Contest Entry Discussion

[Dan Hocker]

Hey, that means you read mine!

That I did. I do plan on reading as many of these as possible. Hopefully before the first round voting is over.

[peteOcha]

I would like to say that I liked all of the entries I've read so far. It's only been about 10 or so (not enough time in the day) but everyone of them has been good.

P.S. Up until the voting started I was reading them in the order they where posted, so you can guess if I've read yours or not

Hey, that means you read mine!

[Dan Hocker]

Agreed on both counts. But in the end, a good story will get you further than anything else.

Especially if you can get it in front of the right person to read it.

[Draven Ames]

Agreed on both counts. But in the end, a good story will get you further than anything else.

[C.W. LaSart]

Well, that's too bad, because there is no way I'm getting involved with it. And I really don't believe it's that important, depending on what your goals are as a writer. As someone that is primarily concerned with writing short stories, I don't think I would be precluded from being accepted because I don't social network.

I have obviously offended you which wasn't my aim. If you are only looking to publish short stories in various markets, then I agree that social networking is not as important. If we were talking novels and such, then it would be more beneficial to you. Good luck!

[the_last_gunslinger]

I sincerely hope you are talking in regards to this contest only. Social networking is ESSENTIAL for writers in this day and age, as publishers no longer do much marketing at all. Some agents won't even look at writers without a social platform.

Well, that's too bad, because there is no way I'm getting involved with it. And I really don't believe it's that important, depending on what your goals are as a writer. As someone that is primarily concerned with writing short stories, I don't think I would be precluded from being accepted because I don't social network.

[Draven Ames]

I sincerely hope you are talking in regards to this contest only. Social networking is ESSENTIAL for writers in this day and age, as publishers no longer do much marketing at all. Some agents won't even look at writers without a social platform.

Many won't. Too true.

[C.W. LaSart]

Plus, it's hard to get the word out when you have made a firm commitment to completely abstain from any and all forms of social networking sites.

I sincerely hope you are talking in regards to this contest only. Social networking is ESSENTIAL for writers in this day and age, as publishers no longer do much marketing at all. Some agents won't even look at writers without a social platform.

[the_last_gunslinger]

I doubt there are too many on here who don't have atleast one person who came just to vote for them-

I haven't campaigned at all, and maybe that's to my detriment. But I'm a firm believer that if my story isn't good enough to be published, then I don't want it out there.

Plus, it's hard to get the word out when you have made a firm commitment to completely abstain from any and all forms of social networking sites.

[mlouisdixon]

This can also go the extreme opposite direction: when an end is so far out of left field that it undermines everything. It's almost like the writer, or director, wants to give you a nice kick in the face before leaving you. One film that comes to mind is High Tension.

MLD

[TerryE]

In response to the voting criteria, I'm definitely taking both into account. And in most of these tales, the better stories do have the better English skills. I think I have an editor's eye, even as a reader, because the mistakes, even little ones, leap out and smack me in the forehead. Like most of you, I haven't stopped a story because of poor grammar, but I haven't enjoyed them. But I think the critiques will help those writers the most, and hope no one takes it personally when they read our forthcoming reviews. I'm still among the rank amatuers, mostly because I don't make the time to write on a regular basis. But I attended a workshop several years ago and it was the best experience I've had with writing. The feedback was invaluable.

[spernst]

off topic-how many posts until we all cease to be "junior" members of the forum?

[Draven Ames]

When I guessed the ending of "The Illusionist" it pissed me off. The give away was so obvious. I felt like someone just told me the end and spoiled it for me. I was watching it on DVD with my family and nobody else got it. I had to keep my mouth shut so they wouldn't have it spoiled for them as well.

MLD

I love when I think I know the ending, write it down, and I am wrong. Stories can be born that way.

[mlouisdixon]

When I guessed the ending of "The Illusionist" it pissed me off. The give away was so obvious. I felt like someone just told me the end and spoiled it for me. I was watching it on DVD with my family and nobody else got it. I had to keep my mouth shut so they wouldn't have it spoiled for them as well.

MLD

[Draven Ames]

So true about the "Twists", after I guessed the ending of "The Village" in the first 5 min, I couldn't finish watching the movie. I also guessed the ending of "9 Pounds" (I think that's the title) in the first 15 min.

Very good point. I thought that Shutter Island was telegraphed, too.