WATN: Dorian Gray

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Join @CRLiterature in reporting on some of our favorite fictional unknowns by writing fun fan fictions based on legendary characters in the public domain. 📽️📺 Ponder media's most ancient figures as we prompt you to provide conclusions or mysteries or new imaginative paths in 250 words or less 🧑‍💻🤩 Get inspired to write about characters inspired by these legends and win a chance for some awards 🏅🏆

Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde is known for his collections of short stories and essays as well as for his many stage plays, the most famous of which is The Importance of Being Ernest. However, Wilde did author one novel: the psychological thriller "The Picture of Dorian Gray" in 1890. Dorian is a wealthy young man of England who has an exquisite life-like portrait made by his dear friend Basil. The vain and narcissistic young Dorian hopes to be physically caught in the moment of his portraiture, wishing to live a life of pleasure without being touched by his hedonistic lifestyle. As the Dorian captured on canvas grows older and more decrepit while the living Dorian stays forever young, Basil fears his hard-living friend will not be able to atone for his ever growing list of sins. In an exuberant crescendo of negativity and rage, Dorian succumbs to the painting and is taken by the demons he once mocked.

Challenge

Your task is to write a tale inspired by Dorian Gray, one of the greatest monsters ever written. What if Basil was able to intervene in time to reverse Dorian's sins? What other actions sealed Dorian's fate that weren't included in the original story? What if Dorian sealed the painting away, never to look at it again; would he still be alive today? What if the painting version came to life to physically stalk Dorian? What would a modern day Dorian Gray be like?

From making an alternative world version, to adding unknown elements to the character, you are free to imagine this public domain character, however you want. So, will you paint a new picture of Dorian Gray?

Rules

Here’s the rules and rewards for this @CRLiterature activity:

• All entries must abide by the DeviantArt Terms of Service, Fair Use rules for submissions, and the group rules for CRLiterature; off topic or inappropriate entries will be removed.

• Share your entry as a comment to this journal for reward considerations.   

• Only submit one (1) comment for this engagement that is your very best work; all entries must be original concepts and human-written, no AI-assisted entries are allowed and will be removed.     

• Comment with your entry, by the end of the day on October 15th 2026 for rewards consideration for this activity.

• You must be a member of @CRLiterature for awards considerations. Joining the group is fast and free from the group homepage.

• entry must be 250 words or less

• Winners selected at the sole discretion of CRLiterature group admin; all decisions are final and non-negotiable. We will select three (3) winners by October 20th 2026 to receive the following rewards::

  • Each winner will receive 250 points and a quartz badge

  • One of the three will receive a hype badge

I can’t wait to see your Dorian Gray in Where Are They Now?!

@HDdeviant

Example 250 word or less

TITLE: Palimpingere

January, inside a gentle home, a real estate agent is inside a hall aside a customer.

Mrs. Sussy look at the painting of the house in the house and say: "You know this is a work by Safed Samael, and why this house is a great bargain"

A man sneak and cuddles Mrs. Yam, while Mrs. Sussy step aside: "I saw the attic C, it can fit my work room...what"

"The painting was different last week Ras, you see ..."

"It seems a pentimento"

Mrs. Sussy impatiently ask: "Well Yams, will you?..."

The female Yam has worry but nod positive and the male Yam agree.

...

Late June, two women are inside a gentle home, carrying heavy bags.

"Sug, thanks for helping"

"No problem Kim...this house looks big enough"

"Yes...but I wish we could get rid... of that"

"The town said the house and painting come together"

"Look at it, is that this building?"

"In no way, this house is immaculate, maybe we can cover it?"

"Good idea, it's vibe will bring us down"

...

December, a man exit his car with a painting, while speaking on the phone.

"Yes, Honey! I know you dislike the portrait...Hahaha...the appraiser said it is! the Samael of Pleinlan...you were right, not the house...yes, the underpainting is the pre-Raphaelite... a frightening example of mimesis, disturbing my wife...yes, I do too... mailing it to its subject...Haha!... yes, it will not be here when you get home"

from Richard Murray/ @HDdeviant

MY POST- greater than 250 words

Inspiration

Literature

Cursed Costumes continued

Day 2 was Barbie, It took me beyond the point of conclusion to figure out what to do , and yes, if it was a snake it would had bit me. I will submit later. But for the remaining days, they are the following. I put them in the following order. Atumapac, Ebon Bon, Becko Nascimento, Ben Burns. Atumapac, Ebon Bon, Becko Nascimento are my characters. Ben Burns is from speed racer. Pirate theme Touring (music) theme Shapeshifter If you made it this far, I place each character with the source of their theme in the order: pirate, tour, shapeshift Atumapac: set of pirates on a ship helmed by a ghost, Crescendolls [interstella5555], Boxboy from Nintendo Ebon Bon: Princess Pirate, Sade, Lighoo [trinidadian myth] Becko Nascimento: King Pirate at a drinking challenge, A member of Daft Punk at a reality t.v., As Dorian Grey holding his painting Ben Burns: pirate theme, 80s car video theme, escaping the blob thank you

The Book is free to read, it is in the public domain.

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4078

Some key points. The original story was published as a novella in parts in a magazine. But the original novella had mention of unfiltered homosexual relations, like from Basil to Dorian, but also Dorian to Woton. Wilde was asked by his publisher to change it and Wilde did, though Wilde never suggested it was forced upon or censure. I think Wilde saw it as better writing. A year after the novella, the novel was made.

Articles

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/apr/27/dorian-gray-oscar-wilde-uncensored

https://donostiabookclub.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-uncensored-and-almost-unknown.html

List of references in the book

https://www.historyandheadlines.com/list-cultural-references-picture-dorian-gray/

The first illustrated edition was made in 1908. Wood engravings by Eugene Date, from the drawings of Paul Thiriat.

The following is from the Frontispiece of said book.

Want more writing challenges? Check out these past installments of "Where Are They Now?"

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