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Oh shoot, I'm actually here early enough for prompt submission and I have no idea what to do
Wait, the writing period starts now?
Jeez, I didn't think to check.
...
...good thing I have a plan...
Jeez, I didn't think to check.
...
...good thing I have a plan...
I am out, unfortunately. I must keep this from becoming a bad habit, but the inspiration-to-responsibility ratio has not been favorable this weekend.
Well, I can say for absolute certain that this is the best story in the writeoff. I was trying to get one done, but ran out of time, so grats!
Okay, this is a weird situation! As the rules forbid authors from 'outing' themselves so to not contaminate voting, but with only one submission and the author having broadcast their entering (presumably this remain true -- it is conceivable that they retracted it and someone else submitted), what will happen here?
Oh, my.
Friends, let me start by expressing gratitude to our participant >>KwirkyJ. I desire to keep the flag of pony flying high through this longest hiatus, and it is through the actions of individual authors, readers, and fans that we will make it happen.
At the same time, however, I see that there is difficulty making this happen right now. These times are truly unprecedented, and it seems that we are all pulled in different directions. For me, there has been much disruption on the home front, and my usual ways of getting writing time in aren’t working right now. Perhaps others are facing different circumstances entirely. Either way, what we’re all going through is both broadly common throughout the world, yet incredibly specific to each of us as individuals.
This may not be the time for short horse stories.
I want it to be. I feel it is a personal failing to not be out here revving people up to join in, or at least making my own contribution. The love is there, the energy is there—but the latter is scattered across too many day-to-day oddities. Right now I am not one man trying to balance my life with things I find rewarding; I am part of a family trying to steer itself through danger and uncertainty. And if that’s overselling it... well, I’ll have to ask that you give me this one.
But we’re all in that boat, more or less, each with our own variations on it. And many have voted with their feet—not against us per se, but for their own time and needs that run deeper than the fun we try to bring.
I’m not done. The fire is still burning, the ideas are still there, and there’s so much more to write. But I think there is also no shame in acknowledging that we’re going through a rough patch right now. One that is bigger than a single person or a single situation. One that calls us to turn much of our focus elsewhere, at least for a while. So with that, I am proposing to hit pause on FiSS after our current contest, probably until end-of-year, give-or-take. There will be other contests out there for those interested; but our special brand of crazy will go back onto the shelf for a while.
I’ll leave you with a quote I like to use at times like these:
Now let’s go finish as strong as we can with some art!!
Friends, let me start by expressing gratitude to our participant >>KwirkyJ. I desire to keep the flag of pony flying high through this longest hiatus, and it is through the actions of individual authors, readers, and fans that we will make it happen.
At the same time, however, I see that there is difficulty making this happen right now. These times are truly unprecedented, and it seems that we are all pulled in different directions. For me, there has been much disruption on the home front, and my usual ways of getting writing time in aren’t working right now. Perhaps others are facing different circumstances entirely. Either way, what we’re all going through is both broadly common throughout the world, yet incredibly specific to each of us as individuals.
This may not be the time for short horse stories.
I want it to be. I feel it is a personal failing to not be out here revving people up to join in, or at least making my own contribution. The love is there, the energy is there—but the latter is scattered across too many day-to-day oddities. Right now I am not one man trying to balance my life with things I find rewarding; I am part of a family trying to steer itself through danger and uncertainty. And if that’s overselling it... well, I’ll have to ask that you give me this one.
But we’re all in that boat, more or less, each with our own variations on it. And many have voted with their feet—not against us per se, but for their own time and needs that run deeper than the fun we try to bring.
I’m not done. The fire is still burning, the ideas are still there, and there’s so much more to write. But I think there is also no shame in acknowledging that we’re going through a rough patch right now. One that is bigger than a single person or a single situation. One that calls us to turn much of our focus elsewhere, at least for a while. So with that, I am proposing to hit pause on FiSS after our current contest, probably until end-of-year, give-or-take. There will be other contests out there for those interested; but our special brand of crazy will go back onto the shelf for a while.
I’ll leave you with a quote I like to use at times like these:
“Death is but a door. Time is but a window. I'll be back.”—Vigo the Carpathian
Now let’s go finish as strong as we can with some art!!
A very simple piece, but I think it captures the sense of isolation of the story fairly well. Kinda wish that the clouds were whiter (I see a little blue sky, there some should be white), but with a forced choice between that and having texture to the treeline you made the right call. HDR is a harsh mistress. Extra credit for including a light post!
The balloons(?) are curious, but give some mystery to an otherwise ordinary landscape shot. Interesting choice.
The balloons(?) are curious, but give some mystery to an otherwise ordinary landscape shot. Interesting choice.