Escape Artists
The Arcade => Flash Contest III => Completed Contests => Flash Contest III - Pod Castle => Topic started by: Ocicat on June 26, 2013, 11:13:31 PM
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GENERAL RULES:
1. This contest is being run by the Podcastle forum moderators: Ocicat and Talia. Neither they nor the Podcastle Editorial team are eligible to submit entries.
2. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners (and perhaps some editor's choices) will receive a contract to be bought and produced as flash fiction pieces for the normal flash fiction rate. Contact will be established with the winning authors at the conclusion of the contest.
3. Stories will be posted anonymously. Authors will be revealed after their story either loses or wins the contest. Please do not try to guess at the authors, at least publically. Those posts will be deleted and the poster will be warned. As an author, please do not try to garner outside support through blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc. we cannot stop you, but I urge you to just link to the contest in general, not your story. That said, please do tell your friends about this contest and about Escape Artists! We will be keeping an eye on any fishy business, and if we think something is up, action will be taken. It is easy to find cheaters. If we discover that an author has revealed their authorship of a story before it is allowed (in the contest threads or elsewhere), that is grounds for disqualification of the story. The contest is to be won on the merits of the story, not the popularity of the author.
4. As always, constructive discussion is encouraged about all stories posted in this contest. The key word here is constructive. Normal forum rules remain in place. Be civil and respectful. That's our one rule (http://forum.escapeartists.net/index.php?topic=3289.0). Rude and unconstructive negativity will be deleted or edited, and the offending poster will be warned. This goes for authors as well. You are free to comment on any story, including your own, but keep it civil and respectful. I reserve the right to kick any author and their stories out of the contest should there be ample reason.
5. Creating multiple accounts to vote for a story will get you banned from the forums and your story kicked from the contest. If you are sharing a computer, living space, or router with someone else who will be voting or creating an account, make sure to message me. Failure to do so may result in various adverse effects such as account deletion and/or banning.
6. In order to encourage more people to participate, the contest forum is currently visible to everyone, including non-forum members. However, once the submissions are closed the contest forum will be hidden and available only to registered members of the forum, and will remain so. This will ensure that the entries are not available to a general audience and prevent them as being considered as published by most markets. If needed for outside publishing purposes, an author can request a story to be deleted. Simply message me on the forums or email eaflash@gmail.com with your concerns.
TIE-BREAKERS
If there is a tie such that it's not clear which stories need to go up to the next round, there will be a tie-breaker poll, where voters will need to decide which of the tied stories will move up. If there is again a tie, then the contest runners will cast the deciding vote. This will be the only circumstance in which they vote.
THE SCHEDULE:
Submissions for the contest will open on July 1st and will close on August 31st. The stories will become available for voting on Sept 4th.
Submissions received before July 1st will be ignored. There is no guarantee that you will even get a notice informing you of an early submission. Similarly, submissions received after August 31st will also be ignored.
Stories will be posted in sub-forum groups. Group size will be determined by the total number of submissions. Story groups will also be randomized. As such, an early story submission does not necessarily mean an early group number. I will, however, ensure that no two stories from the same author are competing for as long as possible.
Sub-forum groups will include individual threads for each story, as well as a poll thread. These sub-forums will only be visible to registered forum members. We encourage discussion on all of these stories, but please keep it within the designated story threads. Do not discuss contest submissions on areas visible to non-forum members. That means pretty much anywhere but in the threads themselves.
Please read below for information on how and what to submit.
CONTEST SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
In order to be a valid submission to the contest, each story must adhere to the following rules:
1. The story must be no more than 500 words long, not including its title. Do not use the title to skirt around the word count. Word count will be determined using Microsoft Word 2007.
2. The story must adhere to the general Podcastle submission guidelines. It should be a story with a fantasy element. Fantasy is a very broad genre, and we have a liberal interpretation of it. Anything from sword and sorcery to magical realism is fine, but do not submit a straight up science fiction story. Fantasy stories that are horrific in tone are fine, as are comedy stories and adventure tales.
3. The story must be original and previously unpublished. The person submitting the story must be the story's author (or acting for the author with express permission) and hold full publishing rights to the story. A story that is derived from a previous published work in another format (i.e. not a short story) is fine (assuming doing so isn't in violation of copyright, obviously).
If you are not sure whether your story counts as published or not (for example, if an earlier version has appeared on your blog but nowhere else), please write (PM or send a query to eaflash@gmail.com with the subjectline "QUERY") and ask before submitting. Please do not submit stories that have been entries in a previous contest on this forums.
4. The story should be submitted in its final form, as the author intends it to be read by the voting public. We may or may not allow minor typo corrections if those slip in, but as a general rule, we will not allow authors to submit changes to stories, especially not after submissions are closed.
5. Each author may submit up to two stories.
Send submissions to eaflash@gmail.com with "PC FLASH SUBMISSION: Title of Story" in the subject line. I will be using automatic filters in the account so there's a good chance stories submitted with improperly formatted subject lines will be lost.
Included the body of the submission email should be the title, byline (your legal and proper name), an email address we will be able to contact you at in the next few months, and, of course, the text of your story. DO NOT SEND THE STORY IN AN ATTACHMENT. The byline will be stripped when the stories are posted in the contest, and will be revealed when either the story fails to advance, or ultimately wins. Feel free to request a pseudonym for the byline, but we will need a legal name if you win for prize purposes.
If you still have questions about how to submit, check out the Podcastle Submission Guidelines (http://podcastle.org/guidelines/).
Further details regarding the voting process will become available as the voting phase grows closer, determined partially by the amount of submissions.
And one last bit of boilerplate: We reserve the right to change the rules depending on circumstances and with notice in this thread, though the democratic intent of the contest shall remain intact.
Please blog, tweet, email, send postcards, telephone, summon demons, and otherwise get the word out.
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Woot!
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My only complaint is that the contest won't begin until September(!). I'm stoked for this contest. The last two were a blast, and I was thrilled to be in the Finals for the PseudoPod contest. I already have two stories written, trimmed, trimmed again, trimmed some more, (500 words...) and ready to go.
Bring it on. ;)
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a question because it's not covered in submissions that I saw, what about poetry? Obviously not really short stuff but longer form poetry?
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I have nothing against it. If the voters like it it will do well. If they don't like it - well, you'll know.
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In the PP contest I don't think any poetry made it to the finals. However, Podcastle contests seem historically to be more favorable to word prose mood pieces.
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Woohoo!
Now I just need to see if I can cram a 500 word story on the back of a postcard...
Also, if my demon writes the story for me, that counts as acting on the author's behalf with permission, right?
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Well the timing is convenient for me--I'll be on paternity leave from mid-July to Labor Day, a stretch where I'll probably be largely absent from the forums, but I'll be back just in time for the reading and voting phase!
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New market listing for it:
http://thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/thegrinder/market.aspx?mid=2275
:)
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One story is almost ready. I think I will have time for two this time. :D
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500 words? Eeks!
Well, it's good editing practice.
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Dowhilenot, I used to share your opinion but having read all the entries to the pseudopod contest, 500 words is plenty. As it was, it kicked my butt to read them all. I was actually almost hoping that the size would be cut down to 300 words. I think it used to be 300 words in the older contests but I could be wrong.
In some ways, the drabblecast has the right idea. At 100 words a pop, I can sit and read a couple on my break at work without any problems. However, I do enjoy these more substantive flash fiction contests. You can say a lot in 500 words. Last time, I found myself reading the stories into the late hours of the night.
As for this contest, I was going to submit the Awanyu in that I wrote as a sequel to Giusewa (pseudopod story), but decided to write new stories. I posted the Awanyu over at the drabblecast forums. I am also going to branch out from the southwest so that my stories do not just have ogres or kachinas.. or awanyu for that matter. We will see what though. I got a couple stories written, but I am not feeling any of them right now as fantasy stories.
I made a pact with myself that I am going to comment on every story in the contest this time. Given the broad scope of fantasy, I am actually looking forward to seeing which subgenres are represented the most.
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Yeah, it's true that's an issue. I just imagined Tolkien trying to write a fantasy story in 500 words and had to laugh. I did a pretty good job at commenting during the Escape Pod contest, not as good during the Pseudopod contest, and we'll see how things go this time. With a heavy work load, a long commute, a farm, and a big handful of kids, things can get pretty busy.
This time though, I'm thinking about trying to get my older kids to participate. I was happy to have them skip pseudopod's stories because there were certainly some kid unfriendly ones there. Podcastle tends to be a little milder though.
Anyone else have an idea of what ratings we can expect on stories... or maybe have a rating system on them like Podcastle does for it's productions? G, PG, R, X.
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Yeah, it's true that's an issue. I just imagined Tolkien trying to write a fantasy story in 500 words and had to laugh. I did a pretty good job at commenting during the Escape Pod contest, not as good during the Pseudopod contest, and we'll see how things go this time. With a heavy work load, a long commute, a farm, and a big handful of kids, things can get pretty busy.
This time though, I'm thinking about trying to get my older kids to participate. I was happy to have them skip pseudopod's stories because there were certainly some kid unfriendly ones there. Podcastle tends to be a little milder though.
Anyone else have an idea of what ratings we can expect on stories... or maybe have a rating system on them like Podcastle does for it's productions? G, PG, R, X.
I wouldn't expect ratings. The mods are going to have enough on their hands as it is without having to pre-screen all the stories to give them ratings.
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Question!
Are we allowed to submit stories we have posted in other forums for critique purposes? Does that count as published like a blog would?
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That depends. If I can google it without being a member of the group, then yes, it counts as published. If I can't, then it doesn't count as published yet.
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I wouldn't expect ratings. The mods are going to have enough on their hands as it is without having to pre-screen all the stories to give them ratings.
Yeah. I think that if you want kids to participate, its got to be your own responsibility to pre-screen them.
That depends. If I can google it without being a member of the group, then yes, it counts as published. If I can't, then it doesn't count as published yet.
Which is a good rule of thumb to avoid using up your first publication rights anyway. If you post a story to a public forum, you've used up your first publication rights, limited drastically the places you might be able to sell it, and limited drastically the pay you could get for it.
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I wouldn't expect ratings. The mods are going to have enough on their hands as it is without having to pre-screen all the stories to give them ratings.
Yep, agreed.
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And I have submitted my alotted two entries! Bring it on!
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Hey all - editor stepping in for a moment. Wow! Excited to see so many responses already!
And many, many thanks to both Talia and Ocicat for being willing to run it. I look forward to reading the stories.
a question because it's not covered in submissions that I saw, what about poetry? Obviously not really short stuff but longer form poetry?
Technically, I guess you could sub poetry to the contest, but I would strongly urge against it. Poetry is not something we buy or run, even the greats that are now in Public Domain. So, I guess if it won, we'd run it, but chances of us buying it if we do buy additional stories is pretty slim.
Poetic prose stories with lush language? That's a whole different ball game :)
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Hey all - editor stepping in for a moment. Wow! Excited to see so many responses already!
And many, many thanks to both Talia and Ocicat for being willing to run it. I look forward to reading the stories.
a question because it's not covered in submissions that I saw, what about poetry? Obviously not really short stuff but longer form poetry?
Technically, I guess you could sub poetry to the contest, but I would strongly urge against it. Poetry is not something we buy or run, even the greats that are now in Public Domain. So, I guess if it won, we'd run it, but chances of us buying it if we do buy additional stories is pretty slim.
Poetic prose stories with lush language? That's a whole different ball game :)
Thanks for that, it is somewhat what I was looking for, I don't listen to Podcastle nearly as much. I am primarily only listening to Psuedopod these days, as I just can't seem to stay caught up, without working, I have no commute, and so am less likely to listen to Podcasts. I find myself on you-tube more than ever before, but I don't even pay attention to iTunes, other than to eject my iPod before I do head out somewhere.
edit to add one more thought. I guess what I was thinking of was something with a rhyming scheme, just an idea bouncing around in the old noggin, but longer ala the Raven. Haven't even really set pen to paper/fingers to keyboard.
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Fan Fiction is that cool? By that I mean fiction set in another author's universe, does that get into trademark violations?
Could you set a story in middle earth? Could your story center on superman?
I am not saying I am necessarily going to submit anything like that but I am curious. It seems like one way to kind of make it easier to stay within the 500 word story limit is to place your characters within an already developed universe.
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I'm not the final arbiter of this one, but it seems to me that we can't pay for and publish anything that's out-and-out fan fiction of a protected work. As far as I know, you can get away with these things:
1. Anything based off fiction that's in the public domain. So feel free to submit Sherlock Homes stories, or something based on the works of the Brothers Grimm.
2. Parody. Always a grey zone, but a legally protected one.
3. Something inspired by another work, but with the serial numbers filed off. So if you have a kid going to a wizarding school, don't name the school or any students mentioned in another work. But it still might be recognizable enough to perhaps fit in with the works of another author, if someone wanted to view it that way.
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I'm not the final arbiter of this one, but it seems to me that we can't pay for and publish anything that's out-and-out fan fiction of a protected work. As far as I know, you can get away with these things:
1. Anything based off fiction that's in the public domain. So feel free to submit Sherlock Homes stories, or something based on the works of the Brothers Grimm.
2. Parody. Always a grey zone, but a legally protected one.
3. Something inspired by another work, but with the serial numbers filed off. So if you have a kid going to a wizarding school, don't name the school or any students mentioned in another work. But it still might be recognizable enough to perhaps fit in with the works of another author, if someone wanted to view it that way.
This. :)
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So excited! Better add this to my writing schedule
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There. Second story done and away. I expect to be viciously bounced from round one on both counts.
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Thanks for that, it is somewhat what I was looking for, I don't listen to Podcastle nearly as much.
Hey Lowky, I suggest you check out the stories in this thread (http://forum.escapeartists.net/index.php?topic=6340.0). A little curating for you.
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Just submitted my two for this one, and I can't wait for the games to begin. Good luck all! :)
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Seeing people get their stories in has me a little nervous. I have written 4 stories so far and will write probably another 2 or 3 before the contest deadline. However, none of them speak to me as podcastle pieces.... I told myself that I wanted to be inspired by the mythologies of the world, but I keep coming back to writing pieces about one specific location. It isn't really writer's block... I can write... it is more like writer stagnation where I end up writing about the same topics over and over again. Anyone have any suggestions about how to push past something like that?
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FWIW, I think most authors have themes, mythologies, or whatnot that they can't help but keep scratching at.
As a writer (Note: Generic Writer, not anyone specifically) you can (and probably should) challenge yourself to identify what those similar characteristics, and then to write at least one story avoiding them. That story may or may not suck, but it will stretch you in different ways, and I suspect only strengthen you as a writer. It may show you a different, better way to write about some of the stuff you're passionate about.
Whatever you do, put the stories you think are the most successful in the contest (so long as they're fantasy).
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And hey, it's never a bad thing to have more stories or rough drafts of stories waiting in the wings to send out.
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Having the a recurring set of tropes to tell one's stories is not in itself a bad thing. They are part of our mental vocabulary, our great metaphors for the big ideas we wrestle with or want to explore. Consider Stephen King. How many of his stories are built around some child/young person that has become the focus/incarnation of terror. Just off the top of my head…and I really don't read King: Firestarter, Carrie, Pet Cemetery, Cujo, Christine, etc. Think about all the movies made by Humphrey Bogart or John Wayne. With rare exception they played practically the same character in every movie…change the costumes, change the names, change the situation/time, but these guys were always essentially the same in every role.
Not that I am famous, but I see similar things in my own writing…certain character types and certain tropes are bound to reappear. With me there are a lot of youth/mentor, and "magic" tree tropes even in my more literary non magical non sf stuff…and without them the stories I want to tell just don't seem to gel, as a rule...at least in longer works.
So, I would say be aware of your own common tropes/character types, but be smart about them. Once they show up, put them to work…some you emphasize, some you deemphasize, some you hide and hint at, according to the needs of the story. Some you may even find a way to keep as part of your backstory that never makes it to the page of your short story.
And in other news: Two away. Here's to hoping.
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Note to editors: I had a miffed submission (formatting error) on one of my stories. I resubmitted it correctly followed up by an email explaining myself asking to you delete the misformatted one…I don't know if the scrubbers will dump the explanatory email before you see it (I sent it to the eaflash contest submission email address). So, this note is making assurance double sure. Thank you.
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Note to editors: I had a miffed submission (formatting error) on one of my stories. I resubmitted it correctly followed up by an email explaining myself asking to you delete the misformatted one…I don't know if the scrubbers will dump the explanatory email before you see it (I sent it to the eaflash contest submission email address). So, this note is making assurance double sure. Thank you.
You're good, no worries.
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Hey,
I wanted to thank you guys for the feedback. I get what DKT is saying as a means to push myself as a writer and I see the converse with Seraphim saying I should revel in what I find success in. I will probably take both sets of advice to heart and spend some more time writing this weekend.
I took a long hard look at two of the stories I knew for sure I was not going to submit. They were both more horror pieces. I posted them on the Drabblecast forums. I still really like Ogre of the Ojito Wilderness, but I think it is too similar to Piedras Marcadas which I submitted to the Pseudopod contest. The other one, Managing the Zombie Apocalypse, was a piece of World War Z fan fiction. If you ever end up going over to the drabblecast, I would love feedback.
Looking forward to reading all the submissions. It is hard to believe we are still a month out from the contest.
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When do submissions close? I'm working hard on my two pieces but life is being uncooperative. And, I'm taking my time with editing so that I don't twig Cutter's radar this time. ;D How long until there no sand in the top half?
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When do submissions close? I'm working hard on my two pieces but life is being uncooperative. And, I'm taking my time with editing so that I don't twig Cutter's radar this time. ;D How long until there no sand in the top half?
August 31. :)
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K. Thx.
That's what I thought but then one of Dave's most recent intro/outros mentioned the contest ending "some time" in August and I got the collywobbles that submissions would end while I wasn't looking.
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And, I'm taking my time with editing so that I don't twig Cutter's radar this time. ;D
Cue "Jaws" Music... :P
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And, I'm taking my time with editing so that I don't twig Cutter's radar this time. ;D
Cue "Jaws" Music... :P
My goal in life: get Cutter to vote for one of my stories on the basis of its awesome error-free content. I originally wrote "short term goal" but, realistically, this might be a sort of bucket list thing. ::)
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Is it OK if I provide a link to this thread to Duotrope? I note that PodCastle is listed, but this contest is not.
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Is it OK if I provide a link to this thread to Duotrope? I note that PodCastle is listed, but this contest is not.
If they list contests (I can't tell from the website..) go for it.
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Every time one o' these contests comes up I tell myself I'll submit. I'm sure I'll submit to this one.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
(man, I crack myself up)
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Ugh. I have a really neat idea, but it's not really a story.
At least, I haven't been able to turn it into story form in my head.
Well, make that a good story. Something with a plot and a climax and stuff. Mostly it's just infodump.
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Is it OK if I provide a link to this thread to Duotrope? I note that PodCastle is listed, but this contest is not.
If they list contests (I can't tell from the website..) go for it.
They do list contests, and send deadlines out as a monthly newsletter.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a misunderstanding about the contest -- Duotrope believes the entries will be visible in a way that may effect First Rights. Unfortunately, I think it will take communication from an EA staff member to straighten this out, rather than a random Duotrope subscriber (i.e. me).
Currently, the contest is listed as a "Project related to Podcastle" (link below the title in the PodCastle main entry) but is described as "Does Not Qualify" for a full listing:
"Reason for disqualification: All submissions are posted publicly, which adversely affects the authors' First Rights.
If you believe this market currently meets our listing criteria, please contact us to request that the listing be reinstated."
Contact link is: https://duotrope.com/contact_update.aspx?id=13188 (https://duotrope.com/contact_update.aspx?id=13188)
Sorry this turned out to be complicated... :-[
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I've had a horrendous past couple of months, including the loss of three dear cats to illness (hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and complications from FIV) over a period of 6 weeks, followed by my falling and breaking my nose earlier this month. I'd never broken a bone in my life before, and this happened a scant week and a half after losing my FIV kitty...he had allergies and had been having increasingly bad respiratory problems, and the doc told us the day before we had to say goodbye to him that he had FIV. I lost my little diabetic girl two weeks after she was diagnosed. My Old Man Cat had been fighting hyperthyroidism for about a year, but his body just couldn't fight it anymore.
Following my pummeling in the earlier Escape Pod and Pseudopod flash contests...I wish I was in a better frame of mind to write at this time. But the puzzle pieces just won't fit.
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I've had a horrendous past couple of months, including the loss of three dear cats to illness (hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and complications from FIV) over a period of 6 weeks, followed by my falling and breaking my nose earlier this month. I'd never broken a bone in my life before, and this happened a scant week and a half after losing my FIV kitty...he had allergies and had been having increasingly bad respiratory problems, and the doc told us the day before we had to say goodbye to him that he had FIV. I lost my little diabetic girl two weeks after she was diagnosed. My Old Man Cat had been fighting hyperthyroidism for about a year, but his body just couldn't fight it anymore.
Following my pummeling in the earlier Escape Pod and Pseudopod flash contests...I wish I was in a better frame of mind to write at this time. But the puzzle pieces just won't fit.
Aw so sorry. Hope the rest of 2013 treats you more kindly.
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Crawling out of the shadows after years of lurking the EA forums to say I'm really excited about this contest. Podcastle was my "gateway podcast", and if I can work up anything that's anywhere near worthy, I'll send it in and join in the fun. Happy writing, everyone!
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I've had a horrendous past couple of months, including the loss of three dear cats to illness (hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and complications from FIV) over a period of 6 weeks, followed by my falling and breaking my nose earlier this month. I'd never broken a bone in my life before, and this happened a scant week and a half after losing my FIV kitty...he had allergies and had been having increasingly bad respiratory problems, and the doc told us the day before we had to say goodbye to him that he had FIV. I lost my little diabetic girl two weeks after she was diagnosed. My Old Man Cat had been fighting hyperthyroidism for about a year, but his body just couldn't fight it anymore.
Following my pummeling in the earlier Escape Pod and Pseudopod flash contests...I wish I was in a better frame of mind to write at this time. But the puzzle pieces just won't fit.
That's awful. I'm so sorry to hear it.
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Is it OK if I provide a link to this thread to Duotrope? I note that PodCastle is listed, but this contest is not.
If they list contests (I can't tell from the website..) go for it.
They do list contests, and send deadlines out as a monthly newsletter.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a misunderstanding about the contest -- Duotrope believes the entries will be visible in a way that may effect First Rights. Unfortunately, I think it will take communication from an EA staff member to straighten this out, rather than a random Duotrope subscriber (i.e. me).
Currently, the contest is listed as a "Project related to Podcastle" (link below the title in the PodCastle main entry) but is described as "Does Not Qualify" for a full listing:
"Reason for disqualification: All submissions are posted publicly, which adversely affects the authors' First Rights.
If you believe this market currently meets our listing criteria, please contact us to request that the listing be reinstated."
Contact link is: https://duotrope.com/contact_update.aspx?id=13188 (https://duotrope.com/contact_update.aspx?id=13188)
Sorry this turned out to be complicated... :-[
Thanks, Windup! I just emailed Duotrope and tried to explain the situation. We'll see what happens.
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Sorry to hear about your cats portrait... I am not sure about the beat down. Werent you in the finals a contest or two ago?
Also welcome to the forums varda.
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Okay, PodCastle Flash Fiction Contest on Duotrope (https://duotrope.com/market_13188.aspx). Knock yourselves out :)
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Okay, PodCastle Flash Fiction Contest on Duotrope (https://duotrope.com/market_13188.aspx). Knock yourselves out :)
Yaayyy!!! Thanks for straightening that out.
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Thanks, guys. Things have just been so...gah, I don't know what. But there's probably a German word for it.
Sorry to hear about your cats portrait... I am not sure about the beat down. Werent you in the finals a contest or two ago?
Yeah, but my perspective about a lot of things is really off right now. (Actually, has been for a while.) I did have what would otherwise be a wonderful bit of good news near the beginning of July. At the end of last year there was kind of a round-robin story project started off by Clive Barker; my prose got only as far as an honorable mention. Selection of artwork and poetry was finally completed in early July and three of my four submitted poems were selected by Barker for inclusion in the final project. I should be quite happy about this, but I just can't feel it.
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Yeah, but my perspective about a lot of things is really off right now. (Actually, has been for a while.) I did have what would otherwise be a wonderful bit of good news near the beginning of July. At the end of last year there was kind of a round-robin story project started off by Clive Barker; my prose got only as far as an honorable mention. Selection of artwork and poetry was finally completed in early July and three of my four submitted poems were selected by Barker for inclusion in the final project. I should be quite happy about this, but I just can't feel it.
Oh man, simultaneous congratulations and condolences! I love my kitties so much and can't begin to imagine losing both of them at once. :( I sincerely hope that things get better for you and that you can find the healing that you need.
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Whew, submitted my two.
Can't wait for the contest to start!
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Congrats on getting in SBC. I got mine in yesterday too as long as one does not get rejected for aiming a bit too near the edge of what is considered fantasy. It is still hard to believe we are about a month out from the competition starting. Ocicat have there been a ton of submissions for the contest thus far or is it a fairly small group this time?
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I got mine in yesterday too as long as one does not get rejected for aiming a bit too near the edge of what is considered fantasy.
I could be wrong, but I don't think the moderators review the stories for content, just word count. It would take them way too long to vet all the stories. Any that don't fit the genre will just get bounced out in the first round by the voters.
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Question: if we're submitting two stories, should they be sent in the same email, or in separate ones?
Thanks! Really looking forward to reading everyone's stories in September. This is great fun!
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I got mine in yesterday too as long as one does not get rejected for aiming a bit too near the edge of what is considered fantasy.
I could be wrong, but I don't think the moderators review the stories for content, just word count. It would take them way too long to vet all the stories. Any that don't fit the genre will just get bounced out in the first round by the voters.
Cool. Then I am fine and I got two in. Getting bounced in the first round doesnt bother me. I just wanted to contribute. I only had one story make it to the semi-finals last contest anyways and I do not expect to win. I just love reading (and obviously listening to) flash fiction.
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Cool. Then I am fine and I got two in. Getting bounced in the first round doesnt bother me. I just wanted to contribute. I only had one story make it to the semi-finals last contest anyways and I do not expect to win. I just love reading (and obviously listening to) flash fiction.
That's mostly why I play along. Though having one story make the finals last time does make me want to work a little harder this time around and see if I can actually make one of the coveted three slots...
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Question: if we're submitting two stories, should they be sent in the same email, or in separate ones?
Each story should be in it's own email. And there's no requirement that you submit two, of course. That's just the upper limit.
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Congrats on getting in SBC. I got mine in yesterday too as long as one does not get rejected for aiming a bit too near the edge of what is considered fantasy. It is still hard to believe we are about a month out from the competition starting. Ocicat have there been a ton of submissions for the contest thus far or is it a fairly small group this time?
I'd say the submissions have been moderate and are steadily increasing in volume as we get closer to the deadline.
And no, I don't vet them for content. If you think it's fantasy, go for it!
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Kudos to the folks running the contest-- I got a lovely little note letting me know that my submission had been received.
A small thing, but oh so important to the nervous writer who can't be entirely sure the slimy beasts we've flushed down the internet tubes didn't make a meal of the email.
Thanks. =]
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Just thought I'd pop in and say hello here. I've been an EP & PC listener for years, but this is the first time I've submitted anything anywhere that wasn't an essay. Just hearing about it in the podcast the whole thing seems so simple, but once you get here and read through the guidelines it's actually a little intimidating.
Aaanywho, here's hoping I didn't just make a terrible mistake.
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Not trying would be the mistake
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Just thought I'd pop in and say hello here. I've been an EP & PC listener for years, but this is the first time I've submitted anything anywhere that wasn't an essay. Just hearing about it in the podcast the whole thing seems so simple, but once you get here and read through the guidelines it's actually a little intimidating.
Aaanywho, here's hoping I didn't just make a terrible mistake.
Not trying would be the mistake.
I'll second that. This contest is so much more about the fun of being a part of it than it is about winning. With a 100+ entries, the chances of winning are pretty slim, but who cares? Reading the submissions, commenting, discussing, rooting for your favorites... that's what this contest is all about. Missing out because you have to take a step or two out of your comfort zone is the real tragedy.
Good luck to you, MoarPye ;)
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We are pretty friendly people. Feedback is generally positive. This isn't like some cutthroat competition. Also since the author's name is not given, you judge a story on its merits instead of author popularity. That is a great thing. There is a lot of honesty in these contests.
But if you go in expecting to win, you are going to be disappointed. Even if you write a really good story, there are lots of really good stories. Many, if not most, deserve to be published somewhere. I remember last time seeing some stories that I thought were excellent not even get out of the first round. You cannot predict what is going get people motivated to vote for it. Mr. Flyspeck (which I loved, but surprised that it won out over Violin Family) was a pretty unconventional story with some ambiguity and that won it all.
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Not trying would be the mistake
Although I appreciate the sentiment I can't help thinking that in practical terms there's not really space for every hackneyed, Mary-sue Middle Earth fanfic.
And naturally I don't expect to win. I'll consider it a validation if I can get past the first round, what I'm afraid of is languishing down at the bottom of the forum in obscurity.
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But what people have been telling you is that writers like Amal El-Mohtar and Cat Rambo have both "languished in obscurity" in previous contests. Popularity is weird.
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what I'm afraid of is languishing down at the bottom of the forum in obscurity.
Ah, but it's not languishing if you get read, is it? It withers and dies in obscurity if it's never shared, but even if it doesn't make it past the first round? You FINISHED something. You went from idea to polished piece, and that's more than many folks who want to be writers can yet credit to their names.
Trying and not-winning isn't failure. The only true failure is to allow that fear to keep you from putting your heart out there. I've heard something (credited to a lot of people, including Ray Bradbury) said -- that you have to write a million words before you can start writing good ones. It saddens me to know there are people who give up around the five thousand mark, what wonderful stories they'd produce if they only stuck to it all the way.
I cannot recommend this quote/video from Ira Glass enough. (I'm a fan of typography, so I'll add the video because it's gorgeous)
Youtube Video of the quote (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5-yCv0BIhA)
Image of the quote (http://theaudacityofcolor.com/core/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/KMBA-Ira+Glass+Quote.png)
Sometimes it feels like the people who say "everyone is a winner" and "there are no losers here" are just being nice? But it's SO incredibly true. Every time you finish something, you grow. And if growth and experience and skill isn't the point ... well, then I'm playing a different game than everyone else.
And I'm winning. *wink*
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*cracks knuckles*
Ok, Cutter, my stories are in. Let's dance.
In all seriousness, I did have my poor Mom (NOT a speculative fiction fan by any stretch) proof them this time. This does not mean that I didn't screw up when putting in the changes, but, I gave it my editing all. Strange how the goals have changed for me from getting into the finals to not getting castigated for proofing errors.... ::) Le Sigh.
My life has gone sideways at least twice since the contest opened in ways more suited to the horror contest. I am happy just to have produced anything at all in the time allotted and look forward to seeing what everyone else was up to this summer!
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*cracks knuckles*
Ok, Cutter, my stories are in. Let's dance.
Challenge accepted ;)
In all seriousness, best of luck to you FireTurtle. Can't wait to see what you've come up with.
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I'll consider it a validation if I can get past the first round, what I'm afraid of is languishing down at the bottom of the forum in obscurity.
"last place"
beats
"did not finish"
which trumps
"did not start"
Assume that the story -- not you, the story -- will languish in obscurity. You still finished it, and you are a better writer after you finished it than you were before you started it. And having had the experience of finishing one thing will make it easier to finish the next, and you will be a better writer when you finish that than you were when you started. And so on...
<Note that this process proceeds with or without our "validation." Though admittedly it's easier if you get it.>
Eventually, after many repetitions, you may produce something that finds an audience, or you may decide you have more important things to do with your life than typing well-crafted lies into a computer. You still tried something, you realized a possibility or decided something wasn't for you and either one is a "win."
Which is a roundabout way of saying -- "good job." ;)
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Just sent in my two!
Had to stop myself from keeping on messing with them.
K, gonna go collapse in a corner now and wait till judgement day.
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Whoo boy. Just spent 5 minutes hyperventilating before hitting the "Send" button... but my stories are finally in!
Many thanks to everyone for the pep talks here. With such illustrious company also writing for the competition, it was hard not to scare myself out of trying. But when it comes down to it, I had a lot of fun writing and polishing, and at this point I'm just excited to kick back and enjoy reading everyone else's pieces in a couple of weeks. ;D
Now I'm going to have a beer to celebrate. Cheers, everyone!
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Just got my acknowledgement of receipt -- like Whiskerwing, I really appreciated that touch.
"Game on!"
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Almost immediately after sending in each of my stories, their awesomeness faded away in my mind. That's not to say other people won't like them, just that I might have rushed a bit in my initial excitement. :-[
Mokalus of Borg
PS - I'm rewriting and expanding the second one already.
PPS - The first version came out almost all tell, no show.
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PPS - The first version came out almost all tell, no show.
One of my two submissions suffers from the same issue. I'm desperately trying to find ways to work in some dialogue, inner-monologue, something to break this up before the deadline. In the end, it may just be that this story is too involved to be told in 500 words :-\
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I was worrying a little because one of mine might be a little more SF instead of F, but with the last couple Podcastle episodes suffering from the same thing I decided not to worry too much about it.
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I was worrying a little because one of mine might be a little more SF instead of F, but with the last couple Podcastle episodes suffering from the same thing I decided not to worry too much about it.
True. But keep in mind, the last couple of PodCastle episodes have specifically been Sci-Fantasy. Months ago Dave called for Sci-Fantasy stories and they're now running the best of what they got. So it's a special program, not the norm. That said, one of mine leans toward sci-fi as well, so I'm in the same boat... :-\
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Oh, cool! Happy to hear people are doing some science fantasy this time out.
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It is kind of interesting that people are latching on to sci-fantasy as a subgenre. It isn't my usual cup of tea, but I have been enjoying the stories on pod castle this month. Maybe I am a closet sci-fantasy fan.
I am more interested to see if there is any "weird west," "historical fiction," or "prehistoric fantasy" in the contest. Of course I am a New Mexico boy with a background in archaeology, so perhaps it is not surprising that I would gravitate towards those subgenres.
I think we will see a ton of urban fantasy, steampunk (which I consider sci fi), and fairy tales, as those appear to be what is big in fantasy literature at the moment. Of course, someone has to do a traditional sword and sorcery. If someone puts out a story which contains an elf with a bow and a dwarf with an axe, I will vote for it just for the novelty of the concept! You are probably not going to win, but you have cojones.
Also I am curious about grimdark. I have recently become fascinated with it as a subgenre. Fantasy that pushes the boundaries of taste is awful and yet oddly appealing. It is to fantasy what splatter punk is to horror... and while I hate to admit it, I love a good gore piece every now and then.
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I am more interested to see if there is any "weird west," "historical fiction," or "prehistoric fantasy" in the contest.
Those are finally getting enough traction that the setting can be done in a flash fic environment, I suppose. Wasn't too long ago and it'd take half the 500 words just to establish what an "airship" was to the readers. =]
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Against my better judgement (I've never written fantasy) and my wife's pleading (I was totally OCD about the Pseudopod contest), I'm entering at least one, maybe two, in this one.
I can't promise they'll be good, but I CAN promise 100% LESS decapitated zombie face sex this time. So there is that...
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Against my better judgement (I've never written fantasy) and my wife's pleading (I was totally OCD about the Pseudopod contest), I'm entering at least one, maybe two, in this one.
I can't promise they'll be good, but I CAN promise 100% LESS decapitated zombie face sex this time. So there is that...
I don't know. A lot of people today argue that zombie stories are more fantasy or sci fi than horror. I am not kidding. You can google it. It is a legitimate debate. Well legitimate is a strong word...
In any event, you could make the case that you have always been writing fantasy. However by that benchmark, people could reject it because it was too sci-fi!
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Against my better judgement (I've never written fantasy) and my wife's pleading (I was totally OCD about the Pseudopod contest), I'm entering at least one, maybe two, in this one.
I can't promise they'll be good, but I CAN promise 100% LESS decapitated zombie face sex this time. So there is that...
I don't know. A lot of people today argue that zombie stories are more fantasy or sci fi than horror. I am not kidding. You can google it. It is a legitimate debate. Well legitimate is a strong word...
In any event, you could make the case that you have always been writing fantasy. However by that benchmark, people could reject it because it was too sci-fi!
six of one... :P
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I can't promise they'll be good, but I CAN promise 100% LESS decapitated zombie face sex this time. So there is that...
And you see this as a good thing? 8)
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I can't promise they'll be good, but I CAN promise 100% LESS decapitated zombie face sex this time. So there is that...
And you see this as a good thing? 8)
according to the readers of the pseudopod flash contest, it's a very good thing. ;D
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Are acknowledgements being sent out? It's been a week and I haven't heard anything. Just wondering if I have to send my stories again.
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Well, I got somethin' somethin' stewing on the back burner...hope to get something out of it before it boils over and makes a mess.
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I'll be submitting one! (Why, yes... I AM a new member posting for the sole purpose of not getting deleted. ;) )
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With that summer school going on and me getting ready for my honeymoon, I almost forgot that I haven't sent my story yet - still need to do some final adjustments after a betareader went through it.
edit: OMG, so many mistakes still in the text...
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I have two stories written. They're with a beta reader now who will hopefully catch all grammar and spelling mistakes (English is not my native language). I must say I'm very, very excited to actually participate in this contest! :D
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I just made an account, solely to submit a story to this contest. I'm super nervous.
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It is cool to see a bunch of people just come on board for the contest. Only two more days to get stories in too!
Also good to hear that Portrait is back in the saddle writing.
Ocicat, is this contest going to be like the last one where a group of stories is let for judging every 5 days or so in the preliminary voting rounds?
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Schedule is yet to be determined, and depends on how many stories / groups we end up with. But yes, basically there will be a new group up every x days, where values for x may range from 2-6. Once I've arranged the groups I'll post a schedule.
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Also good to hear that Portrait is back in the saddle writing.
Perhaps. Or maybe I'm just thinking of chaps and how they don't really fit this weather.
(http://www.neworleanskiddierides.com/mechanical-bull-rentals-louisiana-new-orleans-metairie-houma-baton-rouge.jpg)
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aaand.... sent!
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I managed to talk Angela into one story, at least. She says she can't think of anything for her second one. :-/
(Hardcore contest junkies might recall her "Destructo-Bot".)
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Just submitted my two. Yippee ki yay, Mr. Falcon.
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Just submitted my two stories! This is so very exciting!! :)
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What's the exact deadline? Midnight EST? I have one ready to go, but my second one is being... stubborn.
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Midnight PDT. I'm in Seattle, so that's what counts. :)
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I just submitted my second story, looking forward to reading what everyone else has created!
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Checking in! Please don't purge me! :)
Got one story ready to go. Wondering if I can get another ready in time, but might just go with this one.
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I'm impressed with all the people who came up with two. I find flash a really difficult format, and had a heck of a time coming up with even one idea I could work all the way up to final form. Though I did get a couple of ideas usable for longer pieces...
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Hello all!
I've just joined for the contest - sent my single piece in a few minutes ago!
Can't wait to read the rest. It's my first time writing for a competition, so I'm hoping to learn as much as possible through the ancient and noble art of sponging shamelessly from other, better writers. Good luck to everyone!
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Mine are in finally after obsessing over them for the last couple months.
I'm really looking forward to reading everyone's stories.
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Boom. Boom. Two in with two-and-a-half hours to spare. Whew.
I tell ya, this was the loooongest two-month submission period ever.(And still I waited until the last hours to submit :-\) I'm so glad it's finally here and pretty much closed so we can get this contest underway. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what everyone has come up with.
Good luck to you all! :D
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I'm really looking forward to reading all the stories. Good luck everyone.
Thank you Escape Artists!
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Whew.
Submitted my 2nd one with 19 minutes to go. Here's hoping that wordcounttool.com still counts more words than MSWord2007 does.
How do all these people still have Office 2007 anyway?
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How do all these people still have Office 2007 anyway?
:D I have it because it's the CD I have from my laptop that I got back when I started college. I recently built a new computer and needed Word, and there it was. Why upgrade? I don't have that kind of money!
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I'm impressed at your CD-retention!
LibreOffice for me. The only problem is it appears to have a crappy word count function.
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Until the last moment, I wasn't sure whether I'd come up with something to submit - the answer is no. But I'm very excited to participate as a reader and voter. Good luck everyone! This is going to be fun :)
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Until the last moment, I wasn't sure whether I'd come up with something to submit - the answer is no. But I'm very excited to participate as a reader and voter. Good luck everyone! This is going to be fun :)
Me too, eytanz. I wish I had a creative mind! LOL
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Checking in! Please don't purge me! :)
Got one story ready to go. Wondering if I can get another ready in time, but might just go with this one.
Yay! Another Dani! (IRL I'm a Dani too!)
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Submissions are now closed! We have 121 entries. I'll be working out a group structure and schedule and posting about that in the next few days.
Thanks to everyone who submitted! This is going to be a lot of fun!
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Can I make a request on the structure, Ocicat? In the PseudoPod contest we had something like 10 or 11 stories in the final round. I thought that was a few too many. When I get to the finals I want to only have 5 or 6 to choose from. Could you set it up so that we narrow it down a bit more before the final round?
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This contest is so much more about the fun of being a part of it than it is about winning. With a 100+ entries, the chances of winning are pretty slim, but who cares?
Actually, the chances of getting accepted via the contest (3/121= 2.47%) are about the same as the Duotrope-reported acceptance rate for a normal PodCastle submission -- 2.76%. Plus the added benefit of being able to see reader comments and the fun of the contest structure.
Good luck to everyone!
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Looking forward to taking part, should be fun (and terrifying)!
Yay! Another Dani! (IRL I'm a Dani too!)
*waves*
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Gah. Excitement reaching critical mass! I am dearly looking forward to this flash feast of epic proportions!
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On a slightly weird off shoot regarding past contests. I finally got a permanent published home for the flash fiction piece Piedras Marcadas which made it into the semi-finals in the Pseudopod contest. You can read the final version of the story with original artwork at
http://horrornovelreviews.com/2013/09/01/read-matthew-j-barbours-piedras-marcadas/#comments
I know it isn't much, but it something for me. It is my first published piece of fiction. I am still trying to find a home for Giusewa.
Cant want wait for Podcastle contest.
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First contest I've entered. I'm nervous/excited, but happy for entering.
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On a slightly weird off shoot regarding past contests. I finally got a permanent published home for the flash fiction piece Piedras Marcadas which made it into the semi-finals in the Pseudopod contest. You can read the final version of the story with original artwork at
http://horrornovelreviews.com/2013/09/01/read-matthew-j-barbours-piedras-marcadas/#comments
I haven't read the story before; it falls into the "That was evil, but I liked it" category for me...
Congrats on finding a home for it.
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This contest is so much more about the fun of being a part of it than it is about winning. With a 100+ entries, the chances of winning are pretty slim, but who cares?
Actually, the chances of getting accepted via the contest (3/121= 2.47%) are about the same as the Duotrope-reported acceptance rate for a normal PodCastle submission -- 2.76%. Plus the added benefit of being able to see reader comments and the fun of the contest structure.
Good luck to everyone!
Overall, probably. For me, I reckon my odds are much higher in the contest because I don't have to get a story past Ann Leckie. From past experience I reckon I have a 0% chance of ever sending her a story she will pass to the editors. With a contest I have a chance, slim as it may be.
--Note: I'm not complaining about Ann. Just observing that I've gotten some close calls at most of my favorite markets, but have never gotten the slightest hint of interest here, and I've sent pretty much everything I've ever written. She did, however, send me a rejection that earned me a pizza bought by Ferrett Steinmetz. So that's something, at least. :)
Anyhoo, bring it on! Just back from paternity leave and am now swamped with projects I put on hold until I was back. What's a little more swamping, when all is said and done?
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You know what they say! "No-one ever died wishing they'd spent LESS time swamped with an unending stream of soul-destroying work!"
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Um, I don't think that's true.
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Overall, probably. For me, I reckon my odds are much higher in the contest because I don't have to get a story past Ann Leckie. From past experience I reckon I have a 0% chance of ever sending her a story she will pass to the editors. With a contest I have a chance, slim as it may be.
--Note: I'm not complaining about Ann. Just observing that I've gotten some close calls at most of my favorite markets, but have never gotten the slightest hint of interest here, and I've sent pretty much everything I've ever written.
OK, I'm going to go all Daniel Kahneman on you: Do you really think you've submitted enough stories to tell the difference between a 0% acceptance rate and a 3% acceptance rate? If you have, I think I'm awed by the volume of your output... ;)
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Wow... Any tips for reading 121 flash stories without suffering from some serious concept-bleed? I always have this problem, that short stories blend into a single wierd narrative if I read too many without taking the time to digest them properly. ;D
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You know what they say! "No-one ever died wishing they'd spent LESS time swamped with an unending stream of soul-destroying work!"
Um, I don't think that's true.
How rude! I presume you've checked with the dead, at the very least?
Ooooh. Maybe that should have been a second contest entry. Necromancy-as-argument-settler? Has it already been done?
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Wow... Any tips for reading 121 flash stories without suffering from some serious concept-bleed? I always have this problem, that short stories blend into a single wierd narrative if I read too many without taking the time to digest them properly. ;D
Likely they won't be posted all at once...usually a bunch per round with a day or so between rounds being posted.
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Wow... Any tips for reading 121 flash stories without suffering from some serious concept-bleed? I always have this problem, that short stories blend into a single wierd narrative if I read too many without taking the time to digest them properly. ;D
Likely they won't be posted all at once...usually a bunch per round with a day or so between rounds being posted.
It's always a struggle to balance between reader fatigue and overwhelming folks. From start to finish I think these usually take 1.5 to 2 months.
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Here's what I do - It's not perfect, but work and life have been kind of nuts for a while so I don't have as much time to devote to this as I did when we did the Escapepod contest.
I make a list of the six or eight stories that show up in each group and then do a really quick read of them. As soon as anything annoys me in any of the stories I stop reading and the story gets an NA vote. This is kind of my version of the blue line of death, and it usually happens within the first couple sentences.
Then I go back and carefully read the ones that I liked and give them a vote of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best.
And then I vote for the ones with the highest scores - usually we'll get three votes in each group of the first round of stories.
Oh, and if my story is in the group I have a nervous breakdown and click on refresh every 2 seconds as I watch the scores move around and try not to scream at the screen about how crazy it is that people are voting for THAT story instead of mine.
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Overall, probably. For me, I reckon my odds are much higher in the contest because I don't have to get a story past Ann Leckie. From past experience I reckon I have a 0% chance of ever sending her a story she will pass to the editors. With a contest I have a chance, slim as it may be.
--Note: I'm not complaining about Ann. Just observing that I've gotten some close calls at most of my favorite markets, but have never gotten the slightest hint of interest here, and I've sent pretty much everything I've ever written.
OK, I'm going to go all Daniel Kahneman on you: Do you really think you've submitted enough stories to tell the difference between a 0% acceptance rate and a 3% acceptance rate? If you have, I think I'm awed by the volume of your output... ;)
Well... maybe. Looking at my records, I've submitted 36 times to Podcastle. But I think all but one were a form rejection signed by Ann, so I didn't get much of anywhere. Maybe I just write in a more horror-y style--have sold 4 of 22 that I've sent to Pseudopod.
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Here's what I do - It's not perfect, but work and life have been kind of nuts for a while so I don't have as much time to devote to this as I did when we did the Escapepod contest.
I make a list of the six or eight stories that show up in each group and then do a really quick read of them. As soon as anything annoys me in any of the stories I stop reading and the story gets an NA vote. This is kind of my version of the blue line of death, and it usually happens within the first couple sentences.
Then I go back and carefully read the ones that I liked and give them a vote of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best.
And then I vote for the ones with the highest scores - usually we'll get three votes in each group of the first round of stories.
Oh, and if my story is in the group I have a nervous breakdown and click on refresh every 2 seconds as I watch the scores move around and try not to scream at the screen about how crazy it is that people are voting for THAT story instead of mine.
Good strategy. I do something similar except that in the initial rounds there are rarely more than 3 that I might've voted for anyway, so I don't often have to do a 2nd readthrough. For most stories it's not that I hate them, it's just that there are some things that interfered with the tension, suspension of belief, or something like that. Which is pretty typical of what I've seen in magazine slushpiles as well.
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Here's what I do - It's not perfect, but work and life have been kind of nuts for a while so I don't have as much time to devote to this as I did when we did the Escapepod contest.
I make a list of the six or eight stories that show up in each group and then do a really quick read of them. As soon as anything annoys me in any of the stories I stop reading and the story gets an NA vote. This is kind of my version of the blue line of death, and it usually happens within the first couple sentences.
Then I go back and carefully read the ones that I liked and give them a vote of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best.
And then I vote for the ones with the highest scores - usually we'll get three votes in each group of the first round of stories.
Oh, and if my story is in the group I have a nervous breakdown and click on refresh every 2 seconds as I watch the scores move around and try not to scream at the screen about how crazy it is that people are voting for THAT story instead of mine.
Good strategy. I do something similar except that in the initial rounds there are rarely more than 3 that I might've voted for anyway, so I don't often have to do a 2nd readthrough. For most stories it's not that I hate them, it's just that there are some things that interfered with the tension, suspension of belief, or something like that. Which is pretty typical of what I've seen in magazine slushpiles as well.
I open a new window for a round of stories, with the voting pane on the left and every story in new tabs to the right. I close the tabs for anything I wouldn't vote for and move the ones worth considering to the left of the voting pane. If I get down to three by this method, the unread survivors on the right get free votes. If I have more than three on the left, then I get meaner or more capricious.
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Last time I read all of them, but I was usually pretty quiet outside of rooting for my favorites. That was a mistake. As a contestant, I enjoyed getting feedback on my piece whether someone liked it or didn't. The honest criticism helped me understand better what my strengths and weakness were in my own writing.
I am going to try to be more vocal this time commenting on everything. That probably means it will take me a day or two to read through the entries, but I think it is valuable. I am aware it is going to burn me out.
Unblinking, the only things I have ever read/listened to by you were horror. I am surprised to hear that you have submitted 26 stories to pod castle! You are not writing about elves with butcher knives are you? hehehe...
Also thanks Windup. I am glad you liked the story.
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Here's what I do - It's not perfect, but work and life have been kind of nuts for a while so I don't have as much time to devote to this as I did when we did the Escapepod contest.
I make a list of the six or eight stories that show up in each group and then do a really quick read of them. As soon as anything annoys me in any of the stories I stop reading and the story gets an NA vote. This is kind of my version of the blue line of death, and it usually happens within the first couple sentences.
Then I go back and carefully read the ones that I liked and give them a vote of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best.
And then I vote for the ones with the highest scores - usually we'll get three votes in each group of the first round of stories.
Oh, and if my story is in the group I have a nervous breakdown and click on refresh every 2 seconds as I watch the scores move around and try not to scream at the screen about how crazy it is that people are voting for THAT story instead of mine.
Good strategy. I do something similar except that in the initial rounds there are rarely more than 3 that I might've voted for anyway, so I don't often have to do a 2nd readthrough. For most stories it's not that I hate them, it's just that there are some things that interfered with the tension, suspension of belief, or something like that. Which is pretty typical of what I've seen in magazine slushpiles as well.
I open a new window for a round of stories, with the voting pane on the left and every story in new tabs to the right. I close the tabs for anything I wouldn't vote for and move the ones worth considering to the left of the voting pane. If I get down to three by this method, the unread survivors on the right get free votes. If I have more than three on the left, then I get meaner or more capricious.
Fenrix, either you've said this before and I stole it from you, or we think eerily alike. :) I start with a tab for each story on the right of the voting tab and move really strong stories to the left of the voting tab. Good but not immediate vote stories get put closer to the voting tab than weak stories until I've read them all. Then I use my quick rankings to narrow it down to three. Rarely do I straight up close a tab before I've read all the stories in that group.
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Very excited to read all the entries!
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Unblinking, the only things I have ever read/listened to by you were horror. I am surprised to hear that you have submitted 26 stories to pod castle! You are not writing about elves with butcher knives are you? hehehe...
Fantasy is my default genre most of the time. Horror is fun to write too, but more of my ideas are suitable for fantasy than horror. SF I don't write a lot of, and even most of what I do is borderline fantasy anyway. I've gotten some fantasy pieces published at different venues, just never here.
But I have 2 entries in the contest, so you'll get a free and easy chance to read my fantasy soon in any case. :)
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What's the standard recommendation for voting if you're an author in the contest? Should I avoid even voting in any brackets my piece appears in? Or should I only cast two votes -- ones NOT for my pieces?
Thanks!
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What's the standard recommendation for voting if you're an author in the contest? Should I avoid even voting in any brackets my piece appears in? Or should I only cast two votes -- ones NOT for my pieces?
Thanks!
If you're proud of it, vote for it. If you're not proud of it, you probably shouldn't have entered it. ;D
(i keed, i keed.)
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What's the standard recommendation for voting if you're an author in the contest? Should I avoid even voting in any brackets my piece appears in? Or should I only cast two votes -- ones NOT for my pieces?
Thanks!
You should absolutely vote for your own and in your own groups. Sometimes it's the only vote your story gets, :-\
And definitely comment on stories in your own groups. Just be careful not to give away which stories are yours or to bad mouth others to garner votes for your own. (Not that I think you would do that).
But one of the great benefits of this contest is getting so much feedback from so many people, so return the favor and comment as much as you can. :)
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Thank you both, that helps a lot. (And I'll definitely comment -- but I may wait and see what the normal depth of critique is offered before I pipe up. My current writing group is a little intense and I need to get a feel for the podcastle contest levels).
I will say I peeked at the last contest entries and just ADORED Fetch (along with a great many other stories) so the reader in me is all giddy at new content!
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Anyone else find themselves dropping in super frequently today to check if the first batch has posted yet? Jeepers, this has me shivering with antici
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Anyone else find themselves dropping in super frequently today to check if the first batch has posted yet? Jeepers, this has me shivering with antici
You're the sort of writer who employs cliffhangers, aren't you? *grin and wink*
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Anyone else find themselves dropping in super frequently today to check if the first batch has posted yet? Jeepers, this has me shivering with antici
You're the sort of writer who employs cliffhangers, aren't you? *grin and wink*
pation!
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Anyone else find themselves dropping in super frequently today to check if the first batch has posted yet? Jeepers, this has me shivering with antici
Does every five minutes count as "frequently"? ;)
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Anyone else find themselves dropping in super frequently today to check if the first batch has posted yet? Jeepers, this has me shivering with antici
You're the sort of writer who employs cliffhangers, aren't you? *grin and wink*
pation!
Oh, you Sweet thing, you.
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Anyone else find themselves dropping in super frequently today to check if the first batch has posted yet? Jeepers, this has me shivering with antici
....guilty!
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What's the standard recommendation for voting if you're an author in the contest? Should I avoid even voting in any brackets my piece appears in? Or should I only cast two votes -- ones NOT for my pieces?
Thanks!
You should absolutely vote for your own and in your own groups. Sometimes it's the only vote your story gets, :-\
And definitely comment on stories in your own groups. Just be careful not to give away which stories are yours or to bad mouth others to garner votes for your own. (Not that I think you would do that).
But one of the great benefits of this contest is getting so much feedback from so many people, so return the favor and comment as much as you can. :)
I agree with Cutter McKay: there's nothing wrong with voting for your own piece (and whether you do that because you think yours deserves a vote or because it's yours, that's between you and your browser). And since the feedback is very often very helpful, I'd also say go head and comment on the stories in any batch, whether or not you've got a story in the mix.
(With the addendum, as Cutter says, that you play fair in the comments: don't give away your authorship, don't unduly critique other pieces, and don't give special authorial insight into your own piece.)
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Dare I disturb the universe? Sept. 4, awaiting the long anticipated first batch…drumming nervously with all six fingers of time.
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Time has six fingers, eh? Interesting. :-) But I'll see your six fingers of time, and raise you 40 fingers of contestants. (Or at least 32 fingers and 8 thumbs.)
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I have all the stories set into groups, I'll post more details in a bit.
I'm expecting to get to actually posting the 12 stories in the first group tomorrow.
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I have all the stories set into groups, I'll post more details in a bit.
I'm expecting to get to actually posting the 12 stories in the first group tomorrow.
Thanks for the update, Ocicat! And thanks for all your efforts.
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I have all the stories set into groups, I'll post more details in a bit.
I'm expecting to get to actually posting the 12 stories in the first group tomorrow.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
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I have all the stories set into groups, I'll post more details in a bit.
I'm expecting to get to actually posting the 12 stories in the first group tomorrow.
Thanks for the update, Ocicat! And thanks for all your efforts.
Thank you, Ocicat!
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There is a schedule!
Things are happening!
How exciting x.x
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Augh! So much waiting! The tension! The excitement!
Delicious...
Good luck everyone!
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Just a trifle confused…is this first group of stories up? I see the schedule thread and the notice that only those who have submitted may vote thread…but I don't see the first stories yet. Am I just jumping the gun or something else?
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Yeah, Ocicat said the first group probably won't actually be up until tomorrow morning.
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Thanks. Just saw that…I'm the kind of guy who tends to read half the directions and scan the pictures before attempting to put the "whateveritis" together…sometimes I get nipped at the ankles for my haste.
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...the notice that only those who have submitted may vote thread…
It's only those who have posted in the forums (ever) may vote. People who did not submit to the contest are more than welcome to participate!
...tomorrow.
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(http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lubq5nnTLi1qmjd2so1_500.jpg)
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Ocicat, will you be posting here (or somewhere) to notify when new groups go up? I can sign up to get notifications for topics, but not (I don't think) for new Child Boards.
Oh, also: thanks very much for doing this, by the way, both as a contestant and a reader!
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Here's what I do - It's not perfect, but work and life have been kind of nuts for a while so I don't have as much time to devote to this as I did when we did the Escapepod contest.
I make a list of the six or eight stories that show up in each group and then do a really quick read of them. As soon as anything annoys me in any of the stories I stop reading and the story gets an NA vote. This is kind of my version of the blue line of death, and it usually happens within the first couple sentences.
Then I go back and carefully read the ones that I liked and give them a vote of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best.
And then I vote for the ones with the highest scores - usually we'll get three votes in each group of the first round of stories.
Oh, and if my story is in the group I have a nervous breakdown and click on refresh every 2 seconds as I watch the scores move around and try not to scream at the screen about how crazy it is that people are voting for THAT story instead of mine.
This is a very reasonable method in my opinion. I'm doing something similar.
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Need.... moar.... stories. Three days between is going to be brutal.
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Need.... moar.... stories. Three days between is going to be brutal.
A-men
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Given limited time to comment, I've settled on a triage method.
First priority is to comment on stories I almost voted for, but didn't. My reasoning is that these are stories that are pretty good, and for which I'm apparently part of the intended audience, but have what in my view is a "fixable flaw." My hope is that my comments will be useful if the author wants to rewrite it and to take it to another market, or possibly helpful in future stories.
Second priority is to say something about stories I voted for, though I think the authors have gotten the feedback of my vote, so it isn't as important to comment on them as it is on the "almost made-its." Besides, there's usually less to say.
Finally, comment on the stories I never seriously considered voting for. I probably won't get to those very often. In many of those cases, I feel that I'm so far removed from the story's intended audience that my feedback wouldn't be very useful, or the story needs a more detailed and nuanced critique than I can give in this environment.
Of course, I may ignore all this and comment on anything that really grabs me, because, hey, this is supposed to be a hobby, right? ;D
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I'm going to apologize in advance if my comments sound terse or crabby. My Little Miss Sunshine membership card expired earlier this year.
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Ooooh. Maybe that should have been a second contest entry. Necromancy-as-argument-settler? Has it already been done?
I think Rashomon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashomon) qualifies, at least as far as consulting the dead in an attempt to settle a dispute. Though in the story, consulting the departed couldn't give a definitive answer. It seems the dead, too, have their axes to grind...
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Anyone else waiting up until midnight, just in case the stories post?
I'm sure Ocicat's got nothing better to do on a Saturday night than feed us more flash fiction when the clock rolls over... right right? ;)
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Second group is up for voting!
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This is my first time voting or submitting in one of these Flash Contests. It's a weird set of feelings. On the one hand I desperately want my story to do well and I'm doing a marginally good job handling that. On the other hand I'm finding myself feeling very protective, maybe even possessive, over the stories for which I have cast my vote. Sheesh.
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On the one hand I desperately want my story to do well and I'm doing a marginally good job handling that. On the other hand I'm finding myself feeling very protective, maybe even possessive, over the stories for which I have cast my vote. Sheesh.
Everyone desperately wants to do well, even as you sit there and see flaws in your own work (at least I do) as soon as other people start looking at it.
Every negative comment or criticism can seem like a personal affront. I know I've found myself getting angry or annoyed at people that don't get something I thought was obvious or think something is an error that was intentional. It happens.
But you've got to take a deep breath and keep reminding yourself that people are giving their reactions, and most have the best interests of you and your writing at heart. When you give stories that need work to your grandmother or girlfriend etc. for comment and they can just tell you everything works fine, it can be good for the ego (oh sweet ego soothing) but not great for actually improving the story. When you know a story needs work but can't figure out how to fix it, this gets really frustrating. I find that heartless evil strangers are much better at tearing things down and helping figure out why they don't work quite right.
Try not to take the criticism personally. Even the harshest of us don't mean it as anything but explaining what we didn't like with the hopes that when it comes time to revise the story, that will be something to work from. This is why it's a good idea to take some time (months) before revising, to give yourself some distance from your story.
Anyway, we've all been there. Don't let it get to you too much!
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Also, yes, totally cheerlead the stories that aren't getting enough love that you loved. Maybe you can win some votes for them in the comments!
(I'm tired and totally misinterpreted some of what you said before, but I wrote a Spaghetti-Monster damned book of a post and I'm sure as sauce not going to delete it.)
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Also, yes, totally cheerlead the stories that aren't getting enough love that you loved. Maybe you can win some votes for them in the comments!
(I'm tired and totally misinterpreted some of what you said before, but I wrote a Spaghetti-Monster damned book of a post and I'm sure as sauce not going to delete it.)
Totally fine, don't worry about it! I could smell all the positive intentions :)
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On the one hand I desperately want my story to do well and I'm doing a marginally good job handling that.
I'm a little more sanguine (I think ... I hope) about how my stories do this time around than I was in the last contest. Last time, I was overly concerned with how they did.
This time, while I will be pleased if they do well in the contest, I'm mostly interested in seeing what people have to say about them. The vote count won't teach me as much as the commentariat will.
Also, I'm not usually a (fiction) writer. These two stories are the first fiction I've written since the last contest, three years ago (and they were among the first I'd written for many years before that). I can't really complain if my stories don't do well, because I don't regularly practice and improve.
(I'm not suggesting that heyes or anyone else should emulate me; just relating my own journey.)
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Awesome
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Group 3 is up, and it's the last day for voting in Group 1!
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I love the new names of the groups, Ocicat. Dragon league, Phoenix league and Manticore league sound so much better than groups 1 -3. I can't wait to see what's next. ;D
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Group 3 is up, and it's the last day for voting in Group 1!
On my screen, at the top of Group 1, it says: "(Voting closes: September 12, 2013, 10:23:43 AM)"
I'm on Central Time (US) and the time up in the corner under "Simple Machines Forum" matches the local time on my computer, so I don't think it's something messed up in my profile.
It doesn't matter to me -- I've long since voted -- but if that's happening to others, it might mess someone up who expects more time to think the stories over.
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I love the new names of the groups, Ocicat. Dragon league, Phoenix league and Manticore league sound so much better than groups 1 -3. I can't wait to see what's next. ;D
I agree. Adds another layer of anticipation and excitement.
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Group 4 is up, and it's the last day to vote for group 2.
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This is nerve-wracking! This is my first time to submit, so I'm quite anxious every time a new league is posted. So far, I'm only slightly disappointed my story hasn't appeared yet. There have been some really good ones so far that I'm glad I'm not competing with yet. The other part is having to maintain anonymity until my story is out of the running. Where's that "runs away screaming" emoticon?
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I know this is said all the time but thank you so much for putting on this contest! I don't have any writer friends and this is the only place I can really talk about writing.
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I know this is said all the time but thank you so much for putting on this contest! I don't have any writer friends and this is the only place I can really talk about writing.
FWIW, I don't think you can say it enough :)
I think it's really great that our mods were willing to put on the contest and organize it all, and I'm happy to see so many people part participating!
If you enjoy the contest and are looking for more story feedback, check out our crit group.
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Also, there are many places to find writers to talk to online. The forum here is a great place, especially the crit forum.
Also, Baen's Bar has a writing critique section:
http://bar.baen.com
Critters is a writing critique group:
http://www.critique.org
Writers of the Future has a writing focused forum group:
http://www.writersofthefuture.com
If you've managed to get a pro writing sale, Codex is great:
http://www.codex.com
Intergalactic Medicine Show has a writer's forum called Hatrack River:
http://hatrack.com/writers/index.shtml
Many SF magazines have a writer's corner, though some are pretty inactive. I used to hang about Analog and Asimov's forums.
Basically I only visit this forum and Codex anymore, but I've gone to all of the above at one point or another. And if you find a writer you like the style and/or personality you can always suggest a critique exchange--is a good way to get some feedback and meet some people.
Also, hi! :)
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Group 5 is up, and it's the last day to vote in the Manticore League.
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Thanks again to all the people who put in the work to make podcastle what it is.
I've never written on a forum before and i don't like not being face to face in all this discussion, please know that anything (or at least most things) I say are said with timidity and not meant to be haughty or argumentative in any way.
Preface all my statements with the phrase:
Well, maybe...
I am very much enjoying being an active part of this community.
(Edit: that last sentence does not require the preface)
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Also, there are many places to find writers to talk to online. The forum here is a great place, especially the crit forum.
Also, Baen's Bar has a writing critique section:
http://bar.baen.com
Critters is a writing critique group:
http://www.critique.org
Writers of the Future has a writing focused forum group:
http://www.writersofthefuture.com
If you've managed to get a pro writing sale, Codex is great:
http://www.codex.com
Intergalactic Medicine Show has a writer's forum called Hatrack River:
http://hatrack.com/writers/index.shtml
Many SF magazines have a writer's corner, though some are pretty inactive. I used to hang about Analog and Asimov's forums.
Basically I only visit this forum and Codex anymore, but I've gone to all of the above at one point or another. And if you find a writer you like the style and/or personality you can always suggest a critique exchange--is a good way to get some feedback and meet some people.
Also, hi! :)
Unblinking, thanks for this. So extremely helpful! I'm lucky enough to have a few friends to exchange writing with IRL, but since they know me personally, it's hard to get honest opinions. I've joined the crit forum, although haven't poked around too much with this contest going on. Hope to chime in over there in the future as I've already learned so much from this intelligent crowd. :)
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Also, I've written up some guidelines for critique etiquette that I've found helpful:
http://www.diabolicalplots.com/?p=1606
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Also, I've written up some guidelines for critique etiquette that I've found helpful:
http://www.diabolicalplots.com/?p=1606
These are really good guidelines, pay attention to them!
Also, I keep saying it, but I swear will get around to being active in the crit group forum, soonish, so don't give up hope, there will be +1 person to the number you see active.
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Also, I've written up some guidelines for critique etiquette that I've found helpful:
http://www.diabolicalplots.com/?p=1606
Thank you so much for this, Unblinking, and for the list of writing forums.
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Also, I've written up some guidelines for critique etiquette that I've found helpful:
http://www.diabolicalplots.com/?p=1606
Thank you so much for this, Unblinking, and for the list of writing forums.
You're very welcome. :) I don't remember if I've posted a similar list to Diabolical Plots--might be a good idea for folks who are looking for some interaction. The writing itself is a lonely business, but in this day and age there's no reason you can't find other writers. :)
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Now the world shall know the terror of The Bonnacon League! Cower before it's 13 entries!
Also, last day to vote on The (God damned) Dolphin League.
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Now the world shall know the terror of The Bonnacon League! Cower before it's 13 entries!
Also, cower before it's poo.
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The Siren of Group 7 is calling to you.
And last day for voting in the Cerastes League.
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Now the world shall know the terror of The Bonnacon League! Cower before it's 13 entries!
Also, cower before it's poo.
It's going to turn into poo? Ewww.....
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Now the world shall know the terror of The Bonnacon League! Cower before it's 13 entries!
Also, cower before it's poo.
It's going to turn into poo? Ewww.....
My apologies, "its poo"! Funny the grammar allowed the other way to mean something too.
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I'm finding it more and more difficult to vote on things. I don't know about the rest of you, but sometimes my tiebreakers are decided more by the fact that this is a podcast competition -- which stories have lush language that I'd love to hear read aloud.
Some of these stories are fantastic fun to read, but some others are slightly more fun to LISTEN to. I kind of wish I could go back and vote differently on a few pieces that I was waffling on.
So much talent here! Very glad to be able to participate and read so many wonderful stories.
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Now the world shall know the terror of The Bonnacon League! Cower before it's 13 entries!
Also, cower before it's poo.
It's going to turn into poo? Ewww.....
My apologies, "its poo"! Funny the grammar allowed the other way to mean something too.
Sorry, I was just too amused by the alternate meaning to pass it up. :)
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Hey Dave, I noticed today that you've begun commenting on the stories in the now-closed Group 5. But there are still a few stories in Group 4 that didn't get the much anticipated DKT comment, mine included. :'(
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I cannot believe I missed that. Sorry, man!
I think I've got 'em all now. If in the future I skip your story, it's because I messed up, not because of your story. SERIOUSLY. So ping me, or comment here. Cause I really want to comment on 'em :D
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I cannot believe I missed that. Sorry, man!
I think I've got 'em all now. If in the future I skip your story, it's because I messed up, not because of your story. SERIOUSLY. So ping me, or comment here. Cause I really want to comment on 'em :D
Point of information - looks like you also overlooked "Talking Walls" as well. One of my faves from this round, am looking forward to hearing the editor's take!
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Heh. That one was a victim of my lunchbreak. I'll be with it shortly :)
ETA: Although in retrospect, I guess it was fairly anticlimactic editor feedback!
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Did you know that some kinds of geese don't hatch from eggs, but instead grow from barnacles? Find out in Group 8! Also read and vote on some stories.
And say goodbye to the Bonnacon. Today is his last day on the boards - I'm afraid we're going to have to let him go.
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And say goodbye to the Bonnacon. Today is his last day on the boards - I'm afraid we're going to have to let him go.
It was inevitable. I've never seen an animal harder to housetrain...
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It is INCREDIBLY difficult to not vote for a friend's story, especially when it's up against such strong competition! Those of you who've already posted about not voting for friends/family, I tip my hat to you.
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A reminder, as Wiskerwing notes above: if a story is from a family member, friend, or you otherwise know the author of a story DO NOT VOTE FOR IT. You may vote for your own stories.
Also, the rules stated that if two voters are in the same household, you are to email me and let me know. There have been two instances where I have noticed accounts sharing an IP address that I wasn't previously informed of. This is very dangerous and can get your story disqualified. At the very least, votes from your household for your story will be disqualified.
All that being said - please welcome the Group 9 mascot, the ferocious if obscure Pard.
And of course, today is the last day of voting in the Siren League.
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Oh no, I missed the Siren league voting deadline... :-\
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Oh no, I missed the Siren league voting deadline... :-\
That's a shame, since it was a really close group! Make sure you vote now for Barnacle Goose League - not too much longer to go on that group now. Those that fall in the sea will live, and those that fall on land will die.
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Those that fall in the sea will live, and those that fall on land will die.
:D :D :D
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The final group of the first round is up! All stories from the contest have now been posted.
And it is indeed the last day to direct the poor barnacle geese to the water.
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The final group of the first round is up! All stories from the contest have now been posted.
And it is indeed the last day to direct the poor barnacle geese to the water.
And I have read them all!
Really there were a lot of solid stories, a lot of other stories I liked but which had a fatal flaw. Really, there were very few stories that I just plain disliked.
Maybe now that I don't have new batches of stories to read all the time I'll get back to the Escape Artists feature stories threads again--between this contest and paternity leave before it, I haven't visited most of the threads in months!
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Maybe now that I don't have new batches of stories to read all the time I'll get back to the Escape Artists feature stories threads again
Me too. I haven't listened to any of the regular stories for like, three weeks now.
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Maybe now that I don't have new batches of stories to read all the time I'll get back to the Escape Artists feature stories threads again
Me too. I haven't listened to any of the regular stories for like, three weeks now.
I've been listening, because I do that on my commute anyway--but I have limited time to screw around on forums, and I've been stretching that just to be sure I can read all the contest entries.
The problem with that is that by the time I get to comment on some of these stories, they'll probably be more than 3 months since I've listened to them. If it's a not a particularly memorable story, I have trouble recalling what the story was about at all when I go back to comment!
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For all the authors:
It's not as easy as it looks! (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2013/10/07)
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For all the authors:
It's not as easy as it looks! (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2013/10/07)
HA! :D
While we're swapping comics about writing, this one (http://theoatmeal.com/comics/making_things) is my all-time favorite (okay, it's generally about creativity, but go with it). FYI: Contains profanity and humping beavers, in case you're at work.
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Just curious: in the last flash contest, when stories moved to the next round, I think I remember that all advancing stories were mixed thoroughly and then re-sorted into new sets so it wasn't Group 1 winners vs. each other and Group 2 + Group 3 winners, but rather 2nd place from Group 1, 1st from group5, 3rd from group 2, etc.
I was just wondering if that was going to be done for this contest the same way...
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It's going to be all mixed up, yes. Probably not exactly the same way. But each semi-final has three basic rules:
1. Have one story from every first round group
2. Have a more-or-less even distribution of winning stories, second place stories, and third place stories.
3. No two stories from the same author.
I should also note that if Group 10 doesn't need a runoff, I may start the semis ahead of schedule. I also now plan on having each group be up for a vote for 8 or 9 days, so we have a longer window with all three up for voting before the first one closes. I might also switch to just two days between posting groups.
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Last day of voting on the first round!
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It's going to be all mixed up, yes. Probably not exactly the same way. But each semi-final has three basic rules:
1. Have one story from every first round group
2. Have a more-or-less even distribution of winning stories, second place stories, and third place stories.
3. No two stories from the same author.
I should also note that if Group 10 doesn't need a runoff, I may start the semis ahead of schedule. I also now plan on having each group be up for a vote for 8 or 9 days, so we have a longer window with all three up for voting before the first one closes. I might also switch to just two days between posting groups.
That all sounds good to me. There'll be less stories, and all of them I'll have read before, so shorter intervals is fine.
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It's going to be all mixed up, yes. Probably not exactly the same way. But each semi-final has three basic rules:
1. Have one story from every first round group
2. Have a more-or-less even distribution of winning stories, second place stories, and third place stories.
3. No two stories from the same author.
I should also note that if Group 10 doesn't need a runoff, I may start the semis ahead of schedule. I also now plan on having each group be up for a vote for 8 or 9 days, so we have a longer window with all three up for voting before the first one closes. I might also switch to just two days between posting groups.
That all sounds good to me. There'll be less stories, and all of them I'll have read before, so shorter intervals is fine.
Agreed, now that round one is complete, let's speed this up a bit. I get why you went with three days between groups, and I agree for the most part, but that third day, spent waiting for the new group, tended to be agonizing. Especially while waiting to see what groups my stories would end up in :-\
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I get why you went with three days between groups, and I agree for the most part, but that third day, spent waiting for the new group, tended to be agonizing. Especially while waiting to see what groups my stories would end up in :-\
And for me, that 3 days was barely enough. :) I had to work pretty hard at carving out time in my life to keep up with them! (As it was, I came close to missing a couple of voting deadlines.)
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Last day of voting on the first round!
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?!?!
Crap. I thought I had an extra day.
Oh, well. Carry on, Ocicat :) You're doing a great job!
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Last day of voting on the first round!
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?!?!
Crap. I thought I had an extra day.
Dave. You don't get to vote. :P
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Oh, I'm well aware of that ;D
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Oh, I'm well aware of that ;D
This makes me curious though. Dave, after the contest is over, maybe you'd like to share with us which stories you'd have voted for. Maybe not out of all 10 groups, maybe just in the semis and finals. But I'd like to know. ;)
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I will consider that, Cutter :) OTOH, I will probably shy away, 'cause I don't want to take anything away from the folks who did advance.
I think there's a pretty good chance we'll be buying additional stories beyond the three winners. I'm making a list, and I will be checking it twice :)
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I will consider that, Cutter :) OTOH, I will probably shy away, 'cause I don't want to take anything away from the folks who did advance.
I think there's a pretty good chance we'll be buying additional stories beyond the three winners. I'm making a list, and I will be checking it twice :)
Make sure to Damn the List ;)
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Oh no, I missed the Siren league voting deadline... :-\
That's a shame, since it was a really close group! Make sure you vote now for Barnacle Goose League - not too much longer to go on that group now. Those that fall in the sea will live, and those that fall on land will die.
Hi Ocicat, first of all, thanks for all the hard work you are putting into the contest. I have finished reading round 1's stories, voted in all groups, and I am now finally tackling the stories in the Siren league. I think my voting wouldn't have changed the outcome, BTW.
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Group 10 is over - today is a day of rest. Semi-finals tomorrow!
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Thank you, Ocicat, for your hard work and hard-won day of rest.
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Well, I've now read every single entry in this contest. Nice job, everyone. I was kind of floored by the quality of the stories here, and I've found myself learning a lot from it.
Looking forward to the Semis!
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And the Semi-finals have started! We're now down to 30 stories by 24 authors. And congratulations to the 6 authors who managed to get two stories into the semis. No matter what happens from here, that's quite an accomplishment - no matter how hard it made my job of putting the stories into groups.
From here we go down to just 9 stories for the final. That's not going to be easy - there are far more than 3 great stories in every group!
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Semi-Final C is up! Oh ya, Semi-Final B too! :D
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Last day to vote for Semi-Final A - don't miss out on having your say on which stories get into the finals!
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There's now a runoff up for Semi-Final A. It has 5 stories in it competing for 2 spots. This was necessary because there were several different and unrelated voting problems - from spouses not realizing they shouldn't vote for their partner's story, to a family member creating a sock puppet account to push a story into the finals - without (I believe) the author's knowledge or consent.
The runoff poll (http://forum.escapeartists.net/index.php?topic=7602.0;viewResults) will last for 3 days, and be watched over by the Salamander - who should be able to prevent any further shenanigans.
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The Final (http://forum.escapeartists.net/index.php?board=194.0) is up!
Nine stories by nine authors; none of the six folks with two stories in the semi-finals managed to get both into the finals. And remember back in Group 1 and 2, how everyone was blown away by the quality of the competition? None of those stories even got in! There are fewer slots in the final than there were initial groups, so some not being represented was inevitable. Three groups (3, 4, and 9) got two stories to the final. In each case the first and second place story. No third placers made it, I'm afraid. I think that shows the groups had a pretty good distribution, not bad for totally random!
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I think that shows the groups had a pretty good distribution, not bad for totally random!
As a programmer, I'm interested to know what method you used for the randomization.
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I program a bit myself, but I like to think I know when doing something by hand is easier than coding it up.
Since the major problem was going to be making sure two authors weren't in the same group, I first split the stories into 12 buckets alphabetically by first name. So all the "Johns" were in the same bucket. Then I just drew lots 1-10 for each story in the bucket, and that's the group they went into.
I'll admit to fudging a bit and picking the shortest story to be the 13th story in the extra sized group, and deciding beforehand that that group should be #6.
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Old school randomization - cool. :)
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I program a bit myself, but I like to think I know when doing something by hand is easier than coding it up.
Then you are not a programmer.
The difference between a programmer and someone who programs is that the programmer will usually decide to write the code rather than do it by hand even though (read: especially when) that will take 4 times as much time.
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No, I'm really not. Professionally I'm a software tester. :D
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I program a bit myself, but I like to think I know when doing something by hand is easier than coding it up.
Then you are not a programmer.
The difference between a programmer and someone who programs is that the programmer will usually decide to write the code rather than do it by hand even though (read: especially when) that will take 4 times as much time.
Not necessarily. :) I do things by hand sometimes, but I usually do them in a very code-like way anyway. For instance, if I need to choose one selection out of eight possibilities I will flip a coin three times to pick a binary number to make the selection. Or my podcast-listening order (which I've gone on about in other threads)
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Almost done - voting closes in less than 24 hours!