"It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents--except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness."
--Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, Paul Clifford (1830)
Deadline for this annual contest is April 15th
Details are at: http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/
Best of Luck to anyone participating...if that's the right sentiment...