Writing Discussion

[New England and The Maritimes]

So, anyone volunteering to be one of the judges?

I'm nowhere near able to write at the moment, but for short stories I can certainly judge.

[Alexlantis]

So, anyone volunteering to be one of the judges?

I'm nowhere near able to write at the moment, but for short stories I can certainly judge.

So it's decided, then? You're the judge?

[Yoite]

I might be in, I'll see what I have ready when the time comes around.

Are you/we having a judge? or judges?

[Conserative Morality]

I'm nowhere near able to write at the moment, but for short stories I can certainly judge.

Sounds good. That's one judge, at least.

I might be in, I'll see what I have ready when the time comes around.

Are you/we having a judge? or judges?

Judges, plural, if at all possible.

[Alexlantis]

What're the entries going to be about?

[Conserative Morality]

What're the entries going to be about?

Fictional short stories. Beyond that, I don't think we really need a theme. Unless there's some overwhelming agreement on one.

[New East Ireland]

What're the entries going to be about?

Fictional short stories. Beyond that, I don't think we really need a theme. Unless there's some overwhelming agreement on one.

Sex theme.

[Alexlantis]

What're the entries going to be about?

Fictional short stories. Beyond that, I don't think we really need a theme. Unless there's some overwhelming agreement on one.

I think it would help both judges and writers if there was a theme. Certainly it would help the judges out.

[Conserative Morality]

Sex theme.

Gonna put the kibosh on this one while I still can.

I think it would help both judges and writers if there was a theme. Certainly it would help the judges out.

Well, if you guys can agree on something, I'm game to *almost* anything. *glares at NEI*

[New East Ireland]

Sex theme.

Gonna put the kibosh on this one while I still can.

I think it would help both judges and writers if there was a theme. Certainly it would help the judges out.

Well, if you guys can agree on something, I'm game to *almost* anything. *glares at NEI*

It's just a suggestion.

[Alexlantis]

Well, let's start brainstorming themes, then.

Post-Apocalyptic
Superhero
Creation Story (think Book of Genesis)
Vampire/Zombie/other paranormal type creature story

Any of these sound any good to anyone?

EDIT: Crossed out superheroes. If an overwhelming majority clamor for them, though, we'll bring them back. Deal?

[Conserative Morality]

Well, let's start brainstorming themes, then.

Post-Apocalyptic
Superhero
Creation Story (think Book of Genesis)
Vampire/Zombie/other paranormal type creature story

Any of these sound any good to anyone?

I'd like to avoid superhero stories because I can't take them seriously. I'll go along with it if you guys want to though.

[Alexlantis]

Well, let's start brainstorming themes, then.

Post-Apocalyptic
Superhero
Creation Story (think Book of Genesis)
Vampire/Zombie/other paranormal type creature story

Any of these sound any good to anyone?

I'd like to avoid superhero stories because I can't take them seriously. I'll go along with it if you guys want to though.

I see your point. Superhero stories tend to get cheesy at times, yeah. They make for great comic books, but they don't transition well into literature. You kinda need the pictures for them.

So, list will be updated.

[New England and The Maritimes]

I'm nowhere near able to write at the moment, but for short stories I can certainly judge.

Sounds good. That's one judge, at least.

I might be in, I'll see what I have ready when the time comes around.

Are you/we having a judge? or judges?

Judges, plural, if at all possible.

3 would be best.

Criterion should be Form and Expression.

Form
Grammar: X/10
Formatting: X/10
Spelling: X/10
Overall: X/10

Expression
Creativity in Ideas: X/10
Use of Language: X/10
Conciseness/Flow: X/10
Overall: X/10

Final score per judge then should be the Overall for Form+Overall for Expression. Judges' scores should be added to determine their total score.

[New East Ireland]

Creation Story? No thanks.
Post-Apocolyptic? Yawn. That's been over-done one too many times.
Paranormal story? See above.

Honestly, I don't see why there has to be a theme.

[New England and The Maritimes]

Creation Story? No thanks.
Post-Apocolyptic? Yawn. That's been over-done one too many times.
Paranormal story? See above.

Honestly, I don't see why there has to be a theme.

As the first judge, I agree. All writers should be on even ground, and that includes being free to write about what they are inspired by.

[Alexlantis]

Creation Story? No thanks.
Post-Apocolyptic? Yawn. That's been over-done one too many times.
Paranormal story? See above.

Honestly, I don't see why there has to be a theme.

But it adds to the challenge.

You have any theme ideas? Besides sex, I mean.

[Conserative Morality]

Creation Story? No thanks.

Damn, I was just getting the nucleus for that one too.

Post-Apocolyptic? Yawn. That's been over-done one too many times.

Eh, everything has been done to death if all you're looking at is themes.

Paranormal story? See above.

Honestly, I don't see why there has to be a theme.

Allows for a certain amount of uniformity and rids at least a little genre bias in the judges?

Again, if most people don't want a theme, we won't go with a theme.

[Alexlantis]

Creation Story? No thanks.
Post-Apocolyptic? Yawn. That's been over-done one too many times.
Paranormal story? See above.

Honestly, I don't see why there has to be a theme.

As the first judge, I agree. All writers should be on even ground, and that includes being free to write about what they are inspired by.

Hmm, interesting point. Still, though, a theme adds to the challenge.

I'll need more input to decide.

[Alexlantis]

Creation Story? No thanks.

Damn, I was just getting the nucleus for that one too.

Post-Apocolyptic? Yawn. That's been over-done one too many times.

Eh, everything has been done to death if all you're looking at is themes.

Paranormal story? See above.

Honestly, I don't see why there has to be a theme.

Allows for a certain amount of uniformity and rids at least a little genre bias in the judges?

Again, if most people don't want a theme, we won't go with a theme.

Okay then. As I was saying, I was just brainstorming. We don't need themes, but I think it would help out the judges a little bit.

What do you guys think. Should we have a vote on it?

[New England and The Maritimes]

Creation Story? No thanks.

Damn, I was just getting the nucleus for that one too.

Post-Apocolyptic? Yawn. That's been over-done one too many times.

Eh, everything has been done to death if all you're looking at is themes.

Paranormal story? See above.

Honestly, I don't see why there has to be a theme.

Allows for a certain amount of uniformity and rids at least a little genre bias in the judges?

Again, if most people don't want a theme, we won't go with a theme.

There's not much at stake here, so I think we can all agree when this is finalized that we're willing to trust our judges to be honest and behave appropriately.

[Conserative Morality]

There's not much at stake here, so I think we can all agree when this is finalized that we're willing to trust our judges to be honest and behave appropriately.

Oh, I wasn't saying anything like "Grr, I hate fantasy, I'm going to give this fellow terrible marks for writing a masterpiece." I was thinking more like the little subconscious biases.

[New England and The Maritimes]

There's not much at stake here, so I think we can all agree when this is finalized that we're willing to trust our judges to be honest and behave appropriately.

Oh, I wasn't saying anything like "Grr, I hate fantasy, I'm going to give this fellow terrible marks for writing a masterpiece." I was thinking more like the little subconscious biases.

That's a fair point. Still, I think having a specific theme is a bit too restrictive. It gives advantage to writers who find one genre particularly inspiring or another particularly uninspiring. When a writer isn't into the story he is crafting, it generally won't work.

[Alexlantis]

Oh, I wasn't saying anything like "Grr, I hate fantasy, I'm going to give this fellow terrible marks for writing a masterpiece." I was thinking more like the little subconscious biases.

That's a fair point. Still, I think having a specific theme is a bit too restrictive. It gives advantage to writers who find one genre particularly inspiring or another particularly uninspiring. When a writer isn't into the story he is crafting, it generally won't work.

True. So, a no-go vote for you?

[Conserative Morality]

True. So, a no-go vote for you?

Poll's up.