JEFFREY GRANT BARR's picture
JEFFREY GRANT BARR from Central OR is reading Nothing but fucking Shakespeare, for the rest of my life November 19, 2012 - 4:40pm

Utah,

  It's cool dude, I don't feel slighted at all.

Emma C's picture
Class Facilitator
Emma C from Los Angeles is reading Black Spire by Delilah Dawson November 19, 2012 - 5:20pm

I voted for Kerry as the lesser of two evils, but refused to buy Heinz ketchup in rebellion. And I am currently manic-panic'ed up.

I also really love "Bob". 

Emma C's picture
Class Facilitator
Emma C from Los Angeles is reading Black Spire by Delilah Dawson November 19, 2012 - 5:25pm

Emma C's picture
Class Facilitator
Emma C from Los Angeles is reading Black Spire by Delilah Dawson November 19, 2012 - 5:28pm

And because I feel the spirit of WAR is waning here in the third week, here's some inspiration:

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like November 19, 2012 - 5:32pm

baby steps

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts November 19, 2012 - 5:37pm

drea's picture
drea from Rural Alberta, Canada is reading between the lines November 19, 2012 - 6:52pm

La Emme, remind me to tell you a story about being 3rd row on the floor at an Iron Maiden concert. 

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters November 19, 2012 - 7:05pm

I voted for...

oh wait, I just realized I don't need to justify, defend, or even feel guilty about my choices or the things I like/enjoy.

Wow.  I feel so free.  Maybe not cool, but definitely free.

 

bryanhowie's picture
bryanhowie from FW, ID is reading East of Eden. Steinbeck is FUCKING AMAZING. November 19, 2012 - 7:32pm

Stacy Kear's picture
Stacy Kear from Bucyrus, Ohio lives in New Jersey is reading The Art of War November 19, 2012 - 7:48pm

^^^ J.Y.

Emma C's picture
Class Facilitator
Emma C from Los Angeles is reading Black Spire by Delilah Dawson November 19, 2012 - 7:49pm

Drea- wow, I'm so jealous. I've yet to see them live (their most recent tour didn't come here, and the closest venues were shit).

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts November 19, 2012 - 8:29pm

I wept a little bit during the Flight 666 screening, if that counts.

Fritz's picture
Fritz November 19, 2012 - 8:34pm

Howie - that, or something like it should be one of the maxims of this site.  Either that - or sell that shit to hallmark - when you do, send me a copy - I'll pay the 2.99

And, yeah - I'm having a hard time wanting to talk about stories - maybe it's building up or something - this two weeks in a row.  IDK - what is the schedule anyway?  I think there should be a couple days dedicated to doing nothing but talking about the stories, about what we learned and how to better ourselves - before we are tossed into another week of writing - just an idea.

And- again, maybe it's just the dam cumulative nature of all 64 damn stories, but I'm have a much harder time on more of these matches this time around. - last time there was a couple of toughies to choose from - this time there are many more -maybe it's me.

-then again - maybe it's the beer...  could be either.

wickedvoodoo's picture
wickedvoodoo from Mansfield, England is reading stuff. November 19, 2012 - 8:29pm

Two more duels read tonight, and another story to add to my favorites list. I'll get the last duels finished off tomorrow if all goes to plan.

Go WAR! Great bedtime reading.

 

Fritz's picture
Fritz November 19, 2012 - 8:31pm

Utah - get off your unnaturally coordinated ass muscles and give us a BAS - and... lit reactor peeps - don't ask what I mean by that - it is something that must be seen - words do not suffice.

(It's cool that the poll is names after me... - may it live forever..  :)

Fritz's picture
Fritz November 19, 2012 - 8:32pm

@ wicked - got my fav - hasn't been bucked yet - got 8 stories yet to read

Stacy Kear's picture
Stacy Kear from Bucyrus, Ohio lives in New Jersey is reading The Art of War November 19, 2012 - 8:33pm

I think there will be a landslide win on BAS this round. 

Fritz's picture
Fritz November 19, 2012 - 8:36pm

dammit stacy - I don't see it - there are too many different POVs here - I'm much liking the depth of opinion this WAR - the more the merrier.  - course - I may not have yet read the story of which you speak.  I may in the near future - who is to know.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like November 19, 2012 - 8:38pm

@Stacy --- I can define it, or I'm one of those guys with a zipline running through my face?

Fritz's picture
Fritz November 19, 2012 - 8:41pm

don't say you can....  DO

Stacy Kear's picture
Stacy Kear from Bucyrus, Ohio lives in New Jersey is reading The Art of War November 19, 2012 - 8:42pm

@ Fritze it's my story of course. ;-)  NOT that my story is or isn't in this batch. 

@ J.Y. Both

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like November 19, 2012 - 8:43pm

And the girl with the hair. And the guy with the crossbow.

Stacy Kear's picture
Stacy Kear from Bucyrus, Ohio lives in New Jersey is reading The Art of War November 19, 2012 - 8:44pm

You're the star of course. 

Sound's picture
Sound from Azusa, CA is reading Greener Pastures by Michael Wehunt November 19, 2012 - 8:55pm

Wooo, The Trooper. My favorite Iron Maiden song by far. Covered it at a battle of the bands in high school. 

I like Wrathchild, too. Also, I think I went to a show in that tour. @ The Forum, Los Angeles. 

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry November 19, 2012 - 8:57pm

Okay, everybody, go slide a mile thirteen inches at a time on my old roommate's unit.

Enjoy the Big and Scary.

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry November 19, 2012 - 9:00pm

Utah,

  It's cool dude, I don't feel slighted at all.

I am relieved about that.

Fritz's picture
Fritz November 19, 2012 - 9:01pm

I like Garth Brooks, Unanswered Prayers...  when I think of you guys -

joke - I wish you all luck- may the downer transgressives all go down!!!

okay - okay - no more beer typing - i am done - dammit - I got to work tomorrow... early

Fritz's picture
Fritz November 19, 2012 - 9:18pm

@ utah - haha.

baker's dozen...  I like to cook..

Emma C's picture
Class Facilitator
Emma C from Los Angeles is reading Black Spire by Delilah Dawson November 19, 2012 - 10:04pm

I wept a little bit during the Flight 666 screening, if that counts.

Yes, it counts. I did too (I have it recorded and watch often).
 
  Wooo, The Trooper. My favorite Iron Maiden song by far. 
The Trooper is mine, too. One of these days I'm getting the tattoo. Also love Rime of the Ancient Mariner. And Paschendale. AndFear of the Dark. And Run to the Hills. And the new one, The Final Frontier.
 
And Bruce Dickinson is hot for an old dude.
 
 
Emma C's picture
Class Facilitator
Emma C from Los Angeles is reading Black Spire by Delilah Dawson November 19, 2012 - 10:05pm

Oh, and Coming Home off the new album rocks, too.

Liana's picture
Liana from Romania and Texas is reading Naked Lunch November 19, 2012 - 10:17pm

Pleeeze the poll, to put it up, somebody. I'm forgetting my favorite story. I had one, and it was good.

Liana's picture
Liana from Romania and Texas is reading Naked Lunch November 19, 2012 - 10:18pm

Duhhhh....

Gordon Highland's picture
Gordon Highland from Kansas City is reading Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore November 19, 2012 - 10:21pm

The Trooper. My favorite Iron Maiden song by far. Covered it at a battle of the bands in high school.

They all rule. I made an acoustic cover of "Wasted Years" some years ago; it's up at my site. I always thought that song had a great pop hook that transcended metal. Many of theirs do.

bryanhowie's picture
bryanhowie from FW, ID is reading East of Eden. Steinbeck is FUCKING AMAZING. November 19, 2012 - 10:53pm

Howie - that, or something like it should be one of the maxims of this site.  Either that - or sell that shit to hallmark - when you do, send me a copy - I'll pay the 2.99

It's from The Boys, by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson

H.I.Marcuson's picture
H.I.Marcuson from Toulouse is reading a book on spelling November 20, 2012 - 12:36am

Work for you?...

 

JEFFREY GRANT BARR's picture
JEFFREY GRANT BARR from Central OR is reading Nothing but fucking Shakespeare, for the rest of my life November 20, 2012 - 12:38am

Testing

Missed it by that much. You will now be fed to the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal. I'm sorry, that's just how it has to be. 

 

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry November 20, 2012 - 8:13am

NEW NEWS!  READ THIS AND VALIDATE MY SENSE OF SELF-IMPORTANCE! 

ACTUALLY, READ IT BECAUSE WITHIN THIS MISSIVE (UN)OFFICIAL REVEALS THE STRUCTURE OF COMPETITION IN THE LOSER'S BRACKET:

Okay, so we have a Loser's Bracket and we're all very excited about that because it means you have a pass in a round as long as you turn in a story, right?  Fuck one up, it's cool, you move into the Loser's Bracket where the competition isn't as steep (when you see the results of this round, though, you might not feel so cocky about Loser's Bracket competition). 

And remember that all but one person in the competition will wind up in the Loser's Bracket at some point.

Now, look closely at the graphic of the tournament that we posted at the beginning of this thread.  The Loser's Bracket will not follow the same format as the Winner's Bracket.

Loser's Bracket First Round will be just like Winner's Bracket Second Round.  Total of three weeks, 2,500 words.  After this round, to accomodate new blood that comes in every two weeks from the winners bracket, Loser's Bracket will run one round per week.  Yes.

Loser's Bracket will run one round per week. 

In order to accomplish this, stories for Loser's Bracket will be Super-Flash.  1,200 words.  Prompts will be given at same time on Friday as normal.  Stories will be due at 7 pm CST FOUR DAYS later, which is Tuesday.  Then a three day polling period.

This sounds brutal and gruesome.  It will be tough.  But no tougher than Winner's Bracket.  Essentially the same output, essentially the same voting time frame.  But definitely different. 

That is all.  Carry on.

 

wickedvoodoo's picture
wickedvoodoo from Mansfield, England is reading stuff. November 20, 2012 - 8:35am

YES. This sounds awesome. Makes it easier on readers, and a bit of variety to war is never a bad thing.

Plus, y'know I fucking love flash fiction.

Kinda a shame really that I am never gonna end up in the loser's bracket, eh Utah? ;-)

 

 

 

SConley's picture
SConley from Texas is reading Coin Locker Babies November 20, 2012 - 8:40am

That sounds like fun actually.

Richard's picture
Richard from St. Louis is reading various anthologies November 20, 2012 - 9:06am

i do believe that true "flash fiction" is a maximum of 1,000 words. just saying. there aren't that many places that take ONLY flash, most take short stories as well (1,000-7,500) and i've got maybe 15 on my radar that i like. just FYI.

drea's picture
drea from Rural Alberta, Canada is reading between the lines November 20, 2012 - 9:15am

 

It's SUPER FLASH! 

OtisTheBulldog's picture
OtisTheBulldog from Somerville, MA is reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz November 20, 2012 - 9:35am

Damn, that'll be a bitch since I do most of my socializing on the weekends. Guess I have to stick with my original strategy which is to keep winning.

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry November 20, 2012 - 9:35am

@Richard,  Yeah, that's something to consider.  Personally, I would prefer the stories all still be considered short stories.  It's a larger market.  And the extra 200 words gives you a bit of room to stretch your legs.  On the other hand, if someone is really in love with Flash they don't have to trim away too much fat from this structure to get there.

@Voodoo:  My projections make Round 3 very tough for somebody.  I'm just not sure whom.

But if it's you and me, Nemesis, you will be in the Loser's Bracket for Round 4.  Possibly.  I hope.

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry November 20, 2012 - 9:36am

Guess I have to stick with my original strategy which is to keep winning.

Exactly.  If you don't like Flash-type work, my advice is that you just not lose.

Richard's picture
Richard from St. Louis is reading various anthologies November 20, 2012 - 9:36am

@utah - good point. just chiming in.

voodoo_em's picture
voodoo_em from England is reading All the books by Ira Levin November 20, 2012 - 9:37am

Yay for flash!

Just out of curiosity tho... When do the superflash stories get posted ~ is it while winners bracket are writing or reading?

Sound's picture
Sound from Azusa, CA is reading Greener Pastures by Michael Wehunt November 20, 2012 - 9:37am

It can be an advantage being in the loser's bracket early on. Those there early on who manage to stick around have had time to adjust to the faster pace, and will be pitted against those who aren't.

Although, I disagree that it's the same thing. Despite the lower wordcount, it's still a self contained story. It may even be considered tougher. I like it, though.

bryanhowie's picture
bryanhowie from FW, ID is reading East of Eden. Steinbeck is FUCKING AMAZING. November 20, 2012 - 9:42am

1200 words is going to be way tougher for most people.  But that's a great way of making the two brackets different and really challenging the second tier.  My guess is that the end winner will be whoever wins the loser's bracket.

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry November 20, 2012 - 9:46am

That is definitely possible.  There will be some real pressure-tempering going on there.

You going to throw a round just so you can train like a Spartan, Howie?

Ben Freeman's picture
Ben Freeman from Charlottesville, Virginia is reading everything I can November 20, 2012 - 9:48am

I'm kind of confused as to the timetable of the whole thing. Overlap of winners and losers and brackets and which weeks are what and this and that. Looks cool though, and I assume I'll figure it out eventually.  Or simply write when you say write and read when you say read.