posted
Belle - Just noticed your question about length. I don't think it's a problem (for magazines I think it's more of an issue than it is for anthologies). My story was almost 6,500 words.
Posts: 4600 | Registered: Mar 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks, Destineer, but I don't need the info now.
I'm withdrawing. I realized that all of my SF stories are just not that good. *laughs* The story that is (hopefully) on its way to being published is inspirational, and the novel I'm working on is Christian fiction. Unlike all my previous attempts at novels, I've actually made it through an entire plot outline, and character sketches. This novel is falling into place, and it's flowing so smoothly i don't want to mess up the momentum. So I'm going to devote myself exclusively to it for a while, in hopes of getting something novel-length actually finished finally, after three years of trying.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
We’re about half-way to the deadline for the first draft.
We have signed up:
Jon Boy Ophelia Dan_raven Doug J Bob_Scopatz advice for robots Diosmel Duda Scott R Olivet jeniwren mackillian (who cheated by finishing the story just before she signed up! ) Godric Irami Nato pooka
For critiques, we have: Ralphie Diosmel Duda Jon Boy kwsi (you didn’t expect me to spell it out, did you? ) dwk
Personally, I’ve been a slacker. I’ve been thinking about the story often, trying to get a handle on the main characters, but I’ve yet to write any additional words to the fragments I previously wrote. So, considering the amount of time left, I think my efforts would be best utilized in making a suit of cleaver-proof armor.
posted
You can add me to the critique list if you need another.
Of course, if no one finishes a story, then you won't need anyone to critique, will you? Get to writing, all of you! Posts: 9866 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Alright, Now fourth quarter's beginning for my school and I've got barely any classes. (The evils of block scheduling didn't allow me to take a science or second language class this year, so I've got lots of free space)
This should be good for my writing..
And I'm working on a movie as well.
Posts: 1592 | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm scrambling. I work on it everyday, and it's shaping up to be the best story I've ever written. So even if it doesn't win any awards, I like my progress as a writer. I'm at a little over 9,000 words with half of the story written. My notes and outline for the story take up 53 pages, single spaced in ten point font, and that's not even the stuff I have in another notebook by hand.
My target is 14,000 words, I don't want to go over that. It's still to big for Phobos, but it would be nice to write one really good short story.
Posts: 5600 | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I feel your pain, Scott. I have notes, background and fragments on some 12 short stories, but can't seem to find the big block of time (3-4 hours [or more]) needed to actually get the first draft written.
Here's what happens: the ideas come to me while I'm drifting off to sleep or while I'm walking at various points on my commute. I jot down everything on my BART ride home. Sometimes I get a chance in the evening or on a Saturday morning to type everything into Word and maybe to add a bit more, but it's never enough time to do anything substantial.
So. Sign me up for the challenge, Andrew. Maybe a commitment will help spur me to get something done.
Posts: 3423 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have my story idea, and am interested in it enough to keep working on it. Might make the deadline.
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Well there's no way in hell I'd be able to write a good story before the dealine, but if you still want, I'd be more than happy to volunteer to critique.
Posts: 332 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Bleh. I just struggle so hard with short stories. They intimidate me.
Good thing I already withdrew from the challenge, 'cause I wouldn't have made it.
Good luck everyone! Mack's in the only one I've read so far (and I *lurved* it.) I have no doubt the hatrack winning streak will continue.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hmmm. I think I'm dropping out. I'm just far too excited about other writings to concentrate on this. And even those other things aren't getting written, because I'm a busy little girl right now. So, yeah. Good luck to everyone. Posts: 3801 | Registered: Jan 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I gave everyone an extra week (mainly because I was too lazy to post), but it’s time to mosey on up to the bar and pay the piper.
How many of you finished your stories?
We have:
mackillian (who finished first!! ) (although I still think she cheated ) Jon Boy Dan_raven Doug J Bob_Scopatz advice for robots Diosmel Duda Scott R Olivet jeniwren Godric Irami Nato pooka
For critiques, we have: Ralphie Diosmel Duda Jon Boy kwsi dwk Blacwolve Gottmorder
For myself, I have not finished the story, but I have made significant progress. I’ve been writing bits and scraps of it for a couple of years now, but now I have the first draft of the entire middle written out (in longhand ). So if I can pull together the scraps for the first and last part, and type in the middle, I will actually have a story. A lousy story, of course, but a story.
For those who finished, let me repeat my original suggestion: don’t send it in yet. Let it sit for a month or so, and then take another look at it. Polish it up some more. Then send it in. The month of distancing can make your critique much clearer, and should make the story much better. (It certainly can’t hurt, right? )
Posts: 2473 | Registered: Jan 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm close. I can finish it this week, if I get my rear in gear.
I'm glad you brought this back up, because I was a little insecure about asking people if they'd finished when I hadn't. The meat cleaver is still safely stashed away, for those of you who are worried.
Posts: 537 | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Not that I was ever on the list, but it's looking more doubtful for me. I just got an invitation to submit something elsewhere, and I actually have a completed story that I could polish and send in. No prize money, but assuming it all comes together, and my story is accepted, it would be my first published story.
Posts: 3423 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
My story sucks. But I found an older piece that I think I'd like to finish. Would anyone be willing to read it and tell me what they think?
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I kinda tanked on it. I was well aware of the deadline but I couldn’t get anything coherent together. Can I still have a few more days?
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
as far as I'm concerned, afr, you can have a few more weeks.
I should clarify that I'm *not* sending out the sucky story I started for this challenge. I found a much older, much much better unfinished story and would like comments on it. (I got to thinking that it might have sounded like I wanted someone to read a story I think sucks. )
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I read and commented on Jeniwren's story yesterday, and I'm still thinking about it today. It's got some cool undertones, and I look forward to the next draft.
Posts: 5600 | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
I would have posted sooner, but my email was on the fritz, and I didn't want to take the chance I wouldn't be able to access any e-mail you sent me. I would love to read your story. I am still debating on writing a story for the Phobos contest.
Just use the e-mail address in my profile.
Posts: 822 | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Can I PLEASE get in on this still? I promise to have a story in by Wednesday. Friday at the latest.
Posts: 1894 | Registered: Aug 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hey, if you want a read, send a copy to brinestone@hotmail.com (not the address in my profile, please). Use a very obvious subject line, such as "Phobos Story" or "Jatraquero" or something. Don't mention Viagra, or I will delete it without thought. Posts: 537 | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
This morning, I was going to do some writing on a short story I was planning to submit to the contest. I had saved it on a floppy disk so I could take it back and forth to work, and had felt an odd prompting to put it on a hard disk somewhere.
Idiot me, I didn't.
The disk broke. The pin that keeps the little door shut popped out. That's two months work down the drain.
If anyone wants me to read stuff, just send it to the email address in my profile.
And I'm seriously going to start writing something. Probably not for Phobos, but I really need to write something. It's been way too long since I've written anything. Shame on me.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Heh. I know that feeling, Jon Boy. Last year I was so prolific! This year, even when I was sitting at home for a few months, I didn't write much more than a few poems. The ideas are still flying around like crazy, but they just won't stay on paper. What happened?
posted
I'll be happy to read and critique, just send it to the address in my profile, and tell me when you need it by. If you don't have a date, make one up, or I'll never get around to it.
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Scott, if you break the door-like protective cover off of the disk entirely to expose the recording part of the disk you should be able to put it in a computer and use it. It will be very easy to damage after that, though, so you should just get all the data off it and throw it away.
Posts: 4600 | Registered: Mar 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Destineer-- yeah. I was thinking this over as I drove home last night, and realized that the door was only there to protect the disk inside. I popped it off this morning, and I'm back in business.
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
)![[Wink]](wink.gif)
)![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
) (although I still think she cheated ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
)
