Saturday, April 01, 2017

Yay! A contest!

I think we need a contest!

The usual rules apply:
1. Write a story using 100 characters or fewer.

2. Use all these words in the story:
avarice
parmigiano
rhubarb
immobilization
Liverpudlian
fuel

3. You must use the whole word, and that whole word should be part of a larger word. The letters for the prompt must not be in consecutive order. They should be backwards.

4. Post the entry in the comment column of THIS blog post.

5. One entry per person. If you need a mulligan (a do-over), post again.Don't worry about spell-check.

6. Interstellar entries are allowed, but prizes may vary for those addresses.

7. Titles count as part of the word count (you should have a title; it should be a pun.)

8. Under all circumstances you should tweet something about your particular entry to me. Example: "Hope you like my entry about Felix Buttonweezer!"  This is part of the judging.

8a. There are no circumstances in which it is ok to ask for fleabags from ME. NONE.

9. It's not ok to tweet about the contest generally.
Example: "I just saw the flash fiction contest on Janet's blog and I'm so confused"

10. Please post anything but contest entries. (For example "I love Felix Buttonweezer's entry!")

11. You agree that your contest entry can remain posted on the blog for the life of the blog. In other words, you can't later ask me to delete the entry and any comments about the entry at a later date.

12. The stories should not be self-contained. That is: include links or footnotes to explain any part of the story. Those extras will be considered during the judging.


Contest opens: 7:26pm (EDT) 4/1/17

Contest closes: 9:26am (AEDT) 4/2/17

 If you're wondering how what time it is in NYC right now, here's the clock






If you'd like to see the entries that have won previous contests, there's
an .xls spread sheet here http://www.colindsmith.com/TreasureChest/

(Thanks to Colin Smith for organizing and maintaining this!)

Questions? Tweet to me @Janet_Reid
Ready? SET?




 

75 comments:

Amy Schaefer said...

My day began with a tripwire, balloons, and confetti. I've overhead plots involving blue hair chalk and underwear. At this rate, I hope still to be alive by midnight.

Or... if you can't beat 'em, join 'em...

Now where did I leave my emergency moustaches?

french sojourn said...


The Bun Also Rises


*crackly intercom*

“LeufnaidepreviL, Brabuhrecirava.”

“Huh?”

“O’naigimramnoit, azilibommi!”

“And Fries?”



(116...cra$)

Jennifer R. Donohue said...

If asked, I wouldn’t’ve guessed that the avatar of avarice would have a muddy Liverpudlian accent. It only added fuel to the fire, though, in this day and age of celebrity chefdom. The Beatle of the Barroom, they called her, which didn’t even really make sense, but neither did a parmiginano rhubarb petit-four, and she pulled it off anyway. It was only my immobilisation, courtesy of her spider queen fangs, that kept me from spilling the beans before she’d had her fill.

Kitty said...

Liverpudlian rhubarb fuel.
Avarice immobilization?
Parmigiano!
And a side order of word salad, please.

french sojourn said...


My entry above is a cautionary tale of what not to do. You didn't see this comment.

It's not the comment you're looking for.

Go down to the next comment.

Let it pass.

Kitty said...

I'm sorry, Hank, but your comment is over your character limit.

Lisa Bodenheim said...

(the climax of) A Phonetic Opera (with instructions)

(forte a midnote) A see ravaaaaaaa
Oh nay eegee-em raaaa...(a slight downward bump here)…aaaappp
(a lower trill) Braaaaaa buhhhhhhrrrrrrr
No eetaaa (add a slight yearning to your voice) zilly bommee
Nah eel (lilt up) d'oh youuuuuuu preeeeevail
Leeeee uuhf (reach for the apex!)

*screech*

What?

OK, Janet. Quit pfaffing around. Where are the rest of the words?

I’m writing from the Angel constellation and looking for another Diva Plavalaguna to sing this beautiful aria once I’m able to complete it.

(and, as per my calculations, this is only 98 words)

Julie Weathers said...

OMG I can see all the little hamster wheels in a frenzy. Is this the one? What happened to the other words?

Well played, Miss Janet. I was going to compare you to the Blood Countess, but I think this is more closely likened to a bugbear's doings.

CynthiaMc said...

100 characters or fewer - with 6 words? That's 53 characters already.

Who uses Liverpudlian in a sentence?

Colin.

Maybe she means 100 characters like in Sparta. I can do that.

Whole word should be part of a larger word...

BACKWARDS???

I need fuel.

Where's the bourbon?

Right there on top of the fridge above the...

Oh.

Carolynnwith2Ns said...

No link, content only.

Readers Digest, Popular Mechanics, The Christian Science Monitor, TV Guide and Highlights Magazine reported today that First Daughter Ivanka Trump was seen leaving the back door of the Kremlin, (under heavy guard), after meeting with First and Second Putin-Daughters Katerina and Maria, regarding nefarious meetings with, Jared Kushner, Reince Priebus, Steve Bannon and Sean Spicer. All three daughters were said to have discussed bridesmaid’s colors and dress lengths. That Trump-team men refused to wear matching double-knit powder blue wedding singer outfits during the ceremony to celebrate Mike and Karen Pence’s 32 year wedding anniversary on June 8th, incensed the girls.

Nickelodeon simultaneously reported that Mike Pence was seen sipping a BYOB of California’s finest Korbel champagne (at 6.99 a bottle) with Kellyanne Conway at the back table of Pennsylvania Avenue’s, most famous for clandestine meeting place, Burger King. (Owned. Built and managed by no-contact-with-my-dad-son Donald Trump Jr.)

It was also rumored that Karen Pence dined alone with the POTUS, in the family quarters of the Whitehouse. Devin Nunes served Meow Mix sprinkled with cat nip. Whitehouse aid, Sergey Kislyak commented that Mrs. P’s designer purse, an accessory item in Ivanka’s latest Catalog, is actually a cat carrier labeled, “hands off my feline.”

Susan said...

Oh hells no. It's that day where gullible-me has to be completely on-guard, isn't it? And I'm seeing my brothers today, too--the same brothers who didn't play the "you're adopted" card, but rather told me I had another brother our mom and dad didn't want me to know about. Someday I'll tell that story.

For now...

*grabs popcorn*

Kae Ridwyn said...

Oh! I didn't pick it until I saw the clock. I was just reading, thinking, "Okay, the ante sure has been upped this week!"

Yea - whoops. Time zones! It's almost April 2nd here.

Carolynnwith2Ns said...

Failing has never been so much fun.

Donnaeve said...

Ha - boy oh boy. What shenanigans is this?

Made my head hurt just to read the words for this "supposed" contest.

You are a sneaky shark, yes you are.

Melanie Sue Bowles said...

Um... huh?

And then, boooo. Color me sad, I can't play today.

I'm rushing out the door to get 40 bales of hay to the herdies, then I'm driving up to Asheville, NC to attend a friend's book signing. (If you're in the area, c'mon out to Malaprops).

Don't have too much fun without me... Well, I know you will. :-)

Steve Forti said...

“U still Republican?”
No, I Taz. I Lib.”
“O?”
“Mm. I
progressive.”
“Wait a sec. I ra-”
“Va
l, u raised me. But I own man now.”
“Is this cuz that new girl showed you her bra?”
“B- uh, r
eally? No, that's stupid.”
“Well, it's something. Ur serious?”
“Ya, me opinions are nail'd up, re: vile actions by old regime.”
“Vile? U forget this new guy is on a power trip?”
On a...? I... gi...”
“Mr. Ap
pointed Lib Leader at loss for words?”
“Just one more. Bye.”

Melanie Sue Bowles said...

OMG...! I just read the rules. (I didn't before my other comment because I figured they were the "normal" rules). I'm in hysterics.

Well played, Janet. Absolutely hilarious.

See y'all later... this is gonna be a fun thread to read when I return home.

Mister Furkles said...

Love the new rules. But don't know what a twitter fleabag might be. Nice being reminded of April First before my cat thinks it's funny to puke on the dry cleaning.

Theresa said...

Well played, Janet, and brilliant story, Steve Forti. Steve should get all the prizes. A wonderful start to April!

RosannaM said...

Dotted head-to-toe with rhubarby-colored spots, Kit and Caboodle strode into the bank motivated by their love for money. It fueled everything they did. Stoked up on their Liverpudlianistic Mum’s homecooking of lava rice parmagianoed until it was palatable, they got into line.

People scattered like grass seed flung upon the April mud. The teller filled a bag with cash and flung it. The security guard froze in complete immobilizationary imitation of the statues in the lobby. Was it the sight of Kit and Caboodle’s weapons?

They had no weapons. Other than chicken-pox, that is.

Amy Johnson said...

Well played, indeed! I especially liked that the title should be a pun.

Lisa, I gave it a try, as written. Oh, the slight yearning to "zilly bommee." Funny thing is, I was really working it, and didn't get so much as a raised eyebrow from anyone here at home. Not even from the dogs. Par for my weirdness, er, quirkiness?

Hope everyone has a wonderful, fun April Fools' Day!

Dena Pawling said...


OMG! OMG! OMG!

RED ALERT!! RED ALERT!! RED ALERT!!

*cough*

*resume somber, respectful pose*

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury....

[oops, wrong lead in]

Ladies and gentlemen, I regret to inform you that John Davis-of-the-manuscript Frain has, unfortunately, just been killed in a most appropriate manner, on his blog.

https://johndavisfrain.com/2017/04/01/air-conditioner/

And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

french sojourn said...


Well, 3 comment rule as always. So my third comment is this.

100 Flash Fiction contests ..to date. I know everyone else will dive in and as mentioned a couple weeks ago...

Thank you Janet ( my Scarlet Billows) for throwing all these Flash Fiction contests. My writing has improved exponentially thanks to your time, effort, and wonderful dissection that you put into all these contests. We all appreciate your expertise, and we've all benefitted from it.

Again Thank you so much for these contests, and for the wonderful community you have created.

Cheers Hank.

JD Horn said...

Yeah. Nice try. Everyone knows that any entry that successfully meets these requisites would actually contain a dark spell summoning Cthulhu. R'lyeh is just gonna have to wait, Shark. It's just gonna have to wait.

Elissa M said...

A link to understand my entry

Ashes said...

The word was immobilization.

He was afraid. They needed the prize money to falsify documents.

But she didn't know that. How could she? Barely eight, all pigtails and ribbons, it was just a spelling bee to her. And he, just her father watching from the audience. Previous success fueled his hope. Words like avarice, parmigiana, rhubarb, Liverpudlian...

She got it wrong. Now he, the one immobilized.

He scribbled an explanation, addressed the back of his program, licked a stamp. A rudimentary postcard to her mother, now the only relative she had left.

Before she'd dismounted the stage he was gone.

E.M. Goldsmith said...

No contest. I bow to Steve Forti.

And mourn the loss of John the Manuscript Frain. It wasn't me. Yes, my air conditioner was missing between midnight and 6 AM, but I am told it only went North hoping to find friendly working conditions. After all, the South is only marginally cooler than the surface of the sun in the summer.

Terri Lynn Coop said...

"Rhubarb is not fuel," yelled Ava Rice.

Parm Igiano smugly replied, "It is when Liverpudlian immobilization is the goal."

Carry on . . . .

F1: I know I'm over the character limit. I scoff at character limits. Rules are for mere mortals. I may be mortal, but I am not even close to mere.

F2: Rhubarb can so be used for fuel. But Parm is an arrogant asshole and won't listen to Ava. He's like Paul Ryan that way.

F3: Thank you for all the fun and these contests over the years. It's sharpened my writing and my contest winner books are treasured on my shelf.

Melanie Sue Bowles said...

I'm in from feeding horses... although still rushing to get out the door for the drive up to Asheville.

But, Janet, I'm pausing to pop back in here and use my third comment to offer a hale and hearty Thank You for all you do. I continue to be in awe of your generosity and kindness. You're changing lives. And you're doing it with humor, no nonsense advice, and professionalism. Did I mention whip-smart-clever humor?

Steve of the Forti-isms My hat is off to you, sir.

Peace out...

Megan V said...

The writer hub arbitrary is.
This java rice it is not.
Up arm I gi an odd jitsu student with.
Exclaim mob I
Liz at ion school is
Liverpudl I an England.
F u Elvis says on tweeter.
Conned test did I
I grow high.


Yep. April 1st is just another day correcting TEFL papers.

Amy Johnson said...

Big thanks from me too, Janet. You seem to be getting quite the kick out of coming up with all this good stuff. Reminds me of myself when I plan treasure hunts for my kids. It's fun thinking up clues, etc. (Last time I had them running all over town for clues.) Only I don't torture them.
***
As for the rest of yous. Just let that little incident with Frain teach yous all a lesson. You make a bet with me, you lose, you pay up. Accidents happen. I'm just sayin'.

Megan V said...

And second comment for the day is a simple thank you QOTKU.

Thank you for your advice to and patience with us woodland creatures.
Thank you for your kind words and compassion in hard times.
Thank you for the laughter.
Thank you for the contests.
Thank you for letting myself and others be your chum.
You are a brilliant ruler of the know universe, Janet, and damn it, I think we all love you for it.
Thank you for making a difference.

firdaus said...

Leu'fn naild'uprevila, Enoita-zilibommi Barbuhronaigimrap-ecirava!
Alien's dying curse turning me into a shark!

(I speak English, Hindi, urdu and understand a little bit of Arabic but I have no clue about what I just wrote especially the accent. This was fun. I've been following this blog and I love the posts and especially the comments. What a fantastic community of writers. Love the humour.) have a great day all :)

Colin Smith said...

.nasemrap tnalpgge sih ni anaigimrap eht ,elbmurc sih ni brabuhr eht ,efil sih ni leuf eht ,sniev sih ni doolb eht saw yenoM .ecirava ni derojam noJ
.tnalpgge sih dekooc dna ,elbmurc s’noJ edam ehS .gnihtolc ypmiks dna ,tiw naildupreviL ,rennam gniog-ysae reh htiw secneidua gnirutpac ,fehc ytirbelec diap-ylhgih a emaceb ehs ,stra yraniluc ni derojam enaJ
.reywal luflliks a fo rewop eht dna ,edinayc fo yteltbus eht ,deerg fo ssendnilb eht wenk osla enaJ
.retsam a saw enaJ tub ,ecirava ni derojam noJ

Janice Grinyer said...

Good god; what new fresh writer's hell is this?

Unknown said...

And this is why we all get writers block.

Lydia D. said...

I love Felix Buttonweezer's entry!

Claire Bobrow said...

There was a young fellow named Frain
Whose Starbucks went right down the drain

When he turned round the bend
And met his sad end

With a Frigidaire whack on the brain.*



*footnote: thanks for the fun, Janet!!

Anonymous said...

"Nation Immobilized Watching Lian [sic] Eat Liver Pudding"

Charlie read the headline and wondered if the world had gone mad.

His wife, Barb, still rhu'd the day she'd drunkenly named the cat Giano Parmi.

Tonight she served rice, a vast and inexplicable departure from the usual potatoes.

And there was that damned shelf elf, up on the mantel again.

Charlie couldn't take it anymore. He had to get away.

He fingered the dime in his pocket. Maybe a ride on the MTA . . .



[There are only three characters in this story, four if you count the elf; far fewer than 100.]


CynthiaMc said...

Kd - but did he ever return?

Anonymous said...

Poor Old Charlie, he never did. Driven mad by FF contests, most likely.


Claire Bobrow said...

The Diary of Samuel Bleeps
eciravaonaigimrapbrabuhroitazilibomminailbupreviLleuf*
#%$@!
*1April1664

Kitty said...

I want to echo everyone else and say THANK YOU, JANET for this contest (great fun, and you got me good!) and for all the other contests, not to mention all your advice over the years.

Carolynnwith2Ns said...

OMG Colin you are driving us mad.
All of you...egads.
I love it.

Kate Higgins said...

Sharktopia, Tatooine
A short story about 100 characters living in the sea of sand.

The town of Sharktopia was inhabited by 100 characters (maybe more) that did everything scrambled and backwards because they constantly had sand in their eyes. However their annual paly called "Carkoon Doubloons in Brigadoon" was a grueling disaster:
* Three-old year old Eric Avalon plays Barabbas: the Fuhrer.
* Gregg's carapace costume fit poorly.
* Marc's problems arose from his interrogation for his use of zigzag rolled "cigarettes".
* Colin left to reconnoiter Brazil to liberated his two mommies.
* Bruno nailed the "Gimlet Rap"" theme song.
* 2Ns broke her fingernail as the Duplicitous role as the evil Queen.
* The two beautiful Kates were ejected for the repeated use of "Elf U!"
People came from far around and they loved the paly.
The populace of Sharktopia lived happily ever after.
and vowed to do a paly ever year for all eternity.
-Finis-

NOTES:
Janet's words used:
avarice
parmigiano
rhubarb
immobilization
Liverpudlian
fuel

Alternative words also used from guesses from this week's comments:
scapegrace
forti
gaze
scram
my guess of "gruel"

Criterion met:

√ Use all these words in the story
√ Write a story using "100 characters" or fewer (NOTE: there was no "word count" addressed)
√ Titles count as part of the word count (see above).
√ Don't worry about spell-check
√ Use the whole word (subject to interpretation of "whole word")
√ That whole word should be part of a larger word.
√ The letters for the prompt must not be in consecutive order (e.g. broken apart and scrambled)
√ They should be backwards.
√ Titles count as part of the word count (you should have a title; it should be a pun.)
√ Interstellar entries are allowed
√ No fleabags requested
√ The stories should not be self-contained. Includes links, footnotes to explain any part of the story.

(sorry, I only had a sq. root symbol for a check mark)

whew!

Colin Smith said...

Here's my second out of one entry.

Recirava, a small town in the Italian provice of Tonaigimrapaldi specializes in brabuhration. The local Genoitazilibommi take baskets of nailduprevils and use them to bleuf the roads. When tourists come through in their fancy sports cars, they ewlober their seritas. The locals then sell the straps and make lots of alyenoms. One day, Sailuji decided to parepmat with the nailduprevils. That same day, Nekim drove through. But his seritas didn't ewlobe thanks to Sailuji's work. Instead, he deirraminated her.

Awww! ;)

Lennon Faris said...

This is all so punny!

Steve Forti said...

RosannaM - Can I high five you for this sentence? "People scattered like grass seed flung upon the April mud." Beautiful.

Craig F said...

Liverpudlian rhubarb parmigiano and immobilization fueled her growth from scapegrace to full scalawag named Avarice.



They call me April's fool.

Have been since that.

Are you happy, April's fool?

John Davis Frain said...

I'm embarrassed to say how long it took me before I realized what day it was.

Shame, shame, shame...

That said, I'm cracking up over Cheryl's limerick. I have to grill for my family coming over, but I'm gonna come back and try and respond to it.

RosannaM said...

Steve Aww, thanks. I live in the rainy Pacific Northwest. We know our mud.

FYI to all. My story was inspired by the very real rhubarby-colored spots that covers my husband's body. Not chicken-pox mind you. Bedbug bites! Yep. He was on a work trip and just arrived home this morning at 6:30. (and our anniversary was yesterday) To say he is a sight for sore eyes, would be...a lie.

To Janet I am sorry I could not follow all the rules to a T. I did my best. See above paragraph for partial explanation.

Lisa Bodenheim said...

back now for my second-lookover for this April 1st hoot.

Great glees and chuckles. What fun entries here!

And yes, Janet, such a big thank you for all the teaching and sharing you do here. Bless.

Amy Johnson said...


A Pun

’Twas oonaigimrapp, and the nnaildupreviLL did gyre. Grandfather often told me how A Pun(1) had bbrabuhrred my people. Finally, I was old enough to give A Pun its deserved dessert.

Through lands of bandersnatches and eeciravaas I trekked, creeping beneath the nnoitazilibommii branches. At last, I spotted it! Behind the stunsisiht tree. “Itrofitrofitrof(2)!” I cried as I offered it a taste of my lleuff(3).

A fine “thank you” for its deeds.


Notes:
(1) difficult to define, but one knows it when one sees it
(2) a backward yet reasonable exclamation
(3) a lovely lavender cake

Lennon Faris said...

I do love that anyone reading today's comments, if not a regular follower, will think everyone here is an absolute nutcase.

AJ Blythe said...

Mid-morning of 2nd April started to read blog. "Oooh, FF#100." Read the words. "Huh?" Re-read words. "Okey dokey she's flipped it up. I paid attention to the *cackles*." Read on. "Backwards. That's nasty." Read on through to Rule 8 when it dawned on me it's still 1st April in parts of the world. Wicked humour, dear Shark. Love it =)

Have now wasted a good hour here reading through the comments (although, Colin, trying to read your backwards entry nearly did me in). You guys are awesome.

Janet, thank you for your sharkly wisdom, humour and honesty. My hamster wheel spins less these days thanks to you.

Barbara Etlin said...

Lennon, they'd be right. :-)

Ha, I spent part of today believing that a certain Star Trek actor was going to run for Congress...

Steve Forti, that was brilliant! Thanks for the laughs!

Nice acrostic* prompts, Janet!

*Do I get some points for knowing that word?

Carolynnwith2Ns said...

I don't know about you guys but I figured that not following any rules was the only way to float the Queens barge.
Ut-oh, boat sunk.

LynnRodz said...

I return to the reef and what do I find? Nookrac gone awry!

Gringo - Ringo - Bingo Was His Name-O

There once was a nailduprevil named Gringo. His mother was Mexican and his father, need I say, a Brit. Now Gringo loved his onaigimrap fish & chips, but one day his girlfriend, Sriracha, decided to add a few brabuhr thinking Gringo would be over the moon. Sriracha was known for being ecirava especially with her prized brabuhr.

Now Cholula was having none of this, she wanted Gringo back! She would sabotage her rival's fish & chips. Leufed by jealousy, Cholula's noitazilibommi plan backfired when Ringo's dog (Gringo's twin brother) Bingo, ate all the chips & fish.

*Now to go and tweet!

Timothy Lowe said...

THE WRONG SCRIPT

Ecirava (1)(2). Retail price 199.99. Courtesy the evil geniuses at Merck, it arrived on a Tuesday. Suddenly, Grandpa could hear again. Just in time. Damn line at Wendy’s was a mile long if it was a fart.

“On a ig im rap.”
“Wazzat, sonny? You want a chicken wrap?”
“No it az ili bom mi.”
“Say again? No, there’s no chili on it.”
“Na il dup revil.”
“What? You want it beef filled?”
“Leuf.”
“We got no soup!”

(1) Side effects include dizziness, nausea, confusion and sporadic anal leakage. Do not take Ecirava if you are also taking Prilosec, Lipitor, Nexium, Celebrex, Cialis, Wellbutrin, Uberpiss, or Fibercron. Do not take if you are pregnant or if you are easily fooled.
(2) Causes occasional hearing loss.

LynnRodz said...

Reread the rules, forget my first comment. Here's my entry:

leufnailduprevilnoitazilibommibrabuhronaigimrapecirava was his name, but we called him rava for short.

Colin Smith said...

LynnRodz: Welcome back! Wow--I can just hear kids around the country catch on to that:

There was a farmer had a dog
And leufnailduprevilnoitazilibommibrabuhronaigimrapecirava was his name-o.
leufnailduprevilnoitazilibommibrabuhronaigimrapecirava
leufnailduprevilnoitazilibommibrabuhronaigimrapecirava
leufnailduprevilnoitazilibommibrabuhronaigimrapecirava
And leufnailduprevilnoitazilibommibrabuhronaigimrapecirava was his name-o.


Verse 2!

There was a farmer had a dog and
leufnailduprevilnoitazilibommibrabuhronaigimrapecirava was his name-o.
-eufnailduprevilnoitazilibommibrabuhronaigimrapecirava
-eufnailduprevilnoitazilibommibrabuhronaigimrapecirava
-eufnailduprevilnoitazilibommibrabuhronaigimrapecirava
And -eufnailduprevilnoitazilibommibrabuhronaigimrapecirava was his name-o.


Verse 3!!

Hey--where did everyone go?

;)

firdaus said...

Fake news

@therealDT Leu'fn naild'uprevila, Enoita-zilibommi Barbuhronaigimrap-ecirava!

*for the first time this made sense.

Scott Sloan said...


Re-leuf*

“Onaigimrap Ecirava?”
“Doctor sez you’re up.”
“You on Noitazilibommi Nailduprevil?”
“Brabuhr?”
“Leuf.”

LynnRodz said...

3rd and final comment for today.

Janet, thank you for all you do: for sharing your wisdom with us, for sharing your time, for making us think about how and what we write (my above comments excluded) for caring enough to reach out to us when life happens beyond the reef. You are truly unique and a godsend to all of us on this road to publication.

Some of us are barely starting out on this journey, others have been traveling for a long time, and still others have arrived or are nearing their destination...it doesn't matter where we are. You have been our guide making this trip less perilous, showing us the pitfalls and the dangers. And I must say, because of you, our travels have been exciting and fun. Again, thank you.

(LOL! Thanks Colin, it's good to be back.)

Curt David said...

I don't believe anyone has said this yet: there never was a contest! It opened on 7:26am EDT and closed on 9:26AEDT (Australia), which is the exact same time!

Well played Janet, well played!

Karen McCoy said...

At a conference all day today. Out of fuel.
Immobilization until coffee was brewed.
Rhubarb muffins eaten instead.
The Liverpudlian volunteer cut in line.
Avarice, probably.
Agent consult. Good world-building. Snappy dialogue. Logistical issues.
Fixing opening pages? Harder than parmigiano.

Thank you, Janet, for these contests, and everything else you do, all the time. My understanding of both the writing craft and business is forever changed for the better. At today's con, an attendee interested in the business side asked the agent panel about contract lawyers, and I immediately recommended this blog. Necessary reading for all.

BJ Muntain said...

Sorry I'm so late, but I just had to say this:

Thank you so much, Janet, for all the time and work you put into educating us, encouraging us, and making us improve our writing in the contests.

And thanks for the laughs and the community you've built here.

Happy end-of-April Fool's!

roadkills-r-us said...

Sorry. I'm still busy trying to unfreeze my face.

SarahJ said...

Tittle
UFO’s band nail’d “Up’R Evil”
Where?
Dunno, it a zilibom miles. Brabuhr’s gona. I g-
I’m rapping at Castle Cirava

Footnote:
1. Exactly 100 characters.
2. All words used.
3. Whole words are used. Characters in backwards order.
4. Comment is in this blog.
5. One post.
6. Posted from the Shark Bait Constellation.
7. Pun on title.
8. No Twitter account.
8a. No fleabags requested.
9. NA
10. Not a contest entry.
11. Agreed.
12. Footnote, yep.

Unknown said...

Avarice is humbled, hunger roars. immobilization brine's my tender body like expired parmigiano baked aldente by Liverpudlian sun, but rhubarb scents of home fuel my course onward

Buffra said...

Oh! So sorry about the bites. Be sure to treat his things so the bugs aren't brought home!

Kate Higgins said...


Curt: I thought 9:26AEDT was 'Alternative' Eastern Daylight time :)

Also those of you that wrote the words forwards can see them in the mirror backwards...so I think that would count.

I've got to stop thinking about this. . . . . . . . . . .



Her Grace, Heidi, the Duchess of Kneale said...

I tally a "No"

"Es irava?" he asked.

Of course it's irrelevant. "Frain won."

"No. It a-"

Zilibomi, brabuhr on a igimrap.

"Huh?"

"That's what the others wrote. Also, nail'd up revil."

"Le uffel..." His nose crinkled up.

I agreed. "Yet Frain won."

"No. Il no triumphe."

My turn to look baffled.

"Le conta de lettres..."

Why, the smug little bastiche. Bet he didn't tweet either.

Katherine Al Rashdan said...

I don't get it.

Katherine Al Rashdan said...

Lmao. I get it now. April Fools! I'm late to the game and really, really late to the joke. Well worth it!! Haha.