The triggers are:Firm Contract—Sinking Deeper--Ancient Sunrise
I chose three different triggers to give a variety of stories--it's meant to be fun after all.
You may use any (or all if you are very skilled) of these as triggers for your story. I said it would be easy! The phrases themselves don't have to appear in your story.
Please email your stories to me preferably before Sunday 16th December 12.00 GMT (I am posting this at 11am GMT so check the posting time for US ET time). Email your story, preferably as an attached word document, or in the body of the email. The sooner I get them the quicker I can post the first 13. Once emailed to me, that’s it—no revisions.
At the top of the story please put the story title, your Hatrack name, and the number of words.
Skadder The End of The World 958 words
Good luck!
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
Tell us how you are doing -- but don't give away your story.
Inspired or blocked? Done a draft yet or still playing with an idea? Having trouble staying sub 1000?
P.S. If everyone finishes early we can start reading and voting quicker.
Posted by supraturtle (Member # 1518) on :
Done. 993 words.
[This message has been edited by supraturtle (edited December 02, 2007).]
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
Wow, that's fast--well done! When you have completely finished it make sure you send it to me.
Although your aren't meant to say what the title is--don't worry though.
[This message has been edited by skadder (edited December 02, 2007).]
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
I'm done. I've sent it off.
[This message has been edited by InarticulateBabbler (edited December 02, 2007).]
Posted by halogen (Member # 6494) on :
Done, emailed
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
Also, can I please reiterate how to send your completed story to me. I have a fair bit to do and if everyone does this it will save me a lot of time and confusion.
Please use the title of your story as the file name.
I would prefer an MS Word file(.doc). If you don't have MS Word please tell me and I will send to you in a different format.
In the email subject line put: Hatrack name: Story Title
At the top of your story please put:
Your Hatrack Name. (your email name means nothing!) Story Title. Words.
All of this is just to help keep track of everything. It is quite complicated!
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
IB, if you have sent it, I don't have it. Could you re-send it?
Adam
Posted by gobi13x (Member # 6837) on :
Basically finished, I just have to cut it down a bit and revise it. I was even able to add all three triggers.
[This message has been edited by gobi13x (edited December 03, 2007).]
Posted by NoTimeToThink (Member # 5174) on :
I will obviously be the slow one in the group. Came up with my idea (using all 3 triggers) yesterday while driving my family around. I am just now sitting down to write.
I should not have checked the thread. THREE done already? I have never participated in a Flash Fiction contest, so just to make sure I have it right:
skadder - Are we trying to create a finished work, or just slap an idea together?
Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :
erm.... we have two weeks to write, right? Am I wrong on the deadline? I haven't even started yet... I guess I'm a muller!
Posted by supraturtle (Member # 1518) on :
This isn't a race. Something so short can be more difficult than writing 6000 words. Keep with it--I almost didn't post ready right away because I didn't want to make it seem to be a rush.
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
You have two weeks to produce (but please complete it before then or I will be inundated with stuff to do at the last moment!) the best piece of flash fiction based around the triggers that you can.
Some people are quick writers. Perhaps they have adapted a story they already had rattling about in their craniums, either way don't worry. Take whatever (but in the less-than-two-weeks category) time you need.
[This message has been edited by skadder (edited December 03, 2007).]
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
Members of Liberty Hall (as are KayTi and I) are accustomed to writing a first-draft flash in 90 minutes. It's a little hair-raising the first time or two, but then you get used to it. Point is: if you can write the idea down in an hour/hour and a half, you'll have a surfeit of time to polish it.
I wrote it. Watched the Colts/Jaguars, Giants/Bears-Bengals/Steelers games. Read it again for spelling errors, trimmed and buffed some--played with my 4-year-old--gave it another read, and called it done. Whether the plot/story sucks or not isn't going to change, just the words I use to tell it.
I think that you can easily overwork a flash piece. Granted, you can take a year to make each word choice (1000) be perfect, but for what you can do pre-critique, it's limited.
[This message has been edited by InarticulateBabbler (edited December 03, 2007).]
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
Yeah, I could write it in 90 mins, but I doubt I could come up with the idea and write it 90 mins. That would be a major struggle.
*doffs hat*
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
First drafts aren't perfect. I'm sure, if you put yourself in the situation to have something with a beginning, conflict, and end in 9o minutes you could. Yeah, there are spelling mistakes, and continuity slips (as well as the usual PoV slips and /or tense slippages), but that is not so much of what is judged at Liberty Hall--but, it is pointed out when a critiquer discovers it. Most critiques for that weekly contest are pointing out what threw somebody, what hooked somebody, and/or whether the ending made sense, was likeable/dislikeable, or if it was non sequitur/deus ex machina.
There are 7 categories voted on (The major components of a story):
Hook (Everyone at Hatrack kows what this is ) Narrative Voice Dialogue Characterization Story Arc (Plot) Setting/World Developement Best Flash (This is the best of the critiquing group. Usually, there are two or three groups.)
The next day is for Best of the Best, which is the best of the competing critiquing groups.
There is a separate Polish challenge for when the critiques are put into effect.
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
Everyone busy writing?
Posted by TaleSpinner (Member # 5638) on :
I have a concept I like and a first draft that sucks.
Usually, it's the other way around: I suck the draughts.
Working ...
Pat
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
Well I have drafty socks.
Keep at it!
Posted by Igwiz (Member # 6867) on :
I've been off in la-la land, I guess. I'm in, I'm working on it (about 515 words now), and I'm looking forward to it.
Wow, IB: 90 minutes for a first draft. That's pretty impressive.
Anyway. I plan to have it in before the deadline...
Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :
Eep! Still working out concepts! I have a hard enough time with short stories, but it's tricky figuring out if you've got an idea you really can tell in less than 1,000 words.
Anyway, I've tossed out the first thirty ideas or so... still thinking... (I told you I'm a muller!)
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
Try mixing some of those 30 ideas together... anyway it's only been 4 days--10 to go!
Posted by Igwiz (Member # 6867) on :
Finished. Letting it age for a couple of days before I send it in...
I'm looking forward to this. Both the reviews and the reviewing.
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
Feeling confident, eh?
Posted by Igwiz (Member # 6867) on :
More like trepidacious. But yeah, I'm also feeling hopeful...
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
Excellent. I look forward to reading it. It's cool being the ref...
Posted by NoTimeToThink (Member # 5174) on :
Wrote my rough draft on the 4th (90 mins, 540 words). My next pocket of available time will be tomorrow morning - I hope to make my 2nd pass then. It should only take one more pass after that (probably all I have time for, anyway....)
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
quote: Wrote my rough draft on the 4th (90 mins, 540 words).
See? It can ber done. I'm not the only one.
(Just kidding, every member of Liberty Hall who has flashed has done it too. At least, I think they have. There may be a few that DQ all the time from the time limit, but most that I've seen finish.)
[This message has been edited by InarticulateBabbler (edited December 07, 2007).]
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
Send them to me...
Posted by jaycloomis (Member # 7193) on :
The public demands more first thirteens for the challenge! -Jay
Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :
That's one week gone. Tick-tock, tick-tock.
Exactly one week to go.
Anything not received by me at 12.00 GMT on Sunday December 16th will not be posted and will be considered NOT ENTERED.
I would prefer them sooner rather than later, BTW.
Adam
Posted by NoTimeToThink (Member # 5174) on :
ok skadder - I'm done - took another 2 hours for a second pass. I've sent it to you.
Posted by gobi13x (Member # 6837) on :
I just sent it to you. I was going to send it before the weekend, but I did not have access to it.
)