A Study in Masculinity

[Life ain't all it's cracked up to be... But sometimes, sometimes you get these moments of clarity where you realize just why it's worth living.]

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This is open to everyone! You don't need to ask to join. It's not a contest, so there are no prizes or time limits. Just follow the challenges below to create a book of 30 short stories or one full-length one. Keep in mind that breaking stereotypes is the goal. Have fun writing and feel free to change up whatever you want. There is only one rule: You have to try and break as many stereotypes as you can think of. (Try to focus on stereotypes of masculinity if you can.)

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One: write a chapter in which a character is stood up on a date.

Two: write a chapter in which a male character stays at home taking care of the kids.

Three: write a chapter based off of the following song: Superman (It's Not Easy) by Five For Fighting.

Four: write a chapter in which a character goes off buying items to build something with their hands, but then runs into someone they know.

Five: write a chapter in which a character purchases an expensive old-timey shaving kit during a long weekend break.

Six: write a chapter in which a male character gets blamed for something he didn't do.

Seven: write a chapter in which a male character is drafted into the army.

Eight: write a chapter in which a male character is forced to join an all-female dance class.

Nine: write a chapter in which a character talks to a therapist about something serious.

Ten: write a chapter in which a character cheats at something and gets away with it.

Eleven: write a chapter in which a character embarrasses themselves in public.

Twelve: write a chapter in which a straight, male character that uses eyeliner gets told he is gay because of it.

Thirteen: write a chapter in which a character wins a prize for something academic.

Fourteen: write a chapter in which a male character performs in a fashion show, musical, etc.

Fifteen: write a chapter in which a male character grows a beard as well as long hair but is told to cut them both for work.

Sixteen: write a chapter in which a character is reading a romance novel in the middle of the night.

Seventeen: write a chapter in which a male character is expected to be chivalrous and pay for dinner even though it's not a date.

Eighteen: write a chapter in which a character almost dies and decides to have a day of sports and outdoor activities for their newfound appreciation for the world.

Nineteen: write a chapter in which a male character daydreams about his crush asking him out.

Twenty: write a chapter in which a character has an important interview.

Twenty-one: write a chapter in which a character gets peer pressured into doing something he shouldn't.

Twenty-two: write a chapter in which a male character has trouble fixing a small problem in the house (leaky faucet, creaking door, bad internet, etc)

Twenty-three: write a chapter in which a character is invited to a strip club but turns it down.

Twenty-four: write a chapter where a male character loses his temper over something small.

Twenty-five: write a chapter in which a character can't control an erection during an inappropriate time.

Twenty-six: write a chapter in which a male character has to do a typically female activity with a group of girls in front of an audience.

Twenty-seven: write a chapter in which a male character rejects a female coworker who he doesn't view with any romantic light at all, but after she tells the boss he was harassing her, the male gets fired without a second to spare.

Twenty-eight: write a chapter in which a random bump in the crowd accidentally pushes a character's hand onto a friend/love interest's breasts.

Twenty-nine: write a chapter in which a character is mugged and gets knocked out

Thirty: write a chapter in which a character gets a realization and learns something important about life.

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If you end up doing this, leave a link to your story below and I'll try to check it out. Also, please mention this challenge somewhere in your book if you do it, so others can possibly do it themselves. Make sure to use the #ASIM tag, too!

Dedicate to me if you want or not. I don't care. It's your story and a dedication should actually mean something. So maybe dedicate it to your best friend instead. Or your mom/dad/sibling. Or maybe that kid you know who just needs a small gesture to let them know that someone cares they are still here.