The Annual Bulwer-Lytton writing contest is based upon the much maligned beginning line as stolen by Snoopy, “It was a dark and stormy night…” The contest is run each year by the Department of English at San Jose State University. Awards are given to the most wretched beginning sentences to stories. This entry is by Mary Anthony, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

After ravaging the pansies, the gastropod turned his attention to the roses: “So many beauties,” he sighed, “so little slime.”… Read the rest...