If we get six takers we'll be starting the September challenge at the end of this month, and you'll have a week to post your story's first thirteen.

The detailed rules are here:

http://www.hatrack.com/forums/writers/forum/Forum1/HTML/005010.html

Please don't post stories or first 13s here. I'll start a fresh topic in Challenges at the end of the month for that.

If you want to see how it works, the August Challenge--which attracted an excellent collection of stories--is here:
http://www.hatrack.com/forums/writers/forum/Forum7/HTML/000071.html

We have two takers right now. Can we get to six and make it run again?

If you participated last month and plan to do so again, please do let us know. If you won't, for a reason we should know about, please do tell us.

Zac chimed.

"Yes?" I asked.

" 'Us' being you and me, right?" said Zac.

"If you like."

"You told 'em all that already, in the other thread."

"Yeah, I know, but we talk so much and there's yards of text in the other thread, I'm not sure people get it."

"Belt and braces, huh?"

"Yep."

"Good idea. Would you like some tea?"

"Zac?"

"Yes?"

"We're talking too much."

Cheers,
Pat

Are there just two more Hatrackers out there who'd like to make us up to six?

We need just one more taker to bring us up to six ...

"Can you delete it for me, please?" I asked.

"Consider it done."

"Zac?"

"UGH! Where did all hair come from?"

"Wow, this is neat, it's like your in my head or something."

"I am in your head, you idiot. Wait, what the hell am I doing in your head, ooo gross."

"I wanted to get this months participants straight."

"God. Look at all the wax. Don't you ever clean these?"

"Lets see there's Talespinner, Snapper, Gardener, A W Sullivan, Allied Five, and Merlion-Emyrs."

"I'm going to suggest to Kat that those Utility Belts need some Qtips."

"Kat? Utility Belts?"

"Long story, different post."

"Oh, then there's Kathyton she may join."

"I like her. Knows enough not put TS's stuff in her ears."

"Okay, I guess that covers it. Now how do I get you out?"

"Snapper says that Gardener, A W Sullivan, Allied Five, Merlion-Emrys, Kathyton, himself and you are up for for the September RFM."

"Cool," I said.

"He stuck me in his ear," Zac said.

"He stuck you in his ear?" I asked, pulling at my left ear lobe. "Didn't he take you out of your case first?"

Zac shrugged. "Nope. He just rammed me into his ear, case 'n all. I suppose the acorn shape does make my case look like an earbud."

"How'd you talk to him?"

"Loudly. With resonance-induced bone conduction."

"How does that work?"

Zac shrugged. "How should I know? You just invented it, silly."

"Zac, how do you shrug? You're just a nano-electric stud in my left ear lobe."

Zac shrugged. Again.

#

Tiergan, your thoughts and crits will be more than welcome and we're looking forward to your next story when you get around to it.

Welcome, Gardener and Kathyton, welcome all. And thanks, Snapper, for riding herd during my absence.

I'll start the September RFM in Challenges right now ...

Some people get their stories critiqued (and I lazily treated "workshopped" and "critiqued" as synonyms) at other places like <whispers> Critters or Liberty Halll, and still others have trusted readers. I suppose also there are some talented individuals who just write and revise alone.

The point is that the story should be as ready for market as you can make it, and for most of us that means having at least one person read and crit the story, and a consequent revision.

There's no badge or certificate, so if you think your story's ready for market, please do feel free to contribute it.

"Don't what?" I asked.

"Don't make some crack about opening her kimono."

I sighed.

#

That's great, Leslie. I hope that perhaps the prospect of an October RFM will give you a timeframe to aim for. Personally, I find such goals helpful.

("Except when you go all creative and decide the story is more important than the deadline," muttered Zac.)

hehe.