Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010
- Thread starter Teresa Edgerton
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re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
It's time to own up to the secret in my story, which is intimately connected with July's theme, Disguise (specifically in the SF or Fantasy genres).
My story was only disguised as fantasy. (There's no way it could be mistaken for SF.) Given its inspiration, it might have been mistaken for horror, though a heart attack hardly suggests anything supernatural. That the Prince (Prosper? Prospero?) was said to have had a premonition - which isn't the same as actually having one - proves nothing. Who knows what the prince dreamt? The narrator certainly didn't.
"Hang on," you might say, "wasn't the narrator wearing a mask?" The short answer is "No." (A longer one is "Not necessarily.") I will admit that the use of certain phrases ('barefaced cheek') and the comments about spelling** might be taken to imply a mask has been worn, but it is never stated.
No, what was disguised was a dictionary, which was given the rather misleading name, spellbook.
** Apparently, Poe's story, The Masque of the Red Death, was originally entitled The Mask of the Red Death.
It's time to own up to the secret in my story, which is intimately connected with July's theme, Disguise (specifically in the SF or Fantasy genres).
My story was only disguised as fantasy. (There's no way it could be mistaken for SF.) Given its inspiration, it might have been mistaken for horror, though a heart attack hardly suggests anything supernatural. That the Prince (Prosper? Prospero?) was said to have had a premonition - which isn't the same as actually having one - proves nothing. Who knows what the prince dreamt? The narrator certainly didn't.
"Hang on," you might say, "wasn't the narrator wearing a mask?" The short answer is "No." (A longer one is "Not necessarily.") I will admit that the use of certain phrases ('barefaced cheek') and the comments about spelling** might be taken to imply a mask has been worn, but it is never stated.
No, what was disguised was a dictionary, which was given the rather misleading name, spellbook.
** Apparently, Poe's story, The Masque of the Red Death, was originally entitled The Mask of the Red Death.
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
I think the one you did post, Leisha, is definitely the most powerful and mysterious of the three, though I like the odd alien one!
Well, if we're owning up to things, I didn't get your story at all, Ursa! I'd interpreted the "barefaced cheek" and "po-faced" as... er... something along more scatalogical lines... And even after I was let in on the Poe story, which I didn't know, I was still flummoxed. And no wonder, as it was a whole lot cleverer than I'd begun to imagine. If you're going to hide things, you ought at least to have the decency to tell us you're hiding them!
I think the one you did post, Leisha, is definitely the most powerful and mysterious of the three, though I like the odd alien one!
Well, if we're owning up to things, I didn't get your story at all, Ursa! I'd interpreted the "barefaced cheek" and "po-faced" as... er... something along more scatalogical lines... And even after I was let in on the Poe story, which I didn't know, I was still flummoxed. And no wonder, as it was a whole lot cleverer than I'd begun to imagine. If you're going to hide things, you ought at least to have the decency to tell us you're hiding them!
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re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
Thanks, Judge!
I was trying to write something outside my comfort zone with the alien one.
Ursa, I wasn't familiar with Poe's story, but I've just looked it up online (The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe). Now I understand yours better! I like "spellbook". Clever.
I'm adding it to my shortlist from this month, okay?
Thanks, Judge!
I was trying to write something outside my comfort zone with the alien one.Ursa, I wasn't familiar with Poe's story, but I've just looked it up online (The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe). Now I understand yours better! I like "spellbook". Clever.
I'm adding it to my shortlist from this month, okay?
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
Mouse, I like Princess the best of your other four, and Chameleon is a nice one that I think you would have worked into another great one if you hadn't abandoned it so soon, but I still think the one you chose was best. And of course, your anagram flummoxed me, and I look for those things!
Leisha, I like both of your other stories--and you can probably tell that the alien one is right up my alley!
Ursa, I didn't see the spellbook-dictionary thing, but I'm sure that's just because it's an unimaginably awful pun. The rest of it was obvious to me, as I'm a diehard Poe fan. The only kind to be, given the way people die around him. Oh, and I forgot to mention you on my short-shortlist too--I think I must have put on too much pun-block.
Ok, here's my first story, which gave way to my posted effort eventually. The first time I've had more than one finished work for this contest.
(It never got a title)
My assignment: fathom the monetary workings of the planet. I chose a financial institution and penetrated it easily in disguise.
Signed for new account: taken bodily from premises. Escaped from my captors, returned to my assignment.
Wrote check: taken captive again. Must rethink.
Motionless, I lay in darkness amongst coins, candies, lint.
Considered my disguise: lettering correct, “First Centennial Bank”, ink functional.
Reconstructed escapes: too easy. They don't suspect?
Repeated attempts fail.
Planetary epidemic: kleptomania!
Mouse, I like Princess the best of your other four, and Chameleon is a nice one that I think you would have worked into another great one if you hadn't abandoned it so soon, but I still think the one you chose was best. And of course, your anagram flummoxed me, and I look for those things!
Leisha, I like both of your other stories--and you can probably tell that the alien one is right up my alley!
Ursa, I didn't see the spellbook-dictionary thing, but I'm sure that's just because it's an unimaginably awful pun.
The rest of it was obvious to me, as I'm a diehard Poe fan. The only kind to be, given the way people die around him. Oh, and I forgot to mention you on my short-shortlist too--I think I must have put on too much pun-block.Ok, here's my first story, which gave way to my posted effort eventually. The first time I've had more than one finished work for this contest.
(It never got a title)
My assignment: fathom the monetary workings of the planet. I chose a financial institution and penetrated it easily in disguise.
Signed for new account: taken bodily from premises. Escaped from my captors, returned to my assignment.
Wrote check: taken captive again. Must rethink.
Motionless, I lay in darkness amongst coins, candies, lint.
Considered my disguise: lettering correct, “First Centennial Bank”, ink functional.
Reconstructed escapes: too easy. They don't suspect?
Repeated attempts fail.
Planetary epidemic: kleptomania!
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
As it happens, I did, at the end of post#685 in this thread (though I will admit that my mention of it was more than a little oblique):
(Thanks for the belated short-listing, L-K.)
As it happens, I did, at the end of post#685 in this thread (though I will admit that my mention of it was more than a little oblique):
(Thanks for the belated short-listing, L-K.)
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
I remember reading that and thinking I hadn't the faintest idea what you were talking about. You even flaming well disguised the clue that something was disguised!
I remember reading that and thinking I hadn't the faintest idea what you were talking about. You even flaming well disguised the clue that something was disguised!
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
Disguise was the name of the game....
(And I didn't want my story to be disqualified for not entirely meeting the entry requirements. I was even prepared to argue that it was Fantasy in case someone realised that a spellbook was a dictionary and challenged the tale's right to be included.)
Disguise was the name of the game....
(And I didn't want my story to be disqualified for not entirely meeting the entry requirements. I was even prepared to argue that it was Fantasy in case someone realised that a spellbook was a dictionary and challenged the tale's right to be included.)
Culhwch
Lost Boy
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
So can someone tell me what was hidden in Mouse's now?
So can someone tell me what was hidden in Mouse's now?
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
It's an anagram of the title.
*spoiler*
camouflage
I can't see to check I've spelt it right...
It's an anagram of the title.
*spoiler*
camouflage
I can't see to check I've spelt it right...
Culhwch
Lost Boy
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
Ah, I see. Clever...
Ah, I see. Clever...
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
Proposed new rule: "In future, authors are required to underline all words that form part of any hidden** meaning.
"** - Which includes anything that is not as plain as the nose on one's face. (Mirror not supplied)."
Proposed new rule: "In future, authors are required to underline all words that form part of any hidden** meaning.
"** - Which includes anything that is not as plain as the nose on one's face. (Mirror not supplied)."
StormFeather
Just passing
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
So glad it wasn't me - I just couldn't get my head around the many clues and felt like a right dunce
I blame it on a very heavy few weeks and little time to actually think
(still haven't managed to work out the anagram though, but am blaming that on the lateness of the hour and the extra glass of wine)
ahh - very clever Mouse and Judge - I really did need the extra help!!!
So glad it wasn't me - I just couldn't get my head around the many clues and felt like a right dunce
I blame it on a very heavy few weeks and little time to actually think
(still haven't managed to work out the anagram though, but am blaming that on the lateness of the hour and the extra glass of wine
)ahh - very clever Mouse and Judge - I really did need the extra help!!!
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re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
And the Winner (with votes to spare):
The Judge
Congratulations!!
And the Winner (with votes to spare):
The Judge
Congratulations!!
Culhwch
Lost Boy
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
Congrats, Judge!! Can't wait for your theme, me heartie!
Congrats, Judge!! Can't wait for your theme, me heartie!
The Procrastinator
1 Candlepower Brain
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
Congratulations Judge! Well done that lady. Well done Teresa, and well done all. Can we keep the standard going?
Congratulations Judge! Well done that lady. Well done Teresa, and well done all. Can we keep the standard going?
Talysia
Lady of Autumn
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
Congratulations, Judge, and well done to everyone! That was a really entertaining collection of stories.
Thanks for the mentions, everyone - they made me smile.
Congratulations, Judge, and well done to everyone! That was a really entertaining collection of stories.
Thanks for the mentions, everyone - they made me smile.
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chopper
Steven Poore - Epic Fantasist & SFSF Socialist
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August
excellent: congrats to both finalists too!
and many thanks for both votes and the mentions along the way too - next time i will stay within the rules.....
excellent: congrats to both finalists too!
and many thanks for both votes and the mentions along the way too - next time i will stay within the rules.....
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