Writing Challenge Discussion -- FEBRUARY 2011

[Boneman]

2 more great entries, and one refering to a Bob Dylan song, that's almost certain to get my vote. And Pyan, judging from his avatar is one of the ancient beings that has dwelt within the earth since before the time of man.

'Remember me to one who lives there'

I thought that was Simon and Garfunkel....

Voting gets harder every day.

 

[nixie]

Hurrah! We got 42, now we can all relax. And a good piece from a newbie called Pyan (though judging from his post count he must have been around quite a bit elsewhere on the forums).

I think I've got glimpses of him here and there, the odd tentacle creeping round corners that sort of thing.

 

[No One]

I doubt I'll get many chances to welcome Pyan to a thread, so... Welcome to the 75-word Story Challenge, Pyan!

And a shortlister for sure.

 

[Pyan]

Thanks, y'all, for the nice mentions...

 

[Ursa major]

They're well deserved, Py.

 

[Pyan]

I thought that was Simon and Garfunkel....

You're right, Boneman, it's from Scarborough Fair by Simon and Garfunkel:

Are you going to Scarborough Fair
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine

 

[chrispenycate]

You're right, Boneman, it's from Scarborough Fair by Simon and Garfunkel:
Are you going to Scarborough Fair
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine

Ah. but the clever bit is that Robert Zimmermann's (excuse me, Bob Dylan's) "Girl from the North country" ends with

So if you're travelin' in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine.

So it's a legitimate quote there, too.

 

[sloweye]

Nice one Alchemist

 

[GreenKidx]

Absolutely HILARIOUS Alchemist. The end was PERFECT!

 

[Pyan]

That's excellent, Alchemist - I literally laughed out loud...

So it's a legitimate quote there, too.

And there's no question of plagiarism, as it seems to have been originated by that prolific lyricist, Trad...

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

So, I've been thinking about the problems caused by the constantly improving excellence of the entries to the competition.

It's unlikely that people are going to be reasonable and tone down the quality, but with so many people entering, most of us are bound to be in for disappointment again this month. I've had an inspirational idea which I'm sure we will all agree is the way to go.

It simple, well tried and topical.

We adopt a system of categories.


I'll start the ball rolling with a few :-

Best overall story: - The old fashioned vote we normally do. Obviously this is the final award but we can get to that after hours of sub genre/awards.

Best Female Author:

Best Male Author:

Best Poetical story:

Best Fantasy story:

Best Science Fiction story:

Best Topic Related Story:

Best Non Topic related story:

Best story likely to be adopted as a film script:

Best story by a person with a black sky in their Avatar:

Best Peanut related Avatar:

In this way not only do we get more votes but we get more winners. Even better there may be people who win in more than one category. Obviously acceptance speeches will have to limited to seventy five words or less but that's a given (and possibly a good topic for next month). I've already booked Bono and his beat combo for the ceremony. I thought the Hollywood Bowl would probably be big enough but if others disagree it can be discussed and voted on too. Of course in time, well perhaps not too long, we could introduce a 'fellowship' of the thread award and a 'lifetime achievement' awards.


I'm sure Cul** will be only too happy to spend the few extra minutes to expand the poll for the new categories.





**Cul. I think it's fair to say that the work you put in on our behalf is very much appreciated by all. I certainly do.

 

[alchemist]

Great idea TEiN! What rational person could object? Maybe regional prizes too - best UK entry, best US entry, and one for the rest of the world?

Thanks for the comments folks. My entry this month is particularly poignant, as, last week, ALCHEMISSUS BROKE MY CHECKPOINT CHARLIE MUG! She says it was accidental, but she's been threatening the mixing bowl I use for my corn flakes for years.

 

[Culhwch]

I'm happy to do the extra work if one of the categories can be Best Story by a Person Who Set Up This Poll.

 

[Culhwch]

Great idea TEiN! What rational person could object? Maybe regional prizes too - best UK entry, best US entry, and one for the rest of the world?

Rest of the world, what? I love that we're all one amorphous blob now...

 

[Allanon]

Funnily enough I just had an Amorphous Blob for lunch, nice!!

Alchemist and The Procrastinator, Your stories are immense! I think atm Procrastinator has it for me!! And I'm up for the new categories, but I wouldn't mind one being

Best story written by a man sat in his office at RAF Fylingdales called Stephen, usually eating Wine Gums

I'm not suggesting I'd win that category but I probably would get people to possibly think about voting for me. Even if they decided that Gillian from I.T. was better and voted for her, it's the thought that counts!!

 

[Precise Calibre]

You're right, Boneman, it's from Scarborough Fair by Simon and Garfunkel:

Semi-false: Simon and Garfunkel were taught Scarborough Fair by a folk singer named Martin Carthy "who had picked up the tune from the songbook by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger". They only publicized it more, copyrighting it as their own material and not so much as crediting any of the original sources.

The song itself has existed since at least the 1600s.

 

[GreenKidx]

In all honesty I do think at least two sub-genres would/could be good...

Maybe = Best Drama/Tragedy and Best Comedy/Satire.

I think we do tend to have two distinct types of entries every month.

 

[Ursa major]

No category for most puns in 75 words...?


* shakes head *

 

[Moonbat]

At this rate we will have as many categories as entries and everyone will be a winner!
How about a category for worst entry, that might cut the number of contestants down a bit.
Or a category for best story using exactly 75 words,
or a category for best story using exactly 74 words,
or a category for best story using exactly 73 words, and so on.
How about a category for most stupid category suggestion?

 

[The Judge]

And a lovely little piece from newcomer Evelinn isn't making the choice any easier.

It occurs to me that the fact the genre is an open one makes choosing harder for me -- in the past I've been able to eliminate some otherwise good entries because they've not been SFF-y enough to my mind. I shall have to devise some other criterion to try to sort the wheat from the... er... wheat.