I've had a few members ask me about the when, what, how, and if of this years challenge.
This year we failed to have a hatrack winner in the anthology - I am very disappointed in all of you - and that gives Nick T Chan every reason to continue to be smug, and that will just not do.
So this year we're going all out. I am working on a prize that will surpass our past prizes. Don't have any judges yet, but a copy of the antho will be the minimum we will have for a prize.
Last year Ms Birch's story in our contest was named as a finalist in the WotF contest. Several stories over the years found homes in the publishing world, so the quality of work this in house contest generates is top notch. So everyone get set.
All I have is a trigger for the contest, Twelve Seconds. What ever you come up with that trigger is up to you. The only restriction is you cannot plagiarize Tina Smith's winning story (very unlikely, so don't worry about it).
I am open to suggestions on when and how long the contest should run. Help on a word count ceiling would be appreciated. I am leaning toward 4000 words - remember, reading and judging your fellow contest-ies is required for this contest - so you let me know. More? Less?
I'll post for more information as soon as I get some.
Posted by History (Member # 9213) on :
4000 words or less! You're killing me, snapper.
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :
Whoops! How did this end up in this forum? Meant for it to be in Writing Discussions...
Posted by History (Member # 9213) on :
Perhaps you are anticipating next year's Hatrack challenge when we use the title of your 2013 Q1 WOTF winning and anthology published story. (From my lips to G-d's ears).
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
Posted by axeminister (Member # 8991) on :
Basing the contest off the gold winner is good. MJNL (Marina) visits us from time to time, but her story title would be tough to base a story off, like that spelling bee one a few years ago.
4k is OK. Each threshold brings its own pro/con. Longer story is more meat, but more reading. Especially for us anti-Bobs who prefer to write flash, etc.
A big prize? I'm sure curious... 4K is a good length for an out-of-this-world prize. Make us earn it.
Ah, whatever, RoxyL is just going to win anyway, so you might as well just send it to her now. Ha!
Axe
Posted by History (Member # 9213) on :
2013 Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest Award winner Patrick O'Sullivan's WOTF story Maddy Dune's First and Only Spelling Bee was one of my favorites.
And "hey"..."anti-Bobs"? Now that's nice. But if you prefer to be known as a flasher, Axe, well then...
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
Posted by Nick T (Member # 8052) on :
Snapper,
quote: and that gives Nick T Chan every reason to continue to be smug, and that will just not do.
I always have a reason to be smug; I'm awesome.
Nick
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Want me to move this topic, snapper?
Posted by History (Member # 9213) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nick T: Snapper,
quote: and that gives Nick T Chan every reason to continue to be smug, and that will just not do.
I always have a reason to be smug; I'm awesome.
Nick
He is. Nothing wrong with that, in my humble opinion. Just gives the rest of us something to shoot for. Or is it that "someone", I keep forgetting.
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :
quote:Want me to move this topic, snapper?
Could you please? Thank you.
quote:I always have a reason to be smug; I'm awesome.
Nick
You better pray I don't get first place - second place guy
Posted by Nick T (Member # 8052) on :
Snapper,
1st in life, 1st in life.
Nick
P.S. For those who do not know the roots of our ancient enmity, Snapper has been envious of my looks, charm and grace ever since his time as my servant in the dying days of the Carolingian Empire. Frankly (ahem), Snapper has had ideas above his station for a very long time.
Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :
That is true. It's the reason why I led a revolt that overthrew him and imprisoned Nick in the Phantom zone where he lives eating checkers and massages General Zods ego while he rubs his feet.
Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :
checkers????
But in either case how you two spend your time is not my concern, I'll just push--gently of course I'm a gentleman--out of my way if need be. I've got serious writing to do, and distractions are not to be tolerated no matter how old they are.
Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :
Actually, the feud between me and Nick goes far deeper then my involuntary servitude and eventual violent rebellion. It really has nothing to do with his dashing good looks, disarming charm, and enviable wit (clod has it way too easy). Nor does his four-leaf-clover, never-experienced-a-raining-day-in-his-life luck really affect my outlook in my if-good-fortune-grew-like-dandelions-I'd be-allergic-to-them life.
I'm not really bothered by his love for game pieces for snack food, and truly don't judge his crimes against humanity and resulting genocide. Sure he stole my girlfriend, wife, daughters, house, kingdom, and heredity from my billionaire grandfather (better off without them anyway), and yes, he did manage to get me excommunicated from all organized religion (even Zoroasterism - how in the hell did he accomplish that?) - all water under the bridge for me.
All of that is meaningless compared to the indignation, disrespect, unforgiveable action he...
Wait, I forget. What was it again that has us at each others throat?
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Maybe I should move this topic to the Grist for the Mill area.
Yup. I think that's what I'll do, so snapper and Nick T can continue to entertain us as they are so energetically doing.
Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :
Getting back to the real purpose of this here thread:
quote:Originally posted by snapper: I've had a few members ask me about the when, what, how, and if of this years challenge.
This year we failed to have a hatrack winner in the anthology - I am very disappointed in all of you - and that gives Nick T Chan every reason to continue to be smug, and that will just not do.
So this year we're going all out. I am working on a prize that will surpass our past prizes. Don't have any judges yet, but a copy of the antho will be the minimum we will have for a prize.
Last year Ms Birch's story in our contest was named as a finalist in the WotF contest. Several stories over the years found homes in the publishing world, so the quality of work this in house contest generates is top notch. So everyone get set.
All I have is a trigger for the contest, Twelve Seconds. What ever you come up with that trigger is up to you. The only restriction is you cannot plagiarize Tina Smith's winning story (very unlikely, so don't worry about it).
I am open to suggestions on when and how long the contest should run. Help on a word count ceiling would be appreciated. I am leaning toward 4000 words - remember, reading and judging your fellow contest-ies is required for this contest - so you let me know. More? Less?
I'll post for more information as soon as I get some.
Is there a minimum? I happen to have a couple of very low flash stories that could work with only a very slight tweak.
Seems like I'm doing better with very shorts right now anyway.
Posted by Nick T (Member # 8052) on :
quote: Sure he stole my girlfriend, wife, daughters, house, kingdom, and heredity from my billionaire grandfather (better off without them anyway), and yes, he did manage to get me excommunicated from all organized religion (even Zoroasterism - how in the hell did he accomplish that?) - all water under the bridge for me. All of that is meaningless compared to the indignation, disrespect, unforgiveable action he...Wait, I forget. What was it again that has us at each others throat?
Unfortunately for you, a T.Chan never forgets his grudges (he also plagiarises extensively from Game of Thrones).
Your billionaire grandfather grievously insulted me by incorrectly addressing me as “His Excellency President for Life, Hyper-general and Emperor Nick The Chan, VC, Phd, MBA, CPA, BSc DSO, MC, Lord of all the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea, and all he surveys, treads upon, touches, has previously heard about or is generally made aware of.”
My proper title is “His Excellency President for Life, Hyper-general and Emperor Nick The Chan, VC, Phd, MBA, CA, CPA, BSc, DSO, MC, Lord of all the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea, and all he surveys, treads upon, touches, has previously heard about or is generally made aware of.”
I worked very hard for my Chartered Accountants (CA) designation and I think any reasonable person would agree that your grandfather was clearly in the wrong. I should ridden all his descendents like a capuchin monkey rides a tiny Chihuahua. If I had, I now wouldn’t be in the unenviable position of being chained in your dungeon, my face hidden from the world by a mask made from review copies of Writers of the Future.
Nick
[ April 21, 2013, 11:17 PM: Message edited by: Nick T ]
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