that can even help our writing at times (as well as being therapeutic), but yes, it needs to be organic to the character and story rather than an author intrusion. Beautifully stated

 

First of all let me applaud @devilinthedetails for the candor

And also let me give mega props to fanfic writers who incorporate angst. It always feels right to the situation and character(s) and is usually balanced with moments of lightness to lighten the atmosphere. I like angst that is presented as challenges or crises to overcome not as a never-ending cycle of there's nothing we can do to prevail so why bother?

 

That makes a lot of sense. Part of this was answered when my brain insisted I needed a specific character arc and I didn’t know why until the next generation told me a story about how the angst shaped them. I didn’t know they want Ed their own story until the extra character who is now involved had an opinion on a turning point in her mother’s involvement in the war.

And I know what you mean slightly, @devilinthedetails. I wrote domestic violence before ROTS and ironically, episode 3 came out eight hours before my court date to ask for the domestic violence to determine a specific outcome. So it was somewhat comforting to have a clear answer for why the Skywalkers fell apart on the day that I had to tell the judge about why I felt unsafe with my husband knowing where I was and luckily, the judge sided with me. But I have specific needs for DV in fics. I had a reader request a rape scene and even if I didn’t have experience with assault, I didn’t see that as a necessary part of the stories they were reading.

 

Hello again, angstmongers! I'm going to interrupt this excellent discussion for just a minute to give you our newest challenge...

Angst Challenge #5

50 Sentences​

This one is pretty straightforward – I will give you a set of 50 prompt words, and you must write one sentence for each prompt, for a total of 50 sentences! We’re actually going to have four separate lists of 50 prompts to choose from: three of the sets will be populated with angsty prompts, and as a special challenge, the last set will feature some of the fluffiest, happiest, sweetest prompts around… which you will then use to write the angstiest sentences you can imagine.

Now for some additional guidelines:

• Your sentences must be angsty! (The level of angst is up to you )
• Your sentences do not have to contain the prompt words themselves, but they should embody the meaning of the prompts.
• Sentences should be written in the same order they appear in this post; no rearranging the prompts!
• You may use your sentences to craft 50 individual stories or one single narrative, but all 50 sentences must be in the same fandom.
• All 50 sentences must be posted together. No splitting the sentences up into smaller groups (for example, half in one post, half in another), and no mixing-and-matching sentences from the other sets of prompts.
• You may choose to write for one set of prompts, all four sets, or anything in between – and you are free to write for the same set multiple times if it strikes your fancy!

Prompt Set #1: Fire & Brimstone

Spoiler: Set #1

1. Ashes
2. Broken
3. Pathetic
4. Lost
5. Numb
6. Stare
7. Liar
8. Devour
9. Surrender
10. Solitude
11. Shadow
12. Drowning
13. Imposter
14. Monster
15. Martyr
    
16. Atrophy
17. Burn
18. Take
19. Search
20. Squander
21. Disappear
    
22. Yearning
23. Distant
24. Relic
    
25. Pursue
    
26. Abandon
    
27. Selfish
28. Fate
29. Wait
30. Artifice
31. Refuse
    
32. Soul
33. Loathing
    
34. Revenge
35. Enemy
36. Guilty
37. Mend
38. Bury
39. Overrun
40. Whisper
41. Trapped
42. Fear
43. Infect
44. Mourning
45. Repent
46. Fracture
47. Reap
48. Addicted
49. Blame
50. Farewell

Prompt Set #2: Doom & Gloom

Spoiler: Set #2

1. Veil
2. Decoy
3. Sinking
4. Leave
5. Shackle
6. Wraith
7. Doom
8. Rotten
9. Anguish
10. Bereft
11. Grieve
12. Shallow
13. Waste
14. Sorrow
15. Toil
16. Starve
17. Deprive
18. Bitter
19. Virulent
20. Maelstrom
21. Forfeit
22. Brittle
23. Stab
24. Shut
25. Supplant
26. Voracious
27. Chase
28. Catch
29. Release
30. Squeeze
31. Grind
32. Ruthless
33. Cunning
34. Betrayal
35. Mire
36. Habit
37. Bones
38. Foul
39. Succumb
40. Metamorphosis
41. Listless
42. Void
43. Creed
44. Shed
45. Dim
46. Mirage
47. Strangled
48. Gaze
49. Deceit
50. Endless

Prompt Set #3: Pain & Suffering

Spoiler: Set #3

1. Need
2. Ajar
3. Bend
4. Repute
5. Variance
6. Seldom
7. Blister
8. Eddy
9. Due
10. Stone
11. Stigma
12. Abject
13. Ennui
14. Haze
15. Flaw
16. Char
17. Descent
18. Bellow
19. Covet
20. Pray
21. Raw
22. Arid
23. Own
24. Forge
25. Leaden
26. Fervency
27. Catalyst
28. Excess
29. Swarm
30. Mute
31. Spore
32. Pry
33. Leash
34. Brink
35. Reciprocal
36. Opaque
37. Choke
38. Reprise
39. Seek
40. Heft
41. Callous
42. Hollow
43. Entice
44. Fetid
45. Rasp
46. Latent
47. Seemingly
48. Hereafter
49. Foregone
50. Never

Prompt Set #4: Sweetness & Fluff (to be used for writing ANGST )

Spoiler: Set #4

1. Delight
2. Jewel
3. Radiance
4. Lovely
5. Ardor
6. Laughter
7. Content
8. Welcome
9. Golden
10. Flourish
11. Blessed
12. Sunshine
13. Fortune
14. Kiss
15. Speak
16. Shimmer
17. Bliss
18. Life
19. Vivid
20. Tender
21. Honest
22. Embrace
23. Spirited
24. Caress
25. Promise
26. Intimacy
27. Marry
28. Home
29. Protect
30. Flower
31. Renewal
32. Devotion
33. Entwine
34. Dwell
35. Newborn
36. Gorgeous
37. Divine
38. Delicious
39. Precious
40. Irresistible
41. Idyllic
42. Wondrous
43. Safe
44. Revere
45. Pure
46. Dream
47. Angel
48. Sweet
49. Darling
50. Cherish

You may post your responses in a new thread or in one of your existing story threads - just make sure to share the link here so I can add them to our index! And for an example of what writing 50 sentences looks like, or how to format your sentences, check out this set of 50 sentences by our own @Mira_Jade!

I think I've covered the important stuff, but if I missed something, don't hesitate to ask questions! Our "deadline" for this challenge is Monday, June 17th, but you guys know the drill - the deadline is merely a goal, and you're always welcome to submit entries after the deadline for any challenge in this thread. As always, the TOS apply. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful angst you can cook up with these prompts! Happy writing, and may the angst be with you.

---

Challenge Index:

• Doom & Gloom in a dream by earlybird-obi-wan (Set #2: Doom & Gloom)
• A Gentle Rage Becoming Wild by ViariSkywalker (Set #4: Sweetness & Fluff)
• Ash Dynasty by devilinthedetails (Set #1: Fire & Brimstone)
• I Swallow the Day by Mira_Jade (Set #2: Doom & Gloom)
• Sighs of a Daughter of Lasan by Findswoman (Set #4: Sweetness & Fluff)

~~

 

Okay, Vi, you know that I love you and want to support your challenges, but you also know that I hate writing teeny tiny fics. You've seen me dig my heels in about drabbles, so you can imagine what I think about the prospect of writing single-sentence stories

...and yet, these are some pretty good words, and I'm especially tempted by the Sweetness & Fluff list



I gotta think about this

 

oooh, just what I need to jumpstart my creative thoughts!

 

I have written some angst for my OC Ker Zomorian in Doom & Gloom in a dream Angst challenge He will be in a mini game story where more will be revealed

 

*reads*



*reads again*



Why was I not informed that this thread exists?

...

Oh, right, it's up to me to look for them. Does snark count as angst? Anybody? ... No?

I do love angst, though. I will have to see if the plot bunnies hit me. But now I know this is here! Woo-hoo! Win for me.

 

@Mira_Jade - So much potential for angst, you're right! The Sweetness & Fluff list might be my favorite just for the sheer challenge of twisting all those lovely words into something darker, but I absolutely love all four sets of prompts, and I'm just as excited to see what everyone does with them.

@Nehru_Amidala - Good luck with your angsty muse!

@earlybird-obi-wan - Great job finishing such dark and gloomy sentences! Your story is in the index.

@Vek Talis - Welcome to the chaos! I hope you find plenty of angsty inspiration in this thread.


I've finished my own set of 50 sentences for the "Sweetness & Fluff" prompts: A Gentle Rage Becoming Wild (part of my ficlet collection Lover, Hunter, Friend, and Enemy). I'm hoping to write for at least one more set of prompts, but for now I'll start with these!

 

I’m still deciding if I want to do something in the Mononoke!verse or the Utena/Evangelion crossover I am drafting. Of the two, I think Mononoke will work better with the offerings.

 

I see that we're exactly four weeks out from our target deadline of June 17th for the 50 Sentences challenge! How's it going, angstmongers? Anyone else have a set of sentences that they're working on?


It's also high time we had a new discussion question! We'll keep this one on the relatively simple side:

What are your favorite angsty tropes, and why do you love them?
​

Don't be shy, step right up and tell us which tropes make your angsty little heart flutter!

~~