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writerrun, pastintenses and participulates, contrastants and inciparticipundits, all gatteround! From all semispheres, semaphores seem afore the way, and summerscribes from baskingsands and winterwrights from shiversnows conglamourate to vie vivant against uther aurothors.
Gerties and Lens, mark your toes and repare to toss your kayberds. If you loose your inspuration, write it off! A-scribe it to misastruss pasts, and peck up what you put down. Proseflows grow in verbrant rows. Plant your plots in comfy seights and surrange them to miximal efferfect.
In fine, hie thence and regale tales in the finest traducions of Anguish letterchore!
Here now the condutions:
Call whoe to Harsewords! With rigor, rig original. Hayfic is treyf-fic! Bepart from this, your subject is in prompt, you. Set say-all and steer by stars between Scylla of too-kay and Charybdis of hate-kay.
Cur-tail the loopfics thisaround, and Procrustrate your precious prose, lest wordcount halt you at the
Phoenish line. (whew!)
Gerties and Lens, mark your toes and repare to toss your kayberds. If you loose your inspuration, write it off! A-scribe it to misastruss pasts, and peck up what you put down. Proseflows grow in verbrant rows. Plant your plots in comfy seights and surrange them to miximal efferfect.
In fine, hie thence and regale tales in the finest traducions of Anguish letterchore!
Here now the condutions:
Call whoe to Harsewords! With rigor, rig original. Hayfic is treyf-fic! Bepart from this, your subject is in prompt, you. Set say-all and steer by stars between Scylla of too-kay and Charybdis of hate-kay.
Cur-tail the loopfics thisaround, and Procrustrate your precious prose, lest wordcount halt you at the
Phoenish line. (whew!)
Does anyone know how we are supposed to vote on prompts? Because when I go into the Prompt Voting section I can't click on any of the prompts that, have been submitted so far.
Writeoff weekend, writeoff weekend, writeoff weeeeek-eeeeeend!
My prompt is in. I'm spying a clear horizon this weekend, which is doubly exciting. Might be something to do with the fact that I decided to expose my kids to a cold last week so that they got it all out of their system in time for writeoff season.
What? They were gonna come down with something anyway. I'm just being efficient.
And selfish. Yeah, that.
My prompt is in. I'm spying a clear horizon this weekend, which is doubly exciting. Might be something to do with the fact that I decided to expose my kids to a cold last week so that they got it all out of their system in time for writeoff season.
What? They were gonna come down with something anyway. I'm just being efficient.
And selfish. Yeah, that.
The eternal struggle of prompt submission: knowing there was a dozen times you though "wow, that would make a great Writeoff prompt" in the past month, and remembering none of them.
Going to be a busy weekend for me, and I'm still not sure I've ever written anything using multiple thousands of words, but we'll see what happens.
Going to be a busy weekend for me, and I'm still not sure I've ever written anything using multiple thousands of words, but we'll see what happens.
>>Nodqfan
Voting starts after all of the prompts have been submitted. To my knowledge, at least.
Voting starts after all of the prompts have been submitted. To my knowledge, at least.
Perhaps I shan't write anything, and shall instead merely read and vote on random stories with catchy titles. Mwahaha.
I got my first job today. That means I'm going to have a lot of stress and nervousness to vent in this weekend's writeoff.
Here's hoping for the best, and same goes for everyone!
Here's hoping for the best, and same goes for everyone!
>>Zaid Val'Roa Hope it's at a haberdasher. I'm still planning to eat your hat at some point.
I've a full slate as is this month, including the MLP writeoff that I'm assuming I'll have time to participate in, so I'm gonna skip this one too. I'd really like to compete in an original fiction writeoff someday, but the stars, they never align just right...
I've a full slate as is this month, including the MLP writeoff that I'm assuming I'll have time to participate in, so I'm gonna skip this one too. I'd really like to compete in an original fiction writeoff someday, but the stars, they never align just right...
I'm feeling sick and may be getting a cold. My mom is finally coming up to see the baby this weekend. Something else is probably wrong.
Bring it on, original short story round.
Bring it on, original short story round.
>>Nodqfan >>Mudkipman98
Prompts can be submitted until a specific time, and voting starts after that. If you click on "Voting" there should be a ticking timer at the top.
Prompts can be submitted until a specific time, and voting starts after that. If you click on "Voting" there should be a ticking timer at the top.
Is there is just always a prompt for something someone can read to their kids? :rainbowlaugh:
The Final Voyage, Back to Where it All Began, Almost. Let’s Just Say, Hypothetically, This is just the Beginning.
Sorry to Wake You Up. Just Five More Minutes; Sore Was I, Ere I Saw Eros. Speak of the Devil Bound to your Desk. Must It Come to This? If You Don’t Care for Your Rose, Then Your Rose Will Fade Away.
I Come to Sell the Stars. I Hate my Job. I Love my Job. Another Day, Another Dollar; I’ve Got Five Dollars Left. Riding On High!
Harrowing Revelation: The You Within A Dragon in the Desert. Literally Black Magic, When Scissors Cut Rock.
Gonna Never Have To Die. A Dead Person Can’t Write a Letter Where in the main character doesn’t know what they want. Gibbrish In the Cards, Alternative Facts, Something CoffeeMinion and/orAndrewRogue can read to his kid(s). Ten meter is on FIRE!
The Night Out, Staring Into the Abyss. Endless Worlds As Spring Sprung, And Then, Things Got Worse…
What Lurks in the Dark?
Uninvited Guests.
Sorry to Wake You Up. Just Five More Minutes; Sore Was I, Ere I Saw Eros. Speak of the Devil Bound to your Desk. Must It Come to This? If You Don’t Care for Your Rose, Then Your Rose Will Fade Away.
I Come to Sell the Stars. I Hate my Job. I Love my Job. Another Day, Another Dollar; I’ve Got Five Dollars Left. Riding On High!
Harrowing Revelation: The You Within A Dragon in the Desert. Literally Black Magic, When Scissors Cut Rock.
Gonna Never Have To Die. A Dead Person Can’t Write a Letter Where in the main character doesn’t know what they want. Gibbrish In the Cards, Alternative Facts, Something CoffeeMinion and/orAndrewRogue can read to his kid(s). Ten meter is on FIRE!
The Night Out, Staring Into the Abyss. Endless Worlds As Spring Sprung, And Then, Things Got Worse…
What Lurks in the Dark?
Uninvited Guests.
I must admit, Something CoffeeMinion and/orAndrewRogue can read to his kid(s) tempted my endorsement until I noticed the lack of space after "and/or". Similarly, the number of prompts that fail as Title Case—as stipulated in the rules/guidelines in addition to being generally good form—drives me to despondency. If the submitters cannot trouble themselves to take their prompts seriously, then neither will I.
>>KwirkyJ
Most word processors have a command for it, and there are websites that will do it automatically. This is one: TitleCase.
So there’s little reason not to take some time and get it right.
Most word processors have a command for it, and there are websites that will do it automatically. This is one: TitleCase.
So there’s little reason not to take some time and get it right.
Given my daughter is one month old, the or basically turns it into free form prompt. I can read anything to my daughter right now. Not like she's gonna remember it.
>>AndrewRogue I dunno, man. I have memories of my parents reading de Sade to me when I was but a lad.
>>AndrewRogue ...and sixteen years later, Andrew's daughter will turn to him and say, "Daddy, why do I keep having these strange dreams about being turned into cupcakes or rainbows?"
Yeah, *some* reading material is probably good to keep off-limits until they... can vote. Or hold elected office.
Yeah, *some* reading material is probably good to keep off-limits until they... can vote. Or hold elected office.
>>georg
Well, I was a voracious reader from an early age, and my parents weren’t well read enough to guide me. On the one hand, it gave me a broad base of experience and helped to make me a better writer today.
On the other hand… I got hold of Lord of the Flies at an early age, and, being a fat smart kid with glasses, I identified heavily with Piggy from the start. And then I found out what happens to that character, and I didn’t take it well.
So, some kind of guidance is likely to be beneficial.
Well, I was a voracious reader from an early age, and my parents weren’t well read enough to guide me. On the one hand, it gave me a broad base of experience and helped to make me a better writer today.
On the other hand… I got hold of Lord of the Flies at an early age, and, being a fat smart kid with glasses, I identified heavily with Piggy from the start. And then I found out what happens to that character, and I didn’t take it well.
So, some kind of guidance is likely to be beneficial.
Heyla, everyone.
For a variety of reasons, it has been a long while since I last actively participated in this group. I've been reading some of the entries, and also submitting prompts. Mostly lurking. I want to stop pressing my face against the glass and actually do something this time around, however shaky it might turn out to be. I hope, at the least, to not waste anyone's time. A public statement of intent is something I want to make, to help ensure that it happens.
So:
I am going to write something for this round. If I can manage it, a couple of somethings.
May everyone who reads this have a weekend that is both restorative and fruitful.
For a variety of reasons, it has been a long while since I last actively participated in this group. I've been reading some of the entries, and also submitting prompts. Mostly lurking. I want to stop pressing my face against the glass and actually do something this time around, however shaky it might turn out to be. I hope, at the least, to not waste anyone's time. A public statement of intent is something I want to make, to help ensure that it happens.
So:
I am going to write something for this round. If I can manage it, a couple of somethings.
May everyone who reads this have a weekend that is both restorative and fruitful.
>>GroaningGreyAgony
Speaking of unguided material, I got a hold of this gem when I was about 11. It's not Stephen King levels of horror and human malice, but it certainly wasn't fit for a junior high library. Or maybe it was elementary...
Either way. It's been like 20 years and it left a lasting impression.
Speaking of unguided material, I got a hold of this gem when I was about 11. It's not Stephen King levels of horror and human malice, but it certainly wasn't fit for a junior high library. Or maybe it was elementary...
Either way. It's been like 20 years and it left a lasting impression.
>>KwirkyJ >>GroaningGreyAgony
To play devil's advocate, I'm pretty sure that there's no edit function for your submitted prompts, so if you typo something and notice it after hitting return you're SOL.
To play devil's advocate, I'm pretty sure that there's no edit function for your submitted prompts, so if you typo something and notice it after hitting return you're SOL.
>>horizon
IIRC, before prompts are locked down for voting you can delete them and resubmit.
IIRC, before prompts are locked down for voting you can delete them and resubmit.
Geh. I'll be honest, I'm not sure that this one is doing much for my creative energies. I'll see if my old friends Dr. Pepper and Twix (king-size) can chivvy something readable and presentable out of me though.
>>GroaningGreyAgony
I remember reading The Hot Zone in 6th grade... I think my mind didn't know half the words used for blood, so my juvenile mind was sort of spared... except for the part where
Yeah, crazy book.
I remember reading The Hot Zone in 6th grade... I think my mind didn't know half the words used for blood, so my juvenile mind was sort of spared... except for the part where
His bowels tore open with a noise like a sheet ripping. Jacques was bleeding out. There were no more clotting factors in his body.
Yeah, crazy book.
I was minding my own business, doing a little boredom-induced research when I suddenly got a fresh, interesting idea. Oh, but I don't want to start anything new in terms of pony. Maybe just for myself?
I go to take a shower, step out, wipe the steam off the mirror. As I'm looking at myself, the light comes on: "There's an OF Writeoff this weekend."
So I hurry to my computer and, wouldn't you know, the the prompt is perfect.
Now to see if I can get it written down in time.
I go to take a shower, step out, wipe the steam off the mirror. As I'm looking at myself, the light comes on: "There's an OF Writeoff this weekend."
So I hurry to my computer and, wouldn't you know, the the prompt is perfect.
Now to see if I can get it written down in time.
@Roger:
The new notification system has notified me of something that wasn't related to my account. I didn't post anything in the last competition, but was notified of a reply to (I presume) a different user. Image below.
http://annatala.com/crap/notification-error.png
The new notification system has notified me of something that wasn't related to my account. I didn't post anything in the last competition, but was notified of a reply to (I presume) a different user. Image below.
http://annatala.com/crap/notification-error.png
>>GroaningGreyAgony
Hoof up just for that phrase.
And now I retire to the shadows, being not-so-inspired this round and also having long ago given up on the Discord chat.
Anguish letterchore!
Hoof up just for that phrase.
And now I retire to the shadows, being not-so-inspired this round and also having long ago given up on the Discord chat.
Off Topic Alert!!
Let me know if anybody else is going to Whinny City Pony Con at the end of the month and would like to do some sort of Writeoff meetup. It was a pleasure getting to hang with Kwirky and Oroboro for a bit at Ciderfest in October. Also, for some unfathomable reason the con is letting me speak about writing again, so feel free to bring fruit to throw at me once they announce the panel schedule. ❤️
Let me know if anybody else is going to Whinny City Pony Con at the end of the month and would like to do some sort of Writeoff meetup. It was a pleasure getting to hang with Kwirky and Oroboro for a bit at Ciderfest in October. Also, for some unfathomable reason the con is letting me speak about writing again, so feel free to bring fruit to throw at me once they announce the panel schedule. ❤️
I wrote:
An eight-hundred word opening scene to a romantic comedy inspired by this prompt before going to bed last night, but alas, I'm 18,000 words into the expansion of Noblesse Oblige, my 4th place finisher from two rounds ago. So I'll be working on Blueblood's continuing adventures instead of entering this time around.
Mike
An eight-hundred word opening scene to a romantic comedy inspired by this prompt before going to bed last night, but alas, I'm 18,000 words into the expansion of Noblesse Oblige, my 4th place finisher from two rounds ago. So I'll be working on Blueblood's continuing adventures instead of entering this time around.
Mike
Well, Dr. Pepper and Prof. Twix did help me draft out a nice interpretation of the prompt... But then I ended up spending the best part of the day teaching my son to paint with oils. I'm kinda done with beating myself up over rushing things for excessively tight deadlines, so I think I'll meekly step into the ring now and retrieve my hat.
Good luck to those of you still writing!
Good luck to those of you still writing!
>>Trick_Question
Possible that the post in question (>>Crafty) originally had you quoted and then was edited to someone else.
Notifications only push when a post is posted.
Possible that the post in question (>>Crafty) originally had you quoted and then was edited to someone else.
Notifications only push when a post is posted.
Done! Now I only have to translate my Latin sestina back into English and copy it to the site.
Whoops, sorry. Channeling Horizon there for a min.
>>Ceffyl_Dwr Careful. That's how young boys meet seaponies. :)
Whoops, sorry. Channeling Horizon there for a min.
>>Ceffyl_Dwr Careful. That's how young boys meet seaponies. :)
>>CoffeeMinion
It may happen that I will be there Friday, but that would be the only day, on account of schedule conflicts.
It may happen that I will be there Friday, but that would be the only day, on account of schedule conflicts.
Aaaand I'm in.
I gotta say, I'd forgotten what it's like to have a good, solid deadline to meet. More importantly, I forgot how productive I can be when said deadlines are looming. Now I'm thinking it was a mistake throwing out my old self-imposed deadlines for FIMFiction publications just on the basis of how much I can write under pressure.
I gotta say, I'd forgotten what it's like to have a good, solid deadline to meet. More importantly, I forgot how productive I can be when said deadlines are looming. Now I'm thinking it was a mistake throwing out my old self-imposed deadlines for FIMFiction publications just on the basis of how much I can write under pressure.
Ugh. I've got like, an hour and a half left to write, I'm 1,400 words in... And my story sucks. This is supposed to be touching. But instead all I've got is boring. Why must I always wait until the last minute? Arrrghh!
Oh well. I suppose it's better to enter something kinda boring than nothing at all...
Oh well. I suppose it's better to enter something kinda boring than nothing at all...
I managed to submit a story! Hooray!
Now to catch a few hours of sleep before I have to leave for work in... 7 hours.
Yeah, totally worth it.
Now to catch a few hours of sleep before I have to leave for work in... 7 hours.
Yeah, totally worth it.
I’ve got one in. Just fine tuning…
ETA: Thanks to Floydien for offering a pre-read.
ETA: Thanks to Floydien for offering a pre-read.
Submitted something. Finished just the last round of editing, now it's time to go to work.
I really shouldn't have delayed until the end.
I really shouldn't have delayed until the end.
All you crazy Europeans already rushing a last-second story together before work! Man, here on Pacific Time I've still got three and a half hours to go before cramming my entry in at 4 a.m. and celebrating with a brief nap.
... And I was about to say "Clearly, the optimal solution is to move to the United States," but this is a really dumb year to make that suggestion. Which is a little uncomfortable to realize, because the actual optimal solution is probably for Roger to shift the start times, and I like doing my cram-writing in the middle of the night. <.<
... And I was about to say "Clearly, the optimal solution is to move to the United States," but this is a really dumb year to make that suggestion. Which is a little uncomfortable to realize, because the actual optimal solution is probably for Roger to shift the start times, and I like doing my cram-writing in the middle of the night. <.<
As much as I wish I could, I don't think I'm going to be able to finish my entry in time. It's unfortunate, because I liked the idea I thought up, but I've just had too much work over the weekend to fit in writing time. Good luck to everyone with their last minute adjustments!
Well... That was a thing I just submitted. Not necessarily a good thing, mind you, but definitely a thing. O.o
I've really got to stop writing at the last minute, and giving my stories as cursory edit and polishing in the morning before work.
I've really got to stop writing at the last minute, and giving my stories as cursory edit and polishing in the morning before work.
First submission! I've never done this before, but I really enjoyed writing for a prompt, and reading other people's interpretations of that prompt should be pretty interesting.
Hello everyone, by the way! I'm very happy there's something like this to get involved in, and you all seem like a great community. Glad to be here!
AAIQU
Hello everyone, by the way! I'm very happy there's something like this to get involved in, and you all seem like a great community. Glad to be here!
AAIQU
By the thinnest skin of my teeth, I got something in. Only one story, but at least there is one.
Urrah!
>>All_Art_Is_Quite_Useless
I wish you a very warm welcome, and I hope you enjoy yourself here.
>>Fenton
My apologies for not saying so earlier, but I appreciate your kind words.. I hope that you enjoy yourself, as well.
Now, off to work.
Have a grand Monday, everyone.
Urrah!
>>All_Art_Is_Quite_Useless
I wish you a very warm welcome, and I hope you enjoy yourself here.
>>Fenton
My apologies for not saying so earlier, but I appreciate your kind words.. I hope that you enjoy yourself, as well.
Now, off to work.
Have a grand Monday, everyone.
>>Hagdal Hohensalza
Thank you very much! Well done for getting something in too, that was very close.
AAIQU
Thank you very much! Well done for getting something in too, that was very close.
AAIQU
>>horizon
Actually, so long as time hasn't been called on submissions you can go in and edit your entry to fix any discovered typos and whatnot. I know because I've done it numerous times in the past.
...
Yet somehow there are always a few left. -.-
Actually, so long as time hasn't been called on submissions you can go in and edit your entry to fix any discovered typos and whatnot. I know because I've done it numerous times in the past.
...
Yet somehow there are always a few left. -.-
>>RogerDodger
But I have no posts in that entire contest, do I? I skipped that one.
Maybe there was an early post telling ponies I had to skip that happened to be randomly >>'d, then. Weird.
But I have no posts in that entire contest, do I? I skipped that one.
Maybe there was an early post telling ponies I had to skip that happened to be randomly >>'d, then. Weird.
>>PaulAsaran
You can edit submissions before the deadline, absolutely. What I was questioning is whether prompts were editable.
… we should probably just ask >>RogerDodger about that one.
You can edit submissions before the deadline, absolutely. What I was questioning is whether prompts were editable.
… we should probably just ask >>RogerDodger about that one.
>>horizon
I have not directly edited prompts, but I have deleted and resubmitted them without trouble before the submission deadline.
I have not directly edited prompts, but I have deleted and resubmitted them without trouble before the submission deadline.
>>QuillScratch >>QuillScratch >>QuillScratch
Ooh, Quill's dusting off the HORSE system and bringing it out of cold storage!
I'm pretty sure we've got authors who weren't around the last time anyone used it in reviews, so I want to make sure to link the explanation page: The HORSE Feedback System. As a bonus, that also has a little more detail on the meaning of the "Tiers" that I use myself.
Ooh, Quill's dusting off the HORSE system and bringing it out of cold storage!
I'm pretty sure we've got authors who weren't around the last time anyone used it in reviews, so I want to make sure to link the explanation page: The HORSE Feedback System. As a bonus, that also has a little more detail on the meaning of the "Tiers" that I use myself.
>>horizon
Thanks for linking the explanation! I saw the HORSE scale being used a few times before and was a bit confused by what it meant. It seems like a great system now that I actually understand it.
Thanks for linking the explanation! I saw the HORSE scale being used a few times before and was a bit confused by what it meant. It seems like a great system now that I actually understand it.
Attention!
Radio Writeoff
Will Record
Barring Catastrophe
On this coming Friday
At
9pm GMT
And
3pm Central
Pretty Sure I Calculated Right
Maybe.
Join Us For
Talk!
Fun!
And
Possibly Bad Puns!
We may even discuss YOUR story!
Although I cannot guarantee we will follow the poll.
Use the Discord link at the top of the page to find us.
>>Not_A_Hat
Will this be recorded for those of us who'll be at work when it airs? I'd like to hear it, even if only after the fact.
Will this be recorded for those of us who'll be at work when it airs? I'd like to hear it, even if only after the fact.
>>Chris
The podcasts usually go up on my YouTube channel, though I've been thinking of making a Radio Writeoff one. I'll pop a link into the thread when it's up for everyone.
It may take me a little while to get around to editing, but it'll be up before the end of the round.
The podcasts usually go up on my YouTube channel, though I've been thinking of making a Radio Writeoff one. I'll pop a link into the thread when it's up for everyone.
It may take me a little while to get around to editing, but it'll be up before the end of the round.
We're swinging into the weekend! Is it time for mashups? It's time for mashups. :D
I think I'm going to kick off our title-based frivolity this round with the mashup variant that I occasionally dust off ...
Writeoff-By-Ones: The Abyss Stares Back edition
The rule for "Writeoff-By-Ones" is simple — add, subtract, or alter a single letter of a writeoff title, and humorously describe the new story! (Word spacing and punctuation may be altered at will.) For example:
Concrete Casks - They're just trying to investigate a murder scene. City is getting blind, stinking drunk. This is going to take a while.
The Vase in the Words - After breaking the jar holding the demons, the little girl makes the prudent decision to keep all the broken pieces in her diary. Two days later, she reassembles it and ends the invasion.
Sis' Typhus - The captain manages to quell both the Blue and Red religious rebellions. However, when the stress causes his siblings to die to bacterial fevers, he decides "to heck with this colony ship!" and plows it into the Earth at interstellar speeds.
For Tuna - After sailing to land, Diggory and the others embark on their next thrilling adventure: trading fish with the natives.
My Little Mortal - Princess Celestia looks through a mysterious spatial rift into an empty room. It's not until later that she realizes that that was the alternate-universe her who never became an alicorn.
I think I'm going to kick off our title-based frivolity this round with the mashup variant that I occasionally dust off ...
Writeoff-By-Ones: The Abyss Stares Back edition
The rule for "Writeoff-By-Ones" is simple — add, subtract, or alter a single letter of a writeoff title, and humorously describe the new story! (Word spacing and punctuation may be altered at will.) For example:
Concrete Casks - They're just trying to investigate a murder scene. City is getting blind, stinking drunk. This is going to take a while.
The Vase in the Words - After breaking the jar holding the demons, the little girl makes the prudent decision to keep all the broken pieces in her diary. Two days later, she reassembles it and ends the invasion.
Sis' Typhus - The captain manages to quell both the Blue and Red religious rebellions. However, when the stress causes his siblings to die to bacterial fevers, he decides "to heck with this colony ship!" and plows it into the Earth at interstellar speeds.
For Tuna - After sailing to land, Diggory and the others embark on their next thrilling adventure: trading fish with the natives.
My Little Mortal - Princess Celestia looks through a mysterious spatial rift into an empty room. It's not until later that she realizes that that was the alternate-universe her who never became an alicorn.
>>horizon I don't think I'm clever enough for this, but I'll try a few mashups...
Writeoff Mashups, Stairing into the Abyss Edition
There's a Miskatonic in My Electronics
"I'm not imagining things! There's definitely a screaming metaportal in our sink!"
Hell is Drier than Other People's Gin
"So... if I let you use my influence, my son will never have to deal with awkward silences as a teenager?!"
The Northernlit Fortune
"Gemma, there's a volcano, what do we do?"
"Stab iiiiiiiiiiit!"
Well, I guess I did have an off-by-one...
Chase-ing the Dragon
"Welcome to Chase bank, how can we help you today?"
"Debit card. Now."
Writeoff Mashups, Stairing into the Abyss Edition
There's a Miskatonic in My Electronics
"I'm not imagining things! There's definitely a screaming metaportal in our sink!"
Hell is Drier than Other People's Gin
"So... if I let you use my influence, my son will never have to deal with awkward silences as a teenager?!"
The Northernlit Fortune
"Gemma, there's a volcano, what do we do?"
"Stab iiiiiiiiiiit!"
Well, I guess I did have an off-by-one...
Chase-ing the Dragon
"Welcome to Chase bank, how can we help you today?"
"Debit card. Now."
>>horizon
>>Not_A_Hat
I’m in.
Concrete Endings
Seeking a more glorious exit than intellectual dissolution, an octogenarian takes up urban BASE jumping.
Hell is When We Yearn
Help, I’m stuck in an elevator with the All-Encompassing Void of Nonexistence, with No Exit!
There’s a Hole in my Roll
A game character, in a moment of existential body horror, reinvents the bialy bagel.
Tarda Electronics
I keep trying to play this game about an eternal hero, but the extradimensional battery glitched my phone and made it loop.
The Vase in the Dragon
“Spike! That was a priceless gift from the Hindi Ambassador!”
(N.B.: This is about another dragon named Spike who also happens to eat precious gems. Hayfic is still treyf.)
Uh, oops. I missed that this was an alter one letter round. Give me a bit…
One Letter Chore!
Skywar
UFOs have come with weapons of peace, but that won’t stop us from fighting back!
Casing the Dragon
A Homeland Security agent shadows a foreign visitor, seeking evidence of wrongdoing. Overanalysis of each transaction swells the dossier…
Hell is Mother People
The humanoids said they came here to protect and serve us. But now we can’t even go to the bathroom without their intervention! And don’t get me started on the chicken soup!
>>Not_A_Hat
I’m in.
Concrete Endings
Seeking a more glorious exit than intellectual dissolution, an octogenarian takes up urban BASE jumping.
Hell is When We Yearn
Help, I’m stuck in an elevator with the All-Encompassing Void of Nonexistence, with No Exit!
There’s a Hole in my Roll
A game character, in a moment of existential body horror, reinvents the bialy bagel.
Tarda Electronics
I keep trying to play this game about an eternal hero, but the extradimensional battery glitched my phone and made it loop.
The Vase in the Dragon
“Spike! That was a priceless gift from the Hindi Ambassador!”
(N.B.: This is about another dragon named Spike who also happens to eat precious gems. Hayfic is still treyf.)
Uh, oops. I missed that this was an alter one letter round. Give me a bit…
One Letter Chore!
Skywar
UFOs have come with weapons of peace, but that won’t stop us from fighting back!
Casing the Dragon
A Homeland Security agent shadows a foreign visitor, seeking evidence of wrongdoing. Overanalysis of each transaction swells the dossier…
Hell is Mother People
The humanoids said they came here to protect and serve us. But now we can’t even go to the bathroom without their intervention! And don’t get me started on the chicken soup!
>>horizon
Ok, I'll give it a shot.
There's a Mole in my Chest - You know how annoying it is to have one of these pests in your yard? This is worse. Particularly when people don't believe you.
For a Tune - Apprenticed to a fishing trawler instead of a music college, Diggory attempts to make a life for himself despite feeling as if he's going to break into a Gilbert and Sullivan showtune at any minute.
When We Earn - A dreamer considers all the ways he could have made enough money to escape his drab existence, except for the fact he only dreams about the actions instead of doing them.
End Wings - A man afflicted by a terrible disease passes on, and is joined by his wife in heaven.
My Little Port AI - The artificial intelligence in charge of running Port Arthur has an existential crisis where it thinks it can see itself in a mirror. Maybe they shouldn't have cribbed so much game code while writing it?
The Greatest Challenge of Ali - Muhammad Ali finds himself at a loss to develop a strategy to fight his latest heavyweight title bout. With bankruptcy and ruin in his future, and all of his attempts at salvaging the situation failed, he finds new inspiration when his sister drops off their newborn for him to babysit.
Agents of a Foreign Tower - In a future where cell phone towers have become sapient, a human who has transformed himself into a long-distance call finds his ultimate receiver.
Concrete Tasks - A pothole filler in the city discovers a murder. A little extra concrete in the hole keeps any unneeded questions away.
Chasing the Dagon - An ancient Mesopotamian Assyro-Babylonian deity moves into town, only to have terrible urges whenever he sees a prospective worshiper.
Ok, I'll give it a shot.
There's a Mole in my Chest - You know how annoying it is to have one of these pests in your yard? This is worse. Particularly when people don't believe you.
For a Tune - Apprenticed to a fishing trawler instead of a music college, Diggory attempts to make a life for himself despite feeling as if he's going to break into a Gilbert and Sullivan showtune at any minute.
When We Earn - A dreamer considers all the ways he could have made enough money to escape his drab existence, except for the fact he only dreams about the actions instead of doing them.
End Wings - A man afflicted by a terrible disease passes on, and is joined by his wife in heaven.
My Little Port AI - The artificial intelligence in charge of running Port Arthur has an existential crisis where it thinks it can see itself in a mirror. Maybe they shouldn't have cribbed so much game code while writing it?
The Greatest Challenge of Ali - Muhammad Ali finds himself at a loss to develop a strategy to fight his latest heavyweight title bout. With bankruptcy and ruin in his future, and all of his attempts at salvaging the situation failed, he finds new inspiration when his sister drops off their newborn for him to babysit.
Agents of a Foreign Tower - In a future where cell phone towers have become sapient, a human who has transformed himself into a long-distance call finds his ultimate receiver.
Concrete Tasks - A pothole filler in the city discovers a murder. A little extra concrete in the hole keeps any unneeded questions away.
Chasing the Dagon - An ancient Mesopotamian Assyro-Babylonian deity moves into town, only to have terrible urges whenever he sees a prospective worshiper.
>>horizon
Somehow I'm still awake.
Hill is Other People - "So, ah." Hank fidgeted, not looking the elevator's other inhabitant in the eyes. "Y'ever use any cool propane accessories?"
When We Earn - VENTURE CAPITALIST
Miskatonic Electronica
There's a Mole in My Chest - My wife's sure it's nothing, but the doctor wanted to do a biopsy anyway, just in case.
Tardy Furor - You weren't there. You were ten minutes late.
The Greatest Challenge of Ali - This summer, Rock Pitt will float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.
Agent of a Foreign Tower - To Beylke, he was the perfect picture of a syncretist.
For Tuna - To Beylke, he was the perfect picture of a fisherman.
Sissyphus - To Beylke, he was the perfect picture of a sub.
Edit: wow, beaten on three! Guess they were pretty obvious (and I composed too slowly)
Somehow I'm still awake.
Hill is Other People - "So, ah." Hank fidgeted, not looking the elevator's other inhabitant in the eyes. "Y'ever use any cool propane accessories?"
When We Earn - VENTURE CAPITALIST
Miskatonic Electronica
There's a Mole in My Chest - My wife's sure it's nothing, but the doctor wanted to do a biopsy anyway, just in case.
Tardy Furor - You weren't there. You were ten minutes late.
The Greatest Challenge of Ali - This summer, Rock Pitt will float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.
Agent of a Foreign Tower - To Beylke, he was the perfect picture of a syncretist.
For Tuna - To Beylke, he was the perfect picture of a fisherman.
Sissyphus - To Beylke, he was the perfect picture of a sub.
Edit: wow, beaten on three! Guess they were pretty obvious (and I composed too slowly)
Ugh, I've had no time this time, not even to review the good sounding ones here.
Congrats to the finalists and go future medalists go!
Congrats to the finalists and go future medalists go!
Whew, finished assigning values to the votes. Regrettably, every one of them is better than my entry, so I'll be lucky to finish in the teens this time. Also regrettably, every single comment I could make on the stories on my slate had already been made (and much better) by other commenters. So I'll summarize.
My top three are: Chasing the Dragon, Fortune, and There's a Hole in My Chest. We're probably talking about a tenth of a point difference between them, because they're all wonderful in their own way. Chasing is a wonderful angle on addiction, Fortune is a wonderful leap into the great unknown by people who have known only one life forever, and There's a Hole is just this wonderfully oddball sideways look at reality.
What can I say? They're wonderful. :)
My top three are: Chasing the Dragon, Fortune, and There's a Hole in My Chest. We're probably talking about a tenth of a point difference between them, because they're all wonderful in their own way. Chasing is a wonderful angle on addiction, Fortune is a wonderful leap into the great unknown by people who have known only one life forever, and There's a Hole is just this wonderfully oddball sideways look at reality.
What can I say? They're wonderful. :)
Congrats to all those who won, and better luck next time (with a handshake and a smile) to those who didn't.
My warmest congratulations to the usual suspects this round's medalists: horizon, MrNumbers, and Cold in Gardez. Some fine work, all around. To all of you, I say: Urrah!
I would also like to give a more minor Urrah! to All_Art_Is_Quite_Useless, whose very first story in the Writeoffs managed to land a spot in the finals. Good job!
All that said, I would like to proffer a small apology to the group at large. Despite reading all of the entries here, I did not write a single review this round. This is in large part due to life events (a combination of work and packing up my apartment for a move this coming weekend), coupled with the fact that most criticisms I could make were largely covered by the other reviews. Still, I am sorry for not being a bit more useful here, and I shall endeavor to be more vocal in the next round in which I participate (likely the next original mini-fic round).
Lastly, I will write a retrospective on "Skyward," both to discuss the story's background, and, more importantly, to engage with some of its reviews and criticisms. However, it won't be happening until after this coming weekend. So, for those who care, stay tuned!
Again, my congratulations to the medalists, and I'm sending out some general positive waves to all the other participants, reviewers, and sundry passers-by. I hope y'all had an instructive and illuminating time.
I would also like to give a more minor Urrah! to All_Art_Is_Quite_Useless, whose very first story in the Writeoffs managed to land a spot in the finals. Good job!
All that said, I would like to proffer a small apology to the group at large. Despite reading all of the entries here, I did not write a single review this round. This is in large part due to life events (a combination of work and packing up my apartment for a move this coming weekend), coupled with the fact that most criticisms I could make were largely covered by the other reviews. Still, I am sorry for not being a bit more useful here, and I shall endeavor to be more vocal in the next round in which I participate (likely the next original mini-fic round).
Lastly, I will write a retrospective on "Skyward," both to discuss the story's background, and, more importantly, to engage with some of its reviews and criticisms. However, it won't be happening until after this coming weekend. So, for those who care, stay tuned!
Again, my congratulations to the medalists, and I'm sending out some general positive waves to all the other participants, reviewers, and sundry passers-by. I hope y'all had an instructive and illuminating time.
Congrats to the medalists, and a salute to the other participants. I am in a writing contest and will have to delay my retrospective for a bit. In the meantime, thanks to all who reviewed!