Science Fiction Microstory Contest discussion
OCTOBER 2022 SCIENCE FICTION MICROSTORY CONTEST (Comments only)
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here's some weirdness. goodsreads (the android app) shows this topic but goodreads (the web page, in MS edge or Chrome) does not. logged out and back in but still missing.
That's really odd. Theme is optimism. Only one element this month: a plant.
Mod
Open Call posting on Facebook maybe? https://www.facebook.com/groups/44010...We could also post something on the old LinkedIn group. It's still around.
Please clarify, Jot. Next month meaning the October or the November "best" story? Or for best of (what then will be) the just-past year? Or 10-years best? What about getting a serious judge to choose that winner? Perhaps ask Jamieson, or Gaiman, or G. Brin, or KSR, or Brisson, or V. Singh--?
I think if you want to promote November (?) do an open vote Goodreads wide for November. I think I suggested this before.Other ideas: a topic: what 10 years of the sfms has meant to me.
Also a topic, maybe we writers pick what we consider our single best sfms, and the reason why, and repost that story in a thread, being a 10 year look back.
Just a thought.
We supposedly have 100 plus members in this group. As moderator, can Jot do a group blast to let the memberdhip know what gives for November?
Mod
Mod
Optimism, huh? What does a pessimist do with that? Hmm! We shall see.
Jot, Bye the way, I live halfway between San Jose and San Francisco. If you have to come to SJ again and have some extra time, I'd like to invite you over.
Mod
I'll email you my phone number
MIA for many months, I banged mine out in about two hours. Creativity is weird.
And it's a good story, G.C. And a fine story, Greg. Tom--strong tale with excellent concept. Jack--sharp tale, very well formed indeed.
Mine is up. And I have to say, this was one of those rare times when I wish I had more word count. It is another story following women living in a post plague world without men. I think I got some optimism in there. There is certainly a plant. I went green, although the word could refer to someone snuck in somewhere or a factory ;)I also think this is one of those stories where the reader will be filling in based on their perceptions of what is going on.
Marianne wrote: "Mine is up. And I have to say, this was one of those rare times when I wish I had more word count. It is another story following women living in a post plague world without men. I think I got some ..."I thought it was pretty clear. The campfire helped set the wooded wilderness setting and the nightscape. The World's Fair spoon was a nice touch that gave it some texture and help set the time. We have to decide if the mysterious healer is witch, mutant or alien or whatever. I kind of went with mutant.
(I would have preferred actually seeing the protagonist turn into a tree and heal the world rather than be promised this. That's my only minor gripe.)
Thanks , Tom. The original had more mood, and detail, and yes, turning into a tree was something I wanted to write, but 750 did me in. :)I actually have a 1939 World's Fair spoon. The bowl is embossed with the Hall of Medicine. It was a gift from another writer. :)
Mine's up. I was so busy rewriting my first novel that I almost forgot about this month's posting. Going through my first Novel I found that the ideas were good but the execution needed a lot of basic work. Grammarly gave me a sea of red underlines. I know, Grammarly is for expository writing not novels but the vast majority were good old English errors.
Yeah, always good to do an extra edit. Do you do that first and then the developmental edit, Kalifer? It's always interesting which order people do these in!
Good luck with the novel, Kalifer :)
Mines up. Kind of a variation on an MG novel I've been working on. Now, if I can only publish one of them...
I reserve the right to make changes before the deadline but I wanted to get it posted quickly as I'm having eye surgery today. I had a lot of trouble with fitting the theme into my sci-fi requirements framework: wonder, profundity, secularity and character. I think I hit all the marks but maybe not very hard. For any story idea, I always ask whether it could happen in a non-sci-fi context. I kinda fudged a little on the plant element but I think it passes.
I fudged a bit with mine too (and I set the theme!).
Mod
What an outstanding crop of stories this month! Wow! I like each one of them! Nice work everyone!
Mod
Hah, got mine up despite the 2 vaxxes a couple days ago. And agreeing with Justin and others here--some amazing stories this month, indeed. Excellent batch.
I hope your eye surgery went well and your eye healing nicely and thoroughly, J.F.! Marianne, you have reminded me of the World's Fair memento in The Grapes of Wrath!
Voted! Really hard to choose! So many great stories! Nice to see so many entries this month.
Mod
Sorry for the delay. The day job and sick wife meant reading when I could steal a moment. I have submitted my vote and absolutely enjoyed this month's selections. I have been telling my friends about this group and trying to increase our visibility on social media, because I think more people should know all of you.
On our ten year anniversary, I can only say: It has been a pleasure writing with you. Each of you has broadened my writing by being exposed to yours. I hope we can continue to inspire, support and network with each other for years and projects to come.
Ad Astra! (To the Stars!)
And I, for one, have learned much from reading your writing.Editing, because that was far too terse, even for me!
Thank you, Thaddeus. And I hope your wife makes a speedy recovery.
Thaddeus wrote: "Sorry for the delay. The day job and sick wife meant reading when I could steal a moment. I have submitted my vote and absolutely enjoyed this month's selections. I have been telling my friends a..."
Well said.
Mod
Hope your wife recovers soon, Thaddeus.
Mod
Elements: A plant.