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[Cyan]

Theme - "Flight"

Word Limit: 2200

Submission Deadline: Friday, Jan 15th by 11:59 PM Pacific.

Voting begins Saturday, Jan 16th, and goes until Monday, Jan 18th at 11:59 PM Pacific.

Grace Periods: Each of the above deadlines will be followed by a 6-hour grace period. Submissions made after the end of the grace period will be ineligible, and votes cast after the end of the grace period will not be counted. Remember that these are grace periods, not extensions of the deadline--you should still submit your work or cast your vote by the deadline set above.

Optional Secondary Objective: Principles of Puppetry

This is sort of an unusual one, in that instead of giving a big explanation of why I think you should do xyz thing, I'm going to just direct you to a podcast and see what happens. Listen to this episode of Writing Excuses: http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/...ciples-of-puppetry-with-mary-robinette-kowal/ (don't worry, it's fifteen minutes long). And consider Mary's principles when writing/editing your story, if applicable. That's it! (Also, feel free to discuss in this thread if you feel like it.)

Submission Guidelines:

- One entry per poster.
- All submissions must be written during the time of the challenge.
- Using the topic as the title of your piece is discouraged.
- Keep to the word count!

Voting Guidelines:

- Three votes per voter. Please denote in your voting your 1st (3 pts), 2nd (2 pts), and 3rd (1 pt) place votes.
- Please read all submissions before voting.
- You must vote in order to be eligible to win the challenge.
- When voting ends, the winner gets a collective pat on the back, and starts the new challenge.

NeoGAF Creative Writing Challenge FAQ
Previous Challenge Threads and Themes

 

[midramble]

Welp, I'm in. Like the theme and objective.

 

[Hop]

I promise I will actually try this time :x

 

[Mike M]

Hmmmmmm....

Don't think I have anything on tap for this.

 

[DragonBlade42]

Look forward to it. Thanks!

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

oh! I can use something I've got on this. If I can muster not procrastinating on it I might actually deliver. Maybe.

On a complete side note I haven't dreamt I could fly for years, but relatively recently I managed to get it back but only for lower building altitudes. :\
It's very frustrating to realize you can't push on inside your own dream. I want to, but I can't. Like an invisible wall, with gravity acting as a leash to the ground. grrr

 

[Tangent]

Congrats, Cyan!! And, I loved the secondary -- and that memorable podcast that you shared with us a while back. Thanks for bringing it back.

And, HUGE apologies. I was in vacation mode, and then yesterday was the first day back at work, followed by a usually steady and relaxed flip-out dragon-wildebeest-honey-badger of a baby going ballistic about feeding and sleeping. As a result, I completely forgot about story-reading and feedback-providing by the January 4th deadline. I sincerely apologize -- it sucks that y'all read my story and I didn't even return the favor.

Gaz_RB: huge compliment in your feedback. WOW! Thanks!

Mike M: I am so impressed that you REWROTE all your feedback after using your mobile to do so...after being sick... and then apologizing for your shorter-than-usual feedback. Also, another huge compliment: "This story lies somewhere between Motel of Mysteries and Calvin’s Dad." Duh-duh-duh-duh-DAAAAANG. Y'know it's funny, I was talking to

Spoiler

Cyan's sister

about whether I should quit writing at this point in my life. I feel like I crank out "whatever" material from force of habit. But maybe there is value in just working this writing muscle for workout's sake.

Cyan: OK, you've convinced me. I will try to make the hangouts. If I am home to make them, I usually don't since I don't feel mentally prepared to do so, but you make it sound like it's still worthwhile! Plus it's so fun to "hang out" with y'all. Awwwwwww.

Hmmmmmm....

Don't think I have anything on tap for this.

Um, turns out it's not due until the 15th, Mike M. Here, lemme tell you a thing or two about writing. You don't have anything on tap, but then you finally settle for some free-floating idea on the night of the 14th (or the 15th). Ta da!

 

[FlowersisBritish]

oh! I can use something I've got on this. If I can muster not procrastinating on it I might actually deliver. Maybe.

On a complete side note I haven't dreamt I could fly for years, but relatively recently I managed to get it back but only for lower building altitudes. :\
It's very frustrating to realize you can't push on inside your own dream. I want to, but I can't. Like an invisible wall, with gravity acting as a leash to the ground. grrr

I actually have a huge hard on for, what I like to refer to as, areokenesis. Basically, i want to control the wind and make swooshing noises at peoples faces. I occasionally have dreams where I use this very b-tier super power and i will do something like jump really high, then eat shit on the way down, and I always love it. Moral of the Story, don't look your dream horse in the mouth, its trying its best. Just go to those lower buildings and peek through windows.

 

[Valhelm]

Question... Is the prospective first chapter of a larger work acceptable for this challenge?

 

[Ashes]

Question... Is the prospective first chapter of a larger work acceptable for this challenge?

Don't see why not. As long as it is written within this period.

Do note that people tend to prefer complete pieces.

 

[Gaz_RB]

Love the podcast you linked for the second objective.

 

[Nezumi]

*Starts looking around for the notes of Mary's writing workshop*

I think I might have rembered this stuff better if I hadn't be so distracted by that absolutely adorable napkin puppet...

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

I'd like to, but I'd likely won't. I have two other competitions I'm writing for at the moment.

 

[JeffZero]

I may participate in this one. I've been writing a ton lately and it'd be good to expand my horizons with projects such as these. If I don't get a chance this time around, I'll surely try to hop in for the next one.

Thanks for hosting this series,

Spoiler

fellow Purple Drazi x_X

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

I actually have a huge hard on for, what I like to refer to as, areokenesis. Basically, i want to control the wind and make swooshing noises at peoples faces. I occasionally have dreams where I use this very b-tier super power and i will do something like jump really high, then eat shit on the way down, and I always love it. Moral of the Story, don't look your dream horse in the mouth, its trying its best. Just go to those lower buildings and peek through windows.

Chronicle with air bending, basically.

(this arc was great though, if you haven't watched Legend of Korra, this was worth it, imo)

 

[Gaz_RB]

I'd like to, but I'd likely won't. I have two other competitions I'm writing for at the moment.

Do it. Don't even put that much work into it, just do something simple. I want to see how you write!

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

Do it. Don't even put that much work into it, just do something simple. I want to see how you write!

Last time I rushed and put out something for one of these Freeza went in on me. I'm trying not to have that happen again.

 

[GRW810]

Haven't been in these threads for yonks. What's the purpose of having a deadline and a grace period? Isn't the end of the grace period just the actual deadline?

 

[Cyan]

Haven't been in these threads for yonks. What's the purpose of having a deadline and a grace period? Isn't the end of the grace period just the actual deadline?

It's psychological.

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

there's a great experimental section on that in Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely btw (or I think that's where I read it).

short version: everybody does their shit just before the deadline, or even manages to miss it despite weeks of time. Setting in-between targets made people deliver on time more frequently, if I remember correctly.

 

[Maklershed]

Tagging

 

[Mike M]

I already have a draft in the can.

God damn word count limits... I also have no idea how to end this...

 

[Cyan]

Hmmmmmm....

Don't think I have anything on tap for this.

I already have a draft in the can.

Damn youuuuuuuu! *shakes fist*

 

[Mike M]

I work fast.

 

[Neeener]

Gah... keep forgetting about these until after the deadline. I'm definitely in this time.

 

[JeffZero]

I have begun.

 

[Valhelm]

How "hard" is the word limit? Is it a problem if I'm a bit over?

 

[Mike M]

How "hard" is the word limit?

Pretty dang firm

#

I complete rewrote the second half of my story and gave it a different ending, but it's still terrible.

I really don't know how this should end.

 

[Ashes]

How "hard" is the word limit? Is it a problem if I'm a bit over?

Don't go over.

 

[FlowersisBritish]

Pretty dang firm

#

I complete rewrote the second half of my story and gave it a different ending, but it's still terrible.

I really don't know how this should end.

Whats terrible about it? Why not go in the hard opposite? Go 180 on every major decision.

 

[mu cephei]

How do you guys develop your ideas for these challenges? Start writing immediately and sort out the issues as you go, or plan it out, or does it depend?

Because I listened to the podcast on Wednesday at work, and thought up an idea I liked a lot. I couldn't write it because I was doing overtime. Thinking about the story at work on Thursday, I noticed all the inconsistencies, and then came up with another idea I really liked. Couldn't write it due to overtime. Friday at work I noticed all the problems with the second idea.

Halp.

I complete rewrote the second half of my story and gave it a different ending, but it's still terrible.

I really don't know how this should end.

I'm scared of this...

 

[Mike M]

How do you guys develop your ideas for these challenges? Start writing immediately and sort out the issues as you go, or plan it out, or does it depend?

Because I listened to the podcast on Wednesday at work, and thought up an idea I liked a lot. I couldn't write it because I was doing overtime. Thinking about the story at work on Thursday, I noticed all the inconsistencies, and then came up with another idea I really liked. Couldn't write it due to overtime. Friday at work I noticed all the problems with the second idea.

Halp.



I'm scared of this...

I personally write down almost every story idea I come up with and frequently refer to the list to see if I already have an idea I could retrofit for the theme. I usually know exactly how it begins, how it ends, and how it gets there. Everything else is just fleshing things out.

Except this week. I'm trying to attempt something where the characters don't get closure, and it turns out it's damned hard to end such a story rather than just stopping it.

 

[Funyarinpa]

Do we have to post in this thread to participate? Not sure if I'll be able to try this.

 

[Red]

I personally write down almost every story idea I come up with and frequently refer to the list to see if I already have an idea I could retrofit for the theme. I usually know exactly how it begins, how it ends, and how it gets there. Everything else is just fleshing things out.

Except this week. I'm trying to attempt something where the characters don't get closure, and it turns out it's damned hard to end such a story rather than just stopping it.

I try to do the same thing. Evernote is my second brain.

I'm off work this coming week and am going to try to join this time. I am disappointed I haven't contributed lately.

 

[mu cephei]

Do we have to post in this thread to participate? Not sure if I'll be able to try this.

Not other than your story submission. And votes afterwards!

I personally write down almost every story idea I come up with and frequently refer to the list to see if I already have an idea I could retrofit for the theme. I usually know exactly how it begins, how it ends, and how it gets there. Everything else is just fleshing things out.

Except this week. I'm trying to attempt something where the characters don't get closure, and it turns out it's damned hard to end such a story rather than just stopping it.

Ohh. Interesting problem.

Spoiler

I just spent ages thinking about this and got nowhere much past needing to tie the ending of the situation strongly into the the theme/ lack or impossibility of closure. Good luck

I used to keep an idea book (back when I had lots of ideas; one reason why I love these challenges is it forces ideas) but they were never fully formed with a beginning-middle-end. Nowadays I write them on scraps of paper and then lose them.

 

[Cyan]

Hangout tomorrow at the usual time! (2 PM Pacific)

 

[Red]

Does any of writing-GAF have stories for purchase anywhere? I would like to check them out + support the community.

 

[Mike M]

You could just send me money.

 

[FlowersisBritish]

Does any of writing-GAF have stories for purchase anywhere? I would like to check them out + support the community.

I recently got a one of my challenge winning stories published. There's a post in the writing thread. You can check it out for free, or buy it, but I don't get any proceeds

 

[The Wall]

I... read the FAQ and I am still unclear on how to submit an entry if I do not care if it is password or dropbox protected. Just post it?

 

[FlowersisBritish]

I... read the FAQ and I am still unclear on how to submit an entry if I do not care if it is password or dropbox protected. Just post it?

Yep. There a couple ways, you could link to a goodgle doc, or even just copy and paste it into one long post. So long as everyone can read it

 

[Chainsawkitten]

I... read the FAQ and I am still unclear on how to submit an entry if I do not care if it is password or dropbox protected. Just post it?

Link to non-password protected PDF, link to Google Docs, copy-paste it into the post, link to dramatic reading on Soundcloud/YouTube, .txt-document. Anything goes as long as we can get it somehow.

 

[Cyan]

The hangout will be in two and a half hours. I'll post details about a half hour before.

 

[Cyan]

Hangout starts in half an hour. Standard quick recap: it's on Google Hangouts, and the format is ten minutes of chat, then thirty minutes of writing with mics muted, repeated until we've gone for two hours. Webcams aren't required, though several of us will have them. Mics are recommended but also not required, as you can use the text chat.

The hangout link is (quote to see):

Note that Google Hangouts recently moved to a new format, which doesn't include the text chat. If you want to switch back, hit the three dots in the upper right corner and choose the option to switch to the old version.

 

[Gaz_RB]

Every idea I think up for this involves Denzel Washington flying a plane. I gotta expand my horizons.

 

[xeris]

Every idea I think up for this involves Denzel Washington flying a plane. I gotta expand my horizons.

How about a plane flying Denzel Washington?

 

[FlowersisBritish]

How about a plane flying Denzel Washington?

I actually think there is a porno based off that

 

[Maklershed]

Every idea I think up for this involves Denzel Washington flying a plane. I gotta expand my horizons.

Plane-ing Day

 

[Ashes]

Does any of writing-GAF have stories for purchase anywhere? I would like to check them out + support the community.

Servant. < US link.

Half a year on, I'm still surprised that it sold a copy last week. With all due respect to Neogaf, I have no idea why. Or who's buying.

 

[Red]

I have 1,000 words for a story I am not at all happy with. I think I'll shelve this one and try something new.

On the bright side, it's more than I've written since my son was born. Baby steps.

Servant. < US link.

Half a year on, I'm still surprised that it sold a copy last week. With all due respect to Neogaf, I have no idea why. Or who's buying.

Thanks. Will check it out.