Online Writing Forums at TheNextBigWriter

Memphis Trace · 09-08-2011 08:51:25

... the Fat Lady's sung; we have a winner in the Paint Drying Competition.

All seriousness aside, do yourself a big favor today and go to the front page to read a fantastic story: An Unconventional Option. Or punch this link: http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/library … read/54326

This is an absolute gem by MichaelSTrimmer.

Memphis Trace

Memphis Trace · 09-10-2011 09:14:06

There's another winner in the Paint Drying Competition.

Make your weekend a complete; read Oscar Hutson's The Message: http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/library … read/54468

Another gem.

Memphis Trace

flowing pencil · 09-15-2011 19:19:49

Hey, mine ain't done! Now reading this! Why bother! I suck! I am not entering now! I am defeated! Tim's memories are now locked in to his brain forever! And it is your fault Memphis! I coulda been a contendah! But no! You cruelly grabbed it out of my thirsty grubbing little soul! You will pay for this! Blue Ruby will pay! A storm is on the way to wipe Blue Ruby off the map!!! Alas... my entry lies in cooling ashes... dust to dust! How tragic... sad... sadder... really sad...

Flo... dejected soul.. wondering what coulda shoulda been. Tim's freedom now cemented in a unopened can of peach paint!
Too cruel for me to contemplate!

maxkeanu · 09-16-2011 10:58:22

The paint finally dried. Congratulations winners!

flowing pencil · 09-16-2011 19:13:48

It's over?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Your kidding right! It's the end of the month! Right! aaaaagghhh
You better be kidding Max.

Patti

s_thatcher · 09-17-2011 07:54:39

Congratulations, winners!

I'm more of an 11th hour entrant, and now I realize all my procrastinated pre-thinking was for naught.

flowing pencil · 09-19-2011 10:18:54

HEY, THE PARTY ISN'T OVER! Some poor schmuck might believe this thread!

DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 29th 11:59... is that EST....

Memphis Trace · 09-30-2011 09:36:34

I take it all back folks. We have a new winner for The Paint Dry contest:

Read j l mo's Varnish Drying and tell me (with a straight face) you've read a better short story in 2011.
http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/library … /toc/54941

Memphis Trace

jules_s · 09-30-2011 10:40:26

Many props to j l mo, but my pick from the selections I read goes to Adrian Lankford"s "Gates of Dal Hur".

http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/library … read/54935

Kydd Dustyn · 09-30-2011 11:01:37

Memphis Trace wrote:
I take it all back folks. We have a new winner for The Paint Dry contest:

Read j l mo's Varnish Drying and tell me (with a straight face) you've read a better short story in 2011.
http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/library … /toc/54941

Memphis Trace

I love jlmo to death, I do and I think she's a top-notch writer, but her entry wasn't listed in the contest (or I would have been sure to have read it asap!).

Honestly, I read about 60 percent of the entries as my time permitted and they all rated as excellent contenders. Since I didn't read everyone's entries... I would never presume to judge one better than the rest at this point.

Good luck to all the talented entrants!

Kydd

flowing pencil · 09-30-2011 11:28:32

WELL! WHAT ARE MINE! COW DUNG! I AM OFFENDED TO SAY THE LEAST!

Seriously, I have a favorite but I would never post it.

BUT, I bet I am right! And no, it isn't one of mine!!!!

Flo

Kydd Dustyn · 09-30-2011 11:43:50

flowing pencil wrote:
WELL! WHAT ARE MINE! COW DUNG! I AM OFFENDED TO SAY THE LEAST!

Seriously, I have a favorite but I would never post it.

BUT, I bet I am right! And no, it isn't one of mine!!!!

Flo

'xactly!

Kydd Dustyn · 09-30-2011 11:46:21

This throws most of us out right off the bat: (From the contest rules)

2. Rankings and Winner Selection: There will be one winner chosen. The editorial staff of TheNextBigWriter will choose the winning entry. The site's rankings and recommendations will guide the editors but sole discretion for choosing the winners rests with the editorial staff. All editorial decisions and procedures relating to this Contest are final.

So does this mean that if we didn't get recommended here or show up in the rankings, we're crap out of luck?

Well, that's how I read it, so I'm screwed on both counts... I kinda figured that from the start, but I still had fun writing them.

Last edited by Kydd Dustyn (09-30-2011 11:51:52)

jules_s · 09-30-2011 11:56:29

I have to confess, I'm a little confused. Had I made a pick *before* the contest closed, someone might say I was trying to influence the outcome somehow. As far as I'm concerned, it's a recommended read in a place designated for recommended reading. And as you say, the decision has always been out of my hands. I guess I'll have to watch my "wording" from now on.

Edit for post script: In fairness to those entries I didn't read, I'm sure on balance they are outstanding in their own right. I meant no slight to any of the participants of the contest.

all the best-

j

Last edited by jules_s (09-30-2011 12:04:25)

crazeesharon · 09-30-2011 12:42:32

I wouldn't worry whether your story was ever listed in the "Recommended Work" forum. Most of the winning stories in the last few contests never showed up there. It would appear that Sol and the site have another way of considering "rankings and recommendations" that we are not privy to.

Good luck to everybody -- lots of very imaginative, clever entries.

Last edited by crazeesharon (09-30-2011 12:43:36)

Kydd Dustyn · 09-30-2011 13:00:58

I've never understood the rankings anyway. They sure aren't based on the number of reviews and because everyone gets a 5 these days, aren't based on ratings.

It's an enigma to me, but I will attempt to cling to life anyway...

But now I'm curious... did this clause exist in all the previous contests?

Man, there really IS something to be said about staying ignorant... hehehehehe.

j l mo · 09-30-2011 13:01:42

Kydd Dustyn wrote:
Memphis Trace wrote:
I take it all back folks. We have a new winner for The Paint Dry contest:

Read j l mo's Varnish Drying and tell me (with a straight face) you've read a better short story in 2011.
http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/library … /toc/54941

Memphis Trace
I love jlmo to death, I do and I think she's a top-notch writer, but her entry wasn't listed in the contest (or I would have been sure to have read it asap!).

Honestly, I read about 60 percent of the entries as my time permitted and they all rated as excellent contenders. Since I didn't read everyone's entries... I would never presume to judge one better than the rest at this point.

Good luck to all the talented entrants!

Kydd

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Unfortunately, my submission was finally accepted at 12:00:15.

No lie. Read about it at "By That Much". It'll rip your heart. And make you point and laugh.

On a similar note...My apologies and uber gratitude to Flowing Pencil, Dagnee and Memphis Trace. They know why.

Last edited by j l mo (10-03-2011 03:54:36)

#1 09-08-2011 08:51:25

TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

#2 09-10-2011 09:14:06

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

#3 09-15-2011 19:19:49

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

#4 09-16-2011 10:58:22

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

#5 09-16-2011 19:13:48

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

#6 09-17-2011 07:54:39

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

#7 09-19-2011 10:18:54

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

#8 09-30-2011 09:36:34

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

#9 09-30-2011 10:40:26

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

#10 09-30-2011 11:01:37

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

Memphis Trace wrote:

#11 09-30-2011 11:28:32

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

#12 09-30-2011 11:43:50

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

flowing pencil wrote:

#13 09-30-2011 11:46:21

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

#14 09-30-2011 11:56:29

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

#15 09-30-2011 12:42:32

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

#16 09-30-2011 13:00:58

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

#17 09-30-2011 13:01:42

Re: TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER;

Kydd Dustyn wrote:

Memphis Trace wrote:

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