The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest (BLFC) is a tongue-in-cheek contest that takes place annually and is sponsored by the English Department of San Jose State University in San Jose, California. Entrants are invited "to compose the opening sentence to the worst of all possible novels" – that is, deliberately bad. According to the official rules, the prize for winning the contest is "a pittance",[1] or $250.[2]
The contest was started in 1982 by Professor Scott E. Rice of the English Department at San Jose State University and is named for English novelist and playwright Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, author of the much-quoted first line "It was a dark and stormy night". This opening, from the 1830 novel Paul Clifford, continues floridly:
The first year of the competition attracted just three entries, but it went public the next year, received media attention, and attracted 10,000 entries.[3] There are now several subcategories, such as detective fiction, romance novels, Western novels, and purple prose. Sentences that are notable but not quite bad enough to merit the Grand Prize or a category prize are awarded Dishonorable Mentions.
Year | Author |
---|---|
2011 | Sue Fondrie Oshkosh, Wisconsin |
2010 | Molly Ringle Seattle, Washington |
2009 | David McKenzie Federal Way, Washington |
2008 | Garrison Spik Washington, D.C. |
2007 | Jim Gleeson Madison, Wisconsin |
2006 | Jim Guigli Carmichael, California |
2005 | Dan McKay Fargo, North Dakota |
2004 | Dave Zobel Manhattan Beach, California |
2003 | Mariann Simms Wetumpka, Alabama |
2001 | Sera Kirk Vancouver, British Columbia |
2000 | Gary Dahl Los Gatos, California |
1999 | Dr. David Chuter Kingston, Surrey, England |
1998 | Bob Perry Milton, Massachusetts |
1997 | Artie Kalemeris Fairfax, Virginia |
1996 | Janice Estey Aspen, Colorado |
1995 | John L. Ashman Houston, Texas |
1994 | Larry Brill Austin, Texas |
1993 | Wm. W. "Buddy" Ocheltree Port Townsend, Washington |
1992 | Laurel Fortuner Montendre, France |
1991 | Judy Frazier Lathrop, Missouri |
1990 | Linda Vernon Newark, California |
1989 | Ray C. Gainey Indianapolis, Indiana |
1988 | Rachel E. Sheeley Williamsburg, Indiana |
1987 | Sheila B. Richter Minneapolis, Minnesota |
1986 | Patricia E. Presutti Lewiston, New York |
1985 | Martha Simpson Glastonbury, Connecticut |
1984 | Steven Garman Pensacola, Florida |
1983 | Gail Cain San Francisco, California |
Six books collecting the best BLFC entries have been published:
An audio cassette of the winning entries in the BLFC was also released: