@blockurator,

I wouldn't miss it for the world.

For those not in the know, Block is a genius of literary corruption ... twisting and contorting genre expectations in a way that leaves one gob-smacked in incredulity.

As non-enticing as that may sound, I would argue that to be a great writer, you must take every opportunity you encounter to exercise your creativity. And I promise you, it will take every ounce of creativity you can muster to dig yourself out of the holes your fellow authors create. :-)

As writers, we often settle into genres in which we become comfortable, and hence, one story ends up sounding a great deal like the next. This leads to stagnation.

In thirty years of writing, in both poetry and prose, these challenges have been the BEST test of creativity I have ever encountered. I participated in both: As the last author in the first challenge, and as the third author in the second.

So, I encourage you to rise to the challenge, prepare for a lot of swearing and cursing and pull out your pen.

Quill