FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-17 - RESULTS!

Thanks so much for your patience; I was unable to get on the computer yesterday. But your results are up now! If you missed any of the stories, go read them here. And without further ado, here's what the judge had to say:

I chose the opening phrase hoping it would birth thoughtful and personal interpretations of what it means to hate the good times. You all didn’t disappoint giving me three distinct and beautiful expositions. As for the special challenge, I’m still writhing to know which sentences fulfilled the prompt…

“Samoan Daydreams”

by Audrey Gran Weinberg

Oh, the pain of being made to feel irrelevant!  Your protagonist captured my heart and felt especially real after spitting out “paint flakes” – a brilliantly human detail.  The tragic thing is that Janet might have listened, might have acknowledged the desire for connection, had the school teacher been recounting terrible or painful memories. A convincing write.

“Astrally Projecting to Baskin-Robbins on Halloween”

by Richard Edenfield

I’m still in awe of how you’ve managed to create a story that simultaneously feels like childhood and weighs more than all the stars in heaven. Maybe it’s how you paint the flavors on my tongue while your words bind my body to a paralytic’s chair. For poetic descriptors and an intriguing protagonist, well done.

Special Challenge and Grand Champion - 

“Light the Corners of My Mind”

by Dave Park

Such a fantastic way to finish the first bookend! Instead of hiding the “why” you answer it immediately, snaring my interest before shattering my expectations that I’ll be exploring the frustrations of losing oneself to Alzheimer’s. Instead a whole world pulls itself together from the page, one uncommon and riveting. I feel my sympathies for the protagonist push out of my chest only to have them bounce back, unaccepted, wondering if I should have even given them. Who is the individual in the chair? Does he deserve this “mental treatment”? Much is left unsaid, trusting the reader to absorb and understand. This one demanded special challenge nod as well – I can’t even begin to guess which are the truths and which the lie. Stellar job, writer.

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-17

Welcome to the fun as we round out October. Go check out the prompt and show us the amazing inside of you. Also, let me know if you're doing Nano this year (my name over on the boards is lissajean if you want a friend) and if you're a pantser/planner/rebel/etc. Go write! Have fun! :)



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.
9. Winner judges next round.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Foy S Iver. Read her winning tale from last week here! Foy S. Iver cultivates a normal life that sprung up from abnormal soil. She is a Dragon, FlashDog,  and, as of recently, an Editor for Firefly Magazine (for this, she is human). Find her on the Twitter machine @fs_iver or on her website www.foyiver.com. And remember, don't touch that button...

Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-17 is:

No one tells you it's the good memories you'll resent the most.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Imbed 2 truths and 1 falsehood about yourself or your past.

AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-16 - RESULTS!

WOOHOO!!! What a fun bunch of stories this week! If you missed any of them, you can read them all here. Otherwise, you can read what the judge had to say:

GHOST STORIES by Foy Iver

This is fantastic! I love Jared’s epic tale, particularly the moo moo. The structure of the story is fun and sets the scene perfectly.

THE GOOD OLD BAD DAYS by Dylyce P. Clarke

This tiny story holds a large truth.

HOMEGROWN HORROR by Nancy Chenier

A chilling tale with a warm ending. I like the use of the laughter in this one. It’s a different kind of scary when the creatures are in your head.

UNTITLED VIGNETTE by Michael D. Hansen

Creepy, and very Halloween-y. I like the use of the monsters, and the twist at the end is great.

GHOST-WRITING by Geoff Holme

This is adorable. Perhaps an odd choice of adjectives, given the story’s twist ending, but I adored every second.

SPECIAL CHALLENGE CHAMPION

GHOST-WRITING – Geoff Holme

This is the story that tickled me the most. You poked fun at me, you poked fun at the horror genre, and you ended the story with a gruesome twist that made me laugh (in a bone-chilling way). This is how Halloween monsters should be used. I wonder which monster was doing the spell-check?

GRAND CHAMPION

GHOST STORIES – Foy Iver

Your Jared is my favourite Jared this week. I’m not sure if he was talking to a ghost or himself – either way it felt like Halloween!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-16

Welcome! I'm glad you're here today. Go check out the prompts and write something amazing!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Holly Geely. Read her winning tale from last week here! Check out her website at hollygeely.wordpress.com. Follow her on twitter @hollygeely. Holly Geely's fiction pops up now and again in online magazines and she's a proud FlashDog. She recently added a fourth furbaby to the family, and the puppy is an adorable terror.


Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-16 is:

[Jared] could not outrun the echo of the bone-chilling laughter.  

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Include at least two traditional Halloween monsters.

AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-15 - RESULTS!

Sorry the post is late. If you missed reading either of our entries, you can amend that here. Once you've read them, here's what the judge had to say:

Special Challenge Champion

Modern Day Duel

by Lauren Greene

I liked the tone of this piece, the narrator’s confusion and subsequent headache easily transported the reader in the character’s headspace. The author included the special challenge in a wonderful manner, something that is sure to stick with me in the future when feeling sick. Also, as a DC resident, I was able to fully picture the setting the author described. Great work!

Grand Champion

Simple Math

by Holly Geely

A light and funny piece about meddling gone wrong. I liked the dynamic between the sisters, it was very realistic and the author did a great job of balancing a caring, loving, sister with one that also disapproved of her twin’s lifestyle. I liked the format as well, including the “before” and “after” seamlessly and telling a great story in such few words.

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-15

Welcome back! We're almost halfway through October, so if you NaNo I hope you've picked a project. If you're a planner, I hope you have a pretty solid outline (if not, no worries! There's still time!) If you're a pantser, I hope you have a spark (if not, no worries! Start bashing things together and you'll come up with something amazing!). If you have no idea what NaNo is... Well, it's community, encouragement, inspiration, and challenge all rolled into a reason to finally write that novel you've been meaning to - someday. That day is now. Go check out their website: http://nanowrimo.org/ There's still plenty of time to sign up. :) Go check out the prompt for today and get that brain in gear. Have fun!



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence. (Allowable alterations listed below)
2. Up to 500 words (exclusive of title)
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST
8. Only one entry judged per round. If you write/post more than one story, you need to indicate which you would like judged. If you fail to indicate, it will be the first one posted.



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Ashley Gardana. Read her winning tale from last week here! Ashley Gardana (@agardana09) is a DC based writer who spends her time working on flash fiction, poems, and short stories. When not writing, she is enjoying her pup Marvel and this wonderful fall weather! You can find her work at ASGardana.wordpress.com



Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-15 is:

I want to introduce you to someone.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Include math. 


AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-14 - RESULTS!

The few. The proud. The excellent entries for this week. If you missed them (and apparently it was a busy week, so you might have) go read them here. Here's what the judge had to say:

Changes by @agardana09

I loved the progression of unfulfilled desires by this 75-year old woman. I wish more 75-year olds would have the verve to do what she did. The author has captured the spirit of the woman held back in line by her mother all these years. Just goes to show that it’s never too late to fulfill your dreams. The ending perfectly captured the rebellion of the woman.

The Last Ride by @laurenegreene

I liked how the author cleverly framed the story: starting with the usual cliché and ending with the actual event. The characters of Anita, Calie, and Rudy are vivid and believable. The common strife in the family can leave many unpleasant feelings and sometimes leave deep scars.  Anita was able to capture her lost youth and spirit for a brief moment in her life, and it was worth it. I loved the image of her bicycle ride. Also very fitting poetic lines. Well done.

Sapphire 75 by Richard Edenfield

What a great title. The gem of a woman, the protagonist of many talents! The author employs some poetic language, for example: “restless hair tinted with lingering youth. Sunshine. A breeze playing her strands like a golden harpsichord tuned with a moon swept sky.” and “The words ran down the page. They gathered in a puddle. Then a lake. Then an ocean.”  I bet many authors would relate to the following predicament:  “Her book was 75% complete. It had been 75% complete for several years.”

Honorable Mention for poetic language:

Sapphire 75 by Richard Edenfield

Special Challenge Champion: 

The Last Ride by @laurenegreene

Grand Champion: 

Changes by @agardana09

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-14

Welcome back! I hope your October has begun splendidly. Thanks for joining us for the fun this week. Go read the prompt that the judge picked just for you. Then get writing. :)



If you haven't read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Start with the given first sentence.
2. Up to 500 words
3. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Stories submitted must be your own work, using characters and worlds that you have created. Sorry, no fanfiction.
6. Include: Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted
7. The challenge is open for 24 hours on Tuesday EST



Oh, and feel free to change pronouns, punctuation, tense, and anything in brackets to fit the story/pov/tone. I'm not going to be TOO picky... Our judge however...


Our Judge today is Pratibha Kelapure. Read her winning tale from last week here! Pratibha is the editor of The Literary Nest, an online magazine of fiction, poetry, and art. She hangs out with the flash fictioneers on Twitter, and that's how she discovered Finish That Thought contest. You can follow her @needanidplease.

 Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3-14 is:


Last line from The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen:

She was seventy-five and she was going to make some changes in her life.

 Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:

Incorporate two original unrhymed lines of poetry. 


AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!