text: # Happy Saturday, serialists! Welcome to Serial Saturday! \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ***New here?*** If you’re brand new to and thinking about participating in Serial Saturday, welcome! Feel free to dip your toes in by writing for this challenge or any others we have listed on the handy dandy ! We appreciate all contributions made to this thread, and all submissions are of course welcomed, whether it addresses a previous challenge or the current one. We hope you enjoy your time in the community! Take a look at our inaugural Serial Saturday post for some helpful tips. You don’t need to catch up by writing for each of the previous assignments, feel free to jump right in wherever fits for you, with whatever assignment or theme fits for you, and post it on the current thread with a link to whichever previously posted challenge you chose to start with. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ # This week it’s all about The Event That Changes Everything. Well, folks, . If you need a bathroom break, now’s the time ‘cause we’re all hoppin’ on this train with a . So let’s talk about The Event. What is it? The Event That Changes Everything is the ***catalyst*** for your story-- it’s the thing that hooks us as readers. It’s the phone call that starts with . I want to make sure I’m not leading anyone astray here: this is ***not*** the installment where aliens invade, or the volcano erupts, The Last Battle begins, or where Mr Darcy tells Elizabeth Bennet the truth about Mr Wickham. This is when the two night guys in the control room look down at the radar and say “hey, what’s those two blips getting closer and closer to our airspace?” and the other replies “probably a glitch. Let's file the bug and order lunch. Do you want burgers or sub sandwiches?”. When your MC re-tells their story to their alien grandbabies, this is the part where they go ” This could be a chance encounter that blindsides your characters or gets them started on their journey. Let’s lay out what this may look like: This week our hero Bill was demoted at the paper company after his rival Frank bumps into him huffing glue in the lunchroom and reports his to HR. Naturally we can assume in Week 7, Point of No Return, that Bill begins gathering the tools he needs to bury Frank (figuratively.... *Or is it?),* and get his old job back, when in Week Eight, Raised Stakes, we learn that Frank landed the Regional Manager position. Now the entire office equilibrium is at stake if Frank is allowed to assert dominance. Something must be done about this corduroy wearing, Land Cruiser driving, The TT Serialists among us may ask, "what if we already have a catalyst point, what now?" Don't you worry Use this opportunity to let . I’m here for it. If you are ready to double down on your current plot and hit the gas, For others you may not quite be ready for that, and that is perfectly ok-- in three weeks time we’ll be hitting The Storm and *that’s* when things will get real. This may be a personal moment for your protagonist, when his car breaks down on a deserted highway halfway from Salt Lake, out of gas and his phone dies. ***The Event That Changes Everything will either send your protagonist in a new direction, or accelerate the urgency of their plans.*** How does this phone call/ letter/chance encounter/UFO sighting start your MC on their track to glory/death/running over Frank in the desert/welcoming our new overlords? **\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*** **You have until \*next\* Saturday, 9/19, to submit and comment on everyone else's stories here. Make sure to check back on this thread periodically to lay some sweet, sweet crit down on those who don't have any yet!** \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* # Top picks from last week’s assignment, : **Fan favorite with the most votes:** It’s a tie, between and , and it’s not hard to see why! Go check those stories out! This week the **Smoking Hot Challenge Sash** goes to /u/Lynx_elia, for taking us . And honorable mentions: /u/Xacktar, with a . And /u/Mazinjaz, with some \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ **The Rules:** * In the comments below submit a story that is between **500 - 750** words in your own original universe. * Submissions are limited to ***one*** serial submission from each author per week. * **Each author should comment on at least 2 other stories** during the course of the week. * That comment must include ***at least one*** **detail** about what the author has done well. * Authors who successfully finish a serial lasting longer than 8 installments will be featured with a modpost recognizing their completion and a flair banner on the sub. * Authors are eligible for this highlight post only if they have followed the 2 feedback comments per thread rule. *Yes, we will check*. * While content rules are more lax here at /r/ShortStories, we’re going to roll with the loose guidelines of "vaguely family friendly" being the rule of thumb for now. If you’re ever unsure if your story would cross the line, feel free to modmail! \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Reminders: * Make sure your post on this thread also includes links to your previous installments if you have a currently in-progress serial. Those links must be direct links to the previous installment on the preceding Serial Saturday post or to your own subreddit/profile. * Authors that complete a serial with 8 or more installments get a fancy banner and modpost to highlight their stories. * Saturdays we will be hosting a Serials Campfire on the main voice lounge. Join us to read your story aloud, hear other stories, and share your own thoughts on serial writing! We start on Saturdays at 9AM CST. **Don’t worry about being late, just join!** There’s a *Super Serial* role on the Discord server, so make sure you grab that so you’re notified of all Serial Saturday related news! **Join the** **to chat with prompters, authors, and readers!** Previous constraint: Have you seen the ? No? Oh boy! Here's the current cycle's challenge schedule.