TomorrowHill's picture
TomorrowHill from Newfoundland, Canada is reading your mind. You like Castlevania, don't you? February 16, 2013 - 8:35pm

Totally. Every round, I've secretly hoped to see an amazing piece at 500 words or less. I don't have the guts to be that person, but damn if that wouldn't be awesome.    

Matt's picture
Matt from New Zealand is reading This is how you lose her by Junot Diaz February 17, 2013 - 1:06am

I was planning on stripping mine back to about 700 this round. Turns out it finished up closer to the 1200 limit. Finished and submitted.

Liana's picture
Liana from Romania and Texas is reading Naked Lunch February 17, 2013 - 1:47pm

Hey, can I change my vote?

Gordon Highland's picture
Gordon Highland from Kansas City is reading Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore February 18, 2013 - 10:41am

A twisted lot of writers you are, with your voyeurs and firestarters and hackers and murderers and such. Pit matches are up, yo. No sign of Cobra Commander, though …

Bekanator's picture
Bekanator from Kamloops, British Columbia is reading Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter February 18, 2013 - 10:43am

In a way I'm kind of glad I didn't have to write for these prompts. I just finished the winner's bracket, still have to do the Pit matchups, but you folks did well.

OtisTheBulldog's picture
OtisTheBulldog from Somerville, MA is reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz February 18, 2013 - 10:51am

Destro has brass balls.

TomorrowHill's picture
TomorrowHill from Newfoundland, Canada is reading your mind. You like Castlevania, don't you? February 18, 2013 - 10:54am

Why do I picture Avery laughing maniacally while selecting these prompts?

Matt's picture
Matt from New Zealand is reading This is how you lose her by Junot Diaz February 18, 2013 - 11:00am

Those prompts were mental. As in, awesomely mental. But I'd rather not have to deal with another like that, if you know what i mean.

Bekanator's picture
Bekanator from Kamloops, British Columbia is reading Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter February 18, 2013 - 11:03am

You know by saying that you've basically guranteed that you will, right?

Matt's picture
Matt from New Zealand is reading This is how you lose her by Junot Diaz February 18, 2013 - 11:17am

Good point. Too late to edit my post?

TomorrowHill's picture
TomorrowHill from Newfoundland, Canada is reading your mind. You like Castlevania, don't you? February 19, 2013 - 7:55pm

Come on, guys. A full day without any WAR talk? We're in the home stretch, so things should be livelier than ever! STORIES, PEOPLE! WOOOOOOOOOO!

Okay, I'll shut up now. 

OtisTheBulldog's picture
OtisTheBulldog from Somerville, MA is reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz February 19, 2013 - 8:57pm

I still need to read & vote. But 4 months in - I suspect readers, writers & voters are just over it. 

Bekanator's picture
Bekanator from Kamloops, British Columbia is reading Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter February 19, 2013 - 11:09pm

I'm spacing out my stories. I've read the winners bracket and the first PIT matchup, so I'll probably get to the final one tomorrow. 

That's the problem with WAR, though, is that this late in the game, although it's fucking intense for those still in it, everybody else just kind of tunes out. That said, for a WAR that's going on for much longer than the previous one did, the amount of people still reading and voting is pretty damn good.

The first WAR went on for only 5 rounds (one week on and one week off with no breaks), and I think by the end of it there were only 18 votes overall on the final match.

drea's picture
drea from Rural Alberta, Canada is reading between the lines February 19, 2013 - 11:18pm

I've been doing my best to read and vote but I have done a shit job since two weeks after I lost and I am sorry. 

voodoo_em's picture
voodoo_em from England is reading All the books by Ira Levin February 20, 2013 - 2:15am

I'm still here, I just don't say much :)

leah_beth's picture
leah_beth from New Jersey - now in Charleston, SC is reading five different books at once. February 20, 2013 - 5:56am

I am still here. I'm still engaged. I'm still voting. :D

Dino Parenti's picture
Dino Parenti from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands On February 20, 2013 - 6:19am

Still breathing. Still reading. Still voting. 

Jonathan Riley's picture
Jonathan Riley from Memphis, Tennessee is reading Flashover by Gordon Highland February 20, 2013 - 7:06am

Ditto Ditto Ditto, But I haven't voted for LB matches yet. Will get on it as soo as I can.

wickedvoodoo's picture
wickedvoodoo from Mansfield, England is reading stuff. February 20, 2013 - 7:14am

Yup, still here reading too. Haven't missed a single match-up and the two rounds since I got knocked out have yielded some really grand stories.

This current round I am one duel down, two to go. I will read the others today at some point.

 

Dino Parenti's picture
Dino Parenti from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands On February 20, 2013 - 7:21am

I'll get to the Pit stories today. I needed a couple of days to stop laughing after watching those prompts. Thanks, Avery!

Gordon Highland's picture
Gordon Highland from Kansas City is reading Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore February 20, 2013 - 7:50am

Oh, yeah, I laughed and laughed and laughed at those prompts … until it was time to write.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters February 20, 2013 - 8:12am

I know - those prompts were cruel and unusual.  But you have to allow me a little fun in this.  If I were still in the competition, there would be no Round GI Joe PSA.  Because I would have no idea what to do with that.

 

TomorrowHill's picture
TomorrowHill from Newfoundland, Canada is reading your mind. You like Castlevania, don't you? February 20, 2013 - 9:18am

Suggestion for next time. Round: Made Up Words!

Prompt: NFRESNOGNEVFKJBDA :) 

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters February 20, 2013 - 9:21am

Don't tempt me...

 

Bekanator's picture
Bekanator from Kamloops, British Columbia is reading Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter February 20, 2013 - 10:26am

Infomercials.

Bekanator's picture
Bekanator from Kamloops, British Columbia is reading Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter February 20, 2013 - 10:27am

Judge Judy clips. Kids drawings. 

Dino Parenti's picture
Dino Parenti from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands On February 20, 2013 - 10:32am

Arrest clips from the show "Cops."

TomorrowHill's picture
TomorrowHill from Newfoundland, Canada is reading your mind. You like Castlevania, don't you? February 20, 2013 - 10:59am

I LOVE infomercials, and everything I draw looks like it was done by a child, so those are both great ideas, Bek! :)

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters February 20, 2013 - 11:17am

you know...infomercials is a pretty good idea,

Bekanator's picture
Bekanator from Kamloops, British Columbia is reading Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter February 20, 2013 - 12:21pm

Hoodie-footie!

Bekanator's picture
Bekanator from Kamloops, British Columbia is reading Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter February 20, 2013 - 12:23pm

Pocket Chair!

drea's picture
drea from Rural Alberta, Canada is reading between the lines February 20, 2013 - 1:02pm

Popeil Pocket Fisherman. 

TomorrowHill's picture
TomorrowHill from Newfoundland, Canada is reading your mind. You like Castlevania, don't you? February 20, 2013 - 2:26pm

MAGIC BULLET, Y'ALL!

OtisTheBulldog's picture
OtisTheBulldog from Somerville, MA is reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz February 20, 2013 - 2:28pm

Man - so much can go wrong with an infomercial contraption. Regardless of WAR, I think i need to incorporate a fictional product and it's misuse into a story.

Liana's picture
Liana from Romania and Texas is reading Naked Lunch February 20, 2013 - 2:56pm

It has to be ShamWow!

leah_beth's picture
leah_beth from New Jersey - now in Charleston, SC is reading five different books at once. February 20, 2013 - 3:12pm

I freaking love the ShamWow.

(I don't have one - the commercials make me LAUGH.)

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters February 21, 2013 - 7:44am

The Pit is decided and TomorrowHill and Matt have their completely amazing prompt.

What will it be?  What will they write??  Tune in Monday morning to find out!

 

---------------------------------------------------------

I'll miss you Gordon and Otis.  You were great competitors and I loved reading your stories each round.  You will be missed.  And not in that mean sarcastic way that I usually say I "miss" people who lose. 

 

Gordon Highland's picture
Gordon Highland from Kansas City is reading Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore February 21, 2013 - 8:28am

It's been great. I got more productivity out of this than expected, read some killer stories along the way, and got to know beautiful and disturbed new people.

It's only fitting that the two blokes who beat me must now face off to be king of the losers.

Goodbye, cruel world.

leah_beth's picture
leah_beth from New Jersey - now in Charleston, SC is reading five different books at once. February 21, 2013 - 8:30am

Oh no! Gordon! Noooooo!!!

(You too, Otis!!!)

(Also, congrats Chris and Matt! Well done!)

Jonathan Riley's picture
Jonathan Riley from Memphis, Tennessee is reading Flashover by Gordon Highland February 21, 2013 - 8:37am

Adios  Gordon and Otis, Gonna miss reading your brilliant stories. I think Otis holds the record for most consecutive wins in the tourney, so Bravo on that Bulldog.

 

TomorrowHill's picture
TomorrowHill from Newfoundland, Canada is reading your mind. You like Castlevania, don't you? February 21, 2013 - 8:38am

Tick tock, Leah. I'm not going to rest until I get my rematch ;)

And a huge congrats to Matt! This is going to be one hell of a match, and I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Final Four, y'all! Dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnn...

Dino Parenti's picture
Dino Parenti from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands On February 21, 2013 - 8:47am

Good luck Matt and Tomorrowhill--two worth warriors. Gordon and Otis, it's gonna be strange not seeing your killer stories up anymore. Was an honor to read them. 

Jonathan Riley's picture
Jonathan Riley from Memphis, Tennessee is reading Flashover by Gordon Highland February 21, 2013 - 8:56am

Oh, yeah, Congrats Matt and Chris, job well done. Can't wait to see what you guys write next.

OtisTheBulldog's picture
OtisTheBulldog from Somerville, MA is reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz February 21, 2013 - 8:54am

It's been real. Real enough that Gordon & I wore down Avery's tough outer crust and she will miss us. And that title, folks, cannot be taken away, regardless of who wears the crown.

Let's walk off into the sunset holding hands, Mr. Highland.

Gordon Highland's picture
Gordon Highland from Kansas City is reading Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore February 21, 2013 - 9:08am

Yes, I take solace in the avery cockle-warming. Thanks everyone, and good luck. It's about to get even bloodier.

For you, Otis:

voodoo_em's picture
voodoo_em from England is reading All the books by Ira Levin February 21, 2013 - 9:23am

Congrats Chris & Matt.

Condolances Gordon & Otis.

I'm going to miss all these great stories when War is over.

Also: childrens drawings as prompts is an awesome idea.

OtisTheBulldog's picture
OtisTheBulldog from Somerville, MA is reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz February 21, 2013 - 9:26am

For you Gordon, but imagine two "David" Banners.

Matt's picture
Matt from New Zealand is reading This is how you lose her by Junot Diaz February 21, 2013 - 9:37am

Urg ... it's like 5am and you guys are all winning and losing without me. Next war, I'm moving to north america. These time zone differences are starting to mess with me.

I can't believe I'm still in this thing. Thanks for the votes everybody. Seeya next round Chris.

drea's picture
drea from Rural Alberta, Canada is reading between the lines February 21, 2013 - 9:39am

Canada v. New Zeland! FUCK YEAH! 

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters February 21, 2013 - 10:25am

Canada v. New Zeland!

What the fuck???   Can't have no foreigner winning the War. 

Ian and Leah, the fate of America's pride is in your hands!  USA!  USA!