Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryMarch 13, 2012 - 8:19pm
Utah contended that it wouldn't matter. That a good writer can make a story out of anything.
Actually, what Utah contended is that if you got a bad prompt, so did your opponent.
You guys are all doing great. I have faith in you. Just remember this: those of you that persevere in the face of a prompt that might not seem really easy are probably going to be the people who make it to the next round. You still have five days for this first story. You guys need to lower your inhibitions a bit and do some bold shit. That's all the pep talk I have in me right now.
See you all tomorrow.
Nikki Guerlain
from Portlandia
March 13, 2012 - 8:56pm
Be bold, very bold. And be afraid. Very afraid. Great pep talk Utah. Everyone has such an awesome attitude! So far.
Americantypo
from Philadelphia is reading The Bone ClocksMarch 13, 2012 - 8:58pm
Looks like prompts are the new black. I sort of was on the fence about it anyway. I actually don't mind my prompt. I had nothing at first, but after awhile enough stuff came to me that after I finish what I end up submitting, I'll still have a another story to write.
Jason Van Horn
from North Carolina is reading A Feast For CrowsMarch 14, 2012 - 4:51am
@averydoll - What did I do? Is that a good "I'm sort of mad at you" or a bad "I'm sort of mad at you."?
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersMarch 14, 2012 - 4:59am
@Jason - I guess it depends on how you want to look at it. You can say it's good if you want, because I had a strong reaction to your story.
Laramore Black
from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8March 14, 2012 - 5:23am
Winning.
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 DigestMarch 14, 2012 - 5:25am
I wasn't happy at first with my prompt, but then I came up with an idea. Now I'm happy with it.
Laramore Black
from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8March 14, 2012 - 5:31am
I've raped and twisted this prompt so much that I've won all the votes.
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryMarch 14, 2012 - 5:37am
@Moon: I feel the same way. And that has been my experience with every writing prompt I've ever gotten. They all suck because they all make you stop thinking about that story you thought you were going to write. Or you still can, you just have to figure out how to get there. If you really wanted to write a story about a spaceship and your prompt was about a monster in a closet, you have to figure out how to get that closet onto a spaceship.
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryMarch 14, 2012 - 5:38am
@Laurance: I already voted for your story seventeen times.
Laramore Black
from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8March 14, 2012 - 5:40am
I'm just walking away with the gold in the first round.
Everyone will read it and be like fuck that.
RELEASE THE KORPON.
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 DigestMarch 14, 2012 - 5:55am
@utah: I can tell you that I've twisted my prompt and the story I'm writing is going to be very unexpected, but does adhere to the prompt.
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersMarch 14, 2012 - 6:24am
I can tell you all that my story is going to blow you away with the power of the seashell. OR WILL IT??
EXPLOSIONS! ELECTRIC GUITAR! WHITE SNAKE! DR. PEPPER 10!!!!
Fritz
March 14, 2012 - 6:31am
Here's the basic way i see a prompt: its like, what makes a story a true sci-fi? Answer: if u take the science out then there is no story. (think mary shelly's frankenstein). A prompt should be like that. If u take the prompt out then there is no story.
voodoo_em
from England is reading All the books by Ira LevinMarch 14, 2012 - 6:32am
Just for the record I'm drowning in self-doubt.
But to get me motivated for war...
Fritz
March 14, 2012 - 6:38am
Course, gray areas abound
Laramore Black
from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8March 14, 2012 - 6:49am
I saw Rancid live in KC once, whoever says punk is dead hasn't seen them.
I swear 30 seconds into the set there was marijuana smoke everywhere in the non-smoking venue along with security guards bleeding and crying in all the corners.
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 DigestMarch 14, 2012 - 6:57am
I saw Rancid back in '94 I think. It was nuts.
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 DigestMarch 14, 2012 - 6:59am
@Doll: white snake? Really... If you're gonna go '80s hair metal, at least go with the Crüe. Or gnr.
Laramore Black
from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8March 14, 2012 - 7:00am
I saw them about two years ago with Rise Against. I love Rise Against, but they do attract a lot of whiny hardcore type kids. And when the scrawny girly haired dudes mouth off it doesn't work in their favor.
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersMarch 14, 2012 - 7:01am
Well, because I was thinking about the girl on the car.
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 DigestMarch 14, 2012 - 7:04am
@Kitts: haha. I know what you mean. I saw Avenged last year and got the same crowd that would be at a Dashboard show. But a bit more hardcore. And it was the same night the Steelers were in the playoffs against Baltimore. The show was in Baltimore. Needless to say, I almost got into about a dozen fights. We won. I had the last laugh.
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 DigestMarch 14, 2012 - 7:05am
@Doll: okay, understood. Now I'm very curious about your story.
Laramore Black
from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8March 14, 2012 - 7:14am
@Voodoo_em YOU'RE MINE.
voodoo_em
from England is reading All the books by Ira LevinMarch 14, 2012 - 7:29am
@Laurance....
Jason Van Horn
from North Carolina is reading A Feast For CrowsMarch 14, 2012 - 7:55am
Well the "good" I was hoping for is, "I wish I would've wrote that." Otherwise it sounds "bad."
My idea of good isn't making someone hate a story. :P
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersMarch 14, 2012 - 8:27am
It would have been pretty weird if I did write that.
Jose F. Diaz
from Boston is reading Wolf Hall by Hilary MantelMarch 14, 2012 - 8:39am
Okay. I have written 5 stories and all I think are not good enough to beat Utah. Next idea is in the works.
Quiet on the set.
Take 6, Scene 1.
Roll camera...
ACTION!
Jose F. Diaz
from Boston is reading Wolf Hall by Hilary MantelMarch 14, 2012 - 8:41am
I'm gonna flip the script on my story and come at it sideways. You all will never know what hit you.
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersMarch 14, 2012 - 8:42am
"not good enough to beat Utah."
You might be giving him too much credit.
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryMarch 14, 2012 - 9:16am
Diaz might very well be giving me too much credit. But I don't think he's giving my story too much credit. This one's a monster.
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersMarch 14, 2012 - 9:20am
I will only vote for stories that can be easily adapted into a Michael Bay movie.
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 DigestMarch 14, 2012 - 9:25am
I will only vote for stories that can be easily adapted into a Michael Bay movie.
- So stories about Transformers, bad boys, the world coming to an end and Playboy centerfolds?
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersMarch 14, 2012 - 9:27am
I was thinking like...EXPLOSIONS! ELECTRIC GUITAR! WHITE SNAKE! DR. PEPPER 10!!!!
Sorry guys. I'll go try to write something and quit trolling.
Nikki Guerlain
from Portlandia
March 14, 2012 - 9:33am
Explosions! Electric guitars! Warrant! Fresca!
I like The Avery Jumblies Troll
Renfield
from Hell is reading 20th Century GhostsMarch 14, 2012 - 10:15am
Implosions.Slap Bass. Rick James. Capris Sun.
Covewriter
from Nashville, Tennessee is reading & SonsMarch 14, 2012 - 10:22am
About prompts: I love them because they make you focus. So much to think about. Focusing on a prompt is good.
About the contest: This rocks. No matter how my story turns out, I've already learned things.
About the story: I've got a story down. For me, that feels good. But it's not making me say "wow, this is good." It's making me say "well I've got something to turn in at least and i like parts of it." Still tweaking.
About the contest: Richard has been quiet, which means he's on to something good probably. I wish he would come on and say "shit I can't think of anything to write. My novella has consumed me, and I just haven't done one thing for this contest." (I'm Joking of course!).
About the site: Thanks for letting me be included here. It's energizing just have people read what you write. My husband and son will only read "final versions," anymore and they never believe me when i say it's final.
About today: It's gorgeous here. Turtles and ducks in the yard. It's finally Springtime.
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersMarch 14, 2012 - 10:33am
It's actually very nice here today as well. I'm going to get Chinese food and eat it outside. I was planning the Chinese food anyway, but I was going to eat it at my desk like a nerd vampire. But...maybe this sun stuff isn't so bad.
I'm falling completely in love with my story.
Profunda Saint-...
from Calgary, AB is reading Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy SeriesMarch 14, 2012 - 10:36am
I'm taking the classic "Erosion / Kazoo Solo / Marvin Gaye / Snapple" route with my WINNING War story. WINNING.
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersMarch 14, 2012 - 10:40am
But...what flavor of Snapple?
Profunda Saint-...
from Calgary, AB is reading Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy SeriesMarch 14, 2012 - 10:40am
Wait... you guys get turtles and ducks in your yards in springtime?? I'm so jealous. I haven't seen a turtle outside of a pet store or zoo in at least 10 years.
Profunda Saint-...
from Calgary, AB is reading Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy SeriesMarch 14, 2012 - 10:41am
@Avery... ALL THE FLAVOURS! Mixed together. Or peach.
wickedvoodoo
from Mansfield, England is reading stuff.March 14, 2012 - 10:42am
First draft finished. Yay. With time to trim and then fatten again and then trim again? Double yay.
Still not sure it's really any good, but at least it will be finished. I don't mind losing, my biggest fear was getting disqualified in the first round for not submitting anything. So that's grand.
War!!!!!
Jason, I hired a guy last night to come into your house and steal all the vowel keys from your keyboard. Let's see you win now hahahaha!
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersMarch 14, 2012 - 10:42am
Meat Seeker WINS!
Covewriter
from Nashville, Tennessee is reading & SonsMarch 14, 2012 - 10:42am
You have to creep up the turtles. As soon as they even hear you they jump in the water. They are fast. But if you quietly read or write, they might not notice you.
For snapple, I say iced tea with lemon. Love it.
Profunda Saint-...
from Calgary, AB is reading Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy SeriesMarch 14, 2012 - 10:46am
That's so cool. All I get are asshole magpies that screech at me for walking through my yard. And some squirrels. I have one squirrel that I really like. Tough motherfucker, waist up he's got the nastiest scars, looks like stripes from a distance. He's my favourite backyard critter.
Moderator
Utah
from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryMarch 14, 2012 - 11:30am
Magpies are nasty bastards. Never liked them. They'll gang up on a dog. My dad center-punched one with a pellet gun one time. It flew away. The assumption is that it left to die elsewhere. But maybe it never died, just flew around kicking ass with a through and through hole where its heart used to be.
I stay away from them.
Liana
from Romania and Texas is reading Naked LunchMarch 14, 2012 - 12:23pm
If you dislike maggpies, imagine how much they hate humans!
avery of the dead
from Kentucky is reading Cipher SistersMarch 14, 2012 - 12:24pm
And now I realize that I probably get lunch from the Chinese restaurant too often. The cashier complimented my new haircut. I have a problem.
But it did all give me another fun bit of stuff to add into the story!
Dave
from a city near you is reading constantlyMarch 14, 2012 - 12:26pm
Actually, what Utah contended is that if you got a bad prompt, so did your opponent.
You guys are all doing great. I have faith in you. Just remember this: those of you that persevere in the face of a prompt that might not seem really easy are probably going to be the people who make it to the next round. You still have five days for this first story. You guys need to lower your inhibitions a bit and do some bold shit. That's all the pep talk I have in me right now.
See you all tomorrow.
Be bold, very bold. And be afraid. Very afraid. Great pep talk Utah. Everyone has such an awesome attitude! So far.
Looks like prompts are the new black. I sort of was on the fence about it anyway. I actually don't mind my prompt. I had nothing at first, but after awhile enough stuff came to me that after I finish what I end up submitting, I'll still have a another story to write.
@averydoll - What did I do? Is that a good "I'm sort of mad at you" or a bad "I'm sort of mad at you."?
@Jason - I guess it depends on how you want to look at it. You can say it's good if you want, because I had a strong reaction to your story.
Winning.
I wasn't happy at first with my prompt, but then I came up with an idea. Now I'm happy with it.
I've raped and twisted this prompt so much that I've won all the votes.
@Moon: I feel the same way. And that has been my experience with every writing prompt I've ever gotten. They all suck because they all make you stop thinking about that story you thought you were going to write. Or you still can, you just have to figure out how to get there. If you really wanted to write a story about a spaceship and your prompt was about a monster in a closet, you have to figure out how to get that closet onto a spaceship.
@Laurance: I already voted for your story seventeen times.
I'm just walking away with the gold in the first round.
Everyone will read it and be like fuck that.
RELEASE THE KORPON.
@utah: I can tell you that I've twisted my prompt and the story I'm writing is going to be very unexpected, but does adhere to the prompt.
I can tell you all that my story is going to blow you away with the power of the seashell. OR WILL IT??
EXPLOSIONS! ELECTRIC GUITAR! WHITE SNAKE! DR. PEPPER 10!!!!
Here's the basic way i see a prompt: its like, what makes a story a true sci-fi? Answer: if u take the science out then there is no story. (think mary shelly's frankenstein). A prompt should be like that. If u take the prompt out then there is no story.
Just for the record I'm drowning in self-doubt.
But to get me motivated for war...
Course, gray areas abound
I saw Rancid live in KC once, whoever says punk is dead hasn't seen them.
I swear 30 seconds into the set there was marijuana smoke everywhere in the non-smoking venue along with security guards bleeding and crying in all the corners.
I saw Rancid back in '94 I think. It was nuts.
@Doll: white snake? Really... If you're gonna go '80s hair metal, at least go with the Crüe. Or gnr.
I saw them about two years ago with Rise Against. I love Rise Against, but they do attract a lot of whiny hardcore type kids. And when the scrawny girly haired dudes mouth off it doesn't work in their favor.
Well, because I was thinking about the girl on the car.
@Kitts: haha. I know what you mean. I saw Avenged last year and got the same crowd that would be at a Dashboard show. But a bit more hardcore. And it was the same night the Steelers were in the playoffs against Baltimore. The show was in Baltimore. Needless to say, I almost got into about a dozen fights. We won. I had the last laugh.
@Doll: okay, understood. Now I'm very curious about your story.
@Voodoo_em YOU'RE MINE.
@Laurance....
Well the "good" I was hoping for is, "I wish I would've wrote that." Otherwise it sounds "bad."
My idea of good isn't making someone hate a story. :P
It would have been pretty weird if I did write that.
Okay. I have written 5 stories and all I think are not good enough to beat Utah. Next idea is in the works.
Quiet on the set.
Take 6, Scene 1.
Roll camera...
ACTION!
I'm gonna flip the script on my story and come at it sideways. You all will never know what hit you.
"not good enough to beat Utah."
You might be giving him too much credit.
Diaz might very well be giving me too much credit. But I don't think he's giving my story too much credit. This one's a monster.
I will only vote for stories that can be easily adapted into a Michael Bay movie.
I was thinking like...EXPLOSIONS! ELECTRIC GUITAR! WHITE SNAKE! DR. PEPPER 10!!!!
Sorry guys. I'll go try to write something and quit trolling.
Explosions! Electric guitars! Warrant! Fresca!
I like The Avery Jumblies Troll
Implosions.Slap Bass. Rick James. Capris Sun.
About prompts: I love them because they make you focus. So much to think about. Focusing on a prompt is good.
About the contest: This rocks. No matter how my story turns out, I've already learned things.
About the story: I've got a story down. For me, that feels good. But it's not making me say "wow, this is good." It's making me say "well I've got something to turn in at least and i like parts of it." Still tweaking.
About the contest: Richard has been quiet, which means he's on to something good probably. I wish he would come on and say "shit I can't think of anything to write. My novella has consumed me, and I just haven't done one thing for this contest." (I'm Joking of course!).
About the site: Thanks for letting me be included here. It's energizing just have people read what you write. My husband and son will only read "final versions," anymore and they never believe me when i say it's final.
About today: It's gorgeous here. Turtles and ducks in the yard. It's finally Springtime.
It's actually very nice here today as well. I'm going to get Chinese food and eat it outside. I was planning the Chinese food anyway, but I was going to eat it at my desk like a nerd vampire. But...maybe this sun stuff isn't so bad.
I'm falling completely in love with my story.
I'm taking the classic "Erosion / Kazoo Solo / Marvin Gaye / Snapple" route with my WINNING War story. WINNING.
But...what flavor of Snapple?
Wait... you guys get turtles and ducks in your yards in springtime?? I'm so jealous. I haven't seen a turtle outside of a pet store or zoo in at least 10 years.
@Avery... ALL THE FLAVOURS! Mixed together. Or peach.
First draft finished. Yay. With time to trim and then fatten again and then trim again? Double yay.
Still not sure it's really any good, but at least it will be finished. I don't mind losing, my biggest fear was getting disqualified in the first round for not submitting anything. So that's grand.
War!!!!!
Jason, I hired a guy last night to come into your house and steal all the vowel keys from your keyboard. Let's see you win now hahahaha!
Meat Seeker WINS!
You have to creep up the turtles. As soon as they even hear you they jump in the water. They are fast. But if you quietly read or write, they might not notice you.
For snapple, I say iced tea with lemon. Love it.
That's so cool. All I get are asshole magpies that screech at me for walking through my yard. And some squirrels. I have one squirrel that I really like. Tough motherfucker, waist up he's got the nastiest scars, looks like stripes from a distance. He's my favourite backyard critter.
Magpies are nasty bastards. Never liked them. They'll gang up on a dog. My dad center-punched one with a pellet gun one time. It flew away. The assumption is that it left to die elsewhere. But maybe it never died, just flew around kicking ass with a through and through hole where its heart used to be.
I stay away from them.
If you dislike maggpies, imagine how much they hate humans!
And now I realize that I probably get lunch from the Chinese restaurant too often. The cashier complimented my new haircut. I have a problem.
But it did all give me another fun bit of stuff to add into the story!
PICS!