Bad Writing Contest 2020

Sep 18, 2020 | Rebecca Moore
Picture of frustrated writer

19th century novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton, famous for such lines as "It was a dark and stormy night…," was such a terrible writer that San José University started an annual contest to see who could write opening sentences even worse than his. Overlake has been doing the same for 15 years! This year we switched to submission by online form, but even so, we got over 140 entries! (And several were Accidentally Great Sentences--these are books we'd love to read!)

Here's How It Works:

  • Sentences must be a possible opening line to a novel.
  • All writing must make sense (good  grammar helps!).
  • Grossness alone does not make a “good” bad sentence.
  • A second entry earns an ticket in a drawing for a $10 Amazon card, and a drawing for Homeroom cookies.
  • Winners chosen by faculty email vote.
  • Contest winner gets 10 Green/Gold points; Homeroom with the most points earns Homeroom cookies later in the year.
  • All winning entries will be printed in The Hoot.

The Bad Writing Hall of Shame 2020                                                     

First Place--10 points

I fled but she was gaining like she was a colony of E. Coli and I was room temperature Canadian beef.

--Ender, 5th, Green         

Second Place--7 points



Even though my dog was licking a dead squirrel on the street, I still had nothing to distract me from my remorse.

--Lucy S., 8th, Gold

Third Place--5 points

The tall palm tree swayed in the cold wind of the ocean like a broken rocking chair violently swinging back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

--Varnika, 6th, Green

Honorable Mentions--3 points

This morning I woke up to find Elmo staring hungrily into my window.

--Aiden L., 7th, Gold

Fatigue set in like melted chocolate dripping down her eyelashes.

--Eileen, 6th, Green

Accidentally Great Sentence Winner--5 points

Walking into the classroom, I instantly knew this year was going to be filled with spitballs.

--Kendria, 6th, Gold

Honorable Mention--3 points

Ugh, why does the world always seem to need saving?

--Emma, 8th, Green