Let's Write BL! - Creative Writing & Novel Project with Tanka: Challengers Wanted!
This is the 8th installment of the project! It's been going on one way or another!
The demand for BL on note remains as strong as ever, and it's a fact that there are people who want to write it or are interested in trying. I've kept this project going in the hope that it might change something for those who have hesitated to write until now, or who have been resistant to letting others know about it.
But above all, the greatest blessing is having companions who enjoy writing, creating stories, and turning them into text, regardless of the genre.
Since BL and romance-themed works tend to leak your personal hobbies and preferences, I think reading each other's work or peeking into them is one of the fastest ways to get to know someone and show your true self.
If you think it's more fun to have people who will get excited with you—whether it's about dreams hidden in your heart or a slightly naughty novel you're working on in secret—please leave a comment to join!
It's foolish to hold back because you think the difficulty level is high.
Once you've declared your participation, asking the people in the comment section 'How would you write this?' is a chance to broaden your creative horizons.
The hurdle for our project is higher than just commenting on someone else's post out of the blue!
Announcing this month's theme!
Since we have more regulars and a few people waiting on the sidelines, let's start with the theme announcement.
Usually, this is a BL novel creation project involving three themes, but this time we are holding a joint project with Tsuki wa Higashi ni, a challenger who is always eager to compose Tanka, titled 'BL with Tanka'!
For those of you wondering, 'What on earth is that?', it's exactly what it sounds like.
Please create a novel based on the Tanka composed by Tsuki-san!
Please create a BL novel of 5,000 characters or less using two Tanka composed with two themes from the 'Crazy Lottery' and a seasonal theme borrowed from the note schedule.
🦭
First, here are the two Tanka composed by Tsuki-san!
The themes are 'Sailor Suit' and 'Ex-boyfriend's Love Letter'.
Regarding the sailor suit, I've specified a word to be included in the Tanka to increase the 'crazy' factor.
【Themes】
① Sailor Suit *Word specified
Letting the collar of the sailor suit flutter, singing 'Hydrogen, Helium, my...'. Yours,
② Ex-boyfriend's Love Letter
'I like the handwriting' is the reason I keep it, the ink stain is so very blue
The third theme is 'Golden Week'!
Please create a bromance/BL novel within 5000 characters using "Golden Week" and Tsuki-san's tanka"!
✴︎When creating your work, you must include "Golden Week," and you may use either one of the two tanka (① or ②) or both. You do not necessarily need to prioritize including the tanka for the theme itself, other than "Golden Week."
You do not need to prioritize including the tanka for the theme itself, other than "Golden Week."
✴︎You may write a novel that incorporates the tanka itself, or a novel where you let your imagination run wild based on the tanka.
I have received permission from Tsuki-san, so please feel free to use them.
✴︎Before your creative novel, please be sure to write which tanka you used for your creation.
If you don't quite understand the project details, please ask in the comments section of this article.
For inquiries regarding the tanka, please ask Tsuki wa Higashi ni-san by commenting, "Regarding the tanka for 'BL with Tanka'..." They also post wonderful tanka every day, so please enjoy them together.
There is a quoted article below where Tsuki-san wrote about their feelings, so please check that out.
Based on the above, please post your novel on your own note on April 21st! At that time, please add the tags "#noteでBL" and "#短歌でBL," or quote this article!
If you would like to take on the challenge, please declare your participation in the comments section of this article by saying, "I'll do it!". Feel free to leave questions or other casual comments as well! Late arrivals and early departures are also OK, but if you are hesitant, please hint at your hesitation!
Tsuki-san's tanka have a story to them, like a flash fiction piece rather than just a mastery of the form.
While these tanka seem to have been left with implications and gaps for the sake of creation, some of their usual work can be completed within the 31 syllables of the 5-7-5-7-7 structure depending on how you read it.
It seems they get teased by their AI partner, but it's modern and easy to read, isn't it?
You can find Tsuki-san here ↓
Hints for creation and how to broaden your scope!
Answer Tanka
In the classification of poetry collections, love poems are called "Soumonka" (poems of mutual inquiry)! You can interpret them as love letters or love poems, and write an "Answer Tanka" instead of an answer song. Let's do a Kana Nishino/Aoyama Thelma!
Sailor Uniforms and Diversity
Don't think, "Oh, it's youth again." If you look into sailor uniforms, you can see various worlds. Although they aren't worn much now, they were originally worn by men. Will you protect, break, or ignore society's image? It's a pleasure if you use it well.
Ink Bleeding
Do you feel the era, or do you cherish old things? Whether it's extinct humanity or people from the past, it's good. Fantasy, historical novels, or intentionally analog modern to future. My delusions won't stop.
Broaden or Dig Deeper
There are two main criteria for ways of thinking. A way of thinking that broadens and overlooks the whole, and a way of thinking that digs down into the details. The content will change depending on whether you create the overall image of the tanka itself or accurately dig into the poet's intentions.
Project overview for first-timers!
This is how we do it.
Once you throw down the gauntlet, you will be added as a member forever to the magazine with the super tacky header, so be prepared. The magazine has a guide in "Magazine Guide."
Please post a BL (bromance is also acceptable) work of 5,000 characters or less on a set theme to your own note as a free article on the designated day! - Create an original work using a seasonal event chosen from the official note calendar and two tanka. - Novels should be between 3,000 and 5,000 characters (if you want to post multiple, please post them separately as it gets heavy). - Tanka, haiku, and poems are also OK (if there are multiple, please combine them into one article). - Illustrations, manga, and essays are also acceptable. - A total of up to 3 works per person. - Post on the designated day on your own note with the tags "#noteでBL" and "#短歌でBL," or quote this article. Feel free to add other tags you like!
After collecting everyone's works, I will pin an article for one week that introduces the challengers and collects their novels. Please use it as an opportunity to read other participants' novels and interact. You can also check out new challengers and surprise participants here! It's fine to have a festival on the day, or to browse slowly later! It's also fine to immerse yourself in your own world when it's over! There are many creative friends, people submitting to public contests, and people serializing on novel sites. Please use it for networking.
We were just as crazy last time!
Last time, we were writing novels based on the youth we all almost forgot.
The themes were “Graduation/Entrance Ceremony,” “Delinquent,” and “Sports Bra,” so we had a spring-themed gathering of delinquents!
The content is a testament to the varying levels of resolution for delinquents (ranging from pompadours to people doing ballet) and the diversity of sports bras.
For some reason, battles started breaking out, and it’s packed with a wide variety of works that aren't just about heart-pounding excitement.
Magazine Information
As a bonus, all previous theme-based novels and challenger submissions will be included in a magazine with a super tacky header! 😍
✴︎There is absolutely no requirement to follow challengers, so feel free to do as you please!
For those who find it a hassle to check in every month, register for the magazine and crazy BL themes will be delivered to you automatically!
My Recent Life
My note browsing has been lagging.
The reason is that I'm clumsy.
I'm writing my first full-length novel for a public submission, and well, my ability to switch gears is limited, so I haven't been able to make time for note.
When I go around reading articles, everyone is so interesting that hours just fly by!
I have set it up so that I receive notifications for comments and cited articles, so please feel free to use my articles! Please feel free to leave challenge comments, chat, or ask questions!
In fact, please help spread the word about this project.
The deadline for the submission is at the end of this month, and I'm just now writing the climax.
Don't think, 'Still?!'—the turning point was just so unsatisfying that I was rewriting it until I could laugh at it.
The characters in the novels I write all have strong cores and are stubborn.
They won't let the text flow unless they are convinced, so every single day, we have brain-storming meetings together.
Imagine it like the 'Brain Poison Berry' manga or the 'Sexy Commando Gaiden: Sugoi yo!! Masaru-san' Masaru meetings, where everyone participates and argues about this and that.
For those who have been reading for a long time, I hope it's enough to understand 'why the two of them choose that path.'
It would be wonderful if I could convey that all love isn't necessarily about never being apart, but that respecting each other is also a form of love.
Since the forms of marriage and romantic relationships will continue to change, I am convinced that the era where the relationship between the two I am writing about is accepted is near.
But I'm also happy if people read it and find it heartbreaking or painful.
After all, everyone's ideal of love is different.
Next month, I'll return to focusing on note, reading everyone's articles and novels, and taking it a bit easy.
When that time comes, please don't ignore me!
That's all!
If you would like to take on the above project, please declare your participation in the comments section of this article by saying “I’m in!”.
Feel free to leave questions or other casual comments as well!
Last-minute entries and dropping out halfway are both okay, but if you're hesitant, please just hint at your hesitation!