Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[The Judge]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

A doctor's note? No such documents required. However, a slice or two of cake wouldn't go amiss if someone wanted to get on my good side...

Anyway, yes, HareBrain -- if you want to put a few up in Critiques to get feedback, I'm waiting with talons sharpened.

 

[Vertigo]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Such encouragement!

 

[Ursa major]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I was thinking of a note along the lines of: "My patient's health is such that even the threat of talons might cause serious and perhaps permanent medical complications. Please desist from their (suggested) use. The alternative may be: hare today, gone tomorrow. Frankly, your decision should be a no brainer."

 

[Precise Calibre]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Even the chair I'm sitting in is groaning - it's not even made of wood and I lack any significant weight problems...

 

[Culhwch]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Okay, I've finished my read-through. A lot of quality entires, though that goes without saying. I found that with so many folks going down the traditional 'trick and treating' (knock on the door, kids/'kids' in costume, trick or treat...) that in the end they all sort of blurred together. Don't get me wrong, some of them were very good, but I fear they lost their impact for me by the end. The ones that stood out were the ones that stepped decidedly away from that image. Special mention to Seph for stepping well outside the square, but in the end my vote went to Mag the Mighty's Samain. Painted a beautiful scene, and spoke to the very heart of the tradition (or at least what could have been, I guess - I'm not up on the true origins...).

 

[J-WO]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

In my profession raising hands has a number of excellent connotations.

In my profession raising hands means I'm cleaning a corridor light of dead insects. Takes all sorts, I guess...

 

[Boneman]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Just over 12 hours to go, and there's only one in it! Gonna go down to the wire I reckon... (Can anyone explain that term? I've never really understood it, even though I keep using it!)

 

[J-WO]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

A western front thing, maybe?

 

[StormFeather]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Just over 12 hours to go, and there's only one in it! Gonna go down to the wire I reckon... (Can anyone explain that term? I've never really understood it, even though I keep using it!)

From What Is The Origin Of Down To The Wire?

The use of the phrase originated in the sport of horse racing. In the early days, the finish line for horse races had a wire that stretched across the track, from one end to the other, much like the ribbon or tape we see nowadays in races and sprints. The purpose of this wire was to determine which horse crossed the finish line first. Sometimes two or three horses seemed to cross the finish line at the same time. Since horse racing involved money, it became prudent to declare one winner, not two or three joint winner. This was done by carefully observing which horse's nose had nudged this wire. The horse that touched the wire first was declared the winner. That is how the phrase 'down to the wire' originated – to denote a situation where a horse was declared a winner by determining which of them had hit the wire first.

(sorry - too tired and under the weather to do much more than post the actual link, whilst nursing a hot chocolate and waiting to feel better!)

 

[HareBrain]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

nursing a hot chocolate and waiting to feel better!

Shouldn't the hot chocolate be nursing you?

I've found that with beer, too. All take, no give.

 

[Boneman]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

From What Is The Origin Of Down To The Wire?



(sorry - too tired and under the weather to do much more than post the actual link, whilst nursing a hot chocolate and waiting to feel better!)

You learn something every day - thanks Stormfeather!

On thread - I'm wondering if we shouldn't get ready for a tie-breaker? I trust HB and Parson are fiendishly thinking of next month's theme....

 

[HareBrain]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I trust HB and Parson are fiendishly thinking of next month's theme....

Erm, unless Parson has been maintaining a very good disguise since he joined, I doubt he's fiendishly thinking of one ...

I just realised: having got down to my super-shortlist of two a couple of days ago, I forgot to vote! Will do so now. I decided on DA's in the end. Incidentally, my first vote for an entry by a bloke! (unless "he", too, has been maintaining a very good disguise ...)

 

[Parson]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

In my profession raising hands means I'm cleaning a corridor light of dead insects. Takes all sorts, I guess...

You will note I did not say that raising hands has NO negative connotations. My wife and I do the janitorial work here at this church and we do raise hands to clean spider webs off the hanging lights, recessed windows, curtain, and also the bugs out of the corridor lights.

Harebrain said:

Erm, unless Parson has been maintaining a very good disguise since he joined, I doubt he's fiendishly thinking of one ...

This one made me laugh! Of course "fiends" to make their appearance among the faithful from time to time. Or more often.

 

[Precise Calibre]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

One might think Parson a "fiend", perhaps even a naysayer, seeing as, according to the theme and guidelines of the competition, his entry this month may have inadvertantly labeled his particular subject and therefor entire belief system as "Fantasy"



PC - Professional Devil('s advocate.)

 

[Ursa major]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

If one were to be an addict of Daniel Defoe's oeuvre, would that make one a fiend, I wonder?

(Or, to follow Sir Jonathon Miller's example, just a bit fiendish?)


I shall have to do a quite a bit of reading tonight if I'm to cast my vote. Should be fun.

 

[Ursa major]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Another month, another set of dificult choices:



Honourable Mentions:

• Gift by HareBrain
• Halloween by nixie
• Old Man by SynofMan
• A Special Trick by Karn Maeshalanadae
• In False Skin by digs

Runners Up:

• The Importance of Accurate Calendars by Vertigo
• Harry Whittaker Turns His Back On His Chance Of Fame… by mosaix
• The Gods Look Up by Boneman

Winner:

• The Flaming Bag of Dog Poo Classic Prank by BookStop

 

[The Judge]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Well, got meself a shortlist, but dunno what I'm going to do with it...

HareBrain -- Gift
paranoid marvin -- In the Detail
Mag the Mighty -- Samhain [hmmm... that title sounds familiar...]
mosaix -- Harry Whittaker...
grimorian -- Happy Jack
Devil's Advocate -- Trick and Treat
reiver33 -- Blue Sky Thinking ( Rain Later)
Culhwch -- The Witching Hour

Still trying to decide between them...


Meanwhile, thanks to those who've put me on shortlists, and big thanks to my mystery voter.

 

[No One]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I'll second that TJ - at least, the part about a big thanks to my mystery voter.

That's two votes I've had (or rather, THE two votes I've had) and I don't know who to thank for either of them!

Thanks also to those who've given me a mention.

 

[StormFeather]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Quite chuffed to have got a mention on my first go, thanks StormFeather.

Maybe it's the twisted parent part of me, but I can so imagine being the person in your story - and it was a fantastic first go

 

[Precise Calibre]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I couldn't resist TJ, I couldn't resist...


Anyway, simple explanation.

My story is an adaptation of the folklore centering around an entity known as the "Coachy Bower" or "Coach-a-bower". It was a large coach drawn by horses and driven by a headless demon known as a Dullahan, invisible to the mortal eye. It was said to be the herald of death; in some cases one might hear a knocking on your door or a rapping at your window, in this case, a death was soon to follow.

The inspiration was dark. My mom died four days before I wrote the entry...