leah_beth's picture
leah_beth from New Jersey - now in Charleston, SC is reading five different books at once. November 25, 2012 - 8:36am

Muddling through my story....Cove, this may be an easy W for you. But we shall see, right? 

I'll take some blame, too, Matt - everything in my house is typically my fault; here should be no different!  :)

Dino Parenti's picture
Dino Parenti from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands On November 25, 2012 - 8:43am

Confidence, Leah. Because of travel, I couldn't start my round 1 story till Tuesday. By Wednesday, my first draft was over 3,500 words. Thursday was an 8-hour ordeal of wracking my brain cutting it down to the required length. By Friday, I had 2 free hours to revise it. Point being, you have time; it can be done. 

SConley's picture
SConley from Texas is reading Coin Locker Babies November 25, 2012 - 9:43am

My story is all mapped out in my head. I can't believe some of you have first drafts already, that's pretty impressive. Now you have all week to polish.

Flaminia Ferina's picture
Flaminia Ferina from Umbria is reading stuff November 25, 2012 - 10:27am

Yeah, I can't put my face in front of a .doc page yet. Still outlining in my head, too.

For cosmic compensation, though, I've updated my Round 2 avatar to Space Tardigrade. 'Cause tardigrades are cool whatever the conditions.

JEFFREY GRANT BARR's picture
JEFFREY GRANT BARR from Central OR is reading Nothing but fucking Shakespeare, for the rest of my life November 25, 2012 - 12:15pm

Water Bear! Those little buggers are awesome.

Species84's picture
Species84 from Fluidic space is reading UNIX a standard operating system (1985) by Austen & Thomassen November 25, 2012 - 12:19pm

Tardigrade? Had to look that one up. :)        Cool...indeed... :) 

Good luck to you and everybody in Round2 !

Bye

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry November 25, 2012 - 12:58pm

I, also, have updated my WAR avatar. If you look close, you will see that now Death is smiling.

Just for you, Gordon.

leah_beth's picture
leah_beth from New Jersey - now in Charleston, SC is reading five different books at once. November 25, 2012 - 2:29pm

Speaking of WAR avatars...Utah, is that a Mandelorian skull? Like Boba Fett's?

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner November 25, 2012 - 2:45pm

@Courtney and Leah- I accept your apologies. Haha I think my drafting process might be corrupted. I am trying to quit smoking while doing it. 

Ugh

 

 

Sound's picture
Sound from Azusa, CA is reading Greener Pastures by Michael Wehunt November 25, 2012 - 3:10pm

This is going to be easier than I thought.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like November 25, 2012 - 3:11pm

I could retroactively update the bracket by changing my name to "---".

leah_beth's picture
leah_beth from New Jersey - now in Charleston, SC is reading five different books at once. November 25, 2012 - 3:12pm

First draft done and done. And terrible.

*shakes head sadly*

This might be fixable?

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like November 25, 2012 - 3:14pm

I'm about 79 words into mine.

leah_beth's picture
leah_beth from New Jersey - now in Charleston, SC is reading five different books at once. November 25, 2012 - 3:16pm

79 is better than 0!

 

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like November 25, 2012 - 3:18pm

Thanks, coach!

Gordon Highland's picture
Gordon Highland from Kansas City is reading Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore November 25, 2012 - 3:18pm

I dunno how youse guys do it. The most fiction I've ever written in one day was was probably like 700 words, which had to've been mostly dialogue. I can get maybe 300 on a weeknight if I'm pretty focused and already know the story.

That said, I don't envy you, Utah. (My smack-talk needs work … been out in the sun at the stadium since 8am and am drained/hungover.)

Liana's picture
Liana from Romania and Texas is reading Naked Lunch November 25, 2012 - 4:23pm

I have it all in my head. All of it.

Bekanator's picture
Bekanator from Kamloops, British Columbia is reading Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter November 25, 2012 - 4:36pm

I've got about 800 words, but they aren't all worth keeping. It's actually a lot for me, because I'm a totally slow writer. On the other hand, when I finally do get a story done it's pretty much a final draft, sooooooo...

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like November 25, 2012 - 4:51pm

I'm now at about 500 --- which is, like, a buncha percentage increase.

OtisTheBulldog's picture
OtisTheBulldog from Somerville, MA is reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz November 25, 2012 - 5:21pm

Just to be sure: if I just send in an unpublished story I've already written, that's cheating, right?

Otis don't care, J.Y.

Richard's picture
Richard from St. Louis is reading various anthologies November 25, 2012 - 6:06pm

Just to be sure: if I just send in an unpublished story I've already written, that's cheating, right?

Yep. But you may be the only person that knows.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts November 25, 2012 - 8:03pm

My method has been to not even think about the prompt for a couple days, let my mind filter it and maybe latch on to something funny I read on facebook or small talk I had to make with a department store employee or some other sort of small inspiration to form into one solid idea. Then forget about that until Friday and then drink a bunch of coffee and eat candy and rush out a mess of a story. I'm sick as hell right now though so I might stay in and get more writing done than usual, or just curl into a ball and weep and vomit.

Matt's picture
Matt from New Zealand is reading This is how you lose her by Junot Diaz November 25, 2012 - 9:19pm

I have third Matt. My story is mapped out, and I will have first draft by tomorrow. I'm taking you down third Matt!

@stacy We'll see, we'll see. I haven't really started yet, but I have a few ideas. I'm finding our prompt a bit challenging, to say the least.

Fritz's picture
Fritz November 25, 2012 - 9:29pm

This may have been answered already - but who goes up first come friday? - upper or lower bracket?

 

Jonathan Riley's picture
Jonathan Riley from Memphis, Tennessee is reading Flashover by Gordon Highland November 25, 2012 - 9:35pm

@ Fritz, I believe Avery said a couple weeks back that it won't be arranged that way. They will be randomly thrown in. 16 pair each week, labled 1-16, and 17-32 like in round one. But there will be no way to know if you are reading a match from the winner's bracket or the loser's bracket unless you recognize the writer by the style/content/structer/format etc.

Liana's picture
Liana from Romania and Texas is reading Naked Lunch November 25, 2012 - 11:46pm

Oh, that's interesting! I didn't notice that explanation but I like the mystery of it.

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner November 26, 2012 - 4:18am

This is going to be easier than I thought."

It's not as bad as it sounds. I have a back up. It's an electric cigarette. Damn near like the real thing, except water vapor. I plan on giving that up too, of course. I really don't like the idea that something has a hold on me, other than my own will. 

 

Either way- 

2nd draft, complete. 

Fritz's picture
Fritz November 26, 2012 - 6:06am

Amen to that Matt Attack - i had my last dose of nicotene on 12/31/10.  Its not easy

 

SConley's picture
SConley from Texas is reading Coin Locker Babies November 26, 2012 - 7:00am

I have such a good idea for mine, i hope i can pull it off.

Dino Parenti's picture
Dino Parenti from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands On November 26, 2012 - 7:10am

Ditto, ConMan. I'm worried about screwing up the execution with such little time. 

bryanhowie's picture
bryanhowie from FW, ID is reading East of Eden. Steinbeck is FUCKING AMAZING. November 26, 2012 - 8:32am

I wrote about half a story.  No idea what happens next.  Oh well.

SConley's picture
SConley from Texas is reading Coin Locker Babies November 26, 2012 - 9:20am

It's definitely risky to do something a little bit experimental, we've seen that. But the story is there and i have to write it. I'm not saying anything else though...

To the victors go the spoils!

drea's picture
drea from Rural Alberta, Canada is reading between the lines November 26, 2012 - 9:23am

Taking a risk is its own reward. 

H.I.Marcuson's picture
H.I.Marcuson from Toulouse is reading a book on spelling November 26, 2012 - 9:54am

I like my dad's old chestnut " You can't get lucky if you dont take a chance." 

I'm on my second draft of another silly idea that squeezed out the others and is no doubt gonna get me chucked... but screw it. I couldn't resist it when it came to me. At least this time I'm starting before Wed night!

Good luck everybody.

Wonder Woman's picture
Wonder Woman from RI is reading 20th Century Ghosts November 26, 2012 - 9:45am

Speaking of WAR avatars...Utah, is that a Mandelorian skull? Like Boba Fett's?

 

Leah, that looks like The Punisher logo to me. The Mandalorian one is longer:

Fritz's picture
Fritz November 26, 2012 - 10:02am

So...   I just sold 'The Hardy Survive' to a semi-pro ezine / in-print mag.  And am very stoked - just wanted to pass that along. Go War2!!!

H.I.Marcuson's picture
H.I.Marcuson from Toulouse is reading a book on spelling November 26, 2012 - 10:11am

Congrats! My envy is my hate. Or something...

Ian's picture
Ian from Texas is reading Low Down Death Right Easy by J. David Osborne November 26, 2012 - 10:18am

@Fritz Wolfe - Congrats! Also, this makes me nervous...

Dino Parenti's picture
Dino Parenti from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands On November 26, 2012 - 10:20am

Congrats man!

Sound's picture
Sound from Azusa, CA is reading Greener Pastures by Michael Wehunt November 26, 2012 - 10:34am

Well done, Fritz. I'm hoping to sell The Black Spot somewhere, too. Haven't tidied it up yet, though.

leah_beth's picture
leah_beth from New Jersey - now in Charleston, SC is reading five different books at once. November 26, 2012 - 10:48am

Congrats, Frizt! That's amazing!!

WonderWoman - ah, yes. Still, I think of Boba Fett whenever Utah speaks, which is sorta weird...my husband has what we call a Boba Fettish...

Mess_Jess's picture
Mess_Jess from Sydney, Australia, living in Toronto, Canada is reading Perfect by Rachael Joyce November 26, 2012 - 10:49am

Congrats Fritz! Are you allowed to tell us which one, yet?

Fritz's picture
Fritz November 26, 2012 - 10:51am

Thanks all - just wanted to show how WAR does good things

@Ian - any given sunday. Going to be good no matter

Jonathan Riley's picture
Jonathan Riley from Memphis, Tennessee is reading Flashover by Gordon Highland November 26, 2012 - 11:06am

Congrats Fritz!

drea's picture
drea from Rural Alberta, Canada is reading between the lines November 26, 2012 - 11:08am

Fritz! That's awesomely fast! Good on ya. 

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like November 26, 2012 - 11:10am

Congrats. The Hardy Survive got my vote in the 2nd BS poll.

Fritz's picture
Fritz November 26, 2012 - 11:23am

The Blue Shift magazine

thanks all - is happy stuff

Wonder Woman's picture
Wonder Woman from RI is reading 20th Century Ghosts November 26, 2012 - 11:47am

Congrats, Fritz! That's amazing!

Leah, Fett is big in our house, too. My eight year old daughter has a Boba Fett collection going & even dressed as him last year for Halloween...

 

Mess_Jess's picture
Mess_Jess from Sydney, Australia, living in Toronto, Canada is reading Perfect by Rachael Joyce November 26, 2012 - 12:13pm

Ha, love it! That's so cute.

Ben Freeman's picture
Ben Freeman from Charlottesville, Virginia is reading everything I can November 26, 2012 - 12:25pm

@Fritz Congrats!

 

I almost have a story, if I manage to finish a draft before thursday I'll be impressed with myself.