This is the discussion thread for the latest anonymous trigger challenge.
What anonymous means is you'll be mailing your entries to me at 13line@pdachb.com
Why anonymous this time? Because there's a prize to be won! Loot to be had! Treasure... OK, I'll just get on with it.
This will be a two part trigger contest.
The person with the highest COMBINED score of both this and the challenge to follow will win a $25 Amazon gift card. (I can do another bookseller card, but I prefer Amazon because I have an account with them and you can print the card from your computer.)
So, if interested, here's the
Trigger:
Sci-Fi
Yup, that's it.
The idea behind this trigger is to give a boost to those of us still struggling to win or place in the Writer's of the Future contest. HOWEVER, this does not disclude ANYone from joining in. If you want $25, send me a story opening.
I'll be entering the contests as well, Ben Stein style. (Too obscure?)
For the new folks, here's the
Rules:
1) 13 lines only. Make it a beginning of a story. This is a hook challenge, designed to make your readers want to read more! And pay no attention to the previous contest's winner. He got lucky.
Time frames:
Contest starts now, Friday, July 6, 1:00 post meridian, eastern standard time. Ends precisely 6 days later.
Voting will be open from 1PM, Thursday July 12th to the following Thursday 1pm July 19th.
The next contest will begin July 20th and follow a similar pattern.
Scoring system:
5 pts for 1st place votes, 4 pts for 2nd, 3 pts for 3rd.
What's expected of you if you enter:
You are expected to vote for your top 3 favorite entries. Please e-mail me your votes. (Anonymous, remember!?)
For fun, give a mention of your favorite title. (Optional)
Crits are optional, but highly valued. (Also anonymous) We are a writer's forum, after all. Feel free to mention in your crit if you're intrigued, i.e. would you read on?
Comments on this thread...entries will be posted BY ME on the other in clumps to avoid suspicion.
Axe
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
Q:Can you post 13 lines from your WiP? A:Sure
Q:Can you post 13 lines from an old story? A:Sure
Q:Can you post 13 lines from a story you've had published? A:Sure
Ideally, these trigger challenges are initiated to provide motivation, to spark an idea, or inspire a new story.
If you prefer to uproot an old story and run it by us, go for it.
If you throw an old 13 at us, that's cool, but you may not learn from it. A story that's already got a home probably doesn't need critiquing.
Axe
Posted by rabirch (Member # 9832) on :
Axe, since at least some folks have seen my current WIP, I'm assuming that means I should submit something that hasn't been looked at by other members who might be participating. True?
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
True.
The real intent of the challenge(s) is to make something completely new up.
However, depends on what you want to get out of this. $25? Crits on something you're stuck on? Nudge to create something new?
Up to you!
Axe
p.s. I've already received one entry!
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
Posted the first five received/written by me.
If anyone sees a formatting error, or would like any additional paragraph breaks, please e-mail me. I'll fix em.
Axe
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
I've already had to edit one because I'm a bonehead.
If the owner of that entry, or anyone else, feels the whole "edited by axeminister" under their entry - and not under other entries - may affect the judging on their piece, I'll alter all of them so the comment appears equally.
Want to keep things universal / fair - unless we agree it's a non-issue.
Axe
Posted by History (Member # 9213) on :
Is the determinant of "13 lines" still only what will fit in the message box when posting? Or can this be exceeded?
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
Dr. Bob, be sure to hit the "full reply form" button below the quick reply box.
Axe
Posted by MJNL (Member # 9686) on :
Ah, so that's how it's done. :-)
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
quote:Originally posted by History: Is the determinant of "13 lines" still only what will fit in the message box when posting? Or can this be exceeded?
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
I understand that the full reply box has one extra line in it if you are using Firefox as your browser, so I have been lenient about "13-line" posts going one line over the 13 lines as long as I can tell that people have tried to follow the rules.
Posts that go well over the 13 lines will be truncated.
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
Another thing about the 13 is, and I'm speaking from Firefox, but the same is probably true of IE. (Not sure about Chrome or Safari) is that when you reach the bottom, the scroll bar appears inside the text box, which shuffles all the text around, instantly making your 13 appear longer than it is.
I find that when I'm pushing the limit on a 13, that when I backspace until the opening fits, as soon as the scroll bar disappears, I suddenly have about half a line to work with and I can type a few words back in.
So, fine tuning is a bit of a see saw battle.
Kathleen, I (we) appreciate your leniency on the 13, especially in relation to the contests because sometimes that extra word or two is the difference between a really great entry, and a Huh? entry.
Axe
Posted by History (Member # 9213) on :
Oy. And I've been cutting and slicing to squeezee into that tiny box...
Posted by rabirch (Member # 9832) on :
My theory has been to count my thirteen lines of properly formatted manuscript, paste it in the box, and if it fits, great. Then I add in the paragraph breaks. Sometime those will knock it out of the box, but I've been assuming that's okay.
If not, hopefully someone will let me know. Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
I don't count the lines for paragraph breaks in the 13.
Posted by rabirch (Member # 9832) on :
Phew! That's good to know. Thanks for clarifying.
Posted by Estee (Member # 9824) on :
Yippee--look at this. I get home from vacation and find a contest waiting for me. I'm giddy with excitement. And confused. We don't submit in the message box, right? It's just a good way to make sure the entry is 13 lines? Can I just count to 13 in my time new roman 12 font? (you can assume that I am able to count to 13).
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
Estee, go to full reply form, write or paste your story using the forum font, make it fit to 13 lines then email it to me with title.
Don't post this one under your name.
Axe
Posted by Estee (Member # 9824) on :
Thanks Axe. I think I can handle that.
Posted by Brendan (Member # 6044) on :
...
[ July 12, 2012, 12:14 PM: Message edited by: Brendan ]
Posted by pdblake (Member # 9218) on :
Uh? One might be a bit risque, but come on, it's hardly erotica.
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
Contest is now CLOSED!
Please e-mail me your votes and crits. You have till next Thursday at 1pm to e-mail me, at minimum, your votes -- or all your points will go to someone else. Me! Bwa ha ha *hack* *cough*
I suck at "evil laugh."
So, get cracking!
Axe
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
Hmm.
I should probably check my 13line inbox before declaring the contest over then going on a lunch break...
*ahem*
One more entry posted.
Axe
Posted by Utahute72 (Member # 9057) on :
Dang, 1pm time caught me napping. Stupid time difference anyway.
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
Jim, You posted that at 1... AM
Votes and crits are starting to come in. Will post when I get one more group. Crits, that is, not the votes.
Axe
Posted by pdblake (Member # 9218) on :
Did you get mine? Only my last attempt bounced back.
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
I did.
Posted by pdblake (Member # 9218) on :
Great.
Posted by rabirch (Member # 9832) on :
Just so we're clear, are we sending the comments to the 13line email address where we sent the entries?
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
Please do. Helps me keep it all organized in my email program.
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
I'll have the first of the reviews up later today.
Just need a quiet block of time to cut and paste them from the e-mails.
Axe
Posted by genevive42 (Member # 8714) on :
Should you post reviews before the voting is done? If so, I think that people who haven't voted should refrain from reading reviews so as not to be influenced.
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
Indeed. Thanks Trina.
Rule # 10 - NO PEEKING!
That used to be in the rules, and Snapper is asstoot enough to probably still have it in his, but I forgot.
Axe
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
Half! the votes are in.
I'll give you all a hint.
Someone is in first place with the most points.
Axe
Posted by Utahute72 (Member # 9057) on :
quote:Originally posted by axeminister: Jim, You posted that at 1... AM
Votes and crits are starting to come in. Will post when I get one more group. Crits, that is, not the votes.
Axe
Yea, but I'm six hours behind that time. Figure that one out.
Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :
Did you just call me an asstoot axe????
You little fart...
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
Damn auto correct! It alters words in online forms that have "Snapper" in them.
I meant astute.
Silly auto correct.
Axe
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
More crits up.
4 more to go.
Axe
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
3 voters remain 1 day remains
I just sent friendly reminders to the remaining three.
Next challenge begins Friday. (Will start a little later in the day.)
Axe
Posted by rabirch (Member # 9832) on :
I'm excited to see the next challenge! I'm leaving on vacation on Friday, however, so it may be a bit more ... er ... challenging, to participate.
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)