Laramore Black
from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8February 23, 2012 - 9:14pm
I see we've gotten to the point of exhaustion. Now, we're stealing others catch phrases?
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:14pm
<--- *winks in delight*
R.Moon
from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's DigestFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:14pm
Nice...
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup
from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck WendigFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:14pm
Oh, and to be honest, I am a wordy bitch. I can crank out a word count relatively easily, but making flash length stuff is painful for me. So I think leaving it high with the option of writing as little as you want will give everyone a chance to write at the speed they are accustomed to, without making it impossible.
R.Moon
from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's DigestFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:14pm
Plagarism!!!
Chester Pane
from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot DiazFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:15pm
@Utah: What if there is some sort of 'golden ticket' thing like Willy Wonka or Survivor when contestants get to come back based on a particularly good story?
Like, two really, really good stories meet head-to-head. People 'nominate' certain stories and they get put into a pool. A winner from there is re-introduced into the bracket at a higher level.
I was listening to Alberto Salazar today talking about how at the Olympic trials an amazing runner will have an off day and that he wishes there was some sort of way to balance that because some of the best actually don't make it due to extenuating circumcisions.
Laramore Black
from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8February 23, 2012 - 9:15pm
Uh, okay.
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup
from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck WendigFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:16pm
I knew if I waited long enough you'd make me a happy man, Renee.
And now I don't know whether to laugh or feel slightly uncomfortable. I'm going to do both to be safe.
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:16pm
I am inclined toward what you're saying, Renee. I tend to agree with you. I'm going to leave the word count issue open for a couple days and see how this conversation develops.
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup
from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck WendigFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:18pm
I'm just saying, I know it isn't supposed to be easy (this is WAR after all) but obviously, if we get too restrictive on word counts it is going to make it near impossible for some people to get drafts out in such a short period of time.
Laramore Black
from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8February 23, 2012 - 9:18pm
We could always do something CRAZY.
Like 2500 words in the first bracket, then 2000, 1500, and 1000.
MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:21pm
@Chester: absolutely. I am going to try to keep this a double-elimination competition. If we can't run it double elim due to having too many people, I think we could work something like that out based on disqualifications. Like, have the folks with that awesome story that get eliminated write a story and hold onto it and when someone gets DQed (which some people will) for word count or deadline, the sideline people get to slide into their slot. I like that. Because I've now seen it happen a couple times that someone has a battle story ready but their opponent never shows. In that position I'd rather have anybody to compete against so I don't feel I wasted my time, and I get to measure dicks with somebody (because, ladies, that's really what guys live for).
Chester Pane
from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot DiazFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:21pm
I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch
Laramore Black
from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8February 23, 2012 - 9:26pm
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:24pm
Man I miss drinking.
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup
from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck WendigFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:24pm
Chester, that you are. That you are.
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup
from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck WendigFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:25pm
So...are we taking bets on when Chester gets a hatchet and starts reenacting scenes from The Shining?
All work and no play makes Chester a dull boy.
Laramore Black
from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8February 23, 2012 - 9:27pm
We're driving a whole state to drink!
Chester Pane
from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot DiazFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:34pm
@Utah: Is it that obvious?
Oh, wait, I forgot I told you I am on a bender. It ends Tuesday though, so if I turn into Jack Torrance before then let me know.
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 23, 2012 - 9:35pm
Just try not to blow up the boiler in your house. You should be fine.
Chester Pane
from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot DiazFebruary 23, 2012 - 10:15pm
How did you know I had a boiler?
Getting paranoid.
Either that, or why didn't you tell me you were a stalker?
Jose F. Diaz
from Boston is reading Wolf Hall by Hilary MantelFebruary 23, 2012 - 10:17pm
You should be, you most certainly should be.
Richard
from St. Louis is reading various anthologiesFebruary 23, 2012 - 10:24pm
well, flash fiction is anything under 1000. so i figured it had to be over 1000. but to narrow it down to 1000-2000 just seemed too limiting. just remember we all have to read these. i'll go with whatever the group decides.
Flaminia Ferina
from Umbria is reading stuffFebruary 24, 2012 - 3:32am
Guys, you're working these rules out so awesomely. I specially like the repechage thing. And the drugs at the losers end. Too bad I won't hang out there, mwuhuhuahahahahahahaaaa! (<--- that was just for mama).
I've got the feeling that FIFA will sneak in here and steal all our neat directions to run their dirty championships.
I'm for 2500 words max and leave the flash to the Flash Me section. For the wordy bitches and stuff, and sometimes it's harder to read a convoluted 1000 words story than a linear 3000 one. Or maybe that was just me on a different dosage.
Matt Attack
from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William FaulknerFebruary 24, 2012 - 3:47am
Ha! FIFA- what a bunch of crooks! Giving soccer a bad name.
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersFebruary 24, 2012 - 6:12am
It' a new day!
I still want a 2500 word max. In my mind, a short story is 2500 words. And this is a short story competition.
I honestly don't understand the issue. Why?
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 24, 2012 - 6:22am
Okay. I understand Chester's conviction that it should be a shorter word limit to encourage more readers. It does make sense. However, I agree with everyone else about the spirit of the competition. It's a short story tournament. Let's keep the cap at 2500 words. If you want to turn in something that's 500 words that kicks ass, then rock on with your bad self. There are pieces in Chester's "Flash Me" thread that could win a round in the short story tournament. Something that length is welcome. But a lot of ideas need some room to breathe, so I think we'll leave the cap at 2500 words.
That said, you guys are on your honor to read all the stories and vote during poll week. So consider that. 32 stories * 2000 words each (as a totally arbitrarily chosen average for math-in-my-head convenience) = 64,000 words. A novel. Just for the first round. After that it slackens considerably.
Americantypo
from Philadelphia is reading The Bone ClocksFebruary 24, 2012 - 6:49am
Considering the amount of writing and reading to be done in the first week, I'd still prefer a 2,500 word max. Anything less and I'd probably have to bail, especially if it was a thousand words. In fact, I'm used to having at least 5,000 words to work with, so even the 2,500 is gonna be a huge challenge to me, so its not like I'm avoiding a challenge to myself. For me 1,000 words might as well be ten words.
Had another "failed college on the last day" dream last night. Only, it differed in that I had went to the main office to cancel all the classes I was failing and it turned out I still had enough credits to graduate and the classes I was taking were just for fun. Litreactor jitters?
I think the first week will blow as far as reading goes, then again if we're putting the most likely to win against the least likely (however that's decided), then judging the stories won't be quite as difficult at times if one clearly beats the other. Plus they'll be drop outs, or people that disqualify due to not having their stuff in on time, etc. And last I checked there's what, only fifteen people? Even if it ends up being like twenty or so, which looks like the number it'll end up at, that's not too bad. All things considered I wouldn't be surprised if a few of the "heavy hitters" lose out due to schedule conflicts.
In the event of the first week of judging taking longer than expected, you could always extend it as you go.
Chester Pane
from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot DiazFebruary 24, 2012 - 9:39am
2500 is fine on the writing end, even low for a short story, but a great number. All I was thinking about was the reading end. And not even for myself because I read that first week number in the workshop all the time. I just hope there is good voter turnout, that's all.
Failing college dreams? Scary.
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersFebruary 24, 2012 - 9:41am
I don't know about anyone else - but i am really excited to read these. Mostly now that they are blind - I want to guess the author. There will be at least one dedicated reader.
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 24, 2012 - 9:43am
And I will be a dedicated reader, just with the unfortunate handicap of not being able to vote, since I will know who all of you are.
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersFebruary 24, 2012 - 9:45am
Utah knows our secrets.
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 24, 2012 - 9:49am
Jose F. Diaz
from Boston is reading Wolf Hall by Hilary MantelFebruary 25, 2012 - 1:25pm
Because I don't pay attention as much as I should, do we have terms that have been agreed upon by all?
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 25, 2012 - 6:45pm
Yes. I will update those in the first post later this evening or tomorrow morning.
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersFebruary 26, 2012 - 6:39am
It's morning...I see no update!
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 26, 2012 - 9:12am
Rules and participation now updated! Please read the new rules, now on public display in the very first post of this thread.
If I left anything out, please remind me. Most of the changes are laid out in this passage:
WAR has now incorporated a system less prone to bias!
New Stuff! Important!: As mentioned above, brackets will be posted publicly. This way, everybody knows who everybody is competing against. However, prompts will be delivered to contestants via PM. There will be no public notice of prompts. Stories will be delivered to Utah's email account. Identify yourself in the body of the email, but excluded any personal identifiers (name, location, etc.) from your story file. Stories will be posted in poll-form side-by-side with their competition, but will not have their authors identified until the poll is complete. As Utah will know who each story belongs to, he shall refrain from voting in the competition (except for in his own head-to-head matchups). As Utah is competing in WAR, prompts for his matchup(s) will be delivered by a third party. This party shall not vote in Utah's matchups.
In an effort to make WAR of a manageable duration, and as has proven necessary to maintain the anonymity of contestants to eliminate bias, there will be no workshop period for the purposes of the tournament. So you've all got to bring your A-game with the first submission each round, as it will be your only submission each round.
Please read the rules list to make sure you fully understand all changes.
Jose F. Diaz
from Boston is reading Wolf Hall by Hilary MantelFebruary 26, 2012 - 9:44am
Holy fuck. This should be interesting.
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 26, 2012 - 9:48am
It will be carved from a solid block of awesome. Bit of a comfort zone stretch.
Dave
from a city near you is reading constantlyFebruary 26, 2012 - 12:49pm
There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.
Niccolo Machiavelli
I'm in.
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 26, 2012 - 1:04pm
I am proud to put your name on the battle roster, Dave.
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersFebruary 26, 2012 - 1:56pm
Every time the list has an odd number on it I get freaked out. I'm sort of irrational.
Someone else sign up - QUICK!!
Renfield
from Hell is reading 20th Century GhostsFebruary 26, 2012 - 2:02pm
I'd like in. I'll throw a book to whoever takes me out, to sweeten the deal.
Has Chester or WickedVoodoo or any more flash me heavy hitters thrown down?
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 26, 2012 - 6:16pm
No, dude, they have not. And I say that's total bullshit. This would be a fun, exciting time for both those guys. I'm sure I could arrange for back rubs for both of them just as an incentive.
.
February 26, 2012 - 6:20pm
Don't worry, I'm working on something. Just have to start.
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 26, 2012 - 6:20pm
@jacks: we await with breath abated
Fritz
February 26, 2012 - 6:37pm
@Utah - I love you too. - I will reciprocate
Chester Pane
from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot DiazFebruary 26, 2012 - 7:07pm
Dave can vouch for me on that I made this declaration.
Eventhough I am no heavy-hitter and will likely get my ass toasted...
Just to reiterate:
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFebruary 26, 2012 - 7:19pm
@Fritz: Word
@Chester: my bad, man, I thought you were just getting into the spirit of the thing. Consider yourself rosterized.
Dave
from a city near you is reading constantlyFebruary 26, 2012 - 10:53pm
<Vouching for Chester>
Still cool pics, that's some creativity right there.
I see we've gotten to the point of exhaustion. Now, we're stealing others catch phrases?
<--- *winks in delight*
Nice...
Oh, and to be honest, I am a wordy bitch. I can crank out a word count relatively easily, but making flash length stuff is painful for me. So I think leaving it high with the option of writing as little as you want will give everyone a chance to write at the speed they are accustomed to, without making it impossible.
Plagarism!!!
@Utah: What if there is some sort of 'golden ticket' thing like Willy Wonka or Survivor when contestants get to come back based on a particularly good story?
Like, two really, really good stories meet head-to-head. People 'nominate' certain stories and they get put into a pool. A winner from there is re-introduced into the bracket at a higher level.
I was listening to Alberto Salazar today talking about how at the Olympic trials an amazing runner will have an off day and that he wishes there was some sort of way to balance that because some of the best actually don't make it due to extenuating circumcisions.
Uh, okay.
And now I don't know whether to laugh or feel slightly uncomfortable. I'm going to do both to be safe.
I am inclined toward what you're saying, Renee. I tend to agree with you. I'm going to leave the word count issue open for a couple days and see how this conversation develops.
I'm just saying, I know it isn't supposed to be easy (this is WAR after all) but obviously, if we get too restrictive on word counts it is going to make it near impossible for some people to get drafts out in such a short period of time.
We could always do something CRAZY.
Like 2500 words in the first bracket, then 2000, 1500, and 1000.
MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
@Chester: absolutely. I am going to try to keep this a double-elimination competition. If we can't run it double elim due to having too many people, I think we could work something like that out based on disqualifications. Like, have the folks with that awesome story that get eliminated write a story and hold onto it and when someone gets DQed (which some people will) for word count or deadline, the sideline people get to slide into their slot. I like that. Because I've now seen it happen a couple times that someone has a battle story ready but their opponent never shows. In that position I'd rather have anybody to compete against so I don't feel I wasted my time, and I get to measure dicks with somebody (because, ladies, that's really what guys live for).
I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch I am a wordy bitch
10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000666
WORD MINIMUM. EVERY BATTLE IS TWO YEARS LONG.
HAHHAHAHAAHjhsajxhdaskxdkaJXSBNL!
Man I miss drinking.
Chester, that you are. That you are.
So...are we taking bets on when Chester gets a hatchet and starts reenacting scenes from The Shining?
All work and no play makes Chester a dull boy.
We're driving a whole state to drink!
@Utah: Is it that obvious?
Oh, wait, I forgot I told you I am on a bender. It ends Tuesday though, so if I turn into Jack Torrance before then let me know.
Just try not to blow up the boiler in your house. You should be fine.
How did you know I had a boiler?
Getting paranoid.
Either that, or why didn't you tell me you were a stalker?
You should be, you most certainly should be.
well, flash fiction is anything under 1000. so i figured it had to be over 1000. but to narrow it down to 1000-2000 just seemed too limiting. just remember we all have to read these. i'll go with whatever the group decides.
Guys, you're working these rules out so awesomely. I specially like the repechage thing. And the drugs at the losers end. Too bad I won't hang out there, mwuhuhuahahahahahahaaaa! (<--- that was just for mama).
I've got the feeling that FIFA will sneak in here and steal all our neat directions to run their dirty championships.
I'm for 2500 words max and leave the flash to the Flash Me section. For the wordy bitches and stuff, and sometimes it's harder to read a convoluted 1000 words story than a linear 3000 one. Or maybe that was just me on a different dosage.
Ha! FIFA- what a bunch of crooks! Giving soccer a bad name.
It' a new day!
I still want a 2500 word max. In my mind, a short story is 2500 words. And this is a short story competition.
I honestly don't understand the issue. Why?
Okay. I understand Chester's conviction that it should be a shorter word limit to encourage more readers. It does make sense. However, I agree with everyone else about the spirit of the competition. It's a short story tournament. Let's keep the cap at 2500 words. If you want to turn in something that's 500 words that kicks ass, then rock on with your bad self. There are pieces in Chester's "Flash Me" thread that could win a round in the short story tournament. Something that length is welcome. But a lot of ideas need some room to breathe, so I think we'll leave the cap at 2500 words.
That said, you guys are on your honor to read all the stories and vote during poll week. So consider that. 32 stories * 2000 words each (as a totally arbitrarily chosen average for math-in-my-head convenience) = 64,000 words. A novel. Just for the first round. After that it slackens considerably.
Considering the amount of writing and reading to be done in the first week, I'd still prefer a 2,500 word max. Anything less and I'd probably have to bail, especially if it was a thousand words. In fact, I'm used to having at least 5,000 words to work with, so even the 2,500 is gonna be a huge challenge to me, so its not like I'm avoiding a challenge to myself. For me 1,000 words might as well be ten words.
Had another "failed college on the last day" dream last night. Only, it differed in that I had went to the main office to cancel all the classes I was failing and it turned out I still had enough credits to graduate and the classes I was taking were just for fun. Litreactor jitters?
I think the first week will blow as far as reading goes, then again if we're putting the most likely to win against the least likely (however that's decided), then judging the stories won't be quite as difficult at times if one clearly beats the other. Plus they'll be drop outs, or people that disqualify due to not having their stuff in on time, etc. And last I checked there's what, only fifteen people? Even if it ends up being like twenty or so, which looks like the number it'll end up at, that's not too bad. All things considered I wouldn't be surprised if a few of the "heavy hitters" lose out due to schedule conflicts.
In the event of the first week of judging taking longer than expected, you could always extend it as you go.
2500 is fine on the writing end, even low for a short story, but a great number. All I was thinking about was the reading end. And not even for myself because I read that first week number in the workshop all the time. I just hope there is good voter turnout, that's all.
Failing college dreams? Scary.
I don't know about anyone else - but i am really excited to read these. Mostly now that they are blind - I want to guess the author. There will be at least one dedicated reader.
And I will be a dedicated reader, just with the unfortunate handicap of not being able to vote, since I will know who all of you are.
Utah knows our secrets.
Because I don't pay attention as much as I should, do we have terms that have been agreed upon by all?
Yes. I will update those in the first post later this evening or tomorrow morning.
It's morning...I see no update!
Rules and participation now updated! Please read the new rules, now on public display in the very first post of this thread.
If I left anything out, please remind me. Most of the changes are laid out in this passage:
WAR has now incorporated a system less prone to bias!
New Stuff! Important!: As mentioned above, brackets will be posted publicly. This way, everybody knows who everybody is competing against. However, prompts will be delivered to contestants via PM. There will be no public notice of prompts. Stories will be delivered to Utah's email account. Identify yourself in the body of the email, but excluded any personal identifiers (name, location, etc.) from your story file. Stories will be posted in poll-form side-by-side with their competition, but will not have their authors identified until the poll is complete. As Utah will know who each story belongs to, he shall refrain from voting in the competition (except for in his own head-to-head matchups). As Utah is competing in WAR, prompts for his matchup(s) will be delivered by a third party. This party shall not vote in Utah's matchups.
In an effort to make WAR of a manageable duration, and as has proven necessary to maintain the anonymity of contestants to eliminate bias, there will be no workshop period for the purposes of the tournament. So you've all got to bring your A-game with the first submission each round, as it will be your only submission each round.
Please read the rules list to make sure you fully understand all changes.
Holy fuck. This should be interesting.
It will be carved from a solid block of awesome. Bit of a comfort zone stretch.
There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.
Niccolo Machiavelli
I'm in.
I am proud to put your name on the battle roster, Dave.
Every time the list has an odd number on it I get freaked out. I'm sort of irrational.
Someone else sign up - QUICK!!
I'd like in. I'll throw a book to whoever takes me out, to sweeten the deal.
Has Chester or WickedVoodoo or any more flash me heavy hitters thrown down?
No, dude, they have not. And I say that's total bullshit. This would be a fun, exciting time for both those guys. I'm sure I could arrange for back rubs for both of them just as an incentive.
Don't worry, I'm working on something. Just have to start.
@jacks: we await with breath abated
@Utah - I love you too. - I will reciprocate
Dave can vouch for me on that I made this declaration.
Eventhough I am no heavy-hitter and will likely get my ass toasted...
Just to reiterate:
@Fritz: Word
@Chester: my bad, man, I thought you were just getting into the spirit of the thing. Consider yourself rosterized.
<Vouching for Chester>
Still cool pics, that's some creativity right there.