Science Fiction Microstory Contest discussion
* FEBRUARY 2024 SCIENCE FICTION MICROSTORY CONTEST (Comments only)
date
newest »
newest »
Isn't this supposed to be a science-fiction group? Good luck to the others. See you all next month.
I was under the impression it was a speculative fiction group. If you WANT to still write science fiction, it is still your choice to do so. I just though we would try to expand our creative fields of endeavor. If science fiction is your preference, then go nuts. A cursed family member can pass down generational, economic, genetic, alien or technological misfortunes just as easily.
The spec-fic group is a different one, Thaddeus. And before Jot moves this to the main page, "passed down", not "past". :)
Mod
Mod
I have no problem with fantasy elements - we've done that before - but, I think too much of the plot has been laid out in the requirements.I believe I'll pass on this one.
Mine's up. Tried to write a couple of genres new to me, but I'm afraid it's also got (a) genre(s) and (b) theme I've used before. And, oh hey, these elements were fun. --Strange sort of "fun," if you followed what I was writing about, but hey. --
Jot, now you must please not abbreviate the requisites too much, for I (and perhaps others) have already spent a couple hours writing a story to accord with the rules as posted tonight.
And J.F., I want to read your story this month, so please write it.
And Tom, twice I've skipped doing stories here because they had so many parameters as to over-limit the plot--and guess who had developed/put up those parameters. (Hint: not Thaddeus.)
Paula wrote: "Mine's up. Tried to write a couple of genres new to me, but I'm afraid it's also got (a) genre(s) and theme I've used before. And, oh hey, these elements were fun. --Strange sort of "fun," if you..."
I can't recall any of my themes or elements filling half a page, Paula.
Oh, I meant it gently, Tom!I just found/find it ironic that we--every one of us--most readily find such problems as we ourselves may have done.
I wasn't aware of it, Paula. I've tried to leave themes open-ended, requiring only 1 concept and 2 elements. If I've been too specific in the past, I apologize.(And, BTW - my compliments on your story - It was a good one.)
No problemo, Tom. And thank you for the compliment! You've brought in some super themes too!!
I got one in.Not 100% on-theme, but there's a powerful inheritance.
Jeremy and Paula, great stories both!!
Jeremy wrote: "I got one in.Not 100% on-theme, but there's a powerful inheritance."
Lovely and haunting poetic finish.
Jeremy, beautifully written, as ever, and crackling lines.
@paula I have skipped them for that very reason as well. Sometimes too many requirements or making it overly complicated in 750 runs people off.
I like this theme, sometimes I think this group is a little too siloed, or a little too strict. A personal sneaking suspicion as to why the participation has dropped off.
I know it's my reason lol
Working on a submission for this month now, I haven't written anything in a long time, I am feeling rusty!
Mine's up. Tried to go a bit western with a little hint of fantasy. Not all that exciting or mind-bending, and its probably not really a curse, per se, but I think it could be the start of a longer story. Hope you guys like it anyway.
Chris wrote: "Mine's up. Tried to go a bit western with a little hint of fantasy. Not all that exciting or mind-bending, and its probably not really a curse, per se, but I think it could be the start of a longer..."I liked it very much, Chris. Fantastic imagery. The perfect set-up for an American period mystery.
Carrie, I utterly agree that "a little too siloed or...strict" [and sometimes too literal in interpreing theme requirements] has, over the years, "put people off"--Carrie wrote: "@paula
I have skipped them for that very reason as well. Sometimes too many requirements or making it overly complicated in 750 runs people off.
I like this theme, sometimes I think this group is..."
Hi, all. Kind of my last 2 cents for what it is worth: A little variety is good; go with the flow.On another note, I will be deleting my goodreads account at some point in time this year. I am kind of done with the whole writing thing. Life, and my brain, have not been cooperating with so many things. It has been a good time here, however. I have learned much and was glad to have participated.
So, "Smoke me a kipper....."
Sorry to hear that Marianne. I've enjoyed reading your work over the years. Hope all is and will be well.
Oh Marianne! So sorry to hear that. I hope you can recharge after some time and rediscover any joy it brought you. I really liked your stories. The sentient houses story stands out in my mind right now. Best wishes!
Ah, Marianne, I shall miss your stories, and your online presence, here. I will echo Jeremy's and Justin's feelings in saying your stories have been a boon and a joy to read, and I hope things will go well for you in future. My best wishes to you!And please pop back in here, or even rejoin, when/if you wish and it seems a good choice to you.
Not criticizing your choice, but I wonder why delete your account? Your stories are wonderful and are likely linked to your account. When you leave, they leave. They offer great opportunities to new writers to learn from your craft.
Whatever you choose, I hope you will be happy and fulfilled in your endeavors.
It has been a pleasure.
Mod
Thanks all for your kind words. I do love my sentient buildings. What a fraxious bunch. There is still so much this group can do. I hope you continue to succeed :)
Most days I feel like I am screaming into the void. I am very much in walk away mode. I think handling 2 estates was a real trigger for impermanence and doing Swedish death cleaning. I vowed when I turned seventy to take all the work offline, as I figured it had all the exposure it ever needed. Nothing much was going on with my archive on Wattpad. So I got a year to work on that. Everything will get backed up, of course. As someone once said in a special about Elvis fandom: It is like counting backward from Infinity.
Last summer, after 4 years, a copyright issue arose from my dead friend's estate, and that just really drove my anxiety into the stratosphere. Suffice it to say, it cost me money to extricate myself from living another person's life, but it was well worth it.
I have thought about us all as writers: How can our work survive life changes? The truth is, in the very long run, it really can't. To quote the song from, god help us, The Bridges of Madison County, the Musical: It all fades away.
Thad, I think all the stuff we did on LinkedIn is gone, so again, impermanence, but since you have brought it up, I will inquire about what happens to my posts on Goodreads upon deletion of the account. You make a good point.
I want to cast off all chains, however. I am trying to disentangle myself from the web so no one else will ever have to worry about it for me after I die, like I had to do with my friend. As far as I am concerned, everything I scribbled could go into the public domain upon my demise. (Copyright, because of Disney is totally messed up.) That being said, I will probably last to almost 95 like my mom, Bronx cockroach that I am.
I am open to changing my mind, but as in the Indian epics, I feel the time has come to meditate in the forest, and leave very active creativity behind. Or at least settle into a new routine that does not involve a crisis a minute. I am just exhausted on all levels. I need quiet and isolation to write. With my husband retired, it is hard to carve out the space I need for that. But the truth is, if I had the desire to write, I would do it, no matter what. But the muse has gone so far down the road, she is no longer in view. And that is really ok. That is just Life.
Thanks for listening.
Great story Thaddeus! As a tabletop war gamer (Axis & Allies and every iteration since 1984), I could totally relate!
Mod
Marianne wrote: "Thanks all for your kind words. I do love my sentient buildings. What a fraxious bunch. There is still so much this group can do. I hope you continue to succeed :)
Most days I feel like I am sc..."
I'm very sorry to see you go, Marianne.
Thank you for the time you spent with us and the wonderful musings you shared. I echo the feelings of others in the group who have also clearly appreciated the magic and beauty you brought here.
I hope you find peace and anything else you're looking for. Here's hoping your muse isn't dead. But, I think she lives on in all of us, thanks to you.
Excellent story, Justin. The imagery and character visualization were beautiful. It flowed with a power.
Justin wrote: "Great story Thaddeus! As a tabletop war gamer (Axis & Allies and every iteration since 1984), I could totally relate!"I liked it too, even though I couldn't relate to the war games part so much. It had a strong linear flow and a nice apocalyptic feel intermingled with elegance and mystery, and an interesting lead character. I liked the way the action exploded at the end, though I couldn't help feeling it left me hanging and wanting a bit more.
It's a good crop this month. Tough theme! Sometimes a hard winter freeze produces eiswein.
got mine in at last hour. was kicking a few ideas around but was watching the moon landing earlier today and got some inspiration.
Mod
Mod
Just sent mine in a couple of hours ago. Sorry for the nick-of-time vote; (I read each piece through carefully twice, as one should, so at least there's 1/Nth of an excuse).
Paula wrote: "Just sent mine in a couple of hours ago. Sorry for the nick-of-time vote; (I read each piece through carefully twice, as one should, so at least there's 1/Nth of an excuse)."And here--on Monday afternoon--is my final-round vote--rather a close one, as the two remaining stories were precisely my 4th- and 5th-choice stories!
Mod
Mod
I like it. Lots of tough men and foreboding lighting, lol. Yes, it's both interesting and appropriate. I'd agree with Jot's point that permission's needed for use of any part from Ad Asta (or other copyrighted source).
Jot wrote: "Thaddeus graciously provided a nicer contest banner. What do you guys think?"Striking. Effective.
Genre Requirement: Any, with the caveat that you write a genre you normally avoid.
Period: Any time, past, present or future.
Setup: A relative has died, the circumstances unknown, you are attending the reading of a will with the possibility of a vast inheritance.
What bizarre secret/curse has your relative kept hidden from their family and why? The artifact and curse may be manifest in any way the writer sees fit.