Time to wet down my paintbrush again…
Come one and come all, as it’s time once again for The Nest to inspire the imaginations of our readers (all three of you) for another exciting edition of The Contest of Whatever!
Otherwise known as, The CoW!
The Contest of Whatever has been held on my blog each February now since 2014, and had produced literally almost a hundred fine examples of the awesome things readers like YOU can come up with based on my silly contest themes! Don’t believe me? You can see the history and results of each contest on the official page dedicated to the CoW right here!
The Contest of Whatever stresses two of the concepts I believe are most important in life… being creative and having FUN! Don’t think you’re creative? Hogwash! Don’t think you can let down your hair and have a good time? Bollocks! Not reading this paragraph because you just skipped down to the bottom to “like” this post? Well, I have no words of encouragement for you there…
What if I just accidentally broke my glasses?
The rules of the Contest of Whatever are simple! All you have to do is create something for the contest that you can post on your blog, using any creative means and/or art form (or combination of forms) you wish. It’s that easy! OK, if you’re stuck using that stupid block editor, maybe “easy” is a bit of an exaggeration…. but still, it’s so stupidly easy to enter this contest that everyone should do it! Yes, even YOU who says every year “that’s not for me!”
Don’t be that guy…
Of course, the contest isn’t just a blank check to submit anything! I always add a stipulation or three to make each contest a themed occasion. The first contest required entries to contain at least one of a squirrel, a possum and a unicorn, for instance. Last year’s contest stipulated that entries somehow incorporate “X.” So what will the theme of the 2022 Contest of Whatever be?
Let’s, like, totally ask the Magic Ape Ball!
I’ve kind of been stuck in a generic prompt rut after the debacle that was the 2018 Contest of Whatever (aka, the infamous man and pig in a bathtub one), and I wanted to break out of that this year with something a bit different. Kind of like in 2017 when the theme was to create a Shelf Critter Theatre-like play with your own in-house critters. That contest was fun for me, and I could tell the players enjoyed it as well.
So that got me to thinking… one of my favorite aspects of SCT is in how I’ve taken all these otherwise ordinary objects and given them rather distinct and interesting “personalities.” Mainly due to visual cues in how they look, or sometimes just by happenstance while they appear in skits. And while it may seem to you I have way too many “critters” lying around at my disposal, believe me when I say that those you see on my blog hardly scratch the surface. I am a critter hoarder!
Yes I am…
So I searched high and low for a critter who has never appeared on my blog before. One with potential… but just what that potential is….. well, that’s for you to decide!
See this critter?
This poor critter is currently a blank slate. What kind of personality does it have? Quirks? Running gags? What the hell even is it?
That’s your mission for the 2022 Contest of Whatever! Use your noodle and those mad creative skills and let me know about this critter’s life! Even use it in a story if you wish! Whatever you come up with, be sure to post it on your blog and link back to THIS POST, and do so by 11:59 PM CST (-6 UTC) Thursday night, March 4th!
Oh, did I mention there’d be prizes?
A BRAND NEW CAR!!!! Not…
It wouldn’t be the Contest of Whatever without the cheesy prizes awarded to two winners from my Cafepress shop! I will choose one entry as the overall winner based solely on which one I believe is the best, and all other entries will go into a random drawing for a second prize! Both winners will get to choose something valued at $20 USD or less from my shop. Entries with links to your blog will be posted here on Friday March 5th, and the winners will be announced on Sunday March 7th! That gives you five weeks to tackle the mystery of our brand new critter up there!
Be sure to spread the good word! Good luck, and let’s make this another fun edition of the Contest of Whatever!
Evil Squirrel's Nest 
OH BOY! What better “icon” for the Contest of Whatever (COW) than a little pink(ish) square COW? Brilliant. I will see what I can whip up (yes I said whip) for the contest. I always look forward to reading all the submissions !
Pam
Oh, you’re going to whip the newbie? Mitzi is one of my honorary judges, so I’m sure she’ll appreciate that! Zeeba probably would too, but she doesn’t get a say…
I’ve already named him Alistair Rathbone-Fitzsimmons III. Now, he needs a backstory…
Yes! And I’m sure you could come up with a one befitting such a fine name!
Did you do this, and I missed it? Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
That was a lot of scrolling to skip a lot pf paragraphs just so I could “like” this post. I wonder what he wrote…
If people are going to skip what I write, I’m going to make sure they strain their fingers doing it….
I expect to see an entry from you!
Elsa could make quick work out of that thing, Norman just shrugged and then yawned.
Sounds like a team entry in the making!
Ho hum…..whatever
Hmmm, a pig that ran full speed against a glass pane… What to do with that? I remember the end of my story in 2017, with piggy and the second character I let escape in that awful paper boat with a huge gold cannon ball…. Something is forming…
YAY!
Consider the word about the upcoming C.O.W. spread. There is an ‘unofficial’ badge/banner on my sidebar as we speak. You know I’m ‘in’! IF time doesn’t become too stretched. I’m not sure why, but I’ve been doing that lately.
Woohoo! Don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll have umpteen thousand reminders between now and the end of the contest…
HA HA HA HA HA I’m on it. I can’t wait to see what everyone submits!
Woohoo!
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Here is my entry. I didn’t forget this year. The mystery is finally solved. https://evilsquirrelsnest.com/2022/01/30/the-ninth-annual-contest-of-whatever/
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My entry has been posted!
I’m right behind ya Alistair…I’m going to unveil it today…but here’s the link (just in case). I hope it’s not too over the top… 🤐 https://sparksfromacombustiblemind.wordpress.com/?p=89003 (it’ll debut at noon today).
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Oh Mighty and Excellent Squirrel
Please allow a mere mortal of a newbie to ask an unintelligent and rude question…
Is it required that a possible submitter necessarily have a website/blog to post to your illustrious and internationally known tournament?
Your Humble and most unworthy servant,
RT
Well, that would depend on how you propose to submit an entry without one. I’m all ears!
I told Rick he could put it on my blog if he wants to.
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Whew! I barely made it. Luckily Juliette the Vampire Maman reminded me that it’s that time of year again. Here is my (admittedly rushed) entry: https://dysfictional.wordpress.com/2022/03/01/friend-or-food-or-both/
Woo Hoo Mandy!
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I entered…for better or for worse! https://willowcroft.blog/2022/03/02/the-pandemic-looks-pretty-in-pink-a-diary/ Thanks for hosting this fun contest! Break a pen, fellow writers/bloggers!
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