Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[digs]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Sorry for your loss, PC It's a great thing, though, to be able to commemorate your mother through your writing.


I did get your story, though I'd never heard the term "Coachy Bower" before. I must have seen that imagery of the coach around somewhere before.

 

[Parson]

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"

This had occurred to me. But I wanted to put a story up to counter what would have to be the normal stories with a theme of "trick or treat." And the Supernatural is certainly present in the "belief system." I don't think that believing in the supernatural disqualifies a story of the supernatural.

Much more importantly ---- Precise Calibre, I also want to express my condolences at the loss of your mother.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

And this month we have another tie: Congratulations HareBrain and Parson!

TO VOTE IN THE TIEBREAKER POLL FOLLOW THIS LINK:

http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/529297-october-writing-challenge-tiebreaker-poll.html


Sorry to be late with this. I had to leave the house shortly before the hour, and apparently the other moderators were busy, too, and didn't see my post in the Staff Room.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

This tiebreak poll is going to be tough, TE. I saw which ones tied up and I have to say that others had made my list before those two.


But congratulations to both Parson and Harebrain this month and they are indeed both worthy winners.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Just viewed the big poll.

I also have a mystery voter - Thanks.

I also noticed the total count 47 votes nearly a full turnout unless some 'non entrants' voted. If they did it would be good to here their opinions too.

Parson + HB: Well done.



PC - Parson said it so well. I can only join him in wishing you well at this sad time.

 

[The Procrastinator]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Well done Parson and Harebrain! But as much as I liked Parson's, I'm going to have to vote for HareBrain again...

PC -there's nothing anyone can really say at such a loss - but my thoughts are with you nonetheless. What a beautiful tribute to have written at such a time.

 

[HareBrain]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

PC, I'd like to add my condolences. And I'm glad you felt able to write that story: reading it knowing of your mother's passing gives it a new, heartbreaking, dimension. As Procrastinator says, a beautiful tribute.

 

[The Judge]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Congratulations, HareBrain and Parson.



PC, may I add my condolences on the loss of your mother. It's no consolation in the short term, I know, but it does get easier to bear. And as a writer you are uniquely placed to help your own grieving process and commemorate her by bringing her into your work as you did here.

 

[HareBrain]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Thanks for the congrats, and thanks to those who voted for me since the last time I thanked those who voted for me (but thanks again to those people!)

I was quite surprised that my story plodded steadily up to match Parson's spurt. More tortoise-like than hare-like behaviour, if Aesop is anything to go by.

When I realised there would be a tie-break, I thought it was neat that thanks to the ending of British Summer Time tonight, final voting would end (for us Brits at least) dead on midnight on Hallowe'en. Alas, the world is rarely that precise.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

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 ...)

Hey! I've been away for a while, and come to see I had two votes! Woohoo! My best month yet (and probably ever).

Thanks HareBrain and Mystery Voter X for the votes. Brought a smile to my mug.

And congrats to HareBrain and Parson for the finish. I didn't actually get to vote in the original poll (as I said, I've been away) but voted for HB in the tiebreaker. And no, there's nothing fishy about that!

So looks like HB's all set to be our first ever repeat winner! I was wondering when it would happen...


P.S. For the record - yes, HareBrain, I am indeed a bloke. Either that, or an extremely unattractive female.

 

[The Judge]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

To remind everyone, these were last month's figures:

After 6 months of the Challenge we have seen 91 individuals enter, with a total of 272 entries; 23 of us have competed each time, with another 6 missing only one month. September saw 7 new entrants, 6 of them newbies to the forum. Leaving aside those 7, whom we hope will stick around, we've had 29 entrants who have only competed once.

We've had 262 votes cast, and Mouse still leads the totals board with 22, followed by HareBrain on 19, Teresa 16, Sephiroth 15, and Hoopy has bludgeoned her way into the higher echelons with this magnificent win, coming in at equal 5th with chopper on 14.

We no longer have anyone who has received votes in all the challenges, which is a shame, but 6 people have scored in 5 of the 6.

Which led to the questions:

Shall October bring us the 100th challenger? Shall a hare finally catch the mouse?

To which the answers are yes and yes!

Itstito was our 100th Challenger, and we've now had a total of 101 entrants with 321 entries. 21 of us have entered every time (chopper and Hoopy went MIA this month) and 6 have missed only once. We had 10 new entrants in October (we hope you stay, guys), and of the 7 newbies who joined the Challenge in September, 2 have stuck around (hello, BaileyD and Mag the Mighty!).

HareBrain has leapt into the lead with 27 votes to Mouse's 23, both of them well ahead of the field since none of the other four mentioned last month troubled the scorer in October. A dozen entrants have received votes totalling 10 or more and they account for 182 of the total 309 votes cast in the 7 Challenges.

The 6 people receiving votes in 5 out of 6 Challenges has now dropped to 3 receiving votes in 6 out of 7. Can those 3 maintain their nearly flawless record? Can a mouse imitate a tortoise and overtake a sleeping hare? Can anyone else produce a surprise and trouble the leader board? Keep watching and waiting...

 

[Mouse]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Shall October bring us the 100th challenger? Shall a hare finally catch the mouse?
To which the answers are yes and yes!

Shush! I was hoping nobody would notice.

Can a mouse imitate a tortoise and overtake a sleeping hare?

Unlikely. I'm getting worse at this game and everybody else is getting better!

 

[Ursa major]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

With respect to football strikers, it's known as a goal drought, and is only temporary. (And the analogy is apt in another way, in that many strikers suffering from such a drought seem to be playing as well as they always have, but the opportunities to score have not come along in as much abundance as usual, meaning it's as much a problem with context as with skill and talent.)

As regards the Challenge, I'd only shortlisted one of the winning stories this month, so choosing between them was easy. (Thank goodness. )



And thanks for the mentions, folks.

 

[nixie]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

My heart felt condolences PC

 

[Precise Calibre]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Thanks for the thoughts everyone. I continue to use the encouragement that she gave in life as inspiration to keep writing.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I'm very sorry for your loss, PC.

Voting wise, for me it was HareBrain from the first day; other stories never had quite the same impact. So choosing now is easy. There were other stories I admired, but I won't make a list, because typing is so difficult now.

 

[No One]

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...

That's interesting PC, I'd figured the coach as heralding death, but never knew of the Dullahan demon. Thanks for the clarification.

I wonder how the frequency of the horse-drawn carriage occurs historically compared to those references involving the appearance of a large, black dog, which has likewise heralded death for many, many centuries.

On a more relevant note - my condolescences to you and yours.

 

[Parson]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I'm very sorry for your loss, PC.

Voting wise, for me it was HareBrain from the first day; other stories never had quite the same impact. So choosing now is easy. There were other stories I admired, but I won't make a list, because typing is so difficult now.

Are you injured?

Have you thought about a speech recognition software?

 

[BaileyD]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

May I add my condolences PC.

As for the challenge, I very much enjoyed reading the entries, they were really interesting and varied.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

My condolences as well, PC. I lost my mom five years ago, and not a day goes by that I don't think of her still. Does it get easier? I guess it gets more distant, at least. I'm sorry for your loss. Your story is a moving tribute.