Sekrit Santa - the guessing thread

[hopewrites]

Thanks Hopewrites for writing a back up. It was cool. It felt like an excerpt from a larger strory. Did you just whip it up for this exercise?

I did yeah. And it just kept expanding the world it was set in reaching out and back in all directions the way the world expands and grows for the last three hours of night before the sky begins to be tinged with dawn. I feel bad about the sloppily trunkated ending. When I go back to brush it up and fix it I'm going to start with that and just let it run itself out.

Depending on how that goes I may use it in the fairy side of my epic that I'm still world building on while I hone my writing skills.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Finally had a chance to read these without interruption.

Glitterspeck: This was extraordinarily vivid. Everything seemed very real. Add a sympathetic protagonist and a superb conclusion and you have a fine story indeed.

hopewrites (#1): A wild roller coaster ride with mindblowing multiple levels of reality. This displays an amazing imagination at play.

hopewrites (#2): The author shows remarkable versatility by shifting moods to a poetic, romantic fairy tale.

The DustyZebra: A wonderful premise, developed into a emotionally powerful fable.

Good work, everybody!

 

[Phyrebrat]

Looks like I have a bit of catching up to do!

I really enjoyed Victoria Silverwolf and Mouse's submissions. There seems to have been a tendency towards less traditional partnering in the stories I've read so far, including mine. (Although AMWs story for me was not in that vein.) Will post more of my thoughts when I get back.

Looking forward to reading Glisterpeck's on the way to scream at some Hackney kids' class (actually, they're angels)

I don't know whether anyone is interested in mine as it is 16K. I noticed a couple of typos and so I want to change that and resave as PDF.

Does anyone want to read it? I suppose we should ask Mouse's permission

pH

 

[ratsy]

I have read TDZ's so far and what a great idea. Well done.

Hope to get to the rest soon....

Phyrebrat....16,000 words!!!! I thought my 2800 words was too much

 

[TacticalLoco]

Here's mine. 3511 words.

Did phtrebrat post his? 'cause i don't recall seeing it.
Reading the others today or tomorrow. Fun stuff.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Thanks, ratsy! (Oh, and Victoria!)

It really is a much larger idea than it ended up there. I had many beginnings that just didn't work out right, and when I finally had to pump it out at (past) the last second, the one that wanted to go somewhere was just a sliver of the main thing. I really hope to get the whole thing going soon.

 

[Mouse]

Did phtrebrat post his? 'cause i don't recall seeing it.

Nope. But he should, cos it's brill.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I've read them all over the last couple of days, and they're fab. My story got a rejection at the final hurdle, btw, but having got so close (and apparently it really was close) on a first submission, I think I'll try a couple of other outlets and if it doesn't get taken, I'll throw it up in a week or two.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Aww, too bad, springs! I'm sure it will make it over the hurdle somewhere. And then we can buy the magazine.

In case anyone is interested, I just posted all my beginnings (the ones I have left, anyway) in Critiques, since it was time for the obligatory offering. It should give some insight into what the story looks like in my head -- scary place, be warned!

 

[hopewrites]

I'd be interested! *she says with a stack of readables still untouched*

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

TacticalLoco -- an action-packed and imaginative space Western!

 

[EloiseA]

Just discovered this thread (she said sheepishly). Some wonderful fiction here, I'm in awe.

I thought it was a thread all about what we wished we'd been given for Christmas.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Nope. But he should, cos it's brill.

Hope, I'm sorry, but Mouse has replaced you as my new favourite Chron member I'm fickle like that, see?

My PDF is 464k so I am 300+ above the forum limit for posting. Shall I send to people's email? If you want, I can do this.

I hope the 16K word count doesn't put anyone off. I think I've nailed all the typos but I saw a 'the the' in there once instead of a 'that the' but now I can't find it - even with Find and replace in Scrivener. And I apologise for the woogy formatting - used Compile in Scrivener.

I'm behind on my reading matter due to a last minute rush of work in schools preparing for their dance exams (which has put me in mind of pitching a new TV series to the networks entitled Britain's Not Got Talent).

pH

 

[Glisterspeck]

Phyrebrat, Scrivener! Love that app, can't wait for the iPad version.

Springs, sorry to hear about the rejection. It's a great story, and I'm positive it will find a home elsewhere.

I'll be reading the rest of the stories posted this weekend, and TDZ's false starts that were posted in crits as well. Very much looking forward to the lot!

 

[ratsy]

I actually have submitted my story in an attempt to get some sort of experience with the process since I have never done it before. I am currently working on 3 other short stories to work on my writing.

When I get the rejection email I will post the story!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Good luck, Ratsy!

Glisterspeck, thanks. If nothing comes of it, I had fun writing it.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Phyrebrat was kind enough to e-mail the story to me on request, and it's excellent. A very complex urban fantasy with vivid, realistic characters and a wonderfully realized modern setting. Dense as a novel, it reminds me of other great British writers working in this mode, such as Geoff Ryman and M. John Harrison.

 

[ratsy]

Good luck, Ratsy!

Glisterspeck, thanks. If nothing comes of it, I had fun writing it.

thanks Springs, you too!

edit: I have finished Vicotria's story, it was a different story, far removed from something I would normally read. Very well written.

Mouse, I read your's too. Such a cool premise. You take the theme of an AI ship to a whole new, somehow realistic, level.

I hope to read the rest of the stories soon. Such quality writers, what are you guys doing wasting your time on here??! Go make your millions. I almost feel like an imposter on this challenge.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Glisterspeck, I don't think I woukld get even half as far with my stories as I do if it weren't for Scrivener, and I - like you - am waiting for it's iPad release. There has been increased noise about that in the last few weeks or month, so I am hoping for a summer release.

Phyrebrat was kind enough to e-mail the story to me on request, and it's excellent. A very complex urban fantasy with vivid, realistic characters and a wonderfully realized modern setting. Dense as a novel, it reminds me of other great British writers working in this mode, such as Geoff Ryman and M. John Harrison.

Well Victoria, I do not know what to say for such a kind review with so many superlatives. 'Thank you' seems a bit lame but thank you all the same; your words have made me dance (and I am glad it didn't offend)

pH

 

[TacticalLoco]

I've read all the ones posted here and greatly enjoyed them. Thanks once again to all who took part and good luck ratsy on submitting your story.