Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[Talysia]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

This was more difficult than I thought it would be, but I managed to come to a decision quite quickly in the end. My shortlist was, as usual, not very short: there were ten on the list when I started:

reiver33 - Bosworth
Crystal Haven - Too Much Time
mosaix - Eternity
StormFeather - Timeless
TheEndIsNigh - The End
Chrispenycate - Time Vampire
HoopyFrood - Beginnings End
Chopper - Moebius, or how to avoid...
Sephiroth - Karya
Culhwch - Father Time

All of the stories were great, but these stood out for me, and each had something that I loved. My vote this month goes to Chopper, though, for the intriguing loop story.

 

[chopper]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

timely woop!

but now comes the agony of choosing my own favourite....
i may have a new system this month, however - my niece and nephew are nearby, and i might read a few out to them first; any they sit tight and listen to are bound to be winners.....

 

[mosaix]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Wow, a few mentions this month - thanks.

Well, it's Vertigo or Chopper for me. Both very well thought out. So difficult to choose, so little time...

 

[J-WO]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Like this you mean?

I'm off to the tattoo parlour with this doozey!

 

[chopper]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

I'm off to the tattoo parlour with this doozey!

at least i'll be able to spot you at the next Altfiction....

 

[Parson]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Hey, Thanks Procrastinator. I see you have a very discerning eye; or are easily impressed.

My own short list will be coming shortly; or within the next few days.

 

[Vertigo]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Right thisd was seriusly difficult but here's my shortlist:

Talysia: A Voice from the Past - the last line sent a tingle up my spine!
mygoditsraining: Man is least himself - the ultimate punishment for the ultimate crime. Great
Parson: Time in a Bottle - "What was uncontained and untamed, Is now measured, metered, and mundane." Beautiful!
The Judge: [Two times] Three Time-Thieves - What a great solution to an impossible problem!
Moonbat: Go to your room and think about what you’ve done! I've seen books and movies with this kind of stasis like "prison" and always thought it no real punishment.
J-WO: On the dangers of Timegates and a classical education - the folly of rushing in - I loved it.
Leisha: Evolution - this was great my second choice by a whisker.
Lenny: Monotony Affects Even the Strong - this made me stop and think - equal second choice by a whisker

My final choice Talysia - there is just something beautifully simple about it. It doesn't need anything more.

 

[nixie]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Why are you all so talented? It makes it very difficult to choose

 

[HareBrain]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Thank heavens for my sanity that I didn't have three votes: the third one would have necessitated a huge shortlist.

Had I a second vote, I think it would have gone to Mouse for the inventiveness and execution of her idea. Brilliant.

My solitary vote, however, goes to Procrastinator. I think that's two votes from me in three months. I might have to class myself a fan!

 

[Mouse]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Mouse - Death by Mouse (clever sticks award goes to this one!)

Ta muchly!

Had I a second vote, I think it would have gone to Mouse for the inventiveness and execution of her idea. Brilliant.

Cheers dude.

I've gotta read them all again before I vote. Think I know which one I'm going for though.

 

[Deathfrommassive]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

My vote went 100% to “Too much time”

 

[chopper]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

seph all the way, in the end. reading it aloud worked really well.

 

[paranoid marvin]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Harebrain's Chrono$ has it for me, although I was impressed by Mouse's poem's graphology. Lots of other very well written stories as well , already can't wait for next month's assignment

 

[Parson]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Thanks for the mention Vertigo!

My own "Short List." No decision yet!

Teresa Edgerton -- "Lear" --- Shivery good

Talysia -- "A Voice from the Past" --- I will always wonder if she read it.

Mosaix -- "Eternity"

Precise Calibre -- "One Grain at a Time"

Dusty Zebra -- "The Measure of a Man"

Mouse -- "Death by Clockwork Mouse" --- *A Prize winner for advanced cleverness.*

Ursa Major -- "Dawn of a New Era"

Sephiroth -- "Karla" --- Seph, you seriously need to write a book of poetry! I hereby dub you "Poet Laureate of Crons."

J Wo -- "On the Dangers of Timegates..."


So my shortlist is a mere 20% of the whole list, with several others nearly as deserving. This will be a trial to test my soul.

 

[The Judge]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

How about a Sticky thread that no one but mods and admin can post into and they put the winning entry in each month. I had thought of suggesting something similar for the photo challenge. (actually it might be nice to but the top two posts in maybe)

I can think of one immediate advantage in doing this. nixie's "A quick tour of the forums" in Introductions links to the Writing Challenge. At present that link is to the July one - and either that has to be updated every month or it gets more and more out of date. If the link was instead to a "Winners" thread that would get around that problem since it would always be current.

I'd suggest the first post could consist of a basic intro of what the Challenge is, and each subsequent post, in addition to details of the theme and the winning top 2 (or 3 or whatever) entries, could have a link to the rest of that specific month's stories with some kind of "And the other wonderful entries can be found here..." so that someone interested can find them quickly without having to go through Workshop.

 

[Ursa major]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

If there is such a thread, I think that at the very least, the stories losing out in a tie-break should be included.

 

[The Judge]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Definitely.

 

[Parson]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

After considerable consideration my solitary vote went to Talysia, "A Voice From the Past." I just kept asking myself: "Would she look? How could she not look?"

A close second J Wo, another memorable ending, perfectly medieval.

Great Job Everyone!

 

[Boneman]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

I started making a 'short' list about an hour and a half ago - dammit, it really does get more difficult every month, and yet again, I feel bad for leaving virtually every story off the list! But, this was the first list:
Reiver 33
Crystal haven
Precise Calibre
TEIN
Vertigo
Gary Compton
The Judge
Moonbat
Mouse
Chrispenycate
Chopper
Ursa major
Challa Rajni
J-WO
Dark Raven

That's about a third of the entries, almost. So then I tried to separate them, and things got very difficult... My 'short, short' list came down to Precise Calibre, TEIN, Vertigo, Chopper, Chrispenycate, and Dark Raven. All of these were in first place as far as I was concerned.

Desperate to find reasons to select just one of these, I noticed that Vertigo had an apparent typo 'happended'. Probably I'm too thick to realise it was intentional, but I (sorry Vertigo) ruled it out because of that. Then I noticed that Dark Raven had a repetition - 'legs legs' (and still got in the 75 word limit, but he could have had 'bit by bit', rather than 'by bit') so I was down to a very final 4....

In the end, after another two rounds of re-reading, TEIN and Chopper were still tied, but Chopper just shaded it for me, the time-loop thing had been used by others, but this one made me smile every time I read it.

Amazing job everybody!! I'm mentally exhausted.....

 

[Dale R]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Made my choice, but I'm going to keep it secret for now.
Adopted the "narrowing down" technique as I couldn't decide at first.

All very different though! you would expect the voting to be spread out because of the diversity.

Good luck everyone.