Margaret Atwood's new novel, The Heart Goes Last, imagines a world turned upside-down by a massive economic collapse. Stan and Charmaine, a married couple who were once gainfully employed, are forced to live in their car, vulnerable to roving bands of criminals. The Positron Project in the town of Consilience seems to be the answer to all their problems. Residents are required to live and work in the Positron prison for half of the time; on alternating months, they live in houses within the confines of Consilience. But this innovative solution to the economic crisis has a dark side...
For this contest, first read this section of The Heart Goes Last, and then consider these three characters and answer the question "What were their lives like before the great economic collapse?" Share your backstory with Margaret Atwood and Wattpadders everywhere and you could win.
Veronica: A nineteen-year-old hooker at the Pixel Dust Bar, where Charmaine works as a waitress. Before the economy tanked and everyone lost money, she was a college student hoping to be a nurse. How did she meet her friend, Sandi? And how did their paths lead to the bar?
Conor: Stan's brother, who Stan considers "next door to a criminal." What led to the midnight fight that estranged them?
Lucinda Quant: The reality TV star who interviews people being evicted from their homes. What led to her dismissal as a big TV news anchor?
Contest Details:
Dates and Submission:
The contest will run from September 29 to 11:59pm EST on October 20th, 2015.
To submit your story, tag it with #HeartGoesLastFic
Contest is open to residents of the U.S and Canada (excluding Quebec)
All Stories must be in English
You must be at least 13 years of age to enter
Judging:
Wattpad and BookRiot editors will select and announce the winner on November 2, 2015.
Top 5 entries to be read at a live streamed event at BookRiot Live in New York City on November 7 - 8, 2015.
Prizes:
Grand Prize: 1 grand prize winner will receive 1 signed copy of
The Heart Goes Last, an e-card from Margaret Atwood, and promotion of their story on Wattpad and Doubleday social media platforms.
Runners Up: 2 runners up will also receive a signed copy of The Heart Goes Last.
Length:
Your story should be no longer than 5000 words in length.
Good Luck!
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The Heart Goes Last Fiction Contest with Margaret Atwood
RandomMargaret Atwood’s new novel, The Heart Goes Last, imagines a world turned upside-down by a massive economic collapse. Stan and Charmaine, a married couple who were once gainfully employed, are forced to live in their car, vulnerable to roving bands...
