Science Fiction Microstory Contest discussion
*JANUARY 2016 MICROSTORY CONTEST - COMMENTS ONLY
Lots of scope for interpretation in this month's theme, Jack. A good challenge.
Interesting theme, story posted if anyone is interested. :)
Nice theme and parameters, Jack. I'm curious how anyone here found this thread before Jack posted the links on the December thread. Isn't there a subset of Goodreads group threads (sub-URLs, as it were) that the microstories contest threads appear in?
FYI: Started a new post about promoting the anthology
@Jot is it worth creating a new section for the story threads? Everything is in "General" right now. It might also be possible to pin the latest month's threads to the top.
Not sure where to post this, but I have just begun reading Richard Bunning's novel Spiderworld; based on its prologue and chapter 1, it's one of the best sf novels I've read in years. Seriously--page-turner, sophisticated, excellent world-building, and so on. So, Richard, I hope the rest of the book's this good. If so, it really really needs to be well known.
Shucks- I can't really respond to that. I'll see what Orlando Oversight has to say about it- I'm only the scribe.
I found writing this month's story quite a healing experience and feel ready to now go and expand the real life version of it (that my fictional story for January was based on) into the memoir I have been toying with for some time. The main issue I was having, with the thought of writing that memoir, was feeling the need to permit the reader to feel empathy for all the characters - including empathy for the narcissists of this world who destroy so much ... and with those who never give up trying to find the suffering poetic heart of the narcissist, which determination also causes loss ... and for those who endure the whole kit and caboodle of it all, whose exhausted 'taking their eye off the ball' at critical moments also 'permits' loss and destruction to occur. I want to write the memoir at the personal level but also to show its relevance at the universal level and to allow room for hope, even if faint hope. Writing my sf story this month let me see how to handle that empathy issue.
My first instinct when I saw this month's topic was that it would be 'challenging' and it was ... but also cathartic (and I am grateful, from that perspective, that I have never felt the need to resort to cynicism within my stories, because that would have halted that catharsis.)
It feels like a good time to take a break for several months from the monthly stories. But I'm interested to keep up with what happens here and I especially am interested to see where Carrie takes the podcasting for her writers' site when its set up.
I really like the idea of the energy of a story and how that is tied to the energy of the story teller and how that is tied to the exchange of energy with the reader/listener via the exchange of energy between 'the voice' and 'the emotions' ... and how all that points to the likely benefits of the writer reading their own stories. So, if and when its suitable I'd like to have a go at reading my own stories on Carrie's podcast site. (I imagine that there is an upper limit to word count that 'still works' for an amateur reader to read their own story, but not a lower limit. So very short micro fiction might offer the best 'round the campfire' story lengths, for that concept to work well. It would be/will be fun to try.)
It's a good story, Heather--great that writing it has worked for you so well. I am struck by your point about "the need to permit the reader to feel empathy for all the characters," a point of particular import in a culture recently full of online ads regarding "teaching empathy" as if it were not humans' (or mammals'?) natural response. Your point is thus most refreshing.As for reading-aloud times. My experience in directing poetry (and other) readings in my old museum job was that readings work best if kept to *no more than* five minutes, preferably four or fewer minutes, and very very well rehearsed.
I haven't actually seen those ads (for "teaching empathy"), Paula ... but I can see why they might exist; a lot about (any organised) society is equivalent to 'teaching people how to loose their inherent empathy' ... and I suppose, that with the great emphasis (in our society) on 'teaching' rather than 'permitting to be' then 'the teachers' have been taught to 'teach solutions' rather than to set up the conditions that 'permit solutions' to emerge (even though they probably have been told that they are 'tapping into' people's own creativity, rather than 'teaching' it!). Teaching/being taught is a double edged sword ... in my opinion; great benefits, great disadvantages.There's a whole lot in all of this about the very concept of creativity itself ... which I think of as (the perpetual process of ) 'returning to the original' (after having slid away from that original state (which we also do perpetually) courtesy of such things as 'teaching' BUT, in a seeming paradox, 'teaching' can aid us in 'returning' to the original, renewed with even deeper insight, ability etc regarding that 'original state and its potential.') That's sort of what my story this month was about and what the memoir is to be about - especially re the difficulties and complexities in trying, inherently (as we all do, I believe {which is why empathy is deserved by all}) to find and maintain a dynamic stability, an aliveness ... BUT, the person (or unit of persons) who is a narcissist, whether genuinely or 'taught to be one/traumatized into being one' compartmentalizes things too much and with too much rogue individuality so that the 'aliveness' they are concerned about is too restricted to basically their own (and who they care about for their own needs to be met) ... whereas the empathizer (taught or natural) breaks the compartment walls down more. In other words, there is somehow more creative movement back and forth (more constant renewal) in the thinking of the empathizer than in the thinking of the narcissist. (And there's another paradox: an artist with great empathy, or movement in their thinking, within their field of interest, might become so locked down into focusing on just that that at a personal level they behave narcissistically!)
(That's why I think it {the memoir} potentially (if I can hit the nail on the head well enough! {and write it well enough!}) can work at both the personal and the more collective/universal level, to say something relevant ... to the human condition.
p.s. I just found this quote
"Empathy can't be taught, but it can be caught" (and is 'the catching' a type of 'taught-learning' anyway?)
Good points, Heather!Jeremy, great--looking forward to reading it.
A bridge across time ... refreshingly rendered, Jeremy. I like your story-teller's energy ... the angles you see things from.
Thanks Heather.Incidentally, my story contains many (deliberate) anachronisms.
Well I must admit I didn't pick up on what all the details of the anachronisms exactly were, Jeremy. I just picked up on the humour of the disorientation of things 'seeming like' they might not be occurring exactly as or when they would in a 'normally congruous set of realities' (if such a set of realities exists!)Even the reference to the River Styx just for a moment made me think "Oh we're crossing, from a WWII war zone in Europe, into Hades via somewhere in ancient Egypt" but then "oh, no we're not, we're going straight to their future (ie our present day) where the WWII troops can have a tasty McDonalds" ... but then, "hang on, McDonalds doesn't use polystyrene containers anymore ..." So even without getting all the anachronisms you might have put in there, that nice liveliness, of crisscrossing time (and place), still comes across.
(It actually reminds me of when I was young and loved to listen to my much older relatives - grandparents and great aunties and uncles especially, but also from my parents generation - telling about their lives and experiences. As the listener, in the 'then present' time, I 'received' their stories through 'funny filters' where past and present and memories and mis-memories and different memories from one person to the next, etc all occurred in a type of aural montage ... that 'added to' the magic of what I heard them saying. <= I suppose that that might have been what made me feel/intuit that your story had a good story-teller's energy ?)
Without giving everything away: The setting is during the Battle of the Bulge. There was no Company Q, but Company K is real (and there are several amazing books on their story).
I was astonished to learn that styrofoam was invented as early as 1941.
I also grew up hearing stories of that era, from my grandparents. My grandfather fought in North Africa, and his brother was a fighter pilot (don't know too many details about his service). My grandmother was a major in the nursing organization (can't recall what it was called).
Fascinating isn't it? And it does make me want to read more about some of the things you mentioned.(For me, my grandparents were WWI era and my parents WWII. And ... the settings of where the stories were being told made a difference eg eating a meal in the then present time of my childhood and hearing about a typical meal time in times past or a typical meal for the soldiers etc gave that 'time travel effect' I found.)
It's incredible history. I'm grateful for that generation's sacrifices, and thankful that I don't live then!One of the books I found (it may be hard to locate a copy though) is called "The Men of Company K", by Harold Leinbaugh and John D. Campbell. It's gripping reading - kept me up all night.
Thanks for posting the name of that book. I'll keep an eye out for it. Yes, what a generation they were!
Just a thought--persons posting possible spoilers on the current month's stories might either rephrase to carefully avoid possible spoilers or else begin such posts with ***SPOILER*** across the top.
I'm not sure if you meant my comment s on Jeremy's story, Paula? But there is actually still many many things left to find in that story. I have found heaps of them since I first read it (or what may be such hidden gems, which adds to the story's intrigue.) But I won't mention them. I suppose we could always vote lol on whether we are allowed to compliment a writer on their story before The Vote.
Personally I love to hear something of the genesis of a story - eg things like the book Jeremy posted the name to. Its a common thing. Amazon, for example, always has a blurb on what stories are about, even any book you pick up in a bookstore has 'something about what's inside' the story.
Its not like this is a juried competition. Surely its at least as much a chance to be amazed at how each writer thinks, as reflected in their stories and what they say about their stories; the whole package ... including the energies I pick up coming from the author, by dint of things they do and don't say, is how I judge a story. That's what I vote on, how amazed I am at 'a story and what makes it come into existence' or what seems to.
And ... is the story really given away (spoiled) by someone's interpretation or the author's exposition? The story still stands in front of each reader in its own right as they perceive it. Its not like 'Chinese whispers' where the story changes as it passes through the minds of different people who pass it on to the next. Each makes up their own mind uninfluenced by the others, surely. Just because one person has an opinion about someone's writing doesn't at all mean that others will follow suit ... in my opinion.
I was making a general point, Heather.Jeremy, no problemo.
This http://waitbutwhy.com/2016/01/horizon... is a long, but very interesting, blog post which I think has a great relevance to this (mini) discussion. He (the author of that blog - which is called "Wait But Why", which blog, incidentally, Elon Musk, is a great fan of) wraps up the whole blog with the last sentence in it; "So there's some horizontal history for you. Now go brush up so we can all be oriented the next time we yell at each other about fairy tales."
Jeremy's story is a type of ... an insight into ... horizontal history*
AND
in an extrapolation of the same concept - that 'things are more than just one thing' - so the idea that 'this monthly contest is just one thing', viz 'a set of stand alone stories put up each month' which somehow mustn't be (pre-vote) contaminated ("spoiled") is actually a "fairy tale" (designed to comfort and reassure.) Nothing exists on its (simplistic) own in the real world. And that includes the fact that nothing exists without being surrounded by judgments ... and karma.
Where this group sometimes gets it wrong, in my opinion, is in trying to create a fairy tale reality in which those inevitable judgments are 'very well controlled.' A striking example was the 'must it be science fiction to get a vote?' vote we had some time ago. No vote is capable of controlling what science fiction is or isn't! The author's integrity simply has to be trusted on that (scary though that might be!) And now, this idea that we mustn't "spoil" a story by talking about its karma is another example. It de-enriches us to have such false-controls that aim at (over) simplifying complexity.
[* where that blog post is talking about 'horizontal history' as being with Time stopped at one point and The Situation in Question being subjected to 'horizontal movement', Jeremy's story (though different to that) is still 'horizontal history', in my opinion, in that The Situation in Question (viz., the everyday minutia of military campaigns as it affects real humans) is the unchanging variable and Time (Past Present Future) is the one with 'horizontal movement.']
Is it me , or are the entries thin this month?
Volume is low. Quality is high.Perhaps we need to bug people on LI to submit?
Book Four - Invasion, Conspiracy, and The Long Ride is trying to blast out of my door before Jan. 25th. No time this month for micro stories.
Marianne, probably. Usually a change of address--for anything or anyone--loses a huge proportion of members/correspondents. And Goodreads software, while hardly a steep learning curve, is "just one more thing" perhaps for people. Too bad, as it's a good venue for us.Good work, Ben!
Good idea, Jeremy. Maybe you can post something there (on LI) for people, yes!
I'd prefer if Jot posted it, "officially".
We usually get a surge of stories at the end. The GR problem is that if you don't click through on an update then you don't get notified again except in the GR bulked up reminders- Usually something like you have 178 new posts from 13 groups on GR. Who has time? Not me. LI does notify constantly, even if one hasn't been looking- that is the one upside to LI's **** up system.
It is a slow month (January after all); but hopefully with a bit more time to devote to analysing each tale.
Excellent point, J.J. This way, people'll read all the stories, hopefully before voting. Richard, I'm not following you re the GR problem. Once on GR, I click on "groups"; there, I click on this group, then on the relevant discussion/thread--then on the highlighted ("new") item(s), if any, else on the group name--and I'm here.
I saying that I don't think of looking here unless I'm reminded. If one misses one e alert that is it- then the group only shows up again in the weekly bundled alerts. That is why I didn't hear that voting had started last month. And that is almost certainly why we are losing readers.
LI at least continues to inform whether one responds every time or not once one is in any discussion thread.
Okay- that is my GR set up- but it is most peoples. If I was fully connected to GR I'd get at least 50 emails a day. I can't handle that.
If you still don't understand- no worries- you will in time.
I think we all understand, Richard. Thank you so much.
Mod
I feel your pain, Jot. Not sure I've posted in the last 4 months, but managed to put one up after yours. Hope to read them all over the weekend.
And I have squeaked in under the wire, with a Royal Tale from the Future, which also glances over its shoulder at the pastIt is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real personalities alive or dead are entirely ...
Nanobridges - My story is up, the bridges are small and have been carried from before to be carried some more. I'm with you Jot, crazy month. Crazy politics, crazy stock market, crazy work, and even some writing. Sleep? Who needs it?
Well I'm glad I'm not the only one getting a story in just under the wire. Probably not my best but I've had the week from hell and I"m just glad I got something posted!
Hoping you're okay, Carrie--and Kalifer--and Jot.
Indeed, hope everyone's OK - including those not taking part this month.Been just crazy over here too. Working all over the country, several new projects, and (as some of you already know from FB) some eejit totalled my car, + a few others, as we were queuing to join a motorway.
"I didn't see your brake lights" she kept saying. Well, maybe because we were stationary, duh?
Car's a 'total loss', say the insurance. But we're OK, and I take that as a sign. Haven't quite worked out of what, yet ....
I hear there's some crazy weather in America too?
Hey All,I spent the last three days doing chores and errands to prepare for being home bound in the blizzard of 2016 (Winter Storm Jonas) that is hitting the east coast of the states. Our biggest challenge will not be the 30 some inches, but how to get a 10 week old puppy who is house training, to go out in the snow. I've shoveled the deck, stairs and a yard patch 4 times now and it barely looks like it was touched. Anyway, I fell asleep finishing my story last night, but got up extra early to finish it and post it before Jot declares entries closed. If you'll have me, I'd be honored to join the other good works this month. If not, I'll understand.
Andy- glad to hear you're okay. Hang in there.
I have assumed your in Sharon- 2 minutes late. Your egg could have been hatched into the ether before Jot with his super fast connection fired the gun. It's got to count.
So far, around 14 inches of snow falling. After shoveling, will read this month's entries :)
Thanks, SharonI remember - must be 30 years ago now - taking our puppy out in the snow. Went completely mad, chasing everything and jumping to catch snowballs.
I also remember about that time a colleague moaning about having to go outside with a kitten at 6 in the morning with a kettle of boiling water to soften the frozen ground before it would pee.
Maybe something like that could assist the house-training? As long as it doesn't become a lifetime expectation ...
Happy shovelling, Marianne!
** COMMENTS ONLY **
The theme for the month follows this note from the competition's Creator/Director, Jot Russell:
To help polish our skills and present a flavor of our art to other members in the group, I am continuing this friendly contest for those who would like to participate. There is no money involved, but there is also no telling what a little recognition and respect might generate. The rules are simple:
1) The story needs to be your own work and should be posted on the Good Reads Discussion board, which is a public group. You maintain responsibility and ownership of your work to do with as you please. You may withdraw your story at any time.
2) The stories must be 750 words or less.
3) The stories have to be science fiction, follow a specific theme and potentially include reference to items as requested by the prior month's contest winner. The theme for this month is posted below.
4) You have until midnight EST on the 22nd day of the month to post your story to the Good Reads Science Fiction Microstory Contest discussion. One story per author per month.
5) After, anyone from the LI Sci-Fi group or the GR Science Fiction Microstory Discussion group has until midnight EST of the 25th day of the month to cast a single private vote to Jot Russell () for a story other than their own. This vote will be made public once voting is closed. Voting is required. If you do not vote, your story will be disqualified from the contest. You don't need a qualifying story to cast a vote, but must offer the reason for your vote if you don’t have an entry.
6) To win, a story needs at least half of the votes, or be the only one left after excluding those with the fewest votes. Runoffs will be run each day until a winner is declared. Stories with vote totals that add up to at least half, discarding those with the fewest votes, will be carried forward to the next runoff election. Prior votes will be carried forward to support runoff stories. If you voted for a story that did not make it into the runoff, you need to vote again before midnight EST of that day. Only people who voted in the initial round may vote in the runoffs.
7) Please have all posts abide by the rules of Good Reads and the LI Sci-Fi group.
8) Professional comments and constructive criticisms are appreciated by any member in either group and should be posted to the separate thread that will be posted at the end of the month and all voting is complete to avoid any influence on the voting. Feel free to describe elements that you do and don't like, as these help us gain a better perspective of our potential readers. Remarks deemed inflammatory or derogatory will be flagged and/ or removed by the moderator.
9) The winner has THREE days after the start of the new month to make a copy of these rules and post a new contest thread using the theme/items of their choosing. Otherwise, the originator of the contest, Jot Russell, will post a new contest thread.
______________________________
For the January 2016 contest:
Theme: Bridges (real or metaphorical)
Required elements: Things Carried