The Thunderous Cry of the Inverted Question Mark 85K

¿Are you interested in entering?

Nope. Not a bit.	2.2%	[ 1 ]
I am very interested in entering the alien mothership, if that's what you mean	8.7%	[ 4 ]
Damn, I didn't mean to click on this one!	10.9%	[ 5 ]
Oh, yes, very much.	30.4%	[ 14 ]
I'm just here to click on a poll answer :3	2.2%	[ 1 ]
I was, but not anymore	0.0%	[ 0 ]
I am just a shadow. Shadows have no feelings, no interests.	6.5%	[ 3 ]
This answer is shiny.	32.6%	[ 15 ]
Sheesh, that answer above sure is wordy. It's made me lose all interest in entering.	6.5%	[ 3 ]
Total Votes:			[ 46 ]

[Puddlezinn Mudd]

You understand, don't you?

Sometimes you just feel the need to [insert verb or verb phrase here].

Welcome to The Thunderous Cry of the Inverted Question Mark.

This is a writing contest.

You already knew that, though, didn't you?
You devilish trickster, you.

Here, if you so choose to enter, you will write a short story based on one of the given prompts.
And, oh, yes, there will be prizes.

(Ah, but let us discuss such things later, shall we?)

(¿Aren't they fun?)

¿Introductions?
¿Rules?
¿Prompts?
¿Prizes and Deadlines?

[Puddlezinn Mudd]

¿You are excited, yes?
I certainly hope so.

Here are your instructions:
Step One: Select a prompt.
Step Two: Write a short story that has to do with your selected prompt.
Step Three: PM me your story.
Step Four: Cross your fingers and hope you win.

And here are the rules:
1. You only have to follow the instructions if you're entering.
2. You may enter up to two (2) stories.
3. You can write either fiction or nonfiction, but if you write nonfiction, don't tell me. I don't want to know that your story was actually something that happened to your little brother or something. If I get reeeally curious, though, your entering this contest grants me your consent to ask you if your story was true.
4. Your story can be anywhere between 100 and 10,000 words. Length will not affect your chances of winning.
5. You MUST PM me your story.
6. During the judging period, you may post your entry here, but not before then.
7. You may only enter one (1) story per prompt.
8. You may not hold your breath in anticipation of judging results; the judging period is going to last more than thirty (30) minutes, and I don't think you can hold your breath for that long, so don't even try.
8a. You may disregard rule 8 and instead accept it as a challenge instead, if you so wish. I will not be held responsible for any hospitilizations, injuries, deaths, or other misfortunes that may result from doing this, though.
9. You must follow the Terms of Service. I have put my faith in the assumption that you have, indeed, read the Terms of Service. If you haven't though, just tell everyone that you did if they ask, and be on your best behavior because you won't know what is and what isn't a rule.
10. You must post here that you are entering before you send me your story. In this post, you must include which prompt you are entering. You only need to do this once, even if you submit two (2) entries.
11. As proof that you read the rules, you must write something, anything in a language other than English on your entry post. Translation optional.

Whew! Have I dissipated your excitement with all those rules? I hope not.

¿Introductions?
¿Rules?
¿Prompts?
¿Prizes and Deadlines?

[Puddlezinn Mudd]

The moment we've all been waiting for...
Or the moment that you fast-forwarded to...
Prompts!

Before diving head-first into the prompts, let us first understand what a prompt is.
prompt [prompt] (v) 1. to bring about something: to cause something to happen 2. cause somebody to act: to cause somebody to make or do something
(n) something cuing response

Oh, okay, got it.
Take inspiration from the following prompts. The inspiration that cues a response from you in the form of a story.

And now for real: Prompts!

q) "Everybody smiles with that invisible gun to their head." - Chuck Palahniuk
w) "Everyone likes Alice, because everyone thinks they're her. They've been thrown into this topsy-turvy world after falling down a rabbit hole. What everybody seems to forget is that Alice created that world."
e) "Hard to believe you're the underachiever."
r) "A hero's not afraid to give his life. A hero's gonna save me, just in time." - Skillet, "Hero"
t) The Great Depression
y) "Trying to crossbreed a human and a vampire is just like trying to crossbreed a Pikachu with a Patamon--they're so similar, but so, so very different that ain't nothing gonna happen."
u) Muramasa blades
i) "World domination is kind of a top priority right now."
o) One, two, skip a few, ninety-nine, one hundred
p) "People don't like to be told lies because then they have to work to figure out the truth."

And here's a little extra prompt. It's sort of a side-prompt. You can enter two of the above prompts and the following prompt. This prompt will not be judged with the others.
How far can you take this? How insane can you make it? Beginning with the following prompt, create a cause and effect story:
"No running in the gym."

¿Introductions?
¿Rules?
¿Prompts?
¿Prizes and Deadlines?

[Puddlezinn Mudd]

Prizes! Yay! Deadlines! Wha?

A grand total of 85,000 gold shall be given away. If you've become so omgwftbbq-y that you no longer understand how much that is, it is the equivalent of 85 k.
Oooh...

First Place: 40 K
Second Place: 22 K
Third Place: 10 K
Honorary Mention: 5 K
Honorary Mention: 5 K
Best Cause and Effect Story: 3 K

NOTE: Stories will be judged by myself and three others. While only one of your official-prompt stories can win an official placing (1st, 2nd, 3rd, Honorary Mention), if you enter a side-prompt story (cause and effect story), your side-prompt and your official-prompt can win, ie you can win Best Cause and Effect Story and Second Place, but not receive an Honorary Mention and Second Place.

Deadlines:
Submit your entry(ies) for all official prompts by July 19, 2011 (day-of entries accepted).
Judging will begin July 20, 2011, and last until July 27, 2011.
Judging results will be released July 28, 2011.

¿Introductions?
¿Rules?
¿Prompts?
¿Prizes and Deadlines?

[Puddlezinn Mudd]

¿?
¿?
¿?
The beginning has now begun
¿?

[Belle_Eloise]

I'm gonna tackle prompt R. mrgreen

Bon Chance Mes Amies! (Forgive my poor French Grammar and spelling. sweatdrop )

[Lynnaira]

.... . .-.. .-.. --- ?

I'll take a swing at Prompt P!

[xNuclearWonderlandx]

Sign me up for prompt Q! (:

[My Paper Rose]

W!!! Yuea yua!

[My Paper Rose]

exited to read everyone's!

[Adrenaline Monkey]

I'll try and take a swing at "O" if I can find the time.

[blysk]

おげんきですか。

I believe I will take a shot at this, yes?
I can't wait to do that extra prompt.
(After doing a main one, of course.)

EDITEDIT:
Doing prompt 'O', just so you know. xD

[meerodi]

Oui! prompt O and E are certainly calling out to me

[Phrensiedom]

I would like to try my hand at prompt p.

As for non-English having read the rules: Ach du liebe scheisse!

And, would it be all right with you if I write a piece of flash fiction following a series I have going?

[Intrinsic Delirium]

Entering prompt W. I already have a fully written story for you that falls under it.