Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[chrispenycate]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

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

I know exactly what you mean; if there were only a few "Oh, we don't need to worry about that one, it's got no hope."s – just a quarter, or so – it would somehow give a foundation for rejecting others. But they've all got strengths, in different directions so they are difficult to compare; there isn't one obvious reject, not one which doesn't require rereading to be sure…

Where are all the people who can't align two ideas, spell or punctuate? I know you exist, I've interacted with you on other sites…

 

[Vertigo]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

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.

Aaaargh, I must have read it 20 times and still didn't see that typo; no there was nothing hidden/clever about it just a plain old typo However thanks for the mention, much appreciated! It's nice just to have been considered.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

I know exactly what you mean; if there were only a few "Oh, we don't need to worry about that one, it's got no hope."s – …

I nominate myself as the first of said category. President of the No Hopers is my official title, if you must know. Business cards are being printed as we speak.

So who's going to be my VP?

 

[The Procrastinator]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

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!

Thank you Mr HB!! Rather karmically, I've also voted twice for you, I think...*cue significant, enigmatic and mysterious music, with a hint of cinnamon*

And I'm sure it shall be a solitary vote, as my style is rather rarefied, not aimed at the mass market but for the more discerning reader.

 

[Dale R]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Where are all the people who can't align two ideas, spell or punctuate? I know you exist, I've interacted with you on other sites…

That would usually be me mate

 

[Kayleigh]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

It's been hard to choose, but I've decided on my vote. It goes to the vampire who keeps stealing precious seconds of my time

Good job everyone

 

[crystal haven]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

So hard to choose. My short list - eventually.

Reiver33 - Bosworth
Talysia - A voice from the past
mosaix - Eternity
Vertigo - The experiment
chrispenycate - Time Vampire
Mouse - Death by Mouse
Chopper - Still time
J-WO - On the dangers of Timegates . . .

There was one story though that kept pulling me back to it. My vote is for: A voice from the past - Talysia.

And thank you for the votes and mentions. It is really appreciated.

 

[StormFeather]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

ok, my first short list - the stories I really like - contains nearly every entry.

To everyone who entered - you've all made it extremely hard to choose. As each additional entry appeared I was almost (but not quite) cursing you for making it harder.

And thank you for the mentions - with such sterling competition I'm truely happy to get them

more thinking is required . . . . .

 

[nixie]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

After a lot of deliberation, my vote went to Chris.

I'm off work next week, do you think I can have back some of the time you've taking, insead of doubling the quota?

 

[Chel]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Here's my final shortlist:

Reiver33: Modern, stylish, so very Reiver33.
Crystal Haven: I love the idea!
J-WO: Simply excellent.
Culhwch: Especially the last sentence got me.


But my vote went to Chris and the Time Vampire. It wasn't my first favourite, but it grew and grew on me, until I almost had to look behind my monitor to see if there was a grinning time vampire there.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Chel: That's the problem with the little devils - You might never see them; never realise they even exist and yet there you were humming and harming over which story to choose and then hey presto, it's 6:39am and they've taken four or five hours of your life and are partying on the proceeds.

 

[J-WO]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Haven't been able to get on to the intraweeb for a day or so and, I must say, am awfully gratified to see my name on you people's shortlists. Thank you.

I've got tomorrow off, so that's when I finally tackle the great decision-beast. As it were...

 

[Culhwch]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Two nods so far! Many thanks, Taly and Chel! This might be my best month yet! Well, besides the one time I got one vote, but I'm still fairly certain that was a mistake...

 

[Moonbat]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Two nods for me also, Thanks. I am yet to get a real vote though!
I don't normally do this, keeping my selection to myself, but in the interest of praising all those that don't get votes (I know how pleasing it can be) here is my initial shortlist (anything but short)

Paranoid Marvin - On Ice - good use of count down and timelessness
Chel - Is it done - A good looping story, challenging past/present and future
Ventanamist - The time worm turns - great use of time paradoxes.
Mosaix - Eternity - Reminded me of a great samurai jack episode
Harebrain - Chrono$ - seriously disturbing, sort of Proust(ish)
Vertigo - The experiment - brilliant take on uncertainty and observation.
The judge - (two times) three time-thieves - use of timey-wimey-ness
The Dusty Zebra - the measure of a man - different take on the title, very good
Chrispenycate - Time vampire - another chronicles related tale of lost time
Chopper - Moebius or.... - Brilliant looping story. Very cool
RSliwinski - Tick Tock - I chuckled and loved the concept
J-WO - On the danger of..... - Amusing and interesting look at classics.
Leisha - Evolution - clever notion of alien visitation.

So that was my shortlist, but then I whittled it down to Vertigo and Chopper.
Not saying who I voted for, as I haven't yet decided.

Great stories everyone, all 50(?) of you

Looking forward to next month, and another round of great short tales.

 

[Boneman]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Looking forward to next month, and another round of great short tales.

I must be one of those whom Teresa said something about 'enjoying complaining', and she's absolutley right! When the standard is as high as it is, you've summed it up perfectly, Moonbat!

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Well, I'm back from my...vacation...


I decided to vote for Death by Mouse. I quickly read through them all but figured Mouse's setup is what did the final decision for me.

 

[The Judge]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

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

Alas, dear pyan, our strivings failed
(And HareBrain too, who tried).
Our Tolkien verse remains unhailed
Our poetry decried.
For us, no laurels or renown,
For Sephiroth doth claim the crown.

The Moral is: sheer doggerel
May be a lot of fun,
But it gets you bugger all
When the voting’s done.




[for explanation see http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/38232-the-revised-tolkien-trivia-123.html posts 1838 et seq...)

 

[Devil's Advocate]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

So after thinking about it some, here's my talllist (in order of posting):

Deathfrommassive - Delmore Schwartz - A nice fresh way to state the old idea of aging.
reiver33 - Bosworth - Why would anyone want to prevent Henry VIII and his six wives from happening?
mosaix - Eternity - As someone who has been bound and chained inside a desolate dungeon, I can confirm the slow passage of time.
HareBrain - CHRONO$ - One hour is equal to a month? My, that's worse than cigarettes.
Devil's Advocate - Come, Deliverance - I don't know who this bloke is, but a damn good entry. Damn good.
Croaker - Old Soldier - How world weary of you.
DarkRaven - March of Time - Who wouldn't love to see and infant wielding a sword?


Backhanded Compliments, aka The Honourable Mentions, aka The Good But Not Good Enoughs, aka The Worsts of the Best:

Vertigo - The Experiment - Any story that can so naturally mention Schrödinger's cat is alright in my book.
gary compton - The Beginning - Was it really?
Moonbat - Go to your room... - A punishment slightly less enjoyable than spanking.
chopper - Moebius - The wheel of time.
Culhwch - Father Time - I'd like to see him battle it out with Mother Nature.

I will procrastinate and make my final decision later.

 

[Mouse]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

I decided to vote for Death by Mouse. I quickly read through them all but figured Mouse's setup is what did the final decision for me.

You are lovely.

I voted for StormFeather (despite the your/you're oopsy) cos I was impressed by the cleverness.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

I was thinking how quickly the votes are coming in this time ... but then I remembered how many stories and (I hope) voters there were this time, and only a little more than two days to vote.

Anyway, here is my short list, in the order of their posting:

reiver33 "Bosworth"
Boneman "Running Down"
Parson "Time in a Bottle"
No One "Song Without End"
Mouse "Death by Mouse"
Dale R "I am the past and the future?"
Croaker "Old Soldier"
Leisha "Evolution"
Lenny "Monotony Affects Even the Strong"
Culhwch "Father Time"

This reduced to my shorter list: Parson, Mouse, Croaker, and Culhwch.

In the end, I voted for "Time in a Bottle."