May 2021 - Science Fiction Microstory Contest (comments only)

[Justin]

Theme: The anti-hero's journey - What goes into the making of a super-villain?
Required elements: A point of no return, regret

[Jot]

Hmmm....

[Greg]

Remember: A villain is in the eye of the beholder.

[Jot]

Congrats on getting that story in, Davida. I still have to figure out a plot myself.

[Jot]

Okay, had to finish mine off before heading off to Montauk for some family camping. Sorry for the dark nature of my story, but as sci-fi goes, I tend to lean in that direction.

[Paula]

Have drafted a story, shall try to get it in on time,

[Kalifer]

Mine's up. Jam Black is a character that was in one of my space operas that I bring back to life here and there. I decided he was perfect for this month's topic.

[J.F.]

My admittedly feeble offering this month is related to an older story some of you may recognize called "Slaying the Meserich," submitted when the theme was "rites of passage."

[Paula]

I had another story nearly ready, but time so tight--have put up a quick little shorter one instead. Enjoy.

[Jeremy]

This may be of interest: http://file770.com/hugh-howey-launche...

[J.F.]

Jeremy wrote: "This may be of interest: http://file770.com/hugh-howey-launche..."

Very cool. I will likely enter The Brickweavers, which made it all the way to the quarterfinals in the ABNA but Publisher's Weekly farmed out the reviews to some college English class and I got a negative but otherwise incomprehensible review by some seat warmer who never read past the first chapter.

[Paula]

That is absurd, J.F., but so typical of big-money but poorly judged literary competitions. Still, the novel did well until hitting the only-if-we-recognize-the-name/who-wants-to-actually-read-anything portion of the "judging." It's a darned good novel, btw, if anyone here hasn't read it.

[Jot]

Back from camping. Reading the stories before I collect the votes.

[J.F.]

Thanks, Paula!

[Jot]

Just waiting on Kalifer's and Paula's votes, or any other member who might decide to before the end of the day.

[Paula]

Sent my votes now.

[J.F.]

There's been a problem with posting the comments thread for June. It may resolve later today. But here's a link to the stories thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[J.F.]

Interesting thing I learned preparing my epub for the contest that Jeremy listed above. My sister and her husband were given a signed print copy of my novel when I first published it years ago. They had never gotten past the first few chapters. I sent them a copy of my epub a few days ago. My sister is half-way through it now and my BIL has finished it already, on his iPhone, and sent me notes on typos. He loved it and wishes he had read it sooner. So whether I do well in the contest or not, I am in Jeremy's debt for making us aware of it. And I learned if you want someone to read something, get it under their noses, not on their bookshelves.