‘Genius in a Bottle’ Prompted Writing Challenge

What Are You Playing At?

GiaB writing prompt #25

I roll double dice. Despite living ethically, I end up in jail.

What is life if not a board game played out on the grandest of boards?

In fact, the grandeur of the board is so expansive that we fall into micro-trances of illusion where we feel we retain control over anything. We forget that the next series of our movements are being controlled by the fateful turn of the cosmic dice. We think our next goal is linked more truly to our desires and our efforts than whichever corner of the dice hits the board first.

We believe that the highs and lows are rewards and punishments given, instead of a declaration from ice-cold Lady Luck, who incidentally has no investment in the outcomes we face.

The reality is, on a very micro-scale, the energy we put in, or don’t put in as the case may be, only partially affects the outcomes we experience. This is evidenced by the fact that our effort does not predictably eventuate in the goals we desire. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. There is always another factor we have no control over.

So how is it we function in a world we can’t control? How do we face the possibility that we might pass ‘Go’ and collect two hundred dollars, or we might be sent to jail, all the while wondering what on earth we did?

Humans are a tenacious, resilient species. We are also imbued with a sense of determination. We don’t like to be moved like pieces on a board even if that’s precisely what we are. We prefer to create fictions to encourage us to feel independent, even if we know full well that we aren’t. Sure, this may be delusional but it has allowed our species to develop unique characters, personalities, and imaginations that gave rise to the world’s cultures and great arts. We refuse to be of the mindset that we are a production line robot. We seek solace in the delusion that we aren’t, knowing in the back of our mind that we are.

This is a double-edged sword, however. The thimbles, cars, ships, and dogs that use the delusion to become more than, create the wonderment of the world around us without forgetting their true identity. By this standard they are truly free.

The top hats, shoes, irons, and wheelbarrows that have convinced themselves that they are no longer pieces on the board and have become consumed by the delusion have unfortunately lost that grip.

They remain in limbo because they neither understand that their perceived ‘reality’ is manufactured, nor are they grounded in their reality on the board.

Let us remember that life is a game to be played. We can achieve tremendous success and become real estate magnates, or we can spiral out of control, make poor decisions, and end up ruined and destitute. These are all simply outcomes of a game, and like all games, they end. The pieces are reset and we can have another go. In life, we may have several goes or we may, depending on your belief, have a chance at subsequent tries in subsequent lives.

Let us remember to take each turn of the cosmic dice the way we do when we roll dice in a game. To take each step with the necessary acceptance. And to make the most of the opportunities that the dice bring to our feet.

We can only have a chance at winning at life if we are in the game and play it as one.

*To those who are unaware of the globally famous board game, I have been referencing specific elements of the game Monopoly in the writing above. With adequate thought, I feel one can make similar comparisons between life and any game, as all games share similar designs.

The Challenge

We invite writers to produce a piece of poetry, fiction or non-fiction on the theme of Games. This prompt is the last prompt of the first series. At the conclusion of this prompt, we will be opening up all the prompts of the first series for everyone to take a crack at.

For this challenge, we will accept pieces on the topic of any games, whether they be board games like Monopoly or Life, video games in all their genres, and physical games like cops and robbers.

Having said that, I urge our responders to focus on the game aspect of various games and how it pertains to us thinking about the world, as opposed to simply a description of the plots and characters in a game. As fascinating as such pieces would be, there is less depth of thought in such pieces. Games are microcosms of life and it is this aspect we want to investigate.

We would like to exclude all forms of official sports as topics of responses, because we will be considering sporting games in their own prompt in series two.

This prompt will close on Wednesday 4th August, 2021 at 9:00AM PST/PDT. At which time, the next prompt will be released.

The Guidelines

We cannot publish pieces or reward writers who self publish or publish at another publication, so those pieces have to remain external to the challenge. We will only consider pieces submitted to Genius in a Bottle as official responses to the challenge. If inviting other writers from outside the publication, please ensure they are aware of this.

Poetry is to be limited to 30 lines but can be in any style. Fiction and non-fiction submissions are to be capped at 750 words.

Please refer to the prompt in the subtitle. Feel free to copy this as a template: GiaB prompt # [insert prompt number and theme here].

When submitting, please ensure that one of the 5 tags is GiaBprompt. Please ensure a second tag is Poetry, Fiction, or Non-fiction, as appropriate.

We would like to become exposed to writers and pieces that you have enjoyed in all of Medium. Please tag up to ten writers whose pieces you have enjoyed recently, or who you feel may enjoy participating in this challenge.

For further information pertaining to the challenge, please refer to the rules and guidelines.

And away we go! We look forward to enjoying the paradise of the written word with you all.

Victor Sarkin

Follow Genius in a Bottle:

on Facebook. on Twitter (@genius_medium)

Contact us at [email protected]