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Contest July-August 2019 Short Story Contest (entries now closed)

WhenTheSkinksMarch said:
I have 2 paragraphs! I broke my writers block last night! With still a week to go I think I can make it on time
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The first two are the hardest.

Warden said:
Yeah... the story I was initially writing is already waaay over the word count.
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That has historically been my problem with short stories. Then I started making outlines.

If you are really having a hard time making a short story...short then apply the rule "Every sentence if not every word should either move the plot forward or build characterization."

I don't like absolutes "every, always, never" but it's correct in its essentials. If something doesn't build character or move the plot forward than it better be there for a very good reason. It's very evocative, it's very clever, or it's very funny.
 
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I always have ideas for stories but I guess I will never get a piece into such a contest. I am just incapable of writing that short.
 
Aginor said:
I always have ideas for stories but I guess I will never get a piece into such a contest. I am just incapable of writing that short.
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Half the point of these regular contests with irregular themes is that it gives people a reason to write out of their comfort zones. I used to try different styles just to fool author guessers, but now that Bob doesn't hang hang out here as much there is less people trying to guess the authors.

I guess back when Bob guessed authors we had a small pool of writers who consistently entered contests. Now we have a large pool of writers who inconsistently enter contests, making guessing harder.

I'd be happy to help you or anyone else who wants help revising something. But I guess six days isn't a lot of time to write if you don't have an idea yet. Rest assured there will be another contest posted on or near October first.
 
Yeah, not this time.
I need a long time to write stories.
Maybe next time.

In fact I am preparing to write one right now, making notes on the story and envisioning some scenes. I will be on vacation next month and I will try and write it there (exactly like the one last year).
 
pendrake said:
I’ve rarely had a problem with the word limit.
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Some people are naturally concise with words. I am not one of those people.

Y'ttar Scaletail said:
Hah...I never have an idea until the last gasps...
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You ALWAYS submit your piece at the last minute. But you also are really good at proofreading your own pieces. I almost never find even the tiniest of errors.
 
Send me something to read!

Scalliope, the Muse of L-O Short Stories, did not respond to my summoning ritual.

The last couple contests I had a system that would summon Scalliope. For me, Scalliope usually appears if I go to my favorite restaurant/pub and each a cheeseburger and bowl of popcorn while staring at a big screen TV of a slow paced televised sporting event where one team I am not invested in plays another team I'm not invested in. That's a good environment for me to come up with a story concept, but it didn't work tonight.

Food was good though...

I guess i should get back to working on Golden Mountain. I'm long overdue for posting the next installment.
 
Nothing from me this time I'm afraid, too much summer travel keeping me away from the keyboard. Looking forward to reading the entries nonetheless!
 
Scalenex said:
Send me something to read!

Scalliope, the Muse of L-O Short Stories, did not respond to my summoning ritual.

The last couple contests I had a system that would summon Scalliope. For me, Scalliope usually appears if I go to my favorite restaurant/pub and each a cheeseburger and bowl of popcorn while staring at a big screen TV of a slow paced televised sporting event where one team I am not invested in plays another team I'm not invested in. That's a good environment for me to come up with a story concept, but it didn't work tonight.

Food was good though...

I guess i should get back to working on Golden Mountain. I'm long overdue for posting the next installment.
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​

It only took until the deadline (of course) but my first draft is done and submitted.
 
King Dust said:
Nothing from me this time I'm afraid, too much summer travel keeping me away from the keyboard. Looking forward to reading the entries nonetheless!
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Warden said:
It only took until the deadline (of course) but my first draft is done and submitted.
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So far our contests range between five and sixteen entries. I'm hoping we can reach six this time around.
 
Killer Angel said:
I'm confident that @Scalenex will wait for last minute entries. ;)
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Indeed.

I'm likely to be up very late tonight anyway, so if someone needs a few extra hours, that's fine.

We have reached six, and I have someone assuring me a seventh is coming. Let us try to hit nine, last minute writers!
 
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Scalenex said:
Indeed.

I'm likely to be up very late tonight anyway, so if someone needs a few extra hours, that's fine.

We have reached six, and I have someone assuring me a seventh is coming. Let us try to hit nine, last minute writers!
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lol I was kind of a last minute writer. I started it like 2 days ago. But I think it's pretty good. I got inspired by this theme.
 
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