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SGInc Story Workshop 1.7 now on!
Topic (as chosen by Helix111, author of the most popular entry to SGInc Workshop 1.6) : Sibling Rivalry
Word Limit: None
Deadline for entries: 28th February 2006
On your marks... Go!
admin.
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One author I correspond with feels that the workshops are diverting some established writers from their personal projects; and another tells me he'll be sitting out the next few workshops so that he can work on a saga he started way back when.
My idea is that established writers would be encouraged to work on their own projects. Conceptfan could write the next chapter of "Empress Ria" or "Milena's Diary"; Ultragirl could continue her "Walking Tall" story; Ace could finish "Turnabout is Fair Play," etc. Or you could write that story you've had in mind for months now, but that hasn't "fit" any of the workshop themes.
And as an incentive for first-time writers to take the plunge, maybe "freshman stories" ONLY could be listed in the poll. (Although I'm impressed at the quality of many of the stories submitted by new writers over the past year -- and at how well many of them have done in the polls!)
What do other SWManiacs think?
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- argonaut
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I enjoy writing stories to the topic suggestions. Sure, sometimes it involves twisting things a bit, but that is part of the fun of assignments and limitations on form. And yes, it does distract me from my other projects, but when those projects (or real life) are too pressing, I will sacrifice a workshop or too. That's my choice.
Also, I'm all for encouraging new writers. I try to do it in my reviews of the workshops. But part of the fun for me is voting and being voted on. I'd be a bit less likely to participate without the competition part of it.
So although I'm all for innovations (and I think the 1,000 word story was a great innovation) I'm against these suggestions.
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- marknew742
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As for attracting new authors, I can think of two reasons why they may be discouraged.
Firstly, the competition. "When there are so many good writers out there, what chance have I got of winning?"
Secondly, the formats are difficult. The 1.x workshop entries can be massive, and well beyond a first time writer's abilities. The 2.x workshops are , IMO, more difficult due to the tight word limit.
If we really want to attract new writers, I think we should reconsider the "Newbie Workshop" that I proposed a couple of months ago:
1. New writers only. Would probably need to refine this rule slightly so that a "new writer" is someone who has entered no more than 3 previous workshops.
2. Moderate word limit. About 5000 words prevents epic entries but it not as restrictive as the short-story workshop.
3. Flexible but definite themes. So new writers have some guidance but don't feel like they're in a straight-jacket.
Anyway, that my 2 cents
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- helix111
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- conceptfan
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- helix111
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- julievelor
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I plan to probably rehash a collaborative story for the workshop...who else?
LF
Does it really have to be siblings? I've got some stuff involving a pair of cousins. Not to mention some mother/daughter stuff.
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- lfan
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- marknew742
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- argonaut
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Oh, and, um, I'm going to sit this one out too. Sorry.
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- conceptfan
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Velvet had checked out of a review of a futuristic romance in which Australia is once again a penal colony. Only the review called in a "penile colony."
Naturally, I thought of Franz Kafka's horror story. "In the Penal Colony." And when I glanced at the first line of that story -- "It's quite a remarkable piece of apparatus" -- I realized that the reference to a bizarre execution device could have an entirely different meaning in a story called "In the Penile Colony."
Besides providing somethiing for the workshop, it serves a few additional functions, such as bad double-entendres and in jokes, a veiled alllusion to Cordwainer Smith. and making Aram Khachaturian as well as Kafka spin in his grave.
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- brantley
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Oh, and, um, I'm going to sit this one out too. Sorry.
's okay, conceptfan. I doubt that your record of participating in nine consecutive workshops will ever be broken.
You're forgiven -- as long as you've been using the time to update "Empress Ria" ... or "Milena's Diary" ... or "The Super Models" ...
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- argonaut
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Do the siblings have to be related? I'll just leave that one open: won't say if they are or aren't. They'll share a couple'a bedrooms between the four of 'em--all I'll say.
Wuv,
-White Paw
"Playing ball with your friend goes better when you use a ball."
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- WhitePaw
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I haven’t been a total goof-off this month as I have 2/3 of Chapter 11 of Turnabout completed. Will try to push the bills and tax forms off the scanner and submit another update to Ace’s Place.
I do have a story plotted for the upcoming short contest and I will get back in the game at that time.
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- ace191
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Ok, that's one WHALE hauled in for ya: 75 pages, (33 thousand words and then some if you think I'm padding double space on ya), all in to Addy by the deadline, all steaming fresh since the kickoff of the workshop and re-edited for SWM.
Hope you're hungry. Who's bringing the side dishes?
Yeah yeah, I know. It ain't 50,000 words, but I've a rep to keep as a SHORT story writer. Gotta keep it tight. :roll:
See you at the judges table.
Bring a bib.
Wuv,
-White Paw
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- WhitePaw
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I'm surprised at how many of the "regulars" are sitting this one out, actually. If I had another month, I'd love to jump into this theme. There are plenty of possibilities there.
I do seem to have the writing bug again, for now, anyway. Just this week, I finally finished the first story I ever started writing, after nearly 2 years. It's not superwoman themed, though, so don't get excited, unless you're into the giantess theme, also.
So now that I'm feeling motivated about writing, and that project's behind me, I'm ready to start writing something new. I'll think about workshop 2.4's theme. If I can't come up with anything, maybe I'll wait and see what the theme is for workshop 1.8.
YAGS
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- YAGS
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Well, that was a mistake. You guys got me thinking, just as I went to bed, about what I could write for workshop 2.4. As soon as I came up with an idea, I had to get out of bed and start writing. I was already up late, and now it's an hour later.So now that I'm feeling motivated about writing, and that project's behind me, I'm ready to start writing something new. I'll think about workshop 2.4's theme. If I can't come up with anything, maybe I'll wait and see what the theme is for workshop 1.8.
YAGS
Going to work tomorrow is gonna suck. On the up side, I've got a start for a story for workshop 2.4.
YAGS
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Anybody?
Sigh.
-WP.
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- WhitePaw
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- admin
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OK, there, I said it!
LF
Three entries received so far so we have a convoy, er, contest! This is normally the time we receive mass appeals for a deadline extension. Are there any stragglers needing "just a few more minutes/hours/days"?
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- lfan
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Maybe everybody was watching the sexy skaters at the Olympics. I know I was -- but I managed to crank out a story just the same.
Velvet already submitted a story for Workshop 2.4, and that doesn't close for another month. This one's been open for -- well, quite a while.
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