Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[Teresa Edgerton]

It's nice, but I don't know that it's as classy as mine....

I showed your avatar to my husband, because I thought it would amuse him. The only problem was that he couldn't figure out what it was. I had to tell him that it was a cat in a beard.

Mere hours left for the indecisive to turn in their stories. Remember, we're no longer on daylight savings time, and for many of us the deadline comes an hour earlier by the clock.

 

[Oxman]

Wow, Just re-read the lot again and this month there have been so many entries that are so good, it’s finally prompted me to get off my backside to vote for the first time! With a couple of hours to go, there are too many excellent stories to compose a shortlist as such, but so far, I think I’m torn between four entries.
Perpetual man’s was the first to really catch my eye and paint the picture in my head.
Mosaix’s is genuinely poignant and stands out beautifully.
TheEndIsNigh used the same concept as I did and it was interesting to see that different interpretation!
Alchemist’s was the story that made me smile the most out of the funny ones.

And now I'm obsessed with cats with beards. I've got a bag of cotton wool and three very worried looking moggies upstairs...

 

[No One]

Well I've got my "short"list in order (barring any other last-minute entries), but I'm struggling to choose a favourite.

The last time I had such a hard time voting I decided to flick a coin, but I swore I wouldn’t do that again (and besides, it'd be impractical seeing as I have a choice of more than two!). Hmm, I suppose I could roll some dice…pick a name out of a hat…maybe even cast some chicken bones...

 

[sloweye]

Hmm, I suppose I could roll some dice…pick a name out of a hat…maybe even cast some chicken bones...

I've tried my Runes, cards and stones... tiz no good, they can't pick either

I too have my list ready, what a month!

 

[The Judge]

Well, if you've been very good boys, then it's possible Santa may bring you a pressie to help you decide.

 

[sloweye]

Well, if you've been very good boys, then it's possible Santa may bring you a pressie to help you decide.

If it's special glasses so i can understand all the stories, i don't want them, it will only make it harder

 

[Ursa major]

If it's a wishbone, it's unlikely that Santa will have delivered it.

 

[Culhwch]

I showed your avatar to my husband, because I thought it would amuse him. The only problem was that he couldn't figure out what it was. I had to tell him that it was a cat in a beard.

I can see how it'd be a little confusing on first glance.

He really does look evil. Or at least decidedly anti-Christmas...

Much more seriously, Cul, the last minute strikes again! That was BRILLIANT!

Many thanks, Parson. This may have been the hardest time I've had getting a story down. In the end I opened a blank Word doc and forced myself to start writing. Spent a couple hours last night (in between setting up the poll) banging it into a readable state. So I'm very glad you like it!

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Wow, Just re-read the lot again and this month there have been so many entries that are so good, it’s finally prompted me to get off my backside to vote for the first time! With a couple of hours to go, there are too many excellent stories to compose a shortlist as such, but so far, I think I’m torn between four entries.
Perpetual man’s was the first to really catch my eye and paint the picture in my head.
Mosaix’s is genuinely poignant and stands out beautifully.
TheEndIsNigh used the same concept as I did and it was interesting to see that different interpretation!
Alchemist’s was the story that made me smile the most out of the funny ones.

And now I'm obsessed with cats with beards. I've got a bag of cotton wool and three very worried looking moggies upstairs...

Sorry Oxman, I completely missed that your story was chess related.

I only gave the previous entries a cursory glance and didn't make the connection.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I think I've made my decision this month.

I wouldn't bet on it.










After all, there are 8 whole minutes to go.

 

[Culhwch]

The link to the voting is now up: http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/foru...e-75-words-read-first-post-4.html#post1453801. Do read the instructions carefully...

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

... because, many weeks ago Culwch, TJ, and I held a long consultation with Jolly Old Saint Nick, about what to get you all for Christmas (or Holiday of your choice), and we decided on ... well, follow the link and see.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Hey any prizes for the first vote?

Hoopy for me as I mentioned earlier.

 

[mosaix]

An idea to kick around...

In this thread we usually comment on the stories we like and those we vote for, but from time to time I would like to have made some comments on the reason why I rejected some of the stories - provide a critique if you like. I have resisted the temptation because I didn't want to appear critical and I'm not sure the comments would have been welcomed anyway.

So my suggestion is that, after the voting is complete, any author wanting critiques of their entries (or just a simple reason for rejection) could post them in the critiques forum, a separate thread being created for each story. In this way we could be sure that comments are welcome and all the posts would be pertinent to a single story.

Thoughts?

 

[StormFeather]

Yay! 3 votes! However, it's going to take a while to narrow my list down to 3, but Yay!!!!

Thanks to whoever (Cul? TE? TJ? All??) who decided to give us 3 votes - it's going to be difficult to take that back next month, you realise . . . . . . .

(and as for your idea Mosaix - I think it's great - keeps the feedback here positive, as has always been stated and encouraged, and for those wanting more, they can have it if they wish)

 

[No One]

Hoorah! Thank you very much to Teresa, TJ, and Cul – you’ve all taken a weight off my mind and saved me from agonizing over my vote. A very convenient and thoughtful gift!

In that case, this is much easier and I can post now. So, a crop of 18 for an initial shortlist (and it really doesn’t get any easier to do even that). A lot of the following 13 were very close to making my final batch…

Mag the Mighty - The Hecatomb
Ursa - Self-Sacrifice (or Per Ardua ad Astral)
TDZ - Name-Day
Mouse - Αριθ Θυσία (Ochi Thusia)
Chrispenycate - Tribute Maiden
Perpetual Man - A Captain's Duty
Reiver33 - Fade Out
Mosaix - A Day Like Any Other
Stormfeather - Ho Ho Ho!
TEIN – For the Greater Good
Parson - Sacrifice Changes Everything
Jude - The Turkey's Revenge
Harebrain - On a Long Road

…but in the end it came down to 5:

Oxman - War Games (great idea, very well executed)
Dubrech - The Failed Apprentice (an excellent quashing of a fantasy trope)
Teresa – Sacrifice (beautifully simple and simply beautiful)
Hoopy - 15:13 (very cleverly, and literally, side-stepped the theme)
TJ - “Historical-Cultural Time-Tours” = Diabolic Forces? (another great idea, perfectly executed)

And my votes will go to Teresa, TJ, and Hoopy. I especially feel good about that too seeing as (with exception to Sephiroth who hasn’t entered this month) they’ve consistently put in top stories throughout the months I’ve participated, so it makes for a nice end-of-the-year salute to three of my faves.

Off to vote...

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I should have pointed out before that, even though pyan doesn't take an active part in moderating the Challenge, he did participate in the decision to give extra votes this month.

So thanks should go to him, too.

 

[Culhwch]

And I should have pointed out you can thank me with a vote... (Which someone already seems to have done!)

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Yay, three votes this time! And yet, as I look at the poll, there are 14 total votes so far. Hmm....

Thanks for the mention, No One!

I'll have to consider more thoroughly before voting. Thanks, guys!

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Already put my vote in, my original decision.