This is topic Flash Challenge #17 is open in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.


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Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
 
Thanks to Kathleen for allowing us to post these notices here.

Flash Challenge #17 is open. You must be registered at Liberty Hall to participate. http://www.munsil.net/phpBB2/index.php

Trigger Request and Story Submittal

1) Please send an email to lhfc17 a t earthlink.net in order to receive the trigger. Once your email is received, the clock starts.

Please include the words Flash #17 in the subject line of your trigger request.
You will have 90 minutes total to return your story by email.

2) Please attach your story to an email. Please do NOT paste your story into the body of an email unless you must. Send to lhfc17 a t earthlink.net.

Please include the words Flash 17 in the subject line of your submittal.
Please include the word count and a title at the start of your submittal.

You will receive a response that we have your submittal, but it might have to wait until the end of the day.

If you have any problems, please email MaryRobinette or mikemunsil. We'll get to you when we can.

[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited July 22, 2005).]
 


Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :
 
(HSO is having some computer problems and probably won't be replying to e-mail soon.)
 
Posted by benskia (Member # 2422) on :
 
Ahhh man.

I've been looking all morning to see if a flash was on this week, but thought that the mods might be taking a break.

I know this is cheeky, but I dont think I'll get chance to write again now until monday morning (although it might turn out that I can). What time do the entries close in GMT on monday. Can I sneak one in before 12:00 noon or is that too late?

Cheers.
 


Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
 
Since I'm moderating, we're on PST, which is -8 GMT.

So, submissions will be open until 8:00am GMT.
 


Posted by Keeley (Member # 2088) on :
 
I liked this trigger.

I started out with one idea, found I was getting waaaaaay too preachy, scrapped it and panicked when I looked at the clock. My second idea is okay, but it could definitely be stronger.
 


Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
 
That was a doozie!

Oh well. It's done now. I got a concept right away and then had to do some fine tuning. Unfortunately it never fails -- as soon as I start flashing, people start flocking into my office to ask for help on things!

I guess I need to make a sign that says, "KEEP OUT! Flashing in Progress"

That ought to scare a few people.
 


Posted by abby (Member # 2681) on :
 
I may try next time. Are they always on weekends? Honestly, weekends are busy for me. Still sounds good though, maybe on drill weekends.
 
Posted by autumnmuse (Member # 2136) on :
 
I have a problem with weekends too, but I can usually find an hour somewhere if I really try. Last weekend I couldn't, but that is the exception rather than the rule. What I'm really worried about is August. We'll be abroad and I don't know what type (if any) of computer/internet access I will have. I'm going through withdrawels already.
 
Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
 
Abby, I think Notebored has a Wednesday challenge sometimes. I haven't tried it but it may be something to consider.

http://rittinger.admiralxp.com/index.php

If you're a member there already, you can try this link:

http://rittinger.admiralxp.com/viewforum.php?f=4

There are a few other sites that run flash challenges, but the way I understand it, they aren't like the ones at Liberty Hall.

Mike might be able to tell you about a couple. I think he does/did some over at Scrawl???
 


Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
 
Autumn, did you see the new post Isaiah13 put up in Markets?

http://www.hatrack.com/forums/writers/forum/Forum13/HTML/000068.html

It might give you something to work on for a month.
 


Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
 
Scrawl has Wednesday flashes and sometimes Saturday flashes and sometimes flashes when someone gets bored. They post the trigger at a specific time and you have an hour to post your flash. Then they vote on it. And rip it to shreds if they're hungry.

Scrawl isn't for everyone. It might better be called Scrawl: The Writer's Brawl rather than Scrawl: The Writer's Asylum. You must havbe a robust ego to survive there. If you request admission you'll have to undergo a 'test'. Don't even try it if you're at all shy or weak hearted.

But here's the link: http://www.stwa.net/

Our flashes at Liberty Hall are structured so that you can pretty much choose your time to flash, anywhere from about 8am Friday morning through about midnight Sunday. The commenting/voting/guessing/revealing phases run through the following Thursday. Fridays the old challenge is locked and the new one starts. I do not keep the old stories and their attendant comments on the board. I delete them on the following weekend. It is up to you to copy down any comments on your own work.

We're currently on challenge #17. We have yet to miss a week since we started, and are getting close to 400 stories created so far. Two stories have been accepted for publication and there are a number of others out there in the slush pile.

Oh, and the wimmen STILL have more total wins than the men. We men are letting the wimmen build their confidence so that their ultimate defeat is all the more humbling. That's our story and we're sticking to it.

[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited July 22, 2005).]
 


Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :
 
Well, I did think it was gracious of the women to let the guys win this time.
 
Posted by pixydust (Member # 2311) on :
 
Yes, me too.


 


Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
 
hmmmffff!
 
Posted by Corky (Member # 2714) on :
 
Okay, so do we give away our anonymity (I looked it up, so I know that's a word) if we post here after we've submitted something?

If so, I guess I've done that by posting here now, right?

Oh, well.

I tried it anyway, and it will be interesting to see how it works out.
 


Posted by TL 601 (Member # 2730) on :
 
I think this was literally the worst story I have ever written. I'm talking OMG bad.

Stupid trigger.
 


Posted by MichaelCReed (Member # 2715) on :
 
Ha! I had exactly the same experience. I have never in my life written anything so horrible.

Of course, its not the trigger. Really it's my fault. I was in a bad mood, and sent for the trigger in the hopes that it would distract me. (Which it did) But I never write well when I'm in a bad mood. I should have just done an exercise on my own and written the Flash tomorrow when I had good ideas. All I managed this time ‘round was a hulking, wooden mess that even my wife hated.

"I'm sorry," she said, after she read it. Her face was all wrinkled and sympathetic, like I had just opened a rejection letter from a free high-school ‘zine.

Yikes. Talk about bad reviews.

The writer in me is going to take it as a challenge though, I know I'm going to write a new version of it just so I can say "Ha! It's not that bad!"

Well, maybe. It's a pile.

If yours is as bad as mine, Troy -- and ain't no way, believe you me -- maybe other people can compete to see which story is which.

You know, have our own "who sucked the worst" contest.

lol

Anyway, like my wife said, "There's always next week, right?"

Yeesh.

~MR
 


Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
 
quote:
Okay, so do we give away our anonymity (I looked it up, so I know that's a word) if we post here after we've submitted something?
If so, I guess I've done that by posting here now, right?

Nope. All you've done is admit that you entered a story. It will be posted by one of the flashprimes, as will all the others. No one will ever know which is your story unless you choose to admit it during the reveal.

 


Posted by pixydust (Member # 2311) on :
 
Hey Mike, Did you get you get my story? I still haven't recieved a conformation and I'm a little nervious since I had to work so hard to get it done (and Mary worked hard too ).

Just checking in...
 


Posted by Corky (Member # 2714) on :
 
Are we supposed to receive a confirmation?

Because I haven't received anything either.
 


Posted by Corky (Member # 2714) on :
 
As for whether my story was any good or not, I have no idea. I hope people will let me know.
 
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
 
sorry. I forgot. When we use my email service it automatically sends a confirmation, but we're using Mike's and I have to send them manually. I'll do that now.
 
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
 
Mary's is much better, that's a fact.
 
Posted by ForkedCarrot (Member # 2739) on :
 
So...um...yeah. First one. That was hard and it totally went in a different direction than I ever imagined me going. Definitely not even close to my best work, but I'll hide behind that "first one" defense as much as I need.
 
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
 
Not an uncommon experience, ForkedCarrot. Manyh of us ahve written something totally unlike anything we have ever written before.
 
Posted by Alexis (Member # 2687) on :
 
Posted this on LH too.

I haven't gotten the trigger, and now I won't be able to send it before midnight Central time. I'd like to have a go at this flash, since I couldn't participate last week. Could someone send the trigger manually? I don't mind writing a DQ if need be. Thanks.
 


Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
 
I sent you the trigger. Did you get it?
 
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
 
As of about 5:30am Monday, I couldn't open Liberty Hall. Anyone else having problems? I emailed the hosting service about the issue.
 
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
 
ok, back up.
 
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
 
For those folks who did not receive the trigger or didn't have time this weekend, I've set up a forum for late entries.

If want to try to stick to the one and a half hour time limit for fun, then send me an email before you click on the link to see the trigger. Otherwise, feel free to take as much time as you like. There's no voting for the Fool's Gold forum, just a chance to play with the rest of us.

Go here to get the trigger.
 


Posted by dee_boncci (Member # 2733) on :
 
Wow that was not only my first flash contest, but the first time I ever attempted writing flash fiction.

I was quite impressed (blown away, really) with what most of the folks could pull off in 90 minutes.

As for my own attempt, well let's just say I've got a lot to learn. But hey, I think I get to try again in a day or two.

So ... awesome stuff, people, especially you winners.

Seemed like all the forums over there were locked so I'm saying this here hoping at least some of the folks might see it.
 


Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
 
they will, dee

if you have comments you want to save from your flash, get them Friday, as I will delete all of FC#17 on Saturday.

mike
 




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