NYC Midnight Flash Fiction competition

[TheDustyZebra]

One of the writers who is doing critiques in the FF forum is making me crazy. He keeps telling people that they need to change from passive to active verbs, citing sentences that are in past perfect that he thinks ought to be in past. His own story, of course, has no past perfect where it needs it, because he did it all in past. Arrgh!

Oh, and another, after I explained dialogue punctuation, answered that she uses "British style" out of habit because she reads a lot of British books. No, no you don't. Trust me. (Note, this was not about single quotes vs double. It was about stuff like "I'm here." He said.)

 

[HareBrain]

Oh, and another, after I explained dialogue punctuation, answered that she uses "British style" out of habit because she reads a lot of British books. No, no you don't. Trust me. (Note, this was not about single quotes vs double. It was about stuff like "I'm here." He said.)

Aaaaaargh. How can you pick up rules that don't exist from reading books where they're not used?

 

[TheDustyZebra]

One hour, forty-five minutes to go until results come in from round one. Who wants to wait and chew fingernails with me?

Bring your own fingernails.

 

[sinister42]

4th out of 31 in my group, giving me 12 points to start. Not bad.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Meh. 7 points means I'm likely toast. It's probably one of the best stories I've ever written, and got great forum and beta feedback. And I have to top that substantially for the next round?

 

[Cory Swanson]

Fifth place. 11 points. Feeling good.

 

[sinister42]

Round two assignment: Suspense, a funeral, a lawnmower.

Hrm.

Never written 'suspense' before but an idea is brewing.

 

[Cory Swanson]

I got fantasy, a dry riverbed, and an Alan wrench. I always thought IKEA was a fantastical hellscape!

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I've got comedy, a bottling factory, and a top hat. I'm trying to figure out what the obvious is, so I can avoid that.

 

[sinister42]

I've got comedy, a bottling factory, and a top hat. I'm trying to figure out what the obvious is, so I can avoid that.

The obvious is Willy Wonka.

 

[sinister42]

I finished a draft early this morning and it's out to my beta reader (my husband). I'm halfway across the country from him at the moment, but I'm sure he'll call me with his thoughts later.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

The obvious is Willy Wonka.

I suppose it would be, yes. And that did flit across my mind pretty early, which seals it. No Willy Wonka.

 

[Cory Swanson]

I've got a draft done. Anyone want to trade readings?

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Sure. I need something to do besides write my own story.

 

[sinister42]

Submitted! And I really dig this one, actually. Ended up kind of a retelling of A Telltale Heart.

 

[Cory Swanson]

Good luck sinister42! I hope you make it to round three!

 

[sinister42]

Right. Just got my confirmation, so here's my story. Please give me your thoughts.

I’d Been So Careful.docx

 

[Cory Swanson]

It's good. A different take on suspense, but I think it fits right in there.

If I had to say anything, I'd say that the set up lad me to expect a more dramatic ending. Guns drawn and such.

 

[Bagpuss]

here's my story. Please give me your thoughts.

I liked it, but the liturgical response from the congregation is, technically speaking, directly spoken speech and so needs speech marks. Shoot me, I'm a pedant.

 

[Cory Swanson]

Should I be worried. It's nearly 72 hours since the deadline, and I haven't gotten my confirmation like they said I would. Do you think there could have been a problem with my submission?

I got the "we have received it" email.