Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[Ursa major]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

...and the tortoise wasn't even off the starting line, this time.

To be fair, it's rumoured that the Tortoise has a share in an imprint; if so, it's probably free to rabbit on well beyond the 75 words limit and still get its work published.

 

[Culhwch]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Culhwch, I look forward to reading the rest of your continuing story.

Yes, well we'll see how that goes. Very much depends on the theme, I guess...

Finally, I believe some people said they were working on more than one story before they chose which one to post. I have a story that I didn't use, but I don't want to be the first one to share mine this month. Is anybody else willing to share theirs?

Okay, I'm game. This is my first effort. You'll work out what it's a play on. I wasn't confident because I've never read the original text, having only been exposed to the story through various and varying popular takes, so I wasn't sure in the end if it really worked. If you get what I mean....

Untitled

There had to be a solution. Had to be! Why did the change not linger? Why did he always turn back?

He poured over his formula. Somewhere, there was a weakness. It mirrored the weakness of his body, of his soul.

No. Don’t think like that.

There was a weakness, and he would find it. Solve it. Then the transformation would be permanent.

He liked being Hyde.

 

[Hilarious Joke]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Ha! I think that's pretty good Cul! A ripper of a last line, IMHO.

 

[digs]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

reiver33's story was on my short list, but I really have no idea what was happening. An explanation would probably make me feel very stupid for not figuring it out myself, but I am willing to look foolish in return for enlightenment.

And I voted for ColdBurn's, so I obviously think I know what it's about. But maybe I am wrong and I would like to learn more.

I heartily concur (with both of these)!

reiver33's story hit me much harder the 2nd or 3rd time I read it, especially that last line. I didn't really know what was going on, but I had 3 or 4 possible images in my head, and all of them were cool. Which I think is quite an achievement.

I also voted for ColdBurn, having at first been confused by it and then picking up on a few small clues (the title clinched it for me) and couple of tidbits of background knowledge to form what I think is the story. I've mentioned this elsewhere (probably a few times), but the image that it put into my head is a really powerful, moving and at the same time incredibly awesome one and I'd love it to be expanded.

 

[Hilarious Joke]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

I actually voted for reiver33's story without fully understanding it. Similar to Digs, I found it to be better on a reread - good enough to win my vote.

 

[Ursa major]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

So reiver's wasn't about someone tuning mistakenly into ITV1 when X-Factor was being shown, then?









(Thought not. I suppose the "full of stars" comment was a bit of a giveaway. )

 

[TheDustyZebra]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

I came very, very close to voting for mygoditsraining's story. Very close. I disqualified it only because it could just as easily have been part of a historical epic as a fantasy story. But the story was powerful and, like ColdBurn's, haunted me from the moment I read it.

I was that close on it as well--and "haunting" is exactly the word that is still in my head when I remember it or go back and read it again. It's a whole book in one little snippet! And yes, very powerful.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

I like that one Cul, very much. I like the one you entered in the Challenge more, but the other is very good, too. It is clearly in genre, which I think for a lot of people this time was a deciding factor -- although it appears to be impossible to predict what the voters will go for from month to month.

As for the one I didn't use, I tested it on a couple of family members and it was clear they hadn't an inkling what it was about. So I wrote the world-building one because I figured, whether people liked it or not, with all the fantasy writers here somebody would be able to understand it. The one I am about to share ... I feared that no one would get it at all.

So here for everyone's befuddlement:

Untitled

Who dares approach the mage’s tent
Painted with signs occult and sinister?
Only one.

A hag -- peevish, sapless, dry, penurious
Who squandered all she had
In riotous excess.

He sneers, and with a sweeping movement, a cunning twist
Rings her close with fire.
Those watching gasp.

But she is singing in her flames -- crimson, purple, gold
As all her childish, wicked age
Burns, until the fire dies
And she steps forth
In comely, generous maturity.



You'll note I plagiarized your title, which is such a good one.

 

[StormFeather]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Yay!!! I've got 3 mentions! I'm so happy that I'm annoying my hubby by posting this!

Thank you!!!!


Given recent discussions though, I will work much harder on making sure that the next effort falls effortlessly into the SFF catagory

 

[onebigpotato]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Here's my second story, based partially on digs' suggestion I chose the other one.

Veteran

The universe conquered. We’ve spent a billion years killing, some species obliterated before we even had names for them. People, cities, planets, they’ve all fallen before me. Each war more violent than the last, as if to make our previous battles look almost humane.

As I get up from the chair besides by daughters bed, I look down and smile, at least her father is a good man.

And they call me a hero.


I didn't think the line about 'her father is a good man' really translated into his own mixed opinions of himself. Also to Cul, great 2nd story, almost would've been worth keeping for a later challenge!

 

[Culhwch]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

I may have submitted the wrong story - I got three shout outs for the discard and only one for the entrant (and I don't believe I ever thanked you for that, Teresa - much appreciated!). Of course in this thread it's not sitting alongside forty-one other brilliant stories, just a handful, so there's that...

 

[Parson]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

T.E. I don't feel befuddled. I feel intrigued. A Phoenix rises and the world is in awe.

 

[J Riff]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Yea, Reiver, wassitallabout!? ) I assumed from the title that the spaceship had run into the 2001 spacebaby...
btw Reivers' posts in playrooms/film synopsis are worth reading too, had me laughing anyway.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

I may have submitted the wrong story - I got three shout outs for the discard

Well, here's another!

I think your rejected story rocks. I really liked it. In fact, if this had been your entry, I believe I might have ended up voting for it.

 

[Culhwch]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Gah!

Oh well. There's always next month.

Speaking of which, it's already next month here. (Yes, we're that advanced down south, we're already living in the world of tomorrow.) Where's our new challenge!?!?!

No pressure or anything, HB.

 

[The Procrastinator]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Wherever Eden is, we're east of it. Which rules out NZ as the location at least.

The "rejects" are all very good! Teresa I'm not sure if I don't like it better than your actual entry...and maybe yours too, Cul...but this is all pointless rehashing! I like the idea of posting rejects but I'm afraid I don't have one myself. It's tricky enough coming up with one little tale.

 

[Ursa major]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

With July's topic, Disguise, there's a good chance that we'll have even more hidden meanings than is usual.





* Puts on thinking cap. *

 

[Devil's Advocate]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

The best disguise is no disguise at all...

 

[Ursa major]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

I read dis guy's story last month and I have no idea what it was about....




Just thought I'd get the pun out of the way.

 

[The Judge]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Oh, I like that Teresa. I don't get any hidden meaning/symbolism (I didn't think phoenix as Parson did) but I like it purely on its own terms as a story. I think in fact I like it more than the one you posted because it has a sense of optimism -- the rather downbeat end of your world-building one was missing that for me.

Culhwch, yes I think your Mr Hyde one may well have garnered you a few votes, though I do like your continuing story.

Interesting take, onebigpotato -- and I think it's entirely possible he could step back and see himself for what he is, though whether a universe-killing general/emperor would in fact be sitting peacefully at his daughter's bedside is perhaps another matter!