Quote by Buz
Wow! So far the entries into the Supernatural competition are fabulous. I'm hoping more people give those a read.
Yeah, we've got vampires, succubi, and spirits running all through Lush; it's awesome!
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Announcing our "Supernatural / Sci-Fi Sex Stories" Competition, $150 First Prize.
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Quote by nicola
Thanks for the info about triffids, I had no idea of their supposed origins.
Wouldn't 18,000 tons of metal, be rather easy to detect, even with jamming software etc? I wonder what the point of submarines in warfare is sometimes.
John Wyndham wrote The Day of the Triffids in 1951 and proposed them as Soviet biological weapons but the later movies made them spores from space.
The whole point of submarines is to hide. If they're built correctly, designed to be able to hide, they do it very well. The US missile subs are virtually undetectable. No one has ever successfully detected an attack submarine, they are really capable of hiding. If they can't see me I can get close enough to do significant damage before they do.
Do we need them? As long as their are people capable of destroying us, yes. I'm hoping that need goes away but there are a couple of rouges still out there.
The submarine has to be quite close to the surface and not to far from the craft carrying the detectors. It's called a MAD, Magnetic Anomaly Detecter, and does resemble a big-headed penis. It's usually a boom sticking out the ass end of a P3 or P8 patrol craft but is carried by heliocters, UAV's UUV's and others. It's on the boom because the iron in the aircraft effects the results.
Like this. The lower craft has the MAD sticking out it's rear end. The node on the end is the detector buts it's only good down 50 feet or so. Ships tow them several hundred feet behind to get it away from the iron hull.
This is kind of how it works. The box in the center is the sub, the long lines are the earths magnetic field and the dips in the center is what the detector sees. The sensor loops can be buried, automobile detectors for stop lights, or a hard, pulsed magnetic field generated by the MAD.
It has to have a lot of iron but most subs are a hardened aluminum/iron hull they don't show up well. The soviets used a lot more iron and some of their subs ran over 40,000 tons, they were easier to find.
Actually anyone who has ever used a nail or wall-stud detector has held exactly that in their hand. There's an app for an IPhone 3GS that does that too. This is a high-end one.
Sorry, I am a nerd engineer and this is what I did for 35 years. I designed weapons systems then became a digital simulation expert. I never did believe in analog.
I am always a gentleman.
Scarlet Seductress
Quote by LASARDaddy
Sorry, I am a nerd engineer and this is what I did for 35 years. I designed weapons systems then became a digital simulation expert. I never did believe in analog.
You're like the Tony Stark of Lush
---
Supernatural isn't really my thing, but Sci-Fi could be interesting...
*dons thinking cap*
Story Verifier
Quote by Liz
You're like the Tony Stark of Lush
---
Supernatural isn't really my thing, but Sci-Fi could be interesting...
Thank you! I'm not quite that good yet but, do you suppose I could get that really neat suit he wears? Oh yeah, and that stunning woman that owns him. Actually I already have the stunning woman so maybe just the suit. She understands the desires but isn't very amenable to sharing.
My story will be about healing a broken body and soul.
I am always a gentleman.
Matriarch
Quote by LASARDaddy
The submarine has to be quite close to the surface and not to far from the craft carrying the detectors. It's called a MAD, Magnetic Anomaly Detecter, and does resemble a big-headed penis. It's usually a boom sticking out the ass end of a P3 or P8 patrol craft but is carried by heliocters, UAV's UUV's and others. It's on the boom because the iron in the aircraft effects the results.
Like this. The lower craft has the MAD sticking out it's rear end. The node on the end is the detector buts it's only good down 50 feet or so. Ships tow them several hundred feet behind to get it away from the iron hull.
This is kind of how it works. The box in the center is the sub, the long lines are the earths magnetic field and the dips in the center is what the detector sees. The sensor loops can be buried, automobile detectors for stop lights, or a hard, pulsed magnetic field generated by the MAD.
Good luck in the competition!
Story Verifier
Quote by nicola
Good luck in the competition!
Thank you Nicola. Perfect! I am still laughing my ass off.
I love that look and, yeah, I can be rather pedantic but like I said. I am a guy and an engineer, but I'm also a very good actor so I can appreciate those thoughts. I've been accused of being a "Know-It-All" a few times but truly it's not that. I study everything and I love to teach so I share knowledge as much as I can. Never to hurt or show off though.
I'm almost through with it.
I am always a gentleman.
I Remind, (if I need to?) that for those following the Comp Entries there ARE entries under both "Supernatural" *AND* ALSO "Fantasy/Sci-Fi" categories.
MOST entries so far have been 'filed' under SUPERNATURAL but there are some cracker contenders under FANTASY/SCI-FI...
For those who are following the Comp, if you CLICK on the Comp Announcement on the Home Page and scroll down, you will see an index of all stories submitted so far, accessible with a click.
xx Steph
Nicola: "They knew that..."
Me: "Fuck You..."
MOST entries so far have been 'filed' under SUPERNATURAL but there are some cracker contenders under FANTASY/SCI-FI...
For those who are following the Comp, if you CLICK on the Comp Announcement on the Home Page and scroll down, you will see an index of all stories submitted so far, accessible with a click.
xx Steph
Nicola: "They knew that..."
Me: "Fuck You..."
Her Royal Spriteness
Quote by stephanie
I Remind, (if I need to?) that for those following the Comp Entries there ARE entries under both "Supernatural" *AND* ALSO "Fantasy/Sci-Fi" categories.
MOST entries so far have been 'filed' under SUPERNATURAL but there are some cracker contenders under FANTASY/SCI-FI...
For those who are following the Comp, if you CLICK on the Comp Announcement on the Home Page and scroll down, you will see an index of stories submitted so far.
xx Steph
Nicola: "They knew that..."
Me: "Fuck You..."
when are you going to submit one, Steph?
You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.
Her Royal Spriteness
Quote by stephanie
If you read mine carefully you'll notice you are IN IT.
xx SF
does that mean i actually have to read it, tho...? *sighs* fine, but you owe me, Flashman.
You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.
I am a Lush Member first and foremost. For some years, I was a Comp judge. (Not anymore, obviously...) I've been following every entry in this current Comp with a PECULIAR interest because for the first time in years I'm an entrant... I'm reading, (no pun intended) the Competition.
In my time as a judge I, along with my fellow judges, talked, discussed and eventually fought like cats in a bag about the result. ( I USUALLY got two out of the top three... Not always...)
It's VERY interesting for me NOW to read entries of such high quality without the horrible responsibility of necessarily placing one perfect offering over another. (Comp judges DO have to make a call at the end of the day...)
The standard here is beyond "Good".
I get two things from this. ONE, is a DEEPER respect for the Lush judges who have to make that call, (I'm IN THIS BLOODY COMP and there are at least three entrants I'd vote higher than mine own... AND I HATE THAT!)
The SECOND thing is an almost humbling reverence for those writers who, although providing perfect pieces in their own right, are not, in the nature of competition, (for various reasons) destined to place. (I horribly think I might be one...)
It's VERY INTERESTING for me to be on the other side of the call, (if you will) this time and I'm amazed more than ever I was at the quality of these submissions.
I'll tell you something else since we're just chatting... We used to PISS OURSELVES with relief when a Non-Mod would take a Comp. (No matter what you think, there are NO CLIQUES in Comp...) And For Fun... If I WAS still a judge I'm putting my entry SECOND so far... (A non-mod member BURNED my ass with a fantasy story...)
It's very challenging and YES fun to judge a Comp.
(To ENTER one is SHIT LOADS more fun!)
xx Steph
(Just Thunkin'... Maybe in future we could have a thread, (Like EP mods privately have) where members can advocate PUBLICLY for Comp Entries...)
In my time as a judge I, along with my fellow judges, talked, discussed and eventually fought like cats in a bag about the result. ( I USUALLY got two out of the top three... Not always...)
It's VERY interesting for me NOW to read entries of such high quality without the horrible responsibility of necessarily placing one perfect offering over another. (Comp judges DO have to make a call at the end of the day...)
The standard here is beyond "Good".
I get two things from this. ONE, is a DEEPER respect for the Lush judges who have to make that call, (I'm IN THIS BLOODY COMP and there are at least three entrants I'd vote higher than mine own... AND I HATE THAT!)
The SECOND thing is an almost humbling reverence for those writers who, although providing perfect pieces in their own right, are not, in the nature of competition, (for various reasons) destined to place. (I horribly think I might be one...)
It's VERY INTERESTING for me to be on the other side of the call, (if you will) this time and I'm amazed more than ever I was at the quality of these submissions.
I'll tell you something else since we're just chatting... We used to PISS OURSELVES with relief when a Non-Mod would take a Comp. (No matter what you think, there are NO CLIQUES in Comp...) And For Fun... If I WAS still a judge I'm putting my entry SECOND so far... (A non-mod member BURNED my ass with a fantasy story...)
It's very challenging and YES fun to judge a Comp.
(To ENTER one is SHIT LOADS more fun!)
xx Steph
(Just Thunkin'... Maybe in future we could have a thread, (Like EP mods privately have) where members can advocate PUBLICLY for Comp Entries...)
I'm going to write further upon something I referred to earlier... I do this, (at the risk of fucking myself) for the edification of my fellow members.
I REMIND everyone THAT I AM NO LONGER INVOLVED IN ANY WAY in the editorial process of this site. I DO NOT SPEAK for Lush Stories if indeed I ever did...
But I'm so excited by what I'm experiencing and reading.
Some, (MOST!) of these entries are STUNNING!
Here's what I'm seeing... As the Comp progresses, the bar is raised YES, (and I was the poor bastard who came in first) BUT, I notice that the Comp ITSELF evolves as entrants come in. It's almost ORGANIC. THE COMP ITSELF takes on a form, an attitude, a PERSONALITY, as FUCKING talented writers bring their best game. ANY ONE of the pieces I've read, (including fucking mine) are RR, some are EP, and yet the TALENT on this site FUCK WITH the envelope and push it with every entry.
BASTARDS! TALENTED BASTARDS!
(This is the bit where I FUCK myself...)
My story is quite brilliant. I'm proud of it. I'm glad I submitted it. BUT, as other entries arrive, (and that would be EVERY other entry!!!!) SHAPING the very nature of the Comp in YES an Organic way, I see what MINE doesn't have. Not enough well-written hard sex for a start. NOT as brilliantly imaginative as some of the others. Not as fucking long! (By which I mean developed...)
A BIT of me is pissed off that I threw such a FANTASTIC story into the ring. (In any OTHER arena I'd be preening my EP right now... *LAUGHS!*) But THIS is Big Gun time. And you know what? The Writer/Reader in me is PISSED about that, but also proud that I stand with other writers of this caliber. And I do.
I'm enjoying this so much as a contestant. It's FUN! It's teaching me a lot! It's also breaking my fucking heart!!!! *Giggles!*
There are TWO WEEKS left if you want to ride this Rollercoaster. Get on it! It's a trip!
xx Steph
(After I stepped down as a Mod, (Story There...) I wondered if I would stay at all. And I stayed for the reason I came here first, before I was EVER a Mod... Because I am among, can converse with, can read, can befriend, can learn from, can appreciate, can BE AROUSED AND AMAZED by some of the finest fucking writers I have ever read.)
Nicola: "Cute and true but it won't help you win..."
Me: "I don't care about winning..."
Nicola: "Yes you do you're a Fucking Writer..."
Me: "BITCH!"
I REMIND everyone THAT I AM NO LONGER INVOLVED IN ANY WAY in the editorial process of this site. I DO NOT SPEAK for Lush Stories if indeed I ever did...
But I'm so excited by what I'm experiencing and reading.
Some, (MOST!) of these entries are STUNNING!
Here's what I'm seeing... As the Comp progresses, the bar is raised YES, (and I was the poor bastard who came in first) BUT, I notice that the Comp ITSELF evolves as entrants come in. It's almost ORGANIC. THE COMP ITSELF takes on a form, an attitude, a PERSONALITY, as FUCKING talented writers bring their best game. ANY ONE of the pieces I've read, (including fucking mine) are RR, some are EP, and yet the TALENT on this site FUCK WITH the envelope and push it with every entry.
BASTARDS! TALENTED BASTARDS!
(This is the bit where I FUCK myself...)
My story is quite brilliant. I'm proud of it. I'm glad I submitted it. BUT, as other entries arrive, (and that would be EVERY other entry!!!!) SHAPING the very nature of the Comp in YES an Organic way, I see what MINE doesn't have. Not enough well-written hard sex for a start. NOT as brilliantly imaginative as some of the others. Not as fucking long! (By which I mean developed...)
A BIT of me is pissed off that I threw such a FANTASTIC story into the ring. (In any OTHER arena I'd be preening my EP right now... *LAUGHS!*) But THIS is Big Gun time. And you know what? The Writer/Reader in me is PISSED about that, but also proud that I stand with other writers of this caliber. And I do.
I'm enjoying this so much as a contestant. It's FUN! It's teaching me a lot! It's also breaking my fucking heart!!!! *Giggles!*
There are TWO WEEKS left if you want to ride this Rollercoaster. Get on it! It's a trip!
xx Steph
(After I stepped down as a Mod, (Story There...) I wondered if I would stay at all. And I stayed for the reason I came here first, before I was EVER a Mod... Because I am among, can converse with, can read, can befriend, can learn from, can appreciate, can BE AROUSED AND AMAZED by some of the finest fucking writers I have ever read.)
Nicola: "Cute and true but it won't help you win..."
Me: "I don't care about winning..."
Nicola: "Yes you do you're a Fucking Writer..."
Me: "BITCH!"
Mazztastic
Quote by stephanie
I'm going to write further upon something I referred to earlier... I do this, (at the risk of fucking myself) for the edification of my fellow members.
I REMIND everyone THAT I AM NO LONGER INVOLVED IN ANY WAY in the editorial process of this site. I DO NOT SPEAK for Lush Stories if indeed I ever did...
But I'm so excited by what I'm experiencing and reading.
Some, (MOST!) of these entries are STUNNING!
Here's what I'm seeing... As the Comp progresses, the bar is raised YES, (and I was the poor bastard who came in first) BUT, I notice that the Comp ITSELF evolves as entrants come in. It's almost ORGANIC. THE COMP ITSELF takes on a form, an attitude, a PERSONALITY, as FUCKING talented writers bring their best game. ANY ONE of the pieces I've read, (including fucking mine) are RR, some are EP, and yet the TALENT on this site FUCK WITH the envelope and push it with every entry.
BASTARDS! TALENTED BASTARDS!
(This is the bit where I FUCK myself...)
My story is quite brilliant. I'm proud of it. I'm glad I submitted it. BUT, as other entries arrive, (and that would be EVERY other entry!!!!) SHAPING the very nature of the Comp in YES an Organic way, I see what MINE doesn't have. Not enough well-written hard sex for a start. NOT as brilliantly imaginative as some of the others. Not as fucking long! (By which I mean developed...)
A BIT of me is pissed off that I threw such a FANTASTIC story into the ring. (In any OTHER arena I'd be preening my EP right now... *LAUGHS!*) But THIS is Big Gun time. And you know what? The Writer/Reader in me is PISSED about that, but also proud that I stand with other writers of this caliber. And I do.
I'm enjoying this so much as a contestant. It's FUN! It's teaching me a lot! It's also breaking my fucking heart!!!! *Giggles!*
There are TWO WEEKS left if you want to ride this Rollercoaster. Get on it! It's a trip!
xx Steph
(After I stepped down as a Mod, (Story There...) I wondered if I would stay at all. And I stayed for the reason I came here first, before I was EVER a Mod... Because I am among, can converse with, can read, can befriend, can learn from, can appreciate, can BE AROUSED AND AMAZED by some of the finest fucking writers I have ever read.)
Nicola: "Cute and true but it won't help you win..."
Me: "I don't care about winning..."
Nicola: "Yes you do you're a Fucking Writer..."
Me: "BITCH!"
Alright, you crazy Irish fucker...
I'm writing, I'm fucking writing... Jesus, does writer's block mean NOTHING to you heartless, Celtic bastards???
fuck
Head Nurse
Quote by Mazza
Alright, you crazy Irish fucker...
I'm writing, I'm fucking writing... Jesus, does writer's block mean NOTHING to you heartless, Celtic bastards???
fuck
Me too. And after being blocked myself, I'm trying something fairly ambitious.
Her Royal Spriteness
Quote by Dirty_D
Me too. And after being blocked myself, I'm trying something fairly ambitious.
sadly, i'm dead in the water. my story was on Lizzy's Mactop when it blew a fuse - that's my official story, and i'm sticking with it
You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.
Head Nurse
Quote by sprite
sadly, i'm dead in the water. my story was on Lizzy's Mactop when it blew a fuse - that's my official story, and i'm sticking with it
If my idea doesn't work, I might claim it was really on Lizzy's Mac also
Quote by Dirty_D
Me too. And after being blocked myself, I'm trying something fairly ambitious.
Oh fucking great. Now the Emily Fucking Dickinson of Lush Stories is entering... (Read "Quiet" for proof of that, BTW...)
Look, I'll be in the bar. Wake me up and tell me who wins.
xx SF
Last time Lord Flashman heard the bolded quote the Wright Brother's invented the fucking aeroplane...)
Mazztastic
Quote by Dirty_D
If my idea doesn't work, I might claim it was really on Lizzy's Mac also
Oh oh, everything I'm working on was on lizzys mac!!!
Oh! I have a SUGGESTION for the theme of the next Comp...
An erotic tale based in and around the theme of "Left, Right, Left - The Rise of Militarism and the polarization of politics in The Weimar Years."
xx Steph
Nicola: "Isn't that the title of your thesis?"
Me: "SO WHAT IF IT FUCKING IS????"
An erotic tale based in and around the theme of "Left, Right, Left - The Rise of Militarism and the polarization of politics in The Weimar Years."
xx Steph
Nicola: "Isn't that the title of your thesis?"
Me: "SO WHAT IF IT FUCKING IS????"
Scarlet Seductress
Joke all you want, but I'm seriously pissed off about my Mac right now.
I write all of my stories in Scrivener, so even the Chromebook which I have been lent as a temporary replacement can't run it. I've got to try and find a way to copy my comp story out of a proprietary format I can't open, and into a Google Doc so I can carry on with it.
A lesson for all of you who use a platform specific writing app!
At least I have a few more weeks.
*sighs*
I write all of my stories in Scrivener, so even the Chromebook which I have been lent as a temporary replacement can't run it. I've got to try and find a way to copy my comp story out of a proprietary format I can't open, and into a Google Doc so I can carry on with it.
A lesson for all of you who use a platform specific writing app!
At least I have a few more weeks.
*sighs*
Head Penguin
I have to admit, I assumed the compo was Supernatural, but I'm rubbish at not reading stuff properly.
I fully understand why Supernatural and Sci-Fi would be lumped together, but for me they are different genres.
Good luck to everyone in the competition!
Danielle xxx
I fully understand why Supernatural and Sci-Fi would be lumped together, but for me they are different genres.
Good luck to everyone in the competition!
Danielle xxx
A steamy lesbian three way
Quote by Liz
Joke all you want, but I'm seriously pissed off about my Mac right now.
I write all of my stories in Scrivener, so Blahbetty blah, techie blah, blah, computery blah blah, blah blah blah, bu-dopp buh blah blah blah...
At least I have a few more weeks.
*sighs*
xx Steph
(See how I stuck a 'Betty' in there? Oh come on! I'm a fucking genius!)
And I'm GENUINELY sorry about your Apple Mackintosh. It's HORRIBLE to lose real work. Not only can you NEVER replicate it, but it puts you off even trying. The BEST thing I've ever written IN MY LIFE, (a short story about a BLACK northern Irish IRA bomber who's catatonic in hospital after being blown up by his own bomb... Incredibly there was sex in it,) was written ON PAPER, and given to a girlfriend of mine to edit... She lost it. Gone. Forget it. Lost. And I'm serious, it was INSANELY good. And I can remember BITS of it, but to try to re-write it would be like fucking an Ex. (You can do it, but it won't be as good as you remembered it...)
Actually, we're all friends... I'll give you a HINT of how good that piece was.
This black kid, (and he's like the only black guy in Belfast in the 1970s, is a Provisional activist (and think about that...) who takes his orders from a man that we the readers are introduced to as 'The Dutchman'...) Now this kid is having a torrid VERY SECRET affair with a married woman called Molly. At one point in the story they are in a bar and the barman brings over their order. "That'll be one pound forty Mrs. Holland," he says.
Get it?
(Jesus that piece was sooooooo good...)
Mazztastic
Quote by Liz
Joke all you want, but I'm seriously pissed off about my Mac right now.
I write all of my stories in Scrivener, so even the Chromebook which I have been lent as a temporary replacement can't run it. I've got to try and find a way to copy my comp story out of a proprietary format I can't open, and into a Google Doc so I can carry on with it.
A lesson for all of you who use a platform specific writing app!
At least I have a few more weeks.
*sighs*
I really do feel your pain...
It's not on the same scale by any means but I had spent an hour recording an audio for NoReasonNeeded's competition entry (which is superb BTW) and I was just about halfway into the edit and Audacity crashed, lost the fucking lot (no, I never backed it up)
I'm in SUCH a grumpy mood today that I can't even think about doing it now... Trying to write and I haven't actually written more than a couple of paragraphs of my comp story because I promised I'd finished something else first...
First world problems, huh? Still sucks, right??
Active Ink Slinger
As a newcomer to competitive writing, how IS the winner selected? It sounds as if all the mods get in a bar somewhere and hash it out. Is that about right?
Oh, and one slight bitch; it seems slightly unfair that during the competition competitive entries are highlighted as "story picks". Kind of hints at institutional bias. Not a big deal, just throwing it out there.
I'm with what Steph said earlier, I'm having a lot of fun as the competition goes on and some of the stories get entered. I love "the Blue Dress" and might have passed it by if it weren't in the competition. After reading her latest poem, I'm scared shitless of Averageblackgirl's entry. Steph, save me a seat at that bar.....
Oh, and one slight bitch; it seems slightly unfair that during the competition competitive entries are highlighted as "story picks". Kind of hints at institutional bias. Not a big deal, just throwing it out there.
I'm with what Steph said earlier, I'm having a lot of fun as the competition goes on and some of the stories get entered. I love "the Blue Dress" and might have passed it by if it weren't in the competition. After reading her latest poem, I'm scared shitless of Averageblackgirl's entry. Steph, save me a seat at that bar.....
“It's nice sometimes to open up the heart a little and let some hurt come in. It proves you're still alive.”
Story Verifier
Quote by Liz
Joke all you want, but I'm seriously pissed off about my Mac right now.
I write all of my stories in Scrivener, so even the Chromebook which I have been lent as a temporary replacement can't run it. I've got to try and find a way to copy my comp story out of a proprietary format I can't open, and into a Google Doc so I can carry on with it.
A lesson for all of you who use a platform specific writing app!
At least I have a few more weeks.
*sighs*
The lesson for all should be to, "BACK THE FUCKING THING UP" to something besides main memory. I mostly use an IPad now (love this fricking thing for it's convenience) but I'm getting the high end IBM pad. The options for file save are an order of magnitude better. It's a real pain in a very soft spot on this.
I've looked at scrivener but I prefer Word, another reason to go back to IBM. On the IPad I use Textilus. It's in the APP store and it's free to start. The purchased version has a couple enhancements but it basically works under any IOS system. I never liked Macs because of the case sensitivity. That started because of file name lengths but that problem went away 20 years ago and it's still there. You can write a book in the file name now. Well, almost.
I'm doing an entry too and then I read about all you fucking "Genius" authors bitching about how YOU'RE not good enough. That give me a real feeling of inferiority. I am not inferior, I'm superior in different areas. That's my story and I'm sticking to it, as soon as I figure out what areas those areas. are.
Someone (a very talented author here) challenged me to write a story about two lesbians as an exercise in getting around the non-sexual verbiage and into the sex necessary to make it well accepted here. Six attempts later she said it was good and I submitted it. It's been rejected twice now and I'm trying to figure out the real differences between past and past-imperfect tense.
I AM NOT BITCHING!
I do not do that. I need to be told where I screwed it up and I DO NOT shoot messengers. Both rejections were deserved! I've said I want to be good and that would imply that I need to do it right. One was from a moderator who is not even a native English speaker. English is probably one of ten languages though.
In reality the differences between British and American are quite wide. Mostly it's the idioms that cause problems and do not translate well. I've had to learn to think in British or phrases with "Arse" and "Uni" require stopping and translating. That screws up the sex.
I have been laughing my ass off reading you guys here. This is the only site I've found with standards set this high and I enjoy it tremendously. I love every one of you past, present and future moderators. Well, the girls more than the guys but I am a sexist pug at times. My wife's told me that for 43 years now.
I've decided that "Words" are our real Gods. They control our universe In every aspect. They define every physical and emotional thing we are and we couldn't exist as a reasoning species without them.
I need to find a female, English teacher who's a nymphomaniac and wants to write about sex but can't make herself write the words. She can correct mine and then maybe past-imperfect will go away as a problem. That is probably to narrow a specification though and I'll never find one. I'll post a notice in the English department at Sonoma state University and maybe I'll get lucky.
Damn, the research on a story could really be fun. I mean, come on, we have to get the words just right, right?
I am always a gentleman.
Scarlet Seductress
Quote by LASARDaddy
The lesson for all should be to, "BACK THE FUCKING THING UP" to something besides main memory. I mostly use an IPad now (love this fricking thing for it's convenience) but I'm getting the high end IBM pad. The options for file save are an order of magnitude better. It's a real pain in a very soft spot on this.
I've looked at scrivener but I prefer Word, another reason to go back to IBM. On the IPad I use Textilus. It's in the APP store and it's free to start. The purchased version has a couple enhancements but it basically works under any IOS system. I never liked Macs because of the case sensitivity. That started because of file name lengths but that problem went away 20 years ago and it's still there. You can write a book in the file name now. Well, almost.
Very true. You won't find a bigger advocate for backing up your work than I. I actually wrote an extensive forum guide about it a while ago.
All of my files are sync'd across three separate cloud storage services. Redundancy! The issue was actually using a writing app that only runs on a single OS platform, unlike Word. Google Docs was very good, and more than sufficient for the job, but I still think the pros outweigh the cons for Scrivener.
Active Ink Slinger
I'm sure someone will let me know if this is a contest question or belongs in the improvement suggestion thread. But why does the page of current contest submissions (or past contest pages) not look like the Front page? It includes only the title and author; no tags, no one-liner, no opening text. Basically, nothing to draw the reader to your story but your title and name.
This occurred to me as I was perusing stories in the current comp, and noticing the low readership. Admittedly, I have not read many either, (which I will remedy, to the best of my ability) as supernatural is not my thing. But seriously, Steph after two weeks has only 1200 views? I blog my work. I could send out the marketing emails, but then it leads one to 'collect' friends to add to my mailing list. And many folks don't go for that anyway, hence the option to turn that function off.
Is there a way to make the list of Comp Stories more appealing to readers? Especially with a category like Supernatural, where there appears to be a small but dedicated readership, it seems like many stories in this Comp may not get enough views to accumulate the necessary votes to qualify.
Respectfully,
Walt NRN
This occurred to me as I was perusing stories in the current comp, and noticing the low readership. Admittedly, I have not read many either, (which I will remedy, to the best of my ability) as supernatural is not my thing. But seriously, Steph after two weeks has only 1200 views? I blog my work. I could send out the marketing emails, but then it leads one to 'collect' friends to add to my mailing list. And many folks don't go for that anyway, hence the option to turn that function off.
Is there a way to make the list of Comp Stories more appealing to readers? Especially with a category like Supernatural, where there appears to be a small but dedicated readership, it seems like many stories in this Comp may not get enough views to accumulate the necessary votes to qualify.
Respectfully,
Walt NRN
Quote by billybroadband
As a newcomer to competitive writing, how IS the winner selected? It sounds as if all the mods get in a bar somewhere and hash it out. Is that about right?
Oh, and one slight bitch; it seems slightly unfair that during the competition competitive entries are highlighted as "story picks". Kind of hints at institutional bias. Not a big deal, just throwing it out there.
I'm with what Steph said earlier, I'm having a lot of fun as the competition goes on and some of the stories get entered. I love "the Blue Dress" and might have passed it by if it weren't in the competition. After reading her latest poem, I'm scared shitless of Averageblackgirl's entry. Steph, save me a seat at that bar.....
I feel qualified to comment.
In order to be short-listed, every entrant must receive a certain number of "3-4-5" (Average-Good-Excellent) votes from the general readership.
(There IS an appeal process in this available to Judges but in my time it was never necessary to use it...)
Comments from Members ARE carefully read and considered in every case.
After a short-list is established, Judges are required to submit a Top-Ten, first to last. IN EVERY CASE a short synopsis of EACH story is required (to prove you have carefully read it) and THEN a short reason as to why you have placed the stories in the order that you have.
Then the fun starts.
A TOP-THREE list, (based upon the above) is sent to all Judges. If you don't agree with the call you can appeal and your opinion will be forwarded to the other Judges who will then discuss the issue. This is the "Cats In A Bag" part. There can be HUGE disagreement and often heated discussion. (Rows, in fact...) IN THE END a Majority vote is FINAL!
I said before, I NEVER got all Top-Three right. (Normally I had all three but NOT in the order that was declared...) Still fucking irks in some cases.
That's BASICALLY how it works as I remember the process. I DO NOT SPEAK FOR LUSH NOW!!!!!
xx Steph
(Seat saved for you at the Bar, Billy... Your round, BTW... Oh! And bring Lilly!)
Unicorn Wrangler
Quote by stephanie
Oh! I have a SUGGESTION for the theme of the next Comp...
An erotic tale based in and around the theme of "Left, Right, Left - The Rise of Militarism and the polarization of politics in The Weimar Years."
xx Steph
Nicola: "Isn't that the title of your thesis?"
Me: "SO WHAT IF IT FUCKING IS????"
You would pick the most complicated theme in the world. Is this so you can fucking win you Irish bastard? And btw... I read your story... I liked it... a lot... so I expect you to read mine as well... and may the best writer win. Though to be honest... the best writer will win.
