Kirk's picture
Admin
Kirk from Pingree Grove, IL is reading The Book Of The New Sun June 3, 2014 - 10:05am

I just wanted to make an official place to discuss Arrest Us, which as you may have noticed, is officially accepting submissions. 

Click here to submit your story or to read other's stories 

You might also want to visit the official announcement post for more details. 

If you have any questions, let us know. And HAVE FUN!

Gordon Highland's picture
Gordon Highland from Kansas City is reading Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore June 3, 2014 - 11:37am

This is where people lay down the smack talk, right?

(I just posted here so I could more easily follow said talk.)

Lawrence's picture
Lawrence from Dallas, Texas is reading Mr. Mercedes - Stephen King June 4, 2014 - 7:12am

I'm so glad they are doing another challenge. I've already read and rated 4 or 5 and people are bringing their A game. I'm submitting my story to the workshop today and hopefully by the weekend I'll have it submitted to the challenge. I've learned getting in early and reading as many other stories as possible really helps you get others to read yours. 

Let us know when you forum members post your stories. I always like to read the stories of the "locals" first. 

 

 

Kirk's picture
Admin
Kirk from Pingree Grove, IL is reading The Book Of The New Sun June 4, 2014 - 7:33am

Gordon, you're adept at smack talking so you might as well bring it! :D

Adam Jenkins's picture
Adam Jenkins from Bracknell, England is reading RCX Magazine (Issue 1 coming soon) June 4, 2014 - 7:46am

I've been redecorating so haven't followed the contest (though I did submit). Just popped on and seen we have the same issue as last year. Somene has been liberal with the thumbs down without leaving comments. One story has had no comments but at least one thumbs down. Bit harsh that. Only read one so far, but The Quiet Detective is superb. Can't wait to get stuck into the others.

Lawrence's picture
Lawrence from Dallas, Texas is reading Mr. Mercedes - Stephen King June 4, 2014 - 8:37am

Yeah, there was a story, "Successful Losers" that I thought was really well done and the first day I gave it a thumbs up and left a comment. The next morning it had a couple thumbs down and one more positive comment. Weird. 

Oh, and I forgot the smack talk in my first post. Um, your mom and stuff. Crap, I'm no good at this. 

Adam Jenkins's picture
Adam Jenkins from Bracknell, England is reading RCX Magazine (Issue 1 coming soon) June 4, 2014 - 9:24am

Interesting. Some of those negative votes have been reversed.

You are so spot on Lawrence. My mum LOVES stuff.

Nathan Scalia's picture
Nathan Scalia from Kansas is reading so many things June 4, 2014 - 11:47am

If you guys have suspicions about any of the entries or contestants, feel free to PM me, Rob, or Kirk with the details so we can look into it.

Lawrence's picture
Lawrence from Dallas, Texas is reading Mr. Mercedes - Stephen King June 4, 2014 - 1:12pm

Thanks, Nathan. Hopefully that won't be necessary. I want to believe we can have nice things! 

TheKyleBTM's picture
TheKyleBTM June 4, 2014 - 6:18pm

Apparently there was an issue with the formatting of my story the first time I posted it, I have removed the original post and posted it in a different format that should work.Thanks to all that read it and I am enjoying reading the other submissions.

Kirk's picture
Admin
Kirk from Pingree Grove, IL is reading The Book Of The New Sun June 5, 2014 - 7:14am

Adam, I tend to keep an eye out for that and so far, there isn't any single user who has dished out a bunch of down-votes. And nothing that I would say resembles cheating.

Adam Jenkins's picture
Adam Jenkins from Bracknell, England is reading RCX Magazine (Issue 1 coming soon) June 5, 2014 - 9:23am

Hi Kirk - I have no worries at all . You were quick to step in during Teleport Us when there was some less than honest activity, so I have complete faith that if there is a repeat, it'll be dealt with. I just found it a little interesting that most stories had taken a hit, including one that had no reads but had been given a thumbs down with no comments attached, which I thought a little harsh. I leapt to the unfounded presumption that it'd be one person doing that, but clearly that is not the case. As I said above, a lot of them have been reversed now, so all is fine and dandy once more.

I've read a few now, and only given thumbs up so far. Some gooooooood stories submitted so far.

Geert Mostrey's picture
Geert Mostrey from Belgium is reading Gone Girl June 6, 2014 - 12:20am

Hi all,

I have a question. I know that serial killers is a no go in this year's competition.

My story is about a woman waking up in a hospital room dead. Her husband walks in and starts talking to her (don't want to write the entire story here , otherwise no-one would read it, lol). He happens to be a serial killer. But the story is not about his killings or his crimes, it's about him and his wife and their relationship. Is that acceptable ?. Admittedly I already submitted the story in the hope that this would be OK.

Thanks for your feedback

Nathan Scalia's picture
Nathan Scalia from Kansas is reading so many things June 6, 2014 - 6:45am

Hi Geert,

I took a look at your story, and while my judgement isn't the final one, it does appear to be in violation of the "no serial killers" and "no sex crimes" rules. Even though we don't see the crimes take place, the only crime aspect in your story involves the rapes and murders by a serial killer, so that's probably not going to be accepted as a candidate for publication by ThugLit. The leadership may disagree with me, but it seems pretty cut and dry. Sorry.

Geert Mostrey's picture
Geert Mostrey from Belgium is reading Gone Girl June 6, 2014 - 10:43am

Hi Nathan,

Thanks for the feedback. I understand your point: If it's ok, I'll leave it posted anyway as I value the feedback of people reading it. If I should remove it, just let me know.

Thanks.

Chacron's picture
Chacron from England, South Coast is reading Fool's Assassin by Robin Hobb June 7, 2014 - 1:42pm

Read three stories so far, and it's got me back into critiquing...hadn't realised how much I'd missed it until I started reading competition entires on my iPhone during a car journey. Planning on submitting something, I've just got to find time to get it written. Will probably make a last minute post just minutes before the final deadline.

Eddie McNamara's picture
Eddie McNamara from NYC is reading High as the Horse's Bridles June 10, 2014 - 3:53pm
Seb's picture
Seb from Thanet, Kent, UK June 11, 2014 - 12:29pm

Evening all.

See here: http://litreactor.com/events/arrest-us/donation

Now I'm going to get reading and rating.

Thanks.

Liam Hogan's picture
Liam Hogan from Earth is reading Hugo Nominations June 12, 2014 - 4:00pm

Probably would have missed this contest if I hadn't followed an unrelated LitReactor post and noticed it lurking (admittedly, on the front page!). Thought there might be more noise, on twitter etc? but then I guess it might have whizzed past unnoticed. Which would have been a shame, as I enjoyed the Teleport-Us challenge.

Here's my entry :

Arrest Us/Criminal Class

Looking forward (with a trepidation) to my first comments.

Liam

Jonathan Riley's picture
Jonathan Riley from Memphis, Tennessee is reading Flashover by Gordon Highland June 12, 2014 - 4:21pm

Eddie, Seb, Liam, I'll put you guys at the top of my list.

Liam Hogan's picture
Liam Hogan from Earth is reading Hugo Nominations June 12, 2014 - 4:47pm

I think I'm going to go the random route for this contest. I know I won't get to read them all (as a standard thing I do, I have to read 30 odd short stories a month anyway, plus I'm reading so I can vote in the Hugo Nominations, and heck, you know, writing?) so this seems a mite fairer than just reading the stories of people who are active enough to read mine. Well, random plus any that leap out as a must read, of course!

I'll make a solemn promise though to read and rate as many ratings as I get. So if you want to make work for me... :)

Liam

 

SConley's picture
SConley from Texas is reading Coin Locker Babies June 13, 2014 - 5:27am

I finally thought of something, i'll write it this weekend. The prompt actually stumped me, which i didn't expect.

Ry Eph's picture
Ry Eph from SLC is reading Toxicity June 13, 2014 - 3:57pm

I am happy to jump in and read some stories this summer with all my new free time--benefits of being a teacher. I posted my first story here at Lit and I am pretty excited to read through all these creative crime stories.

 

 

Read & Be Read  

CremedelaCrime's picture
CremedelaCrime June 14, 2014 - 10:28am

Hi. Totally new here. I'm sorry if I missed it, but I didn't see a deadline. Is there a final date to submit? Thanks!

Matt A.'s picture
Matt A. June 14, 2014 - 11:35am

Have you guys considered making comments mandatory if someone wants to give a thumbs down? I'm sure you can guess why I'm asking...

Nathan Scalia's picture
Nathan Scalia from Kansas is reading so many things June 14, 2014 - 12:20pm

@CremedelaCrime: The deadline for submission is the July 1st.

@Doug: I'll ask up the chain. I'm not sure if it's doable mid-contest, but I'll see.

Matt A.'s picture
Matt A. June 14, 2014 - 1:10pm

@Nate, understood. Even if it can't be backdated to mine, maybe something can be done to save other worthy stories from some shady voting.

Adam Jenkins's picture
Adam Jenkins from Bracknell, England is reading RCX Magazine (Issue 1 coming soon) June 14, 2014 - 2:44pm

Judging on last year, Doug, the occasional thumbs down with no comments has little bearing on the final results. Quarter of the way through and you are sitting pretty in the top group. Not that I'm calling you pretty... though I'm not calling you ugly either. If a story is good enough, the odd shady tactical vote will make no difference.

Matt A.'s picture
Matt A. June 14, 2014 - 3:21pm

That's good to know.

I'm not usually very competitive, this is just irritating. You get it, though--I saw you postings above from when the contest kicked off.

EdVaughn's picture
EdVaughn from Louisville, Ky is reading a whole bunch of different stuff June 14, 2014 - 3:28pm

Man, I was going to try and read all of these stories and go for the reader rewards but, shit, there are so many there's no way I can keep up. And every one I have managed to read are really top notch. Haven't read a really bad one yet, so I'm a little surprised anybody has gotten thumbs down at all. 

Matt A.'s picture
Matt A. June 14, 2014 - 3:59pm

@Ed, yeah I got a little overwhelmed trying to keep up, so I figured I'd start with the people that read mine, to return the favor. 

Adam Jenkins's picture
Adam Jenkins from Bracknell, England is reading RCX Magazine (Issue 1 coming soon) June 15, 2014 - 2:17am

The random button was a great addition last year. I'm driven to read them all because I don't want to miss any good ones. There are a lot of good solid stories, but four stand outs for me so far.

Liam Hogan's picture
Liam Hogan from Earth is reading Hugo Nominations June 15, 2014 - 10:21am

@Doug - I got one down vote out of 21 votes last time (teleport us), and though there was a comment, it was about as helpful as water wings for a brick. Annoyed me, but didn't have any real impact as I still got a "proper" review from a professional. That THEY didn't like my piece is another story... I think the thing to note is the number of +s, and 13 up is a (very) good start!

Not sure there will be as many professional reviews this time round, I think they will be harder to win, BUT hopefully you'll get decent (and helpful) feedback from all the others in this contest, which is ultimately all we're really signed up for...

Matt A.'s picture
Matt A. June 15, 2014 - 11:48am

Yes, for the most part the reviews gave lots of good stuff to help improve the story.

Dino Parenti's picture
Dino Parenti from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands On June 15, 2014 - 1:34pm

Hey all, I just posted my entry to the contest. It's called "Nesting," and you can find it here:

http://litreactor.com/events/arrest-us/nesting

Any and all comments, critiques, opinions, are greatly appreciated, especially if you feel I've violated one of the contest caveats. Anyway, thanks in advance.

Bob Pastorella's picture
Bob Pastorella from Groves, Texas is reading murder books trying to stay hip, I'm thinking of you, and you're out there so Say your prayers, Say your prayers, Say your prayers June 15, 2014 - 8:29pm

My story, Pork Chop, is up and needs some love. Or hate. You decide. I'll be reading stories all this week, can't wait to dig in. 

Josh Zancan's picture
Josh Zancan from Crofton, MD is reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck June 16, 2014 - 11:03am

Looking forward to reading the submissions, but I'm waiting until I submit mine.  Want to get that out of the way first.  It's finished, just waiting to hear back for some friends' notes (so it's "finished" up to this point).

SConley's picture
SConley from Texas is reading Coin Locker Babies June 16, 2014 - 12:51pm

I don't think i can add 1300 words to my story to make it the required 3000 words and it still be effective. Oh well, at least i got a story out of it.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like June 17, 2014 - 8:40am

"No hitmen" means 'no killing or attempted killing as per a contract/agreement,' and not 'no killing or attempted killing as part of a scheme which does not require the death of a target as per a contract/agreement,' right?

Devon Robbins's picture
Devon Robbins from Utah is reading The Least Of My Scars by Stephen Graham Jones June 17, 2014 - 9:19am

Here's my weird little entry to the contest

http://litreactor.com/events/arrest-us/alchemy-and-atrophy

Nathan Scalia's picture
Nathan Scalia from Kansas is reading so many things June 17, 2014 - 9:30am

JYH:

Hitmen are definitionally contract killers, so I would imagine contract killings are a no-no.

Remember that Thuglit was the driving force behind our criteria, and the grand prize is publication by them. They told us what they were sick of reading. If they want something different than hitmen, they probably aren't interested in something that tries to toe that line on semantics.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like June 17, 2014 - 10:11am

@NS:  Fair enough. I was thinking about some nameless antagonism which could be construed as a "hit", not a main character hitperson. Maybe they'd not mind that, maybe they would.

Ry Eph's picture
Ry Eph from SLC is reading Toxicity June 17, 2014 - 11:13am

I could use a few more reads: http://litreactor.com/events/arrest-us/book-heist and will read any story in return as well. I've read some intresting stories so far. 

 

 

Thanks

SConley's picture
SConley from Texas is reading Coin Locker Babies June 18, 2014 - 5:51am

Can i submit my story even though it's not long enough? I know i wouldn't be eligible to win but i'd like the reviews anyway.

Liam Hogan's picture
Liam Hogan from Earth is reading Hugo Nominations June 18, 2014 - 6:40am

SConley - might depend how close it is. I've seen over and under submitted so far, and I think I'll be fairly relaxed (though 6.5K one was a bit much...). It might rule you out of Thuglit etc (not sure who set the word count limit, but one hopes it's for a good reason!) but you should get some feedback regardless.

Liam

Liam Hogan's picture
Liam Hogan from Earth is reading Hugo Nominations June 18, 2014 - 6:41am

P.s. Show me yours and I'll show you mine...

http://litreactor.com/events/arrest-us/criminal-class

:)

SConley's picture
SConley from Texas is reading Coin Locker Babies June 18, 2014 - 6:43am

I'll check it out, here's mine

http://litreactor.com/events/arrest-us/making-history

I've only read a few stories but they're really good. Like really good. There's some really stiff competition, guys.

Devon Robbins's picture
Devon Robbins from Utah is reading The Least Of My Scars by Stephen Graham Jones June 18, 2014 - 8:18am

Sconley- I left some feedback on your story. I hope it doesn't sound too negative. When I put the reviews up, the main concern is trying to help make the story better. Good job.

big_old_dave's picture
big_old_dave from Watford, about 20 miles outside London, Uk June 18, 2014 - 8:19am

Fired the story in early days with what I found out to be a load of mistakes in it

Now uploaded a revised version that should improve it (hopefully)

http://litreactor.com/events/arrest-us/mule#comment-195427

Jonathan Riley's picture
Jonathan Riley from Memphis, Tennessee is reading Flashover by Gordon Highland June 18, 2014 - 2:32pm

Finally got my story in. Now I'm going to get back to reading and rating. The talent level in this pool is extremely high. I've thoroughly enjoyed the majority of the stories I've read so far. If you have time to read mine I'll make sure to return the favor. Thanks.

http://litreactor.com/events/arrest-us/foxtrot 

 

 

 

 

 

Devon Robbins's picture
Devon Robbins from Utah is reading The Least Of My Scars by Stephen Graham Jones June 18, 2014 - 3:09pm

I'll check it out.