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It's a Long Way Down · Original Short Story ·
Organised by RogerDodger
Word limit 2000–8000
Show rules for this event
#1 · 6
· · >>MLPmatthewl419 >>Trick_Question >>Fenton
Dammit, how can I properly write a #1 message at such short notice?

Err… welcome to a new WriteOff.

First, get your pens and draw.
If you don't draw, then write!
If you don’t draw nor write, then review!
If you don’t draw nor write nor review, then become a podcast speaker.
If you don't draw nor write nor review nor speak, then we're going to recycle you into kibbles that RogerDoger needs for his pet crocodile.

Good luck everybody!
#2 ·
· · >>Fenton
>>Monokeras
Darn it, Mono. Why are you here first? Sigh.

Ah well, I look forward to seeing what comes out of this. Depending on the prompt, I might even try drawing something for once. And then scrap it because it will be terrible.
#3 · 1
·
>>Monokeras
His pet children walking two by two?

I'm so confused. :derpytongue2:
#4 · 2
·
>>MLPmatthewl419
Just like you can't Stenchon the Melenchon, you can't surpass the >>Monokeras!
#5 · 2
· · >>MLPmatthewl419 >>GroaningGreyAgony
Cool another art round.
Stick figures count as art right?
#6 ·
· · >>axis_of_rotation
>>axis_of_rotation
Art is subjective, so yes.
#7 ·
· · >>MLPmatthewl419
>>MLPmatthewl419
Do you plan to submit anything art wise?
#8 · 1
·
Let's see what happens. Will I prepare to be ashamed? … maybe. Maybe.
#9 · 3
·
Looks like the prompts have finally been invaded by the Sneeple (snail people). Every man/woman/thing for themselves! :raritydespair:
#10 · 9
· · >>Trick_Question
on any other round i wouldn't vote for "Twincest" as the prompt.
but since it's #69.....
#11 · 2
·
>>Haze
On any other round I wouldn't have submitted "Twincest" as the prompt.

No, scratch that. I would have.
#12 ·
· · >>axis_of_rotation
>>axis_of_rotation
I don't know. I've never really been able to draw anything, so I'm pretty much waiting until we find out the prompt.
#13 · 2
·
A big part of me wants 'Charts and Maps' win just to see what the art round comes up with.
#14 · 1
·
"Twincest"? Eh, why not?
#15 · 9
·
oh hey, i didn't notice there's discussion threads right on the site now. das cool

Good luck to everyone, gonna be my first writeoff in forever.
#16 · 7
· · >>Monokeras >>Hagdal Hohensalza
Snemes (Snail Memes). Memes? Kibble. Begin Again!

Twincest, Forever United as One. First Contact Ain’t Quite Like the Books. Edge…

Wait… I Ate What⁈

Some Things Never Sleep, Never Grow Old. A Rose by Any Other Name; Not What It Seems. Drop It Like It’s Hot—Time’s Running Out!

I Met a Traveller from an Antique Land; He Kindly Stopped for Me. Apparences Can Be Most Deceiving. All That Glitters is Not Gold. Hot Oil!

One Fatal Mistake Charts and Maps The Locked Room Inbetween Places. It’s a Long Way Down.
#17 · 1
·
>>MLPmatthewl419
Same here.
#18 · 3
·
Interesting prompt.
#19 · 2
· · >>GroaningGreyAgony
>>GroaningGreyAgony
So confused.
#20 · 4
· · >>Hagdal Hohensalza >>Trick_Question
>>Monokeras
Just be glad we don't have to try to illustrate 'Twincest.'
#21 · 1
· · >>horizon
*sees the art prompt*

*checks the submission deadline*

Hmm.

Hmmmm.
#22 · 1
· · >>GroaningGreyAgony
An appropriate song.

Also:
>>GroaningGreyAgony
I would guess that there are surely, maybe, possibly some clearly disreputable and lecherous folken in these parts who would, ah, appreciate the challenge of putting in some sort of "twincest" into their long-way-down works. And a few more who would look on such hybrids with relish.

Y'know. Hypothetically, of course.

Also also:
>>GroaningGreyAgony
I wish to thank you for crafting these prompt poems during the original rounds. I always enjoy seeing them, and they have become one of my favorite things about these threads. So, again, thank you.
#23 · 5
· · >>Fahrenheit
Oh, my prompt won? Neat! Probably just silly, but I feel like I've unlocked some sort of achievement.
#24 · 5
·
>>GroaningGreyAgony
Just be glad Sadly, we don't have get to try to illustrate 'Twincest.'


FTFY
#25 · 7
·
*resubmits the painting of the pony on the giant flower*
#26 ·
·
Hmm. This should be... interesting...
#27 · 2
·
>>Hagdal Hohensalza
Hypothetically?

Thank you for the kind words about the proems (proans?). I have fun creating (or assembling) them and I’m glad you like them.
#28 · 1
·
>>Winston
Your prompt is super inspiring and generally GREAT. I have so many ideas. SO MANY.

Now if only I could draw D:
#29 · 2
· · >>CoffeeMinion >>RogerDodger >>CoffeeMinion
I'm afraid I have to bow out this time. The convention I started is this weekend, and I still support it every year.

Small consolation, at least: I don't enjoy the original fiction rounds that much. :applejackunsure: I'm considering writing a pony story for the OF prompts, and submitting it even though it will do poorly, in the hopes that I'd get some feedback.
#30 · 3
· · >>Trick_Question
>>Trick_Question

#OccupyOriginal

:derpytongue2:
#31 · 2
·
>>CoffeeMinion
Indeed. I'm tempted to swim across the pond and start picketing Roger with large, pastel pony signs.
#32 ·
· · >>CoffeeMinion
I'd actually settle for two pony rounds for every one original round. No? Three out of five? Four out of seven...?

:trixieshiftleft:
#33 · 1
·
>>Trick_Question
Seven of Nine?

:trollestia:

:90smemeluna:
#34 ·
· · >>wYvern >>CoffeeMinion >>Trick_Question >>Fenton >>horizon
>>Trick_Question
Just to be clear: A fimfic would get DQ'd.
#35 · 1
· · >>RogerDodger
>>RogerDodger
That's news to me. Does that apply to fim-related art as well?
#36 · 2
· · >>horizon
>>wYvern
Yes.

The relevant parts of the rules are:

For rules that have a degree of ambiguity—in particular, genre and prompt rules—enforcement at the fringes is done by voters.


So if it's unambiguous, it's just a straight DQ.

This event's genre is Original. Submitted works to this event should fall under the following description:

Fiction not dependent on work under U.S. copyright.


(Changing "fiction" to "work" would probably make things clearer.)
#37 · 1
· · >>Trick_Question
>>RogerDodger
Interesting. Well, I suppose having that laid out unambiguously is valuable.

>>Trick_Question
For what it's worth, I've kinda started treating the Flashfic group contests as mini-Writeoffs that help scratch the itch during original rounds.
#38 ·
· · >>wYvern
I'm a bit out of the loop here. We've got a prompt up, which I assume is for the art round. In that case, what serves as the fiction prompt tomorrow?
#39 ·
·
>>Scramblers and Shadows
The art. You can mark one or several of the pieces of art that inspired your story in the submission form.
#40 ·
· · >>RogerDodger >>horizon
>>RogerDodger
horizon didn't change Quiet Boy and Moon Horse at all when he posted it on Fimfiction, so that surprises me.

(Er, not from what I know, anyway.)
#41 · 2
· · >>Trick_Question >>Trick_Question >>horizon
>>Trick_Question
That was before the genre was changed from "General" to "Original".

Also not sure if that's unambiguously a fimfic.
#42 ·
·
>>RogerDodger
Ah, that's right. I forgot all about the change. My bad.

>>CoffeeMinion
Well, the problem is that you can't extend a flashfic into a short story, so if you take the idea and run with it you'll miss out on most of what ponies would review. And yeah, you can put them in anthologies, but 150 words is a tiny bite for a reader.

I'm also not convinced most of the flashfic reviews I see make much sense. It's hard to judge stories when they're itsy-bitsy, and usually the critique is, "well you didn't develop the setup/plot/ending enough", and I'm like whoa, thanks a kajillion for that. All any of that means is "too ambitious for 150 words" (unless of course you need serious help with composition or show).
#43 ·
·
>>RogerDodger
...but in my defense, ECT. :derpytongue2:
#44 · 4
·
>>horizon
I'm in! Wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get my art entry completed in time given the workweek, but I found the block of time I needed. :D
#45 · 3
·
>>RogerDodger >>Trick_Question
I didn't change it, but.

Honestly, the most My Little Pony thing about QB&MH is the Fimfic cover art and description. The serial numbers of the pony in it are filed off so hard that I think I left scratches in the paint on the opposite side. I was half expecting to catch crap from site moderators over the dumb "not pony enough" rule that sinks fics with literary merit left and right, but apparently it either flew under the radar, or the story's totally-not-Luna was an obvious enough expy that it passed muster.
#46 · 1
·
I’m in too!
#47 ·
·
Done!
#48 · 3
· · >>RogerDodger
>>RogerDodger
That's funny because the opposite happened during the last round. Someone(I don't want to point a finger right at him. You'll easily find him if your really want to know) submitted an OF for a pony round and didn't get DQ'd.
Is it because no one reported him to you?
#49 ·
·
Done myself. Not terribly enamored with my entry, but I couldn't figure out how to draw my main idea. So I did something else instead. Hopefully someone finds it inspiring, at least.
#50 ·
·
Dag yo, there's some pretty good art this time. I don't Original but a few of these tempt me.
#51 · 1
·
>>Fenton
Is it because no one reported him to you?


Yeah.

I don't read all the entries. If something breaks the rules, someone has to tell me to investigate.
#52 · 6
· · >>Baal Bunny
I'd forgotten all about:

This being the Writeoff weekend till Saturday afternoon. Then I made the mistake of looking at the gallery and got hit with a story idea. So now I've got, what, a day and a half to squeeze something together? Yeesh!

Mike
#53 · 1
·
Oh, dang it. NOW I realize that art voting actually extends past the end of the writing period. :P

Well, back to the salt pits, in hopes I can still get an entry polished by tonight.
#54 ·
·
Story is in!
#55 ·
·
Not going to make it this time; I had an idea, but I also had a headache, and the idea was an expensive one to pull off, so I didn't have nearly enough energy. Good luck to remaining authors.
#56 · 2
·
The story train has arrived at the station as a horrible flaming wreck, but it is on time.
#57 · 1
·
Ugh. This wouldn't have happened if it wasn't a 3-day weekend, but damned if it isn't in.
#58 · 2
·
It's in too. I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry for that. Please have mercy on my soul.
#59 · 5
·
Ha HA! It's in! And just in time too!

And I resisted the urge to try to write 2000 words around a horrible, horrible pun that would have gotten me booed out of the Write Off! So go me! ;>
#60 · 2
·
And submitted. Zero time left. Zero time to edit, 90% done on my iPhone…
Apologies in advance, everybody.
#61 · 3
·
Ugh, wildly hammering this one into submittable shape and getting it posted (in the 5-minute grace period, at the tail end of a 22-hour day...) was like pulling teeth. I hope I like it better when I reread it than I did when I clicked "Submit". :|

Edit: It's oddly reassuring to see the regrets of the other last-minute posters.
#62 · 4
·
*Hmmm, hmmm*
Welcome, welcome! Come and gather to behold the Grrreat and Powe— What? This is not a pony round? Damn...
*Hmmm, hmmm*
Welcome, welcome! Come and gather to behold the— What is this time?... Huh, huh... Okay... Right...
Long story short, I have to shut my mouth and stop trying to be funny because, apparently, I'm not.




This is the announcement for the knock-off of the radio podcast. Our fellow podcaster are still having a good time in Las Vegas quite busy with things so GroaningGreyAgony and I are taking their place once again.

Radio Writeoff Podcast
Coming this Saturday and airing on your favorite Discord server (link at the top)
03/06/2017 22h UTC+2

We'll discuss arts and stories because we are totally qualified prepared average for this.

Do you want us to talk about some specific stories? Well, guess what, you can vote right here.

Also, I have to say that there is still room for speakers. Aren't you tired how Quill and Not_A_Hat are always stealing the spotlight? Well, you have now the chance to prove you're better.
(Find me on Discord for details.)

We hope to see you there!
#63 · 2
·
I'll do one Art Mashup this time.

At Least it's Not Twincest
#64 · 3
·
Alright, so: I'm headed off to a convention in a couple of hours and I don't know if I'll be able to offer any more reviews during prelims. Curse you, RL!

There are currently three stories with only two reviews each:

Doug innit
An Ordinary Day
On The Ontology of Glass Spiders

If you've read them and would like to offer any feedback to the authors, now's a great time for it. Even if you don't feel like you can write the detailed feedback that some of the reviewers have been putting out, it's still useful for authors to hear your reaction to the story as a whole -- what you enjoyed most about it and what you didn't enjoy as much.

The ultimate goal of a story is to connect with readers, and readers-as-a-whole have a very different perspective than one-well-spoken-reviewer, so even "I agree with X's commentary" is useful because it helps distinguish between "one well-spoken reviewer has dissenting opinions" and "one well-spoken reviewer represents the majority". (The former happens much more often than you'd think.)
#65 ·
·
I would like to draw your attention to four stories, which only have three reviews so far.

A Distinct Lack of Regret
In Viscera
An Ordinary Day
On the Ontology of Glass Spiders

Go show them some love.
#66 · 3
· · >>horizon
The radio Writeoff is now edited (by Groaning Grey Agony). For those who didn't have the opportunity to listen to us (or if you just want to listen to it once again and make fun of us), here is your chance.

https://soundcloud.com/groaning-agony/long-way-down-podcast-fenton-gga

Hope you'll enjoy it. See you next time!
#67 · 4
·
>>Fenton
Since it wasn't posted with the podcast, here's what's covered in this round's Radio Writeoff:

0:00 Introductions and discussion of art round in general
2:50 [Art] High Expectations
5:20 Dubs Rewatcher almost gets hit by a car
6:00 [Art] Shattered on Impact
12:00 The Dark North
25:30 A Distinct Lack of Regret
32:00 Caelum Incognita
41:50 Harmony
52:40 Fear The Voices That Scream In The Night
#68 · 3
· · >>GroaningGreyAgony
I just popped in to mention the floating red dot above the other red dot.

I don't think it's a bug, or should even be changed, but:

https://derpicdn.net/img/view/2013/3/17/272881.gif
#69 · 4
·
>>Trick_Question
(Posted here because I can’t save it for a future art round.)
#70 · 3
·
The Super Late, Pretty Terrible, Unofficial Mashup Mark II - Because No One Else Would Do It

Fear the Voices Under the Forest: A kid with some magic mushrooms and his little sister run into a pair of demons when they accidentally fall down a hole in the forest. They are beaten and tossed down a much deeper hole.

A Distinct Lack of Glass Spiders: Some weebs go out on a generic urban fantasy adventure instead of staying home and listening to some nerd talk about her science projects. No glass spiders are found and it's pretty much filler.
#71 · 2
·
>>Fenton
>>Pearple_Prose
>>Ranmilia
>>Ratlab
>>AndrewRogue
>>Scramblers and Shadows

Thanks, folks:

And congrats to our top three! As everyone noted--and as >>Baal Bunny stated--I missed the first half of the writing period 'cause I forgot there was a Writeoff going on. But looking through the gallery, I saw the cracked window, realized it was actually a glass spider web, threw in some light-hearted existential angst to touch on the prompt, and got two thirds of the thing done before the deadline. Rest assured, however, that the third act is coming along nicely, and I expect to begin gathering rejection notices from my usual round of SF magazines once I finish in a week or so.

Then I've gotta finish the expansion of my Blueblood story--also a 4th place finisher, now that I look at it--from the Has That Always Been There? event six months ago, and Jake the Army Guy's got an "Obscure Shipping" contest with a deadline of June 30th that's calling to me...

Always so much to do!

Mike