The Six of Crows writing contest PRELIMINARY FINAL results!
Update: 9/28/15 8:28pm
It turns out our winner A.Velez is one of those Canadian people....you know those really nice people that one of the Republican candidates wants to make sure we keep out of here by building a wall.
When the winner is one of them thar non-residendial types, I send their prize via BookDespository.com.
Well, in this case, the prize is a SPECIFIC ARC and package, so our winner gets the book (not the ARC) and our second winner gets the ARC...unless it turns out that s/he is one of them thar non-residents too. Check the bottom of the blog for more info.
Update: 9/28/15 8:28pm
It turns out our winner A.Velez is one of those Canadian people....you know those really nice people that one of the Republican candidates wants to make sure we keep out of here by building a wall.
When the winner is one of them thar non-residendial types, I send their prize via BookDespository.com.
Well, in this case, the prize is a SPECIFIC ARC and package, so our winner gets the book (not the ARC) and our second winner gets the ARC...unless it turns out that s/he is one of them thar non-residents too. Check the bottom of the blog for more info.
Not quite a story but I love the subtle elegance here
Shea 10:02am
oh dear, has something happened to Felix Buttonweezer?
Jeff Deitering 10:04am
Not quite a story, but a very creepy point of view!
Lisa Bodenheim 10:32am
Not quite a story but great two lines in what would be an
enticing prologue for sure
"He comes in, weapon drawn. Killer or saviour, I don’t
even care anymore."
Cheryl 10:36am
Oh Little Red Riding Hood, what have you done?
Jessi 10:40am
I'm wondering what happened to the spoonful of sugar!
Christina Seine 1:25pm
this made me laugh, and groan, out loud!
Jennifer Delozier 4:03pm
"No harm, no
fowl."
Not quite a story, but compelling!
Laura Mary 4:21pm
V. Interesting!
Kitty 5:24pm
Oh my god, Evil Librarians?? Quelle horreur!
E.M.Goldsmith 5:12pm
(good for one banishment to Carkoon…if they'll even have you!!)
And here are the nine finalists:
(1) Laura
Rueckert 10:28am
For a spy, secrets can mean the difference
between life and death. Of an informant. Of a partner. And betrayal is a weapon
to be wielded like a scalpel, not a crowbar.
Six lights blink on my screen--six men track me through this rundown Latvian town. One used to be my Matthew, before he wielded the crowbar and became her Matthew.
They think he's one of them.
He thinks I'm still his.
I think...I'm all out of forgiveness.
From a burner phone, I text: Matthew Bennett = MI6.
One light winks out of existence. Like I said. A scalpel.
Six lights blink on my screen--six men track me through this rundown Latvian town. One used to be my Matthew, before he wielded the crowbar and became her Matthew.
They think he's one of them.
He thinks I'm still his.
I think...I'm all out of forgiveness.
From a burner phone, I text: Matthew Bennett = MI6.
One light winks out of existence. Like I said. A scalpel.
That one sentence " betrayal is a weapon to be
wielded like a scalpel" makes the whole story. It's gorgeous writing. And the progression here:
They think he's one of them.
He thinks I'm still his.
I think...I'm all out of forgiveness.
He thinks I'm still his.
I think...I'm all out of forgiveness.
is just beautiful.
This is deceptively simple, and thus easy to overlook as the
great writing it is.
(2) Steve Forti 11:39am
One step at a time, that’s how you get through life.
Two-step with a pretty girl.
Skynyrd’s Gimme Three Steps appropriately plays for the drunken crowd.
Four steps are what he gave me.
Five steps are what I needed.
Six steps to his assault combo.
Seven steps I tumbled down.
Eight steps until I find a weapon.
Nine steps later he’s secreting blood.
Ten steps in the booking process.
Eleven steps from my cell, I spy the warden.
Twelve steps, had I finished, would have kept me from that bar.
Thirteen steps up the gallows.
One step at a time.
Two-step with a pretty girl.
Skynyrd’s Gimme Three Steps appropriately plays for the drunken crowd.
Four steps are what he gave me.
Five steps are what I needed.
Six steps to his assault combo.
Seven steps I tumbled down.
Eight steps until I find a weapon.
Nine steps later he’s secreting blood.
Ten steps in the booking process.
Eleven steps from my cell, I spy the warden.
Twelve steps, had I finished, would have kept me from that bar.
Thirteen steps up the gallows.
One step at a time.
This is brilliant. I love how the opening and closing
sentences match. And "Twelve steps, had I finished, would have kept me
from that bar." is exquisite.
(3) Colin Smith 12:03pm
"Land ahoy!" I call from the crow's nest.
Six long months I've been ship's lad under this Jolly Roger, taken aboard by the captain when my folks was drowned. Took me into his trust he did.
Big mistake.
For t'was his cannon that sunk my folk's ship.
So I'm playin' nice 'til I spy a chance. Maybe after we come to shore and find the treasure, when we've a moment alone. Then I'll show him two secrets hidden under my shirt.
And, while he's distracted with those, I'll use a dagger, my dad's own weapon, to cut his heart out.
Six long months I've been ship's lad under this Jolly Roger, taken aboard by the captain when my folks was drowned. Took me into his trust he did.
Big mistake.
For t'was his cannon that sunk my folk's ship.
So I'm playin' nice 'til I spy a chance. Maybe after we come to shore and find the treasure, when we've a moment alone. Then I'll show him two secrets hidden under my shirt.
And, while he's distracted with those, I'll use a dagger, my dad's own weapon, to cut his heart out.
There's nothing like a good revenge story to get the day
started. And the perfection of the rhythm in "Took me into his trust he
did" is breathtaking. It's so easy to pare down past the point of elegance
with these short pieces. Those two
"extra" words (he did) are what give this voice.
(4) Donnaeve 1:48pm
We was in the field before six a.m.
A company of crows skirted raspy stalks of corn, a whisper of winter in the air.
Roy bragged.
“Shithead. You wait, first shot.”
He won't nothing. A lowbrow bully like Pa, hitting their way through life.
My hands grew numb. This worried me.
I spotted the buck initially, but Roy, determined, delivered a gut punch, then took aim.
He missed.
Trembling, I raised my weapon, praying I wouldn't.
He dropped, secreting blood.
The numbness spread. I felt nothing.
Headlines declared, “Hunting accident kills brother.”
Year later?
I took Pa ice fishing.
A company of crows skirted raspy stalks of corn, a whisper of winter in the air.
Roy bragged.
“Shithead. You wait, first shot.”
He won't nothing. A lowbrow bully like Pa, hitting their way through life.
My hands grew numb. This worried me.
I spotted the buck initially, but Roy, determined, delivered a gut punch, then took aim.
He missed.
Trembling, I raised my weapon, praying I wouldn't.
He dropped, secreting blood.
The numbness spread. I felt nothing.
Headlines declared, “Hunting accident kills brother.”
Year later?
I took Pa ice fishing.
Oh that twist at the end! It's the rhythm here that I love.
Very stark, very staccato. And the
use of vernacular to convey voice ("We was" "He won't
nothing") is subtle and wonderful.
(5) CED 3:42pm
Branwen began feeding the crows when she turned six.
Soon after, they brought her secret gifts.
At first, meaningless trinkets: a dollar stamped with the face of Sacajawea; pondweed stalks; an iridescent button.
Then, what they knew she needed: jewelry to pawn when her stomach twisted in hunger; a pendant she thought lost forever, discarded by her father in a drunken rage; a delicate pen knife to keep by her bedside.
Finally, they gave her what she wanted: Branwen, her wispy hair transformed into wispy feathers, flew away and carried gifts to little girls who had not yet lost hope.
At first, meaningless trinkets: a dollar stamped with the face of Sacajawea; pondweed stalks; an iridescent button.
Then, what they knew she needed: jewelry to pawn when her stomach twisted in hunger; a pendant she thought lost forever, discarded by her father in a drunken rage; a delicate pen knife to keep by her bedside.
Finally, they gave her what she wanted: Branwen, her wispy hair transformed into wispy feathers, flew away and carried gifts to little girls who had not yet lost hope.
(took five passes to find weapon!)
I like the subtlety here. Nothing overt, everything left to
the imagination.
(6) Timothy Lowe 5:58pm
2082 and death was a secret, a lie whispered in the dark.
Galbier’s work in sixty six had laid it to rest. And humanity stood in awe, a ponderous debt finally relieved.
Until he turned up dead.
First they thought it was something in the formula, the squirreling away of tiny bits of genetic marmalade, tucked in as escrow against the night.
Then they thought suicide. But that was nonsense. Not when he had eternity.
It wouldn’t take long for detectives to espy the cold truth.
The secret, like Galbier, was dead.
Someone valued death enough to kill for it.
Galbier’s work in sixty six had laid it to rest. And humanity stood in awe, a ponderous debt finally relieved.
Until he turned up dead.
First they thought it was something in the formula, the squirreling away of tiny bits of genetic marmalade, tucked in as escrow against the night.
Then they thought suicide. But that was nonsense. Not when he had eternity.
It wouldn’t take long for detectives to espy the cold truth.
The secret, like Galbier, was dead.
Someone valued death enough to kill for it.
That last line is great. I love the idea of this story too.
And "genetic marmalade" may put me off toast forever!
(7) Curtis Moser 9:27pm
My six-shooter was stuffed in the sock drawer of my studio
apartment when The Crow arrived. He showed me a message from Sandra, sandwiched
between two sliver-sheets of sandalwood, scribbled in her shaky scrawl:
Kill Sam Spade.
"Who's Sam Spade?"
"Sandra's spouse," the spy said. "He's the sap selling secrets to the States. I think he's living south of Spain. Suit up. I'll take you."
"Sure. Just need some socks and shoes." I slid the drawer open, showed him my weapon. "Sweet of Sandra to sell me out."
"You're Sam Spade?" he asked.Kill Sam Spade.
"Who's Sam Spade?"
"Sandra's spouse," the spy said. "He's the sap selling secrets to the States. I think he's living south of Spain. Suit up. I'll take you."
"Sure. Just need some socks and shoes." I slid the drawer open, showed him my weapon. "Sweet of Sandra to sell me out."
I smiled as I squeezed the trigger.
Simply superb! Some stories simply must be selected!
(8) Eve Messenger 10:32pm
No one’s crowning
achievement should be a six-story
date with concrete, yet here I stand, alone and teetering.
The roof door slams open.
Someone’s behind me, breathing fast, as if they’ve hurried upstairs.
“You won’t talk me down,” I say.
“Yes.” A woman’s voice, raspy, hesitant.
I shift cautiously around to face her. “I’m six weeks along. My boyfriend won’t leave his wife.”
The Samaritan grabs my wrist. “Your b-boyfriend knows about...?”
“No.”
“That baby was your secret weapon. You should’ve told him.”
How her wedding ring gleams as she proffers her other hand.
And shoves me over the ledge.
The roof door slams open.
Someone’s behind me, breathing fast, as if they’ve hurried upstairs.
“You won’t talk me down,” I say.
“Yes.” A woman’s voice, raspy, hesitant.
I shift cautiously around to face her. “I’m six weeks along. My boyfriend won’t leave his wife.”
The Samaritan grabs my wrist. “Your b-boyfriend knows about...?”
“No.”
“That baby was your secret weapon. You should’ve told him.”
How her wedding ring gleams as she proffers her other hand.
And shoves me over the ledge.
It's pretty difficult to shift perception of a character in
fewer than a hundred words, but that is artfully done here. Our "Samaritan" turns out to
have a wedding ring. This is a perfect example of exactly the right word at the
right time.
Very nicely done.
(9) A Velez 8:51am
He’s on the sweet stuff again. Sander’s place lousy with pots.
Dealing too. Lil Roo says he’s cornered the supply—made some deal with the
queen bee.
The kid called in bunny boy first. Ridickerous. Got taken out with a crowbar by that gloomy heavy always watching the place.
But I’ve got a guy on the inside. My secret weapon.
A faint knock at the door and my spy scuttles in, face pink. “Thistle b-b-b-break. Six m-m-m-minutes.”
I said nothing. Time to pounce.
Because the Hundred Acre Wood needs a hero.
And I’m the only one.
The kid called in bunny boy first. Ridickerous. Got taken out with a crowbar by that gloomy heavy always watching the place.
But I’ve got a guy on the inside. My secret weapon.
A faint knock at the door and my spy scuttles in, face pink. “Thistle b-b-b-break. Six m-m-m-minutes.”
I said nothing. Time to pounce.
Because the Hundred Acre Wood needs a hero.
And I’m the only one.
This is just flat out brilliant. It's deliciously subtle, but
just overt enough so we catch on just at the end (Because the Hundred Acre Wood needs a hero) and
then reading it again makes it even better.
I love this.
I want the finalists to have some time to enjoy being on the short list, and of course give the readers a chance to weigh in on which entry they would choose.
Final results will be posted tomorrow (Monday 9/28) around noon...I think. (I love to torment you!)
Update 12:47pm Monday 9/28.
This was a toughie this week. Nine very good entries made the finals, and some damn good ones didn't too.
After thinking about this over night and re-reading today, I'm coming back to the entry that made me gasp with delight when I first read it.
I love this entry because it's funny, a complete story, requires some background from the reader, and doesn't ruin the joke at the end. (That's hard to avoid sometimes in the writer's zeal to make sure the reader gets it.)
A.Valez if you'll email me with your mailing address I'll send you the ARC of Six of Crows (unless you'd rather have something else)
Thanks to all who took the time to enter. I really enjoy reading your work even if it doesn't get a mention or a selection (in other words, please don't stop entering JD Paradise!)
Congrats to the finalists for their amazing work!
UPDATE: A. Valez is Canadian! I know, who could believe such a thing about her! She'll get a copy of Six of Crows, but the ARC and it's spiffy package will go to the OTHER winner:
Update 12:47pm Monday 9/28.
This was a toughie this week. Nine very good entries made the finals, and some damn good ones didn't too.
After thinking about this over night and re-reading today, I'm coming back to the entry that made me gasp with delight when I first read it.
The winner is A. Valez, Finalist #9.
I love this entry because it's funny, a complete story, requires some background from the reader, and doesn't ruin the joke at the end. (That's hard to avoid sometimes in the writer's zeal to make sure the reader gets it.)
A.Valez if you'll email me with your mailing address I'll send you the ARC of Six of Crows (unless you'd rather have something else)
Thanks to all who took the time to enter. I really enjoy reading your work even if it doesn't get a mention or a selection (in other words, please don't stop entering JD Paradise!)
Congrats to the finalists for their amazing work!
UPDATE: A. Valez is Canadian! I know, who could believe such a thing about her! She'll get a copy of Six of Crows, but the ARC and it's spiffy package will go to the OTHER winner:
(8) Eve Messenger 10:32pm
Eve, if you'll send me your mailing address, I'll send you the prize. If by some chance you are Canadian, we'll meet at the border, ok?
80 comments:
Cool for all of you mentioned. I had things to do and took the low hanging fruit from the keywords.
On;y thing I noticed is that a company of crows is a murder of crows. It would have added a lot to the story but I have to admit that all of that is a ploy to keep Donnaeve from getting a third win. Sorry Donna, I love you, but I am still struggling away at this.
Ooooh, so difficult. I really like Laura Rueckert's entry. Good luck, everyone!
I'm not sure how you are going to pick a winner - these little gems are all wonderful. It's an education and a complete treat to read the styles of others.
At last I made the short list, hurray! I'm thrilled to be in such good company. Thank you, Janet Reid!
A. Velez is my winner. Shouldn't even be close.
I'm going to stop spending 3-4 hours working on these, though, and just enjoy my betters. Apparently I can no longer compete :).
Steve Forti, Eve Messenger, and A Velez. I wouldn't want to have to choose between those. They're all excellent but those three are my favorites.
All so good. I especially liked Donnaeve's- an echo of Flannery O'Connor in 100 words or less. I wouldn't be able to decide. So glad it's not up to me. I'll be here in Carkoon if anyone needs kale.
Colin Smith and A. Velez are my faves. But then, I like pirates and Tiggers.
These are all great, but if I had to chose just one I'd pick Eve Messenger. Or donnaeve. Glad I don't have to choose just one.
I didn't quite finish my entry, but reading these I don't think it would have stood up. This is one of those contests where I learn a lot from being in the stands.
A Velez for the win.
My children's obsession with Pooh Bear has finally paid off! Thank you! I really enjoyed all the finalists. I want to read the book based on Timothy Lowe's entry - such a great idea. And I loved Eve Messenger's entry too - especially the first line and the great twist.
Wow, what a night! My first supermoon eclipse* and my first trip to the finalist circle.
I'm honored to be considered alongside a great group of stories.
Sorry for the hidden weapon, Janet. :)
* The eclipse is full right now and will stay that way until 11:23 EDT. It will be partial for the two hours after that. If you're in a viewing area and it's clear out, do yourself a favor and take a peek.
Awesome! Honored to be a finalist. Fingers crossed. Good luck to all! And CED, thanks for the eclipse reminder. Great view from my house right now.
Lord I'm busy outside with the SUPER MOON...and something made me come over here again...and what??? I made the short list - whoop!
(I'm taking pics - if you're friends with me on FB, I've been posting a couple - but my camera is temperamental - or maybe that's me..)
I'm about to retire though...so, THANK YOU MS. JANET!
I'll be in Raleigh for the day so I won't get to see the results till late.
(and I would be remiss not to say thank you E.M and Sisi...in case I don't get to in the morning.)
Also, we weren't even supposed to be able to see the Super Moon tonight... It was supposed to be cloudy...rainy...like it's been all weekend. It's like a gift.
Craig, I never thought of "murder of crows..."but for some reason it sounds familiar.
My other choice was "A canopy of crows rested among the branches above their heads."
My "whisper of winter" also harkens back to that other contests where we used some turn of phrase like that. My entry for that was "bulldozer of bullies."
Anyway. For whatever all that's worth.
I'm up WAY past my bedtime so I'm probably babbling at this point.
Some terrific stories. All the finalists are deserving, but I'll narrow my choices down to three for the podium. Which means somehow I'll have to eliminate one because I can only get my list down to four superlative entries. If I can only pick three...
- Colin, for the two secrets hidden under his shirt. Nice play.
- Donna, because there's always that one entry where you instantly go, Oh, man, why couldn't I have thought of that beauty (He won't nothing.) Ohhhhhhhh.
- A Velez, because that was so, so cool. And Janet is spot on, reading it the second time (and third) gets even better. You catch yourself nodding your head and smiling.
That's my podium. Not sure whose national anthem is playing.
What an amazing list of finalists! They're all brilliant. I'm glad I don't have to choose between them ;)
Wow!! I'm really honored to be among the finalists. :) So cool!! As a finalist I don't feel comfortable weighing in on who I think should win, but I will say I really am humbled to be in this company. Great entries, one and all. I'm tempted to raid the archives and count how many times Steve Forti has made the finalist list--I think it's a lot. Well done Steve, and everyone else!! :)
I'll be driving my Mum to Winston-Salem tomorrow for the first leg of her return home, so I won't catch the results till later. All the best to everyone! :)
Safe travels, Colin. Hope we get a break in this incessant rain that coincides with your drive time.
All these entries are SO good. I'm glad I don't have to decide. Although, I have to admit to having a soft spot for that Silly Old Bear. For the record, Pooh is the only acceptable type of BEAR.
Wow - short list! Thanks, Janet. They're all so great, and I liked some not chosen too. I'm so glad I don't have to choose a winner. Good luck, everyone!
Always a delight to read the entries. Not sure who I would pick but i am going to give the apple from my Adam and Eve failed story to A Velez... which is either a very mean thing to do or a good one. But I do have a Winniethe Pooh mug which I am very partial too... and today is today of course - which is my favourite day!
My favourite was actually Marie McKay at 4:12 - so much so that I tried writing a response entry to it, but I just couldn't make it work (and I wasn't sure if it was a bit of a cheat?)
Out of the 9 finalists Laura Rueckert's was another one that stuck with me - I like the rhythm as much as the story itself. I also liked Janet's comment on the beauty of simple writing. I always think simple writing is more beautiful for it's clarity.
As always, I loved reading all the other entries - off now to re-read Janet's previous notes on what does/doesn't constitute a story!
@Laura Mary Hi there I just re read your story as the does/doesn't question seems to be a runner. I don't know if Janet will comment on specific stories re this, but yours for me was the middle of the story. We knew what she was doing, there was a hint perhaps of why in a general sense, and we see where she is heading... maybe. But we don;t know what that end is. So if a story has a begging a middle and an end - your beginning was in the back story, and we don;t know the end. So for me it becomes more of a tone piece, and compelling indeed, a slice of the cake if you don't object to that metaphor, rather than the whole pudding. Please tell me to get lost and mind my own business.
Not at all Marc - that was actually very helpful!
It's one of those things where I understand the 'rules' and think I know how to do it, but it hasn't become instinctive yet, so I don't recognise it until it's pointed out!
Because *I* know the ending, I assume the reader will know it too (see Stephen King's theory that writing is a form of telepathy!) But there is no twist here, and as you say, no real ending, just an implication of how things will continue.
Writing short is hard! It's teaching me all sorts of things I never knew I never knew!
@Laura Mary - phew :) If it helps... look at the emotional state of the person in your story - does that emotional state shift in anyway from the beginning to the end? If it does that and says something - it's a story - especially if the emotional state changes because of an action taken and a decision made.
Sometimes it can be the smallest thing, the shortest sentence that turns a scene into a story. The smallest thing done.
Great entries one and all - I'd vote for Winnie-the-druglord (even if I had to look up the Sanders reference). Go get him, Tigger!
Thanks. I am so glad you liked mine. I was trying to play with format (albeit unsuccessfully) so hopefully it would not be considered a 'cheat'. Don't think you're allowed to comment on the competition page. I'm quite new here, so others I'm sure can keep you right on the commenting.
I second Marie McKay - I printed hers out and shared with my wife who is a math teacher. It took her the second read to "get" it. Very nice subtlety!
Thanks for the mention, J, and congrats to all those finalists. Of them, I must say the woman on the ledge stole if for me.
Thank you. That's nice to know!
I missed the Week in Review. Thank you, Janet, for those clarifications. Good luck choosing from the short list. I do like Laura Rueckert's but all you chose are excellent.
Congratulations to all mentioned.
Of the finalists, I'd vote for Laura. But I also really liked Marie McKay's entry. Innovative and supremely subtle.
Pretty much all of them are, at the very least, good. But some of them have such a way with words, and such a lovely flow, they're a pleasure to read. These competitions are a fine way to study the art.
Ha! I just noticed THE SUB-HEADER. My first! *don't worry, I won't squee.
:)
Agree with Dena, though all the finalists were amazing. Have to go with Eve Messenger though--so subtly brilliant!
Laura Mary and Marc P: I was also trying to analyze why mine was not quite a story. Marc, you mention emotional state. I focused on reader's emotional state rather than character's emotional state. Also, my "protagonist" did nothing except to sit and wait. I think protags need to be active. I think those are the reasons why mine is not quite a story.
Holy cats, I missed a surprise writing contest??? And it was the day after my birthday??? Dang vacations ruin everything...
I am, however, happy to report that I have now seen the entire continental U.S. Which now means I must board a boat or an airplane or a space shuttle to see something new. :)
Congrats to the finalists! I won't dare choose a winner. All 9 are unique and beautiful.
CED's concept and imagery have stuck with me since first reading the entry. Clever points go to Laura and Donna eve, and Steve's should be made into a billboard for the scared straight campaign. But for me the winner is A Velez - this story was original, full of voice, and twisted the central goodness of Pooh. That takes talent!
I like something in every single finalist's entry - a great line here, an excellent twist there, etc. I can't choose just one, so I'm just going to say congratulations to everyone and wish you all good luck. :)
I love Colin's entry. Revenge, pirates, fantastic voice. I'd read that book in a heartbeat.
My reCAPTCHA was "find all the pancakes". Thanks reCAPTCHA, perfect for the first day of a new diet. grumble grumble
Thanks Colin. I know I don't talk much around here, though I read everything. So it made my day to be recognized. Always great to be a finalist. One if these days, I'll hopefully take the cupcake (always better than regular cake). Until then, it's great drive to get better and better against incredible competition.
@Lisa yes it is really the one scene. That of the huntress waiting. Your line to that effect is what the whole scene is. In the earlier story I mentioned it was an emotional state in stasis, something had led up to it and something would change it for good or for bad at the of the 'projected' story. The reader in your story has no real emotional connection to the mother and child because we have only seen them from the eyes of the huntress. Tiger,lion, bear? So to make yours more of a story - you need to show something of the mother and child to invest the reader with emotional connection- maybe give them some dialogue - start with that - then to your waiting scene - and then an end. Can be just a line. A twist either to the tale in terms of action or to OUR understanding of it.
Again tell me to shut up lol.
Great job, everyone! All the finalists are great choices.
Laura: When it comes to a full story, Janet says 'she knows it when she sees it.' The beginning, middle, and end is one aspect of that. So is some type of change.
Lisa: Any change counts, whether it's a character's emotional state, the reader's emotional state, or a more specific change.
Donna: After we all spent the whole day yesterday congratulating you on the subheader, you just noticed? (Just kidding. You were busy. We understand. Congrats again!)
Deana: totally agree. As soon as I read the entries by Steve Forti,
Eve Messenger, & A Velez, I knew I didn't stand a chance. A Velez's made me laugh the most, but I think Steve's is the cleverest and deserves to win. Eve's wins the best sentence from me "six story date with concrete" boy did I love that!
Great entries, folks! I'm so glad it isn't up to me to choose the winner; I'd narrow and narrow, and then end up putting names on paper and have Elka pick at random (this has been a time honored method in the past, if I've had to pick random winners for a blog contest or some such).
All I can say is...I'm glad I was busy this weekend.
I feel taking Pa ice fishing was perfect.
Congrats to all, including the honorable mentions.
Popped out of my PitchWars editing cave long enough to read the finalists - all amazing entries. No idea hoe you will choose, Janet. I particularly liked Laura R's and the wielding of the scalpel.
A. Velez, your story was deliciously well-crafted and totally deserved to win. I want to borrow Six of Crows when you're done!
Wow! What an awesome bunch of stories this week. Congratulations to all the finalists and of course to this week's very deserving winner.
Well done to all the finalists and the well-deserving winner. As one who writes epic fantasy, I am so in awe of anyone who can tell a story in 100 words or less. Brevity being the soul of wit and all that.
Congrats A. Velez! So creative and well deserved!
Congrats to the winner! Wonderful story. Now I will have the song in my head all day, but it brings back great memories.
Congratulations to all the finalists and those mentioned and special congratulations to A. Valez.
The competition here is more fierce than a Little Miss Georgia Peach beauty contest. Y'all did good.
Ah, can't argue with that choice. Congrats A Velez!
Thanks very much. I really appreciate it.
Congrats A Velez!
To win against such exemplary competition - great job!
Congrats to all the finalists. What a fabulous winning story. The writing here is of such a high standard. (Apologies in advance, my comments seem to duplicate, and I can't seem to stop them.)
Congratulations, A Valez for a really unique story! Tough crowd this time. Congrats also to all the finalists and mentions. Enjoyed reading all of them.
Congrats to the finalists and those mentioned and to A Valez for a great entry. There were several other great entries that were not mentioned, and it's always fun to read what you guys come up with. Thanks for hosting these competitions, Janet.
Thanks for the kind words. I'm pretty thrilled. And thanks for these contests. It is always so much fun to participate and read all the awesome entries.
Congratulations, reefers!
Congratulations A. Velez. I didn't get yours at first, but when I did, I was super impressed!
Now that the winner's been named, I will say Eve Messenger's was one of my faves.
I always enjoy these so much!
Yeah, BJ - it took me a WHOLE day to notice! Kind of funny - I guess I figured the Six of Crows quote was still there and I just didn't look. Now I only have "six" days or so to enjoy seeing it. LOL!
Gems all! Congratulations.
Huh. That's a little ego boost just when I needed it.
Back from a day on the road. Thanks again for the finalist placing, Janet, and congratulations to A. Velez! A worthy win, for sure.
Oh, and thanks to Leah and others who liked my offering. You're very kind. :)
Now, really - I'm surprised. I thought every good Canadian had a US mailing address. Friends, relatives, those handy P.O. boxes just across the border. I hope the new border wall won't keep us from collecting our mail.
(And, of course, it goes without saying that we declare everything at Customs when we go home again.)
Great entries, all of them. Congrats to the winner! And thank you, Janet, for the honor of making the short list. :)
Amy: For some (most?) of us, driving 4 hours or more to the post office box just isn't as handy as Canada Post. :)
Oh dear. I think I should come clean. While it's true I do live in Canada and have for a few years, I am not actually a nice Canadian. I am, in fact, a Texan :)
Comment Update: Congrats to Eve Messenger! :D
BJ Muntain: I agree - getting a package delivered is so much nicer. But I don't know about "most". According to the CBC, 90% of the population lives within 100 miles of the US border.
By the numbers: Canada
Of course, I do have a bias, here. I can't receive mail in Paradise. All of our packages reaches us by friendly courier (ie. people coming up here for work).
Congratulations! Well done.
I love these contests - so addicitive. I had to laugh at myself. This weekend was a blur. We're two weeks away from opening with a double cast and in a 2-person play there's no room for error so I've been in my line-learning cocoon. Checked in for half a second on Sunday morning and said "Oh no! There was a contest and I missed it!" but the little voice in my head said "No, you haven't."
So there I was in the church parking lot fifteen minutes before I had to sing for Mass going "What can I do with this?"
That's an addiction, but a happy one.
Have a great week, y'all and congrats to the winners and finalists!
I'm one of those 90% Canadians. Takes me 10 minutes to get to my U.S. post office box. So, I'm ready, you know, for the big day I win one of these contests. Probably coincide with the first Wal-Mart on Mars. Stiff competition, and now I learn...
TEXAN! We let in a TEXAN! I would so love to go to Texas.
Congratulations, A. Velez!
Congrats to everyone but especially the winners!
This contest was something of a challenge to me since I've been without my computer for most of the month (gasp!). I've been making occasional trips into town to use the library computers, which will do in a Pynch. Our beloved Geek, Sam, says our hard drive could no longer handle the job; I blame it on Mercury being in retrograde.
A Velez: don't worry. The subliminal messages in all Canadian TV and radio will soon have you 'nice'. Even Don Maass, the year after he married his Canadian wife, was bemoaning the fact that he now had to be nice. It's infectious.
Amy: Interesting. But I suppose I can see that. Especially in areas that don't go very far north. Here, I live in southern Saskatchewan, but it's still over 150 miles to the US border, and about 4 hours to the nearest ND city of Minot. Most of the population in Saskatchewan and Alberta is farther north.
Around here, having an 'American address' isn't normal at all. And unless you lived right along the US border, you'd really get side-eyed if you admitted to having one.
Great writing, sublime. congrats to all, and Thank you QOTKU for hosting such a fun event.
Congrats, winners! Good choices, Ms. Reid!
I'm seriously wondering about my eyeballs.
I JUST NOW saw this addendum to the contest.
Congratulations EVE MESSENGER!
Congrats to the winners! Great entries.
I am finally home from the woods, and I am sitting down with a cup of java enjoying reading once again JR's finals - I knew it when I read it - anything that includes a mafia style Tigger, and a little piglet that sounds like the perfect minion, has to be selected! Congrats A Valez - I LOVED IT! And of course congrats to the finalists and the mentionables!!!
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