Professor Ends Bulwer-Lytton Bad Writing Contest After 43 Years (bulwer-lytton.com) 11
Slashdot covered the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest in 2008 and 2010 — though it's been running since 1983. Entrants competed to write the worst-possible first sentence for a novel, in a contest started by English professor Scott E. Rice at San Jose State University (which sponsored the contest). In its first year it drew over 10,000 entries!
Over the years the bad first sentences were even collected into actual books (that were edited by Rice). But after 43 years, Rice delivered his own disappointing first sentence. "It is with deep regrets that I announce the conclusion of the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest." Being a year and a half older than Joseph Biden, I find the BLFC becoming increasingly burdensome and would like to put myself out to pasture while I still have some vim and vigor!
When I initiated the competition in 1983, inviting entrants to submit bad opening sentences to imaginary novels, I never dreamed that we would receive thousands of entrants from all over the U.S. and the globe, or that the contest would survive for over four decades.
I am especially grateful to our entrants for keeping the contest alive and to our Panel of Undistinguished Judges who dutifully selected each year's "winners." And, of course, I would like to thank my daughter, EJ, who has been indispensable the last several years of the contest. It's been 42 good years but, alas, all good things must come to an end. Rest assured we're keeping the BLFC spirit alive by maintaining our archive for posterity so that generations and generations hence may witness your greatness!
His daughter EJ added their own words of thanks: Lastly, any little bit you could spare towards helping us keep the archive going (a few bucks is great!) would be greatly appreciated (EJ's Venmo is @elizabeth-rice-12). Thank you so much for your joy and enthusiasm — the noble Bulweriers have made working on the contest a treasure!!
Over the years the bad first sentences were even collected into actual books (that were edited by Rice). But after 43 years, Rice delivered his own disappointing first sentence. "It is with deep regrets that I announce the conclusion of the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest." Being a year and a half older than Joseph Biden, I find the BLFC becoming increasingly burdensome and would like to put myself out to pasture while I still have some vim and vigor!
When I initiated the competition in 1983, inviting entrants to submit bad opening sentences to imaginary novels, I never dreamed that we would receive thousands of entrants from all over the U.S. and the globe, or that the contest would survive for over four decades.
I am especially grateful to our entrants for keeping the contest alive and to our Panel of Undistinguished Judges who dutifully selected each year's "winners." And, of course, I would like to thank my daughter, EJ, who has been indispensable the last several years of the contest. It's been 42 good years but, alas, all good things must come to an end. Rest assured we're keeping the BLFC spirit alive by maintaining our archive for posterity so that generations and generations hence may witness your greatness!
His daughter EJ added their own words of thanks: Lastly, any little bit you could spare towards helping us keep the archive going (a few bucks is great!) would be greatly appreciated (EJ's Venmo is @elizabeth-rice-12). Thank you so much for your joy and enthusiasm — the noble Bulweriers have made working on the contest a treasure!!
it was, a dark and stormy night... (Score:3)
Well it lasted longer than the oil refinery... (Score:2)
There was an oil refinery in Brisbane Australia called Bulwer Island Refinery. That was shut down 10 years ago. On the up side The Lytton refinery on the other side of the river is still running (though it's changed owners a few times in the past decade).
I do wonder who decided to name those suburbs that https://www.google.nl/maps/@-2... [google.nl]
Re:Well it lasted longer than the oil refinery... (Score:4, Interesting)
And in conclusion, as to the contest, (Score:4, Informative)
Obligatory Snoopy (Score:4, Funny)
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/72/c... [pinimg.com]
Wish I had known about it. (Score:3)
I'd have entered with something like this:
Some days, you get the bad guy, and some days the bad guy gets a muffin; and so it was that our hero, Jeff Boxley, caught his bad guy — not with a gun, but with a pastry.
Disney replied, (Score:2)
Why does it have to end? (Score:3)
Re: Why does it have to end? (Score:2)
I notice YOU did not offer to take it over, you just requested that someone else take it over.
Why don't YOU take it over?
People make fun of Bulwer-Lytton (Score:2)
But they still quote "the pen is mightier than the sword", which in context is a superb description of good government:: "Beneath the rule of men entirely great, the pen is mightier than the sword". He should get credit. Besides, the opening of Paul Clifford was standard Victorian style.