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It's a Long Way Down · Original Short Story ·
Organised by RogerDodger
Word limit 2000–8000
Mon, 22 May 2017 12:00:00 GMTFri, 26 May 2017 12:00:00 GMTWed, 31 May 2017 12:00:00 GMTSun, 29 Dec 2024 12:31:16 GMT22 MayMon, 22 May 2017 12:00:00 GMT26 MayFri, 26 May 2017 12:00:00 GMT31 MayWed, 31 May 2017 12:00:00 GMTDrawingFinalFri, 26 May 2017 12:05:00 GMTMon, 29 May 2017 12:00:00 GMTSun, 04 Jun 2017 12:00:00 GMTThu, 08 Jun 2017 12:00:00 GMTSun, 29 Dec 2024 12:31:16 GMT26 MayFri, 26 May 2017 12:05:00 GMT29 MayMon, 29 May 2017 12:00:00 GMT4 JunSun, 04 Jun 2017 12:00:00 GMT8 JunThu, 08 Jun 2017 12:00:00 GMTWritingPrelimFinal
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 · 1
· on Stay Aboard · >>Fenton >>TitaniumDragon
this is cute, it looks like it could belong in Dixit (the board game)
#51 ·
· on Together, Forever, Down The Hole We Fall
The longer I look at this the funnier it gets. A+ attention to detail.
#52 ·
·
Dag yo, there's some pretty good art this time. I don't Original but a few of these tempt me.
#53 · 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.
#54 ·
· on The Pit
First one to show up on my slate.

The character looks like Doug from the TV show. Don't know if it was done on purpose or not.
As for the style, it is simple but still very effective. I like that it's white on black, it gives a nice atmosphere related to the subject. Not very fond of the facial expression though, especially the eyes. Since it seems that you used tippex, I don't really know how you could avoid that.
However, Staring Into The Abyss was a couple months ago :p
#55 · 1
· on The Longest Way · >>GroaningGreyAgony
And another white on black drawing. I like it.

Did you turn your pic upside on purpose? I'll assume yes. As for what it could imply, aside from the cheapest way to not have your characters looking up and thus, fitting the prompt, I can't tell.

Also, looking at the night sky is a trope for inspiration. Your drawing is cool but as an inspiration for an OF round, yeah, not really original. Still a good one, thank you for that.
#56 ·
· on Pop
Is that a troll? Because even when I try to decipher a pattern in the four different sections, I can't form something coherent. It feels random and out of place.
So sorry, but that will be a no.
#57 ·
· on High Expectations
It seems that your picture lacks an ending, and thus you....
#58 ·
· on Sleeping with the Snailfishes
Good one, I like the parallel between the ball gowing down into the abyss and the bubbles going up. It creates a nice contrast and it's up to many interpretations. The fact there isn't any color create a nice atmosphere of depression.

However, my dirty mind can prevent myself from seeing a vagina here.
#59 ·
· on She Had the Longest Legs, Kiddo; All the Way to the Floor
There isn't a good size for legs. The good size is when your feet touch the ground.

Don't know if the five stars and the 5/5 are supposed to rate the size of her legs or dat ass. And is it me or is she actually scratching her a-hole?

Anyway, nice drawing, even though I can't really decide what does this could mean, it is certainly open to interpretation.
#60 · 2
· on View from the Top · >>GroaningGreyAgony
Definitely my favourite.
#61 · 1
· on There is no end to infinity · >>TitaniumDragon >>GroaningGreyAgony
A calligram. Simple, yet very effective.
Aside from that, there isn't much more I could say.
A simpl idea, effectively executed.
#62 · 3
· on ConsentApp_Onboarding_v12_Final.png
This is a really cool concept!
#63 · 1
· on The Longest Way · >>GroaningGreyAgony
I agree with Fenton in that I'm not sure it's superb as a prompt for an OF round, but I think the art itself is lovely, and I love that it's upside down, as if you could "fall" down into space. I think it's really neat.
#64 · 2
· on ConsentApp_Onboarding_v12_Final.png · >>wYvern
Welcome to Life
#65 ·
· on Steep
Simple, but it has a nice iconic feel to it. I had considered doing a super-tall piece as well, but I couldn't figure out how to make it work; I'm glad to see someone else decided to play with the idea and did so successfully.
#66 ·
· on Sleeping with the Snailfishes
I really love the ball, chain, and bubbles, but the cliff walls felt more sketchy. Pretty piece, though, and fits the prompt well.
#67 ·
· on Pushing Down
I'm not sure if it's a screenshot or if it has actually been rendered with a software, but in both case, that's not a problem.
The problem is I can't read all these gauges. I guess they come from a plane but since I don't know what they are saying, I therefore can't say what this is supposed to mean.

Some of the writtings seems to be Russian or at least are from the Cyrillic alphabet (even if it says "Korean alphabet"). Still don't know what to do with that, if it's coincidence or done on purpose but I'll stick with the latter.

So I'll assume that this is going to end in a plane crash and congratulate you for the unexpected POV.
#68 · 2
· on This is a Mad World · >>Fenton
Abstract art! Wasn't really expecting something like this.

There's something aesthetically pleasing about several of these. That being said, I'm not quite sure what it has to do with the prompt.
#69 ·
· on Salaried
Simple, screenshotty, but seems reasonable enough.
#70 · 1
· on ConsentApp_Onboarding_v12_Final.png
I wonder if whoever made this is familiar with r/Outside.

I like this, though; it has good composition and looks like an actual phone app, and it is visually appealing.
#71 · 1
· on Edge of the World
Off the edge of the flat world is a classic. I like its childlike character, with the sun and moon having faces. Feels very 19th century for some reason.
#72 · 1
· on Pop · >>GroaningGreyAgony >>MLPmatthewl419
Okay, Rodger provided a solid explanation for this one, which I judged too quickly.

I'll just give the link he gave
http://portfoliolive.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/bubble-phases-1024x686.jpg

I'll also add that if it is indeed related to it, that wasn't obvious for me at all, since I had never seen these graphs.
So I take back what I said about trolling.
The explanation I got will grant this a better rank but it won't be very high for me since I still stick to my first reaction in a way. This is a bit too vague and it lacks some context to properly embrace the different possibilities of interpretations.
#73 ·
· on She Had the Longest Legs, Kiddo; All the Way to the Floor
For some reason, I can't help but think of Thoth looking at this.

Looks like some sort of ad for a movie or something similar. Vague enough to let people play with it.
#74 · 1
· on Grave Manners · >>GroaningGreyAgony
Digging up a grave, huh? Well, not like they needed it anymore anyway.
#75 · 1
· on To Hit Rock Bottom · >>Not_A_Hat >>GroaningGreyAgony
I can't quite figure out what is sticking out of the corpse's chest, and the whole piece feels too dark; it is low-contrast and thus kind of hard to make out anything. I get the idea of trying to show the dimness at the bottom of the ocean, but it is just hard to make out anything at a glance; you really have to look at it.
#76 ·
· on A Long Way Down
Looking down at the world from above the clouds, it is amazing how small it is.

My biggest problem with this is the human figure; it is very evident in the middle of the drawing, but she doesn't look quite right proportionally.
#77 · 1
· on The Bottom of the-
This is a very simple piece, but it makes good use of color and scale, fits the prompt well, and is rather aesthetically pleasing all over. The human figures are iconic, and the ilumination of the area from whatever the person has in their hand works well. It looks like they've taken some sort of ramp down to the bottom of a cave or something, but I can see a lot of ways to play with this piece.
#78 ·
· on Pushing Down
A render, by the looks of things! Seems itting to the prompt. As a layperson, I don't know what some of the gauge readings mean, though, sadly.
#79 ·
· on Pop
This looks like a graph of some sort, but typically speaking graphs are read left to right, so it doesn't quite give me the sense of going a long way down so much as being high up. I do get that this is trying to depict something like a bubble, but it doesn't quite come together for me for that - it is more suggestive than anything, and I think a lot of people aren't going to get what it is on about.

Still, I'm sure someone can make something out of this, if they are of a mind to do so.
#80 ·
· on Stay Aboard
I agree with >>Haze, this is very cute and feels very 'Dixit' (French game, HA!).
I really like the colors you chose, all these shades of blue with a bit of purple.

I wonder what the different lightbulb could mean.

If I were playing Dixit, I would say 'running out of ideas'.

Thank you for this, it will probably end up very high.
#81 ·
· on Stay Aboard
>>Haze
Indeed!

This is a nice little abstract piece, and it makes good use of contrast. My only real complaint is that some of the bulbs seem rather uneven and it is setting off my inner Symmetra.
#82 · 2
· on The Longest Way · >>GroaningGreyAgony
I've seen a few things musing about how the only thing keeping us from falling off into space is gravity, and I think this works well for the prompt. My only real issue with this is that while this is a neat orientation for a space drawing, it doesn't quite work here; there's nothing on the ground that feels like it is clinging to it, so instead of giving the impression of falling off into space, the piece just looks upside down.
#83 · 2
· on The Bottom of the-
Disclaimer: I am not an art critic. I do not know things about art.

That having been said, this one is really pretty and I like it a lot. Just wanted to make sure the artist got to hear that <3
#84 ·
· on Long Way Downstream · >>horizon
Nice! I see you went into the dreaded OUTSIDE to take this picture. It looks lovely, and the green water full of rapids really contrasts nicely with the rock here.

I enjoy the implication; the bottle of booze with the spilled liquid, the shoes and socks off. There's a strong implication of suicide here, but you can play with other ideas if you're of a mind to.
#85 · 2
· on ... When You're Royally High
Man, after the last competition, I guess some people really love pot?

I like the drawing of the lady in the background with the joint, actually, but I'm not super fond of the other stuff; the 420, the marijuana leaves, and snoop dogg (at least, I assume that's who it is?) are less nice-looking than the princess smoking a joint.
#86 ·
· on i trusted you dave
Man, the caption on this reminds me of early xkcd comics. I would have gone a bit more xkcd with it if that was in fact the intent.
#87 ·
· on Shattered on Impact · >>Fenton
This is honestly kind of boring; shattered stuff can be cool, but this is really lacking any sort of context, and it is just dark on light. I'm not given any hint of what this is supposed to represent, and I'm not sure what would be shattered like this on a black background. If it was on some surface, or had some greater context around it, it might feel more meaningful.
#88 ·
· on Together, Forever, Down The Hole We Fall
Good job on the detail, but I have to say it isn't terribly aesthetically pleasing.
#89 ·
· on ... When You're Royally High · >>CoffeeMinion
A little sketch to form the basis of a clipart pot joke which is hammered home with grim finality. Might get a chuckle out of me if I actually indulged. As it stands, I fear that this piece will not rise far up my slate.
#90 ·
· on The Pit
Simple and pretty striking, I have to say that my only real issue is that I'm not sure that the sort of cartoony/iconic style for the person worked well with the theme of the piece. It is nicely drawn, though.
#91 · 1
· on Fresh Ink · >>wYvern
Is this supposed to be blood writing? If so, I think you should have done more to put some sheen on the red stuff down on the right, and I think it gets a little too light in color; blood is pretty dark.
#92 · 2
· on View from the Top · >>GroaningGreyAgony
This is a really nice piece. Meta, but I really like the people you added here, and all the various things they were doing. 4th hanging themselves is kind of amusing/terrible, and I love the people fighting over Most Controversial.
#93 · 1
· on There is no end to infinity · >>GroaningGreyAgony
>>Fenton
I'm with him.
#94 ·
· on Long Way Downstream · >>horizon
Nice work. I don’t see a note, so suicide is not my first guess, but a person swimming while drunk in rushing water is likely to reach the same result. Upper tier.
#95 · 1
· on High Expectations · >>horizon
This is even uglier than most yearbooks! While I appreciate the attempt to emulate the badness of yearbooks, this doesn't quite look right; it looks too shopped and clean. I think giving this some glossy sheen, as if it was a picture or scan of a yearbook page, might have helped.
#96 · 1
· on View from the Top · >>GroaningGreyAgony
I love it. Every reaction from these little stickmen are hilarious.

From your chart, you should end at the 6th place, I don't know how I will rank it in the end but you won the top tier in my heart.
#97 · 1
· on Fallen Wings · >>FairyRave
Ooh! A orange (phoenix?) wing against a starry purple sky? nice!

If I had a complaint, it would be that there isn't much in the way of light vs dark here; the sky is very lightly colored as well, so this is just light vs light. It could have had stronger contrast than it does.

I do like how the negative space looks like a mountain.
#98 ·
· on Long Way Downstream · >>horizon
Same here, very evocative. I thought about the suicide interpretation but it is not the one I'll favor since the person actually put off his clothes.

Great photo. Up in my rank you go.
#99 · 1
· on ... When You're Royally High · >>GroaningGreyAgony
I appreciate this as a throwback reference to the recent 420-blazin' Writeoff pieces from early April. It's not exactly high art (lol lol) but it's amusing as a reference.

...which reminds me: >>GroaningGreyAgony, I must call shenanigans on your objection here. Methinks the GGA doth protest too much. :-p
#100 · 1
· on Salaried
That's where the question of what is the difference between writing and drawing blur.
For me, it isn't as important as what I can get from it, and what I got from this isn't very big. It's funny and a bit sad and what will follow that send is very obvious but it didn't do much else.

So, sorry but it won't score very high for me.