Science Fiction Microstory Contest discussion
*APRIL 2016 MICRO STORY CONTEST - COMMENTS ONLY
Good one!Though - I didn't really have enough time last month, and April looks no less crowded. This theme will mock me throughout the month! :-)
Time- Where's my next line...snoooooooooww that's better- and now let's blow.
Hi all,I'm new to posting stories in the monthly competition, but I've watched from the sidelines and finally decided to jump in. What a great challenge to write an interesting story in 750 words or less. So far I find the other entries fascinating. Nicely done!
Best,
Justin
Jeremy wrote: "Welcome!"Thank you very much!
We always have time for just in authors, especially if they can give counterweight to those with shallow schoolboy humour. I will refrain from taking things to far by saying... um... avoiding all possible youthful innuendo, best regards. I was always relieved that my father was called Dick, so that I could escape with Richard.
Welcome, Justin,Your profile looks familiar. I think I might have seen you on LinkedIn or some such other site and clicked on your profile.
I just noticed on your profile here on GR, a comment where you ask "would you keep writing if you knew it would only ever be just for an audience of one?" (or words to that effect.) A thought provoking question and probably why I clicked on your profile before - even though I can't remember now what the other site was.
I'm looking forward to reading your stories.
Thank you Heather!I did a guest blog on a site some time ago where I basically covered the same question and I am also on LinkedIn.
As I put my books and stories out there (you may have noticed I've self-published two short sci-fi books on Amazon), I continually have to remind myself that I'm writing because I enjoy it. Yes, I would like to earn extra income from my work, but if that's my main goal, I think I would just end up frustrated and disillusioned if I did not start raking in the millions.
I've seen several recent examples of an author's first book get picked up (like "The Martian) and skyrocket to success, but those are the exceptions and not the rule. I don't have a lot of time to do promotions, so I do what I can and work on expanding my stable of written work.
Probably went on too long here, but there it is. I'll be watching this more often and hopefully contributing more as well.
Best,
Justin
Oh don't worry about 'going on too long' about something' Justin. I want someone else to take on that mantle! Maybe you're like me - a lateral thinker I like to imagine it as - its one thing when all the twists and turns an idea can lead you to are in a zipped file in your mind, but when you write them in words you're always surprised at just how many there are! I think that's why I'm drawn ever more and more to the graphic novel format; so much can be zipped into a picture. Although the integrity of the story must be there, the picture does a lot more of the heavy lifting.But back to that point that caught my eye when you posted your question ... on motivation for writing* ... I saw this quote the other day and it certainly sums up my motivation;
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
Maya Angelou
... and I think I can reasonably add that I know (for me at least) what that 'agony' is! Its an 'exhaustion.' You just want to rest, yet can't till a certain place of (something like) truth is reached ... and how far away that place feels to be determines the degree of agony.
* p.s there's an interesting quote here https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/04... on the motivation-question of writing for just one person
“Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.” - Kurt Vonnegut.
Mine's up too. Had to give a one-liner nod to a national treasure this side of the pond. RIP to a true gentleman of comedy.
JJ- your piece is as always fascinating- but so far over my head that I've not a noggin'- I'm sure if I could find the key then the penny would drop- but you'll have to give me a bloody huge clue. - Anyone else brave enough to admit they're too thick. Justin- wow!
@Richard - you know me and my moments of madness. I wrote it in a very short time - that's probably what's done for it. :-). All I know is it's summat about time travel - nowt about Ronnie Corbett,.. so sadly missed.Some fascinating tales here, I'm really looking forward to what people do with Dorthe's theme.
Richard wrote: "JJ- your piece is as always fascinating- but so far over my head that I've not a noggin'- I'm sure if I could find the key then the penny would drop- but you'll have to give me a bloody huge clue. ..."Thank you Richard. Much appreciated! Oddly enough, I wrote it in the waiting room of a hospital while my spouse was having surgery (she's okay!). I'd had it kicking around in the back of my mind and figured I should put it out there.
Richard wrote: "JJ- your piece is as always fascinating- but so far over my head that I've not a noggin'- I'm sure if I could find the key then the penny would drop- but you'll have to give me a bloody huge clue. ..."I agree! The other stories are fascinating, but they're on a whole other plane of writing than me!
Richard wrote: "JJ- your piece is as always fascinating- but so far over my head that I've not a noggin'- I'm sure if I could find the key then the penny would drop- but you'll have to give me a bloody huge clue. ..."I hope there's a prize for getting this right!
My shot: I think it's an homage piece ... the subject (or is it the object? {there's a broken piece of ferris wheel stuck in the grammar section of my grey cells where that knowledge is stored so I can't retrieve it} ) of which is, broadly .... drum roll ... group-ings of things' including groups of ego, groups of time, groups of, eh um, koff, writers, groups of school memories of course, groups of any memories, groups of live things, groups, groups of dead things, groups of truth, groups of not truths, groups of categories, categories of groups, groups of categories of groups of groups ... and of course time groups and groups of time ... and how we basically aren't that good at it though it's what we rely on to make sense of (by grouping things together or apart) more than one thing at a time in life, in order to live happily ever after, or till at least the end of time.
"Now its good night from me and good night from him."
[p.s. Richard, nowt about Ronnie Corbett, was a ''bloody huge'' red herring to put us off the scent. The 2 and 14 rabbits bit was the 'blood hounds back on the trail' point-in- time! (providing you were a The Two Ronnies fan. That's classic 'their humour' ... but you have to travel back in time to remember.]
Well- I get the last line Heather- but all your other keys just open empty doors. Cross words just make me cross. Difficult poetry leaves me cold.
If words are only clear to certain select groups, that is fine. But if words convey clever ideas to the masses- that is magic.
Did you watch the Two Ronnies back in the 1960's or 70's or whenever it was, Richard? Did you like their sense of humour?Actually I don't know at all if The Two Ronnies was what JJ's piece was truly about but it did mirror their sense of humour!
A particular writer may not care a jot whether I understand, but I do. That is the point. Some writers even like the idea that only their intellectual group understand- so clever they may think- but if the rest of the world miss the point, is that writer uniquely clever or broadly stupid?
"is that writer uniquely clever or broadly stupid?" you asked, Richard. I have no idea! ... it all depends, and that's the 'truth' that basically The Two Ronnies pointed out, and was appreciated by LOTS of people! ... that there is no truth ... but there can be. Its not a black and white world!Unless you are a black and white thinker, then lots of things come up with an it all depends conclusion!
I do think, though that a lot of understanding (of anything) does depend on which 'sense of humour' type a person is, which 'humour group' you belong to.
I am a fan of 'classic British' humour. But it also depends on what you get used to. Once upon a time American humour left me cold and I'd watch the David Letterman Show and think "what are they laughing at? All he'd do is raise his arm and put it down to the loud sound of a cymbal note and the audience would laugh! But now I do get some American humour ... cos we get a lot of US shows on TV here now.
And, p.s. Richard, what I was trying to do by what you called 'opening EMPTY doors' was to just mirror back that 'Ronnies way' of satirizing that ~a lot of the categorization attempts we follow in life ARE EMPTY!~ ... such as when authority figures or peer-pressure comes up with the categories. I always thought that they were saying that though we might be better off trusting our own instincts, we're not always in a position to be able to. (And I can tell you from bitter experience that that, for a fact, is true!)
A classic example of that was a News Piece joke, from their show (was it called "Not The Nine O'Clock News", I can't remember) - which, I think, would have got a laugh from anyone who'd ever been at the mercy of 'stupid authority' - about a huge great hole in the road that had been driving locals mad, because nothing was being done about it.
"When asked what they were doing about the hole, the local council said they were looking into it." (the Ronnie newsreader said in any typical newsreader's deadpan way.)
Actually, its very sad when anyone just doesn't get that sort of humour ... otherwise "angry words" WILL "make you angry." Its such a an enjoyable 'let-off-Anger's-hook experience when (sometimes) anger-inducing situations can make you laugh!
Totally agree, Heather. But I'm a level back here. I understand Letterman and I understand Stephen Fry- which you think is funny is cultural- in my case Fry.
But I'm more- is that writing in English? JJ hasn't let this particular reader even get to understanding the mathematical construct of the words.
Yes, Fry is just too smart to not be intriguing BUT his 'rude innuendos' can get a bit too close to the border line and then I think "Na! can't be bothered with the emotional work of putting up with that just to enjoy the good bits" ... and I'll switch channels.There's something about Letterman I do like. We sometimes get repeats now that he's finished up broadcasting. He's a bit addictive. I hate to mention Donald Trump here and swore to myself ages ago I wouldn't in case of upsetting some USA participants - what with their election 'looming' (as it always seems to be doing!)
Now there's a Two Ronnies joke just waiting to happen: the US election cylce is 4 years but the build up to each election seems to go on and on for about 14 years! no offence intended to Americans. We also have a good show here called Planet America; very knowledgeable and very funny at the same time ...
but, there was a piece on the other night showing Letterman's apology to Trump (and included old footage of many prior Trump visits to Letterman's show. Actually Trump looked like very much like a 'normal human' when he was younger, but now he looks 'odd' and so before he even speaks, it makes you wary (rightly or wrongly,) But, Letterman he's tricky, but I don't mind that. He does it well.
Can't speak for JJ. She might explain some more what she means, if she knows. I don't mind just going off on my own tangent, imagining what a piece means. I'm probably crazily off the mark, at least sometimes, but it doesn't bother me too much... which might mean I'm crazy!
Actually, one more thing, Richard (sorry anyone/everyone who gets sick of the sight of my rambling on's)I was just thinking about JJ's piece (because of what you said about 'constructs') as if it might be 'a list' of metaphors - for whatever is in her mind, it doesn't matter what - ... and that reminded me of Christopher Smart's work (in the 1700's) which I've been looking at a lot lately.
He was said to be a little crazy and a lot intelligent and people can't understand all or any of his poetry, which can seem like 'lists of things, including lists of metaphors.'
And there's that same "how do you interpret this?" aspect to his work. Here's one example, where a cat lover says that anyone owning a cat will recognise the truth and humour in his "For I will consider my cat Jeoffry" http://www.creekcats.com/pnprice/Jeof... and it can be insightful too as seen at http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~tan/Britt... (where the cat's antagonist's character - a mouse - is zoomed in on too, plus a lot more at that sight on the piece, as a musical foundation.
But on the other hand, if you look at it from another angle - standing back and seeing it as part of a whole lots of lines starting with either ''For'' or "Let" as given at http://www.pseudopodium.org/repress/j... and specifically at http://www.pseudopodium.org/repress/j... (which is where the 'Jeoffry' section is, in Fragment B, part 4 of "Jubilate Agno") it can seem a bit like a madman wrote it.
Some reviewers really focus on its religious musical structure and I saw one link (which I can't find right now) that mentioned that it could have been intended as an antiphonal type of religious chant - where one line starts with "Let" ... such and such happen ... to which the answer comes back as "For" ... some reason, justifying that thing.
And another reviewer just said that if you just read it (the Jubilate Agno poem) through - as a list - its inherent musical sound is simply mesmerizing. Here is a podcast http://publicdomainreview.org/2011/01... of a reading of his work. It is a bit like a song just playing away reassuringly, without every lyric line needing to be precisely understood.
Some of JJ's stories are completely incomprehensible to me too, but even those that are still do often feel to me that they have a certain poetic flow.
I just have faith that they aren't ever intended to do that thing you mentioned; try to be obscure on purpose. I'm not a fan of that either! In fact I think its lazy ... but there is a fine line between being satisfyingly subtle and unsatisfyingly non-communicative, which is one of the things I consciously battle with trying to get right in my own stories.
No one has ever accused me of being subtle- that would be a shock. If I'm obscure, and that certainly happens- I know because just occasionally I read my words back- that is through communication failure.
Often 'noises' get away with communication failure because their sycophants can see only brilliance. A million crapologists have got away with that.
In JJ's case- all- ALL - I'm trying to say is that this IDIOT doesn't understand. I still seek help- I can't get anywhere close enough to comprehension that I could possibly judge merit.
Brilliant story, JJ--I love it.And 14 rabbits as well to everyone else's stories this month, so far anyhow.
Richard, I've seen you write very subtly sometimes--no saying otherwise!
Justin, welcome to you.
Paula wrote: "Brilliant story, JJ--I love it.And 14 rabbits as well to everyone else's stories this month, so far anyhow.
Richard, I've seen you write very subtly sometimes--no saying otherwise!
Justin, welcom..."
Thank you Paula, much appreciated!
On JJ's surrealism v Richard's vaunted idiocy .... Richard makes the point about intelligibility, but as an avid observer of the American election process it seems to me that incoherence and gaining an avid following (even of idiots) is really quite possible ...
:-)
and apologies ...
Ah well, Andy, it is possible that, even in the vaunted USA, a coherent socialist or social democratic program may have more following than a coherent or even incoherent quasi/nasi-populist one--let alone neolib/con ones.
Thanks Paula - we all see from our own point of clarity. That's what makes it so interesting analysing the stories. Good practice for when the aliens get here (again!) ;-)Andy - I have no words for the American election process. Well, none left over from the British electioneering one anyway. Waiting impatiently for my share of £9m in a leaflet ...
Obviously I need to read JJ's piece with a few more brain cells- now where did I put my brain? No, Richard, brawn does nay count- but I can play a good pig. One has to make the brain muscle sweat from time to time. But gads, if JJ is another Eco or Eliot who never even understood the words they penned- so academically accredited in Oxbridge Halls and Ivy Walls- then actually my Clapham, or is that Claptrap, view is probably her assurance of success. For it is the fact that people, the minority me being many here, can't comprehend that that is success, just because self-important 'academics' say it is- Tautology is academia.
I am still managing to stick to my principle of not reading any other stories until I submit my own - the temptation is niggling at me, though. Gotta get a story done soon. But not today; I teach 3 classes on Mondays, in different subjects, so that's the weekend done for.
I try to post early, so that I'm not tempted to feed off other writers. Not easy though. I think having a nice wide topic, as yours this month, Dorthe, does reduce that temptation though. You make it relatively easy to be original.
Dorthe wrote: "I am still managing to stick to my principle of not reading any other stories until I submit my own - the temptation is niggling at me, though. Gotta get a story done soon. But not today; I teach..."
Are you in Denmark Dorthe because I´m in Sweden? I´m curious as to what you think of my April2016 Microstory submission, called "Under A White Sky".
John
Justin wrote: "Hi all,I'm new to posting stories in the monthly competition, but I've watched from the sidelines and finally decided to jump in. What a great challenge to write an interesting story in 750 words..."
Your story is brilliant Justin.
I´ve submitted a story but how do I vote for a story? John
Hi JohnWhen the time is up (22nd - see the note at the top), you can email Jot Russell with your vote.
The voting is something of an art form involving run-off voting like the French presidential elections.
But most of us submit a list in 1,2,3, order so if our first choice doesn't qualify for the second round of voting, one of our lower choices may be for a story that makes it through to the next round.
In the end, one story gets over 50% of votes after a few rounds of voting and elimination.
You have to do it a few times to get the hang of it ... :-)
OK. Thanks Andy. This short story telling session is fun.
John #37: Yep, I'm in Denmark; I teach Latin & Greek language and literature (historiography this semester) at Aarhus University. And I am looking forward to reading your story - I can't promise to get to it before the 22nd, though, as the upcoming weeks are packed.
I was thinking about this month's contest and a question popped into my head: What would it look like if a group of stoner, surfer kids were part of the resistance to an alien invasion?I wrote that story (and it's good!), but it was too long (2000 words). So I wrote another.
Posted.
John wrote: "Justin wrote: "Hi all,I'm new to posting stories in the monthly competition, but I've watched from the sidelines and finally decided to jump in. What a great challenge to write an interesting sto..."
Thank you John, I really appreciate it! I am amazed at the wide variety of stories for this month. The ideas are so different and everyone's writing is so unique. Really great work from everyone. I'm just happy to be here!
Mine's also up.In case anyone is wondering if I left out one of the requirements, "Belarus" literally means "White Russia".
Time frame is roughly late tenth century. Berestye is modern-day Brest.
Jeremy wrote: "Mine's also up.In case anyone is wondering if I left out one of the requirements, "Belarus" literally means "White Russia".
Time frame is roughly late tenth century. Berestye is modern-day Brest."
Very good Jeremy! I like it!
Wow, well you're on a roll, Jack. And I keep hearing 'She's like a rainboww".
Ah well, and Jeremy, those Belarus ancestors indeed.
Submitted another odd dream fueled story, with apologies to both Einstein and Feynman.
Paula wrote: "Wow, well you're on a roll, Jack. And I keep hearing 'She's like a rainboww".
Ah well, and Jeremy, those Belarus ancestors indeed."
Paula and everyone, your stories make me feel like I have stepped into a pool that is waaaay too deep for me. Love your story Paula!
Justin, try visualizing this group not as a 'too-deep-for-you pool' ... but, more broadly as 'a sandy beach and river environment' where there's all sorts of interesting areas: rock pools; deep ocean; sandy shore; fishing spots; sunbathing spots; boat ramps; canoes ... whatever you want to be there.Although "The Contest" is a useful way of focusing everyone's attention on the group's purposes which are: to showcase our work AND to learn and grow as writers (and I think I can safely summarize it as that, going by various things that Jot, the group's founder, has stated) I prefer to think of it as "A Creative Environment" ... in which a contest just happens to be an important part of that environment.
I don't 'see' a deep pool with swimmers who (unlike me) can swim in the deep end, endlessly.
Rather, I 'see' an intriguing structure within which I can set learning goals and trying-things-out goals. Yes its a contest ... but nothing is ever 'just one thing and one thing alone!'
Just bring your own depth - whatever it happens to be - and the whole environment will be more enriched than if it were to be populated by clones of some imagined ideal. That's my opinion.
** 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 flavour 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.
______________________________
*Theme for the April 2016 contest:
Theme: Time - passing of, lack or abundance of, travel - or whatever else you please
Required Elements: Smell - a scent, a smell, a stink.
Something white.