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Writer's Challenge
by Dee Host on December 6th, 2007, 3:45pm
Do you like to write for fun? Looking for a quick critique, or a warm up exercise? Whatever your reasons for picking up the proverbial pen, or if you just love to read, you’ve come to the right place. Rub your hands together in anticipation, get your idea’s brewing, and have fun.
CURRENT CHALLENGE
On your marks...get ready...WRITE!
• Click HERE for Challenge Rules & Judging Information.
Dee Tenorio
"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
Challenge Rules & Judging Information
Challenge Rules:
• We will have a new challenge every two weeks--please enter items for the current challenge ONLY.
• All challenges will be started using the Challenge Format. This room will be archived and restarted after every 500 posts--dont worry, there will be a link to the previous room.
• All entries must be limited to 1000 words. On the first line, please write the title of the piece you are posting and the word count.
• Please enter only one entry per challenge. Posting Day for entries will be listed at the start of each new challenge.
• All entries, once posted, become the the property of eHarlequin.com, so if you intend to submit as part of a manuscript for publication, its in your best interest not to enter with it.
• All entries MUST maintain a strict PG-13 rating:
--- No Swearing, Please. If swear words are included in your story, please edit so that one letter is replaced with an @, $, * or other gibberish of your choice.
---If it has any of the below, it is not recommended on the boards due to the PG-13 (and some of our readers are indeed that old) rating we prefer for our members to maintain on the boards.
• Sucking on items usually used for feeding of infants or writing your name in the snow.
• If it's pink or its fuzzy and it's showing or in use, yuppers, either edit it out or don't put it up.
• If someone is squeezing or palming something else for someone else's extreme pleasure, it's probably obvious you shouldn't be posting it.
• If people are inserting anything long into anything moist and sighing a lot, you guessed it, please don't post.
• To make this short (because we’re assuming that unlike Bill Clinton, y'all know what sex is), anything of the horizontal mambo generalization (and that includes against walls, thanks) is a little too steamy, but can be emailed as a Blaze Email to interested parties.
• It is often necessary to separate your piece into sections to avoid being cut off mid sentence. At this point, please type (tbc) or (To Be Continued). If you do not put this, the reader’s can assume you are done for the day and unintentionally interrupt you to comment. Also, once you are finished, please type The End, so reader’s know it is safe to post once more.
• If you are going to constructively critique, please email the author directly, so as to keep this board clear for story and fun purposes only.
Dee Tenorio
"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
Judging
JUDGING
1) Once the new Challenge is posted; the first three to volunteer are the judges for that round with the first to volunteer as lead judge. In order to be a judge you need to ensure you are reachable by posting contact info so the other judges can get in touch with you. If, for some reason a fourth judge is necessary, then the next volunteer is to be contacted.
2) No judge shall be judge in consecutive challenges. We would like to make all regular WC writers volunteer to judge at least once, out of fairness to all.
3) Although spelling, punctuation and grammar are important parts of the presentation, this is not a graded paper for English class. Entries are to be judged on content, writing skill, feeling, impact, and that mushy feeling you get when you know this is the one. It really is subjective: which piece fits the topic best and has had the greatest impact on you.
Point system should go like this….
content ~ 2 points
writing skill ~ 2 points
feeling ~ 2 points
impact ~ 2 points
mushy feeling ~ 2 points
You can award partial points, .5, or 1.5, etc.
Upon completion of individual point assigning, each judge should mail their scores to the other judges, so that all three judges have the same records. If at the end of the voting there are ties, or no agreement can be reached, a fourth judge may be called. Or… it can go to a run off of which entry contains the least grammar and punctuation errors.
With this system in place prior to the judging no one walks away feeling like they didn't have an equal say, or that one person dominated and pushed for their choice.
4) Choose 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place. Ties are allowed.
5) These are not cumulative, meaning that you felt someone should have won a different challenge earlier and so you award it now, nor are pieces to be judged on "improvement" in the writing. Each piece MUST stand alone and be judged on its individual merit as it fits the challenge.
6) These are "moments", and unless the challenge specifically states that the writing challenge MUST be romantic, it is not required in entries.
7) Decisions are to be posted on the Monday following the deadline.
Timezones are tricky on an international board like this. If you want to be a judge and you have tried but can't post in time to get chosen, tell us, and another member will post for you at the appropriate time.
Finally, it is a good idea to individually post comments for each entry once the winners have been announced.
Dee Tenorio
"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
Yay! I found us!!!
Looks like we have a home for our challenges. Bring 'em on!
JodieG
Prepublished and workin' to change that!
A winner of the Big Finish 2 Contest, March 2008!
Yay! I agree.
Where is Mel? I can't wait for the new challenge.
I'm here
Just give me until tonight to come up with a challenge. I didn't know how long it would take to get the new site up. (Also school just started for me, and my best day dreaming is usually during this week.)
Melissa Blue
Published: Squee
http://www.melthegreatest.blogspot.com
Ok now we can get this party
Ok now we can get this party started! looking forward to a great year of writing...speaking of..need to get back to my werewolf...Nini sees this post and I'm done for!
Jules
Jules! Back to work!
Jules - get back to work!
This was a pain in the patoot to find! But hopefully the bookmark will work!
Nini :)
.....Start by doing what's necessary then do what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible........
St. Francis of Assisi
K Nini.....I just finished
K Nini.....I just finished supper and am working on the last bit...I emailed you three chapters I think....in the homestretch now cookie!
Jules
I've read them all.........
And sent back a response!
Me....
.....Start by doing what's necessary then do what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible........
St. Francis of Assisi
thanx NINI....you're the
thanx NINI....you're the best....I just got your reply and am hunkering down to look over your notes and tighten and fix.....thanx again for all your help
Jules
First 2008 Challenge
Okay, I've got it.
The first challenge will be about what every one has done by now, failing at keeping their resolutions.
You get extra brownie points for including a bottle of champagne.
This challenge will be due by the 25th (on a Friday) and I guess it will close on that Sunday, the 27th.
Melissa Blue
Published: Squee
http://www.melthegreatest.blogspot.com
Great Challenge!
Gee Mel... I have already broken 4 of this years! Great timing and I can't wait to read the entries!
New challenge
wow - finally found the thread!
Good to 'see' everyone. This is my 2nd crack at the new forum and I must admit, I like it better today than last time.
Anita mae.
www.anitamaedraper.blogspot.com
www.newsfromthepews.blogspot.com
Hey, Anita Mae!
You made my day, 'buddy.' Keep up the good work! I'm enjoying your posts all over the place. You're making me step out of my LIH rut into some of the other categories. That's a good thing.
Here's howlin' at ya'!
------------------------------------------------------
"The winds of God's grace are always blowing, it is for us to raise our sails." (Ramakrishna)
Good one Mel.....hopefully
Good one Mel.....hopefully I'll have time to actually participat this time....thank god the holidays are over....been busy writing though....but that's good! ( the build up of laundry and paperwork? NOT so good!)
have a great day girls!
Jules
New digs
Hey....You moved house when I wasn't looking
Luckily, I managed to find our new home! Nice and roomy, I must say.
E-harlequin ' cleans up nice', lol. Good to see all of you again. Let the writing begin!
Valentina, who sees an evil plot around every corner and a dead body in every car trunk.
I found it!
I couldn't locate this thread for some reason, so I followed you Betty :)
Still learning my way around. Now I need to make some friends, it is kind of discouraging to read you have no friends, lol. Everything looks so nice though, I have to get myself to do some work today and not just play here
maureen
It's never too late to be what you might have been --George Eliot
http://www.myspace.com/mbonatch
How come
How come when I am adding these sites to favorites they are not listed as favorites on my page? So much to learn...
maureen
It's never too late to be what you might have been --George Eliot
http://www.myspace.com/mbonatch
Wondering...
Heyyy all...I have been out of town(and touch) since before Christmas and completely forgot about the site change...I just checked things out and was wondering if anyone knows if I am able to find the posts from before the change anywhere? I would love to read all of your fabulous entries from the last challenge if possible!
Also, I don't know if anyone would know this, but the online reads that were in progress...a few of them are in the library but the one about the dead guy in the christmas tree...I can't find anywhere. I am hoping that they add it to the library, but don't know if anyone bookmarks things or anything and would have the last 10 chapters or so. I hate not knowing what happens!
Thanks for any help guys!
Katie
A few answers
Maureen--To view your favorites, click on the words "Forum Discussions" on your profile page. There they be!
Katie--Online reads are sort of a separate leg and are designed to be a sampler. They usually keep the recent ones, but only keep one story per line at any given time. :)
Hope that helps!
Dee
Dee Tenorio
"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
I did it! I joined a new world...
I've made up a bio and am trying to figure out how to work a blog. I've never done that. Hey! I'm still listening to 8 tracks!
I'm also having a difficult time navigating this board. It's going to take me forever to figure it out, but i'll perservere!
So....hi everyone! ;)
Nini
.....Start by doing what's necessary then do what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible........
St. Francis of Assisi
Hey Nini!! 8 tracks?
Hey Nini!!
8 tracks? wow...there's a blasts from my past....my very first one was the soundtrack to Grease!!!! Glad to see your pic up and here on the boards....I need to find one of just me...I submitted that piece on thursday......when I was pasting it all into one document I accidentally deleted one of the chapters....NINI, can I even describe the moment I had? I don't think I can put it into words....I took a deep breath....thought about waiting until you got home to see if you still had a copy, but I just slugged through and rewrote the bloody thing.....I'm hoping it might be better then the original! we'll see....have a great weekend!
Jules
OMG!!!
I have a Jules file. I have the chapters to everything you've sent me. You should have emailed me immediately! Good God! I'd have had a heart attack!
However, may i say, that your pic is wonderful! You look just like the way you write...Sassy!
I have something i'm working on. I'm thinking of sending it to you just to see if it has the 'pizazz' i think it's going to have.
Did that make sense?
Nini
.....Start by doing what's necessary then do what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible........
St. Francis of Assisi
Dee???
I was reading an excerpt from a very very sexy book called "Test Me"....and then looked down and saw your name!
It sounds wonderful!
Nini :)
.....Start by doing what's necessary then do what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible........
St. Francis of Assisi
LOL Nini! Yeah....like I
LOL Nini! Yeah....like I said I thought of waiting and I figured you'd have kept everything....but, I just wanted it emailed off....after I settled down it wasn't so bad.....I had just written that chapter the day before, and edited that morning.....it was also the least words ( ony 1100) so I think I got everything....for fun if you could email me chapter 5 I'd like to see how close I was able to get it to the original!
I also sent you an email....I love what you sent me....but check your email.....
ttyl
Jules....who's off to get into her comfy jammies...dh is out with the boys and I'm gonna continue with my gray's anatomy dvd!
Uh oh...
I went back and checked. Guess what? I don't have #5. I have all but #5. That's weird. Cosmic intervention?
Okay - so now it's the next day and i've been up writing. I've got a few more pages and i'll send to you as soon as i finish the chapter...And i still don't know what's in the box.
Nini
.....Start by doing what's necessary then do what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible........
St. Francis of Assisi
LOL, Yup Nini, that's mine.
I guess I didn't mention that's I'm somewhat naughty? LOL! (Truthfully, I'm not supposed to talk about my books here that much) You should have seen my father's face when he read some of my books that he found in my apartment when he came to take care of my son while I was in the hospital.
Probably as comical as MY face when he told me.
I've also been targeting Blaze for some time. Someday, I'll get the right combination. :)
Hope you like it,
Dee
Dee Tenorio
"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
That's a funny story
That's a funny story Dee....I just finished a short story....a steamy one at that and the whole time I was thinking....my mom can't read this......holy cow she can't read this...funny, I"m a 40 year old woman ( even though my bio says I'm in my late 30s!) and I still would blush a deep crimson if mommy read some of my work!
Jules
Dee, Would you happen to
Dee,
Would you happen to know if the posts from right before the sight change were archived anywhere? Or if there is an archive at all like there used to be. That's really what I was wondering, if there was anyway to read the entries from the last challenge, which was right before Christmas I believe. If not, if any of you ladies would like to share, I would love to see your entries.
And about the online reads...I figured I would give it a shot and see if anyone knew! Thanks.
Katie
Weeelll...
The truth is, there's not access to the members for the old boards. And there was only one entry for the last challenge. (It was definitely good, though.) Everyone was just overwhelmed with the holidays.
Jules--LOL, oh nonononononono. My Mom isn't allowed to read hardly any of my books. Especially not the last one. I told her specifically. She read my first one, though. In fact, that one is dedicated to her, lol. My Dad...him I just never expected. Of course, now he looks at me funny and tells my neices not to ever read my books, ever. LOL!
Poor Dad. I think he's shocked my children didn't arrive by the stork.
Dee
Dee Tenorio
"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
Dee...i know what you mean..
My mom thinks i'm very tarty...or trashy. Jodie and I have two very different styles of writing. My mom will read Jo's, but i normally tell my sister - please don't let Mom read this.
The challenges though, here on the board, are different. She can read them.
Nini :)
.....Start by doing what's necessary then do what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible........
St. Francis of Assisi
Hey....I like your trash
Hey....I like your trash Nini!!!
Jules
LOL!!!
I like yours too! ;)
Nini
.....Start by doing what's necessary then do what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible........
St. Francis of Assisi
The difference between my writing and Nini's....
I think the gap may have closed, LOL. I sent Nini a short story I may submit to Spice Briefs (and with which I included the caveat "DO NOT show to mom."). Nini was more than a little shocked. Our conversation went something like this...
Nini: "You wrote this?"
Jodie: "I did."
Nini: "YOU????"
Jodie: Mmm-hmmm.
Then she told me she wasn't sure if she should be embarassed.
(I'm the "quiet one.")
JodieG
Prepublished and workin' to change that!
A winner of the Big Finish 2 Contest, March 2008!
LOL....Jodie have you
LOL....Jodie have you crossed to the dark side?
Jules
The dark side!
Hmmmm....I guess maybe I have!
I have such a wide range of what I like to read, and apparently, a wide range of what I like to write. I just wish I could figure out where to focus my energies!
BTW, I'd like to challenge all my challenge pals... I've made myself a goal this year -- write a minimum of 30 minutes every day...no excuses. Anyone want to join me?
JodieG
Prepublished and workin' to change that!
A winner of the Big Finish 2 Contest, March 2008!
Sigh*****
I always thought the dark side was mine...now i'll have to share with my pure sided sister...
I'm going to try the 30 minutes - but can't guarantee it, especially this week. Grades, reports.....etc...a 19 year old son!
Nini
.....Start by doing what's necessary then do what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible........
St. Francis of Assisi
yep....I'll try for the 30
yep....I'll try for the 30 mins a day.....it's just sometimes life gets in the way but I usually have at least one or two days a week where I can devote several hours....so I guess it all evens up in the end.....anybody working on the challenge??
Jules
How did I miss the challenge?
I missed that a new challenge had been developed until I noticed someone asking who was working on it. Not sure how I did that?
Will they still be posted under current challenge so you can skip to that if need be?
Maureen
It's never too late to be what you might have been --George Eliot
http://www.myspace.com/mbonatch
Hey Maureen....I think
Hey Maureen....I think you'll just have to scroll back....I'm thinking it's due next week ( at least I hope it is!) But if I remember it had something to do with new years resolutions and a bottle of champagne? Dunno....I'll hvae to scroll back to!
Jules
Here's what Mel posted for the challenge:
The first challenge will be about what every one has done by now, failing at keeping their resolutions.
You get extra brownie points for including a bottle of champagne.
This challenge will be due by the 25th (on a Friday) and I guess it will close on that Sunday, the 27th
JodieG
Prepublished and workin' to change that!
A winner of the Big Finish 2 Contest, March 2008!
Thanks Jodie!
I can't link to individual posts yet, so wecan't hook up the Current Challenge posts, but I'm hoping soon.
Crossing fingers,
Dee
Dee Tenorio
"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
new room
Wow I found you guys. Hi Dee! I've Never come out of lurkville here. sorry
lissa
Lissa
No Problem
Just glad you delurked now! (:) )
Dee
Dee Tenorio
"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
A better question would be
Not when it's due, but am I the only one who can judge it? Gah! I now remember why I never participated in challenges. I can't take the pressure.
Melissa Blue
Published: Squee
http://www.melthegreatest.blogspot.com
Melissa...you can certainly
Melissa...you can certainly ask if anyone is not going to enter, to help you judge it....
Nini
.....Start by doing what's necessary then do what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible........
St. Francis of Assisi
Wow!!
I go away for a little bit (six months) and EVERYTHING changes!! Looks good though....
Hope everyone had a great holiday
Don't marry the one you can live with, marry the one you can't live without!
Welcome Back ClaraBug!
Welcome back! Took me a while, and i'm still lost on alot of things, to find my way around...
Nini :)
.....Start by doing what's necessary then do what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible........
St. Francis of Assisi
OMGosh!!!!!!!!!!! I wrote a blog!
I did it! I wrote a blog. I can't believe i did it, but i did....What is this world coming to?
Nini
.....Start by doing what's necessary then do what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible........
St. Francis of Assisi
Yikes!
What the heck happened? This new thingie they got going on here is pretty snazzy... if only I can figure it out!
So how is everyone??