Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

There were so many great stories, but this is my list of favorites (not only because I thought they were excellent stories in themselves, but also stories that interpreted the theme in distinctively different ways):

MGIR "The glimpse of an eternity"
Talysia "Extreme Measures"
HareBrain "Fúath"
digs "Dare"
Mouse "A Face Mogul"
The Judge "Consequences ...."
Hilarious Joke "The End of the World"
Culhwch "Time Is The Best Disguise"
Sephiroth "The Mystery of Iniquity"

 

[The Procrastinator]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I have a short list of 11, winnowed from the many outstanding entries this month! I haven't yet decided which to vote for, but it will be one of the following:

TEIN - A Fly on the Wall
Learning.. - Sun Day
HareBrain - Fuath
Teresa Edgerton -The Fountain of Fair-Seeming
Precise Calibre - Clerical Duties
HoopyFrood - Big Surprise
The Judge - Consequences
Stormfeather - Black Sheep
Chopper - Oranges and Lemons
Hilarious Joke - The End of the World
Sephiroth - the Mystery of Iniquity

Now to make a decision. Congratulations to all entrants, though, as it was tough choosing the "short list" let alone a winner.

 

[Mouse]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Most writers doubt themselves and their ability. You need to find it in yourself to believe in your work and your abilities.

I do, swear! I know I'm alright at writing (not bad, even!) but I know when what I've written sucks too.

I come back off my holiday and odd posts on these last few pages, and loads of pages before that, seem to be about your confidence issues – eventually I found myself skipping them because they were so absurd, knowing how talented you are - so have some faith! You CAN write, and write well. Otherwise you wouldn't be having all these people - I mean Teresa, for goodness' sake! – repeatedly telling you how good you are, and you certainly wouldn't be getting as many votes and making as many shortlists as you do.

I think those were about my intelligence issues! But thank you, and especially Teresa and Parson too, for constantly saying nice things to me. My head will explode!

----

As for who I'm voting for, I've not actually read all the stories yet but I will do! I really did not understand half of the ones written this month round, I read them and they go right over my head. I can't vote for anything where I don't have a clue what's going on!

So far, I'm choosing between Talysia and Chris. But I've still got some to read...

 

[Talysia]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Another great month of stories, and some really good interpretations of the theme. Even though I've been keeping track of my favourites throughout the month, it's still been difficult to choose a winner, especially when some really good ones came right before the deadline!

My favourites of this month (although I enjoyed reading all of the entries):

Chrispenycate - Temptation
Leisha - Which Power?
Precise Calibre - Clerical Duties
Reiver 33 - Blank Canvas
Hoopy - Big Surprise
Boneman - Rotten to the Core
Chopper - Oranges and Lemons
Peter Graham - 1665
Sephiroth - The Mystery of Iniquity

My vote eventually went to Precise Calibre, although it was nearly a three way tie between Chrispenycate and Seph. Well done everyone!

 

[mygoditsraining]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Some cracking entries this month. I decided, in the end, to vote for Ursa's. In fact, I don't think a vote is enough for that one - a high five is required also.

*5*!

 

[Ursa major]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Thanks, MGIR.

*5*!




(I was despairing of getting even a mention this month - there are so many excellent entries, I've no idea yet on which of them my July choice will descend - so to receive an actual vote...! )

 

[TheDustyZebra]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

My "short list" is, once again, 16. Not very short, but you guys do this to me.

Actually it bears a great resemblance to Procrastinator's list, and several more have been mentioned so far by others, so I'll only mention the ones that haven't gotten a mention yet.

Crystal Haven -- "Apple Picking"

Devil's Advocate -- ...And Into the Fire"

Sleepless -- "Found"

No One -- "Cry Wolf" (Had to go through it a couple more times to sort out what happened, and I may still be wrong but in my interpretation it's brilliant!)

Oh, and Ursa, you're on my list too, so there's another mention -- even if it's not as good as a vote, yet! I can never resist a Poe.

It's still going to take me several more run-throughs of my whole list to see what shakes out here. At least Mouse told me the hidden secret in hers, so I can stop worrying about that and concentrate on voting!

 

[TheDustyZebra]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Well, Digs gets my vote this month. I actually think it could be improved by being shorter - I don't think the second paragraph is needed.

And Through the window, a flash of red is just a touch of brilliance.

Well done, Digs.

Interesting -- the second paragraph is the part I liked the best! Such a wolfish fellow, he.

 

[Mouse]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Ok then, mine was between:

Talysia: Extreme Measures
chrispenycate: Temptation
Nixie: Gone
Hilarious Joke: The End of the World

In the end I went for Chris's Temptation. Evil kittens = win.

 

[No One]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

TDZ – cheers! That was a pleasant surprise to get a mention.

I was going to wait to post, but I just don’t see my deadlock being broken. My first shortlist included a third of the entries (including Mouse, Ursa, Chrispenycate, TheDustyZebra, Leisha, Boneman, Reiver33, Harebrain, Learning, Hilarious Joke, Talysia – which was hard enough in itself!). And that was before Cul and Seph posted, which added two more.

Then I got it down to 8 and this is my final four:

Teresa Edgerton – The Fountain of Fair-Seeming
HoopyFrood – Big Surprise
The Judge - Consequences
Sephiroth – The Mystery of Iniquity

I thought Hoopy’s was the funniest entry, and very vivid. Seph’s story, and last line, will stay with me as well – what a cracker. In the end though, it’s come down to Teresa and Judge. My first instinct had me leaning toward Judge, but I was drawn to Teresa’s use of the disguise theme. Hence, deadlock. Hence real-time flip of a coin to absolve me of all responsibility (I’ll try and not resort to this in the future though). So Tails for Teresa, Heads for Judge…

*flips coin*

…and Heads it is! Congrats Judge! Sorry Teresa…

Great reading through all the entries though. I’m off to vote.

 

[Precise Calibre]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I had a fun time of narrowing my selections down as we appear to have conjured a fair amount of very well written entries this month, compounded by the fact that there are more than previous months.

My short list before voting was:

The Singer of Secret Sorrows - Chel
Fúath - HareBrain
Mother - The Procrastinator
Found - Sleepless
The End of the World - Hilarious Joke

It's been a good month; makes me feel all warm and fuzzy .

 

[TheDustyZebra]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Are we at the point where we can post alternate versions now, or did we decide that it would be better to wait till the voting is done?

 

[Culhwch]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Not until the voting is done, TDZ, otherwise there wouldn't be any point in not allowing them to be posted throughout the month...

 

[Devil's Advocate]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Whittled it down to Top 3 (it seems I'm liking the lighter stories this month):

- Dare by digs
- Clerical Duties by Precise Calibre
- Black Sheep by StormFeather

Then we're down to Dare and Black Sheep. Which wolf do I like more? A sheep with the courage to hide among wolves is impressive. But then, I've always hated that girl with the Red Hood and her annoying questions. Might be fun for her to get eaten...

I think I'll vote for digs, then.

(Still early going, but I see Judge has a comfortable lead right now.)

 

[Parson]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I have come to enjoy other people's short lists, so I'll contribute one of my own.

TEIN -- A Fly on the Wall
Leisha -- Which Power
Teresa -- The Fountain of Fair Seeing
Judge -- Consequences


All good and many others quite fair indeed, but in the end I liked the view from Teresa's fountain.

 

[J-WO]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I won't tell you who I voted for, but lets just say I'm a sucker for the classics.

 

[digs]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Mine was a very, very close toss-up between two pretty different stories. In the end I went with The Judge's...seriously loved it.

 

[The Judge]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Thank you, digs and No One (or No One's coin...) and everyone else who has voted and/or name-checked me. To say I'm gob-smacked at the voting so far is an understatement, particularly as in my view the standard of writing this month is higher than ever.

Highly unusually, I'm pretty sure I know who I want to vote for but I'm conscious I haven't paid nearly enough attention to the entries posted at the end of the month, so to be scrupulously fair I'm going to spend some time going through them all again before casting my vote.

 

[Boneman]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Look, it's all very well getting more people to enter, but it just makes the voting harder every month!

I want at least ten votes this month... I honestly cannot see a bad entry, how the hell am I to choose one which I think is 'the best'? Going to have a short list of about 45, at this rate.

And thank you for the mentions and the vote already!

It is just sooooo hard... I'm going to have to sleep on it.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Thank you to everyone who mentioned mine (and to Parson and whoever the other person was who voted for it)!

Judge, I don't know why you are surprised to be getting so many votes. Your poem is incredible.

And just to remind everyone, voting does not continue until the last day of the month. It closes on the 29th.