Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[chopper]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

poetry: as long as it scans and has some form of metre, i'm not fussed. i might draw the line at a Petrarchan sonnet to undercrackers though.

 

[The Judge]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Good grief. "Ode to a Pair of Smalls". It gives a new perspective on Keats' line "For ever panting" I suppose...

 

[chopper]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Too brief, or not too brief?

 

[Ursa major]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Too brief, or not too brief?

Shorter than long johns, probably.


* Wonders whether August's subject ought to be Brief Encounters. *


* Pants in anticipation *

 

[Boneman]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Well, if it's underwear we're talking of: Euripedes? In that case Eumenedes...

 

[chrispenycate]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

The ancients weren't over encumbered with underclothes; at least in the warmer mythologies.

But one can merely do one's best, I suppose. I will add that, while this is fantasy, it is most definitely not my fantasy.

Inordinately frilly, war tent's looking glass reveals
Bloomered Petroclus, who sulky Achilles waits.
Not combat armour that hath caused the corset weals
Nor enemy seal the pampered fighter's fates
I've tampered with your charioteer? That's rich.
And how about the horses then, you jealous hero?

 

[Ursa major]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

A classic of sorts (and out of copyright.

Just a thong at twilight, when one's pants are low
And the frilly undies, deftly come and go
Though sweethearts be leary, thinking long johns wrong,
Still to us at twilight comes love’s old song
Comes love’s own sweet song.



A demonstration of why I won't be entering a "poem" any time soon.

 

[mosaix]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

So, some people think entry A was better than entry B in the main vote, but in the tie breaker they think B was better than A? Confused.

 

[Boneman]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I have to say that at least six entries were inseparable in their excellence - they could all have won.

I chose the Judge in the end, after a great deal of consideration; they both had a beginning and middle, but The Judge just shaded it with a more concise ending.

 

[Mouse]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

So, some people think entry A was better than entry B in the main vote, but in the tie breaker they think B was better than A? Confused.

Who thinks that? If you're referring to me (and admittedly, my post does make it sound like that's what I'm saying) I actually voted for Chris this month. I voted for the Judge in May. Hence, previously.

 

[mosaix]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Who thinks that? If you're referring to me (and admittedly, my post does make it sound like that's what I'm saying) I actually voted for Chris this month. I voted for the Judge in May. Hence, previously.

Intrestingly, No One thinks that! But I see it was because of the spin of a coin.

And yes, Mouse, I did misunderstand your post.

 

[Mouse]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

S'alright, I should've specified that it was May, but I couldn't remember which month it was I voted for TJ and was too lazy to go and look!

-----

I take it we're ok to post our other attempts now?

 

[The Judge]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I voted for the Judge in May. Hence, previously.

And very grateful I was for the vote as well!

And I'd love to see your other stories, Mouse. I think you're being too hard upon yourself, though, in thinking the story you posted was somehow inferior. Perhaps we all got so caught up in looking for the puzzle, we forgot to look properly at the story itself!

 

[Mouse]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I quite liked putting in something for people to look for though, so that was good.

Ok, here are my other attempts then.

Untitled

Sue was an illusionist. She could take something and make it look... better. She played with faces. Faces were easy to change and earned her the most money. But Sue played too much. People became angry with her work. There was an incident. Apparently there are some things that shouldn’t be messed with. And so Sue changed herself. She made herself too beautiful when she should’ve remained plain. Her disguise gave her away. Poor Sue.

(I didn't like this one at all!)
-------

Cat and Mouse

Cat spent some time sitting in front of the mirror, preening her whiskers, smoothing her fur... She curled her tail, filed her claws, placed a button on her nose and wore false ears.

The mice welcomed her into their home and she thought they were very stupid. She danced at their ball and pretended to eat at their feast, though she had her eye on something else.

Mouse thought Cat wore a terrible outfit.

(wasn't sure if it was fantasy, or a complete story)

--------

Princess

I am a princess and as such, I’m prone to getting into rather a lot of trouble. There are attempted kidnaps, assassinations, marriage proposals...

My guards are terrible. Anyway, tonight I am to attend a ball. I will be wearing a mask so that I can enjoy myself. My poor double will be in the firing line should anything happen.

Later, at the ball, I will watch as she is murdered. I will not care.

(wasn't sure on the tense!)

---------

Chameleon

There is a spaceship which flies around in my space, tempting my people and generally being a pain in the arse.

I‘m going to have it blasted into smithereens. I don’t like it. It’s too clever.

I must find it first though. The damn thing keeps changing. It’s not all in my mind either, I keep telling people that!

This spaceship is smart. It has too many disguises. Spaceships can have disguises!

I’m not crazy.

(again, not a complete story!)

And I did write one more which is so bad that I'm not going to post it!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I like the one you actually entered best. It was on my short list.

 

[Mouse]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Thanks, Teresa. I'd been choosing between these ones for ages, then went and wrote A Face Mogul and posted that.

 

[The Judge]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I think of those four I liked the Chameleon best, but I'm in two minds whether it's as good as your A Face Mogul. I like that we're unsure whether she is loony or no, but it feels a little unfinished to me -- perhaps because you abandoned it too early.

 

[Erin99]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I like the Face Mogul one best, too, although I am partial to cats...


Is it okay to post my rejects, or would that be too soon after Mouse's?

Edit: Oh, the Judge has just reminded me - I liked your spaceship one, too - it did have some quirkiness about it, and I wished you'd finished it.

 

[Mouse]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Yeah I ran out of words! Glad you like it though.

Leisha, post yours! I wanna see!

 

[Erin99]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Uh, my three stories were all very different in so many ways that I couldn't decide which one to pick. The alien one was too silly to post, I figured, and the other one didn't get as good a reaction from my test reader. It was nice to have a couple of ideas this month, at least. Here they are:

Men and Balls


An elegant figure among the crowded Grand Hall, she smiled and laughed behind her veil. Her sweeping Queen’s costume—gold, jewelled, crown and all—lent her many compliments. Men dressed as nobles, kings, and peasants took her gloved hands, whirled her around the floor.

Tears prickled her eyes.

Under the moonlight a squire promised her his kingdom. Lifting her veil, he gasped, grimaced.

She had been Queen for a night. Now she was an ogre.




The Stealthy Art of Infiltration


Piss on me again, dog, and I’ll rip off your danglies!

Wally the Weed had been sent to infiltrate humans. He’d garnered much intel from his strategic pavement location. Alas, when planning the perfect disguise, his race had overlooked the problem of communication. And transport.

And dogs.

A dribbling, nappy-wearing entity picked him up. Finally! Are you my brethren? Take me to our leader!

One by one his petals were ripped off. Oh, bugger.​