B-Movie

This month's challenge is a Matryoshka challenge based on the predictable plot arc of the hilariously abominable, eye-rollingly corny, so-bad-they're-actually-kinda-good horror films. Your fanwork does not have to be a horror story, but prompts will be loosely inspired by the plot arcs of these films. (Please note that prompts are not horror-specific. Any genre of fanwork can be created based on these prompts, although there may be a special reward for participants who attempt a horror fanwork.)

Never tried a Matryoshka challenge before? See our FAQ: What is a Matryoshka challenge and how does it work? Prompts are below, and there are Easy (three prompts), Medium (five prompts), or Difficult (seven prompts) sets. You may use more than one set.

Credit: TVTrope's slasher movie entry was an invaluable source of inspiration in designing this challenge and titling some of the prompts.

This challenge opened in October 2018 .

Prompts

Choose your prompt from the collection below.

View Prompts

Easy

Prompt 1

All in Good Fun: Your character is invited to do something enjoyable … but something doesn't feel quite right. You may open your next prompt when your character begins to get the sense that something's wrong.

Prompt 2

Nearly Indestructible: Your character fails at something that is normally easy for them. You may open the final prompt after you finish writing about the failure.

Prompt 3

Final Girl: Your character confronts something: another character, a fear, a conflict they've been avoiding--anything you can imagine!

Medium

Prompt 1

Minor Sins: Your character or characters get up to some innocent wrongdoing. You may open the next prompt after you complete the opening scene *or* after you address this prompt--whichever comes first.

Prompt 2

Up the Stairs, Not out the Door: Your character does something contrary to common sense. You may open your next prompt after the stupidity occurs.

Prompt 3

Cruel and Unusual: One of your characters acts in either a cruel *or* an unexpected way. You may open the next prompt after you complete this prompt *or* after you write 500 more words--whichever comes first.

Prompt 4

The Car Won't Start: Your character expects something to be easy or functional--until it isn't. Write how they react and whether they solve their dilemma, and then you may open the final prompt.

Prompt 5

There's Always a Sequel: Your character tries something a second (or third, or fourth …) time.

Difficult

Prompt 1

Requisite Miscreant: Your character encounters a character or characters from a marginalized or disempowered group. You may open your next prompt after writing the opening scene *or* reaching 1,000 words--whichever comes first.

Prompt 2

Into the Woods: Your character feels remote, isolated, or alone. You may open your next prompt after you reach a word count of 1,500.

Prompt 3

Untimely Twisted Ankles: Your character experiences a setback at the worst possible moment. Write 500 more words, and you may open the next prompt (regardless of whether or not you've addressed this one yet).

Prompt 4

Authorities Are Useless: Your character turns to someone* they thought could help them, but this turns out to not be the case. Once you begin this prompt, you may open the next prompt.
*Note that this "someone" does not actually have to be an authority.

Prompt 5

Dark Secret: Reveal a secret. Reach 2,500 words, and you may open the next prompt (regardless of whether or not you've addressed this one yet).

Prompt 6

Victim Is a Jerk: Something bad happens, only the person kinda deserves it. Begin this scene *or* reach the 3,000-word goal, and you may open the final prompt.

Prompt 7

Not Quite Dead: Your character thought a conflict was solved, but it reappears in their life one last time to add one last little twist to the story. (Don't forget to reach 3,000 words to claim the stamp for completing the difficult challenge!)