FINISH THAT THOUGHT #4 - RESULTS!

WOW! That was fun! You all made this week's contest a great one! Thanks for writing and reading and commenting! I'm looking forward to what you have to share next week! Without further ado, here are Rebekah's comments:

Judge's notes: Thank you, everyone, for writing such beautiful stories this week! I loved them all, from Megha's sweet tale of the in-law relationship to Nada's hilariously overwhelmed brother to Allyson's determined teacher. And yes, even LurchMunster's sinister sock monster. Some of you took my dragon hints literally (props to sweet Flabbergasted Ma for one of the best ending lines ever: "Lunch time"! and Drmagoo's gloriously morphing elf; and Allison's own distinctly UNfriendly creations) and some of you used the words to launch in totally inventive directions (Penname has very nearly ruined egg-eating for me forever, and ahhh, Pratibha's stirring tale of a man desperately trying to help his family before his death). I also loved the kaleidoscope of worlds you built, like Whitney's tale of friendship and sacrifice, Alex's story of the Family Business, and Lisa and MTDecker's marvelous tales of justice. You're amazing, all of you! It was an honor and privilege reading your work.

Judge's Special Challenge Champion:

Jeffrey Hollar, "Hands," for a tale of true smooshiness. I loved how you reframed the dragonish words (as I was hoping people would!) in a heart-rending way and let us walk the final steps of Jocko's heroic journey with him. Jocko is, indeed, a mountain of a man, and I guarantee you Bessie knew it. This is a beautiful story of a truly loving relationship, told without being cliche or maudlin.

Grand Champion:

Dr. Mike Reddy. "Here Be Dragon," for an absolutely fabulous tale from start to finish, including the modified title. The concept of a henpecked dragon slayer is already funny, but cleverly developing the scene with vibrantly colored dialogue--the wife's tireless harangue offset by the hero's wry submission--put this story over the top for me. It's a good idea supported by good writing and a smash-hit clincher at the end. I may have to hang a sign reading "Some dragons are harder to kill than others" on my wall. Wonderfully done.

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #4

Welcome back to our fourth week of competition! I am so excited to read what you all come up with this week! If you need to read the full version of the rules, go here. Otherwise, here's the short version:

Rules:
1. Up to 500 words
2. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
3. Start with the given first sentence.
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Include Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted

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 Rebekah also known as @postupak. Go check out her blog here (where she has a flash fiction contest every Friday!). Read her winning tale from last week here!

And now for your super-special shiny prompt to start us off!


Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #4 is:


Hands trembling, [he] opened the door.


Your SPECIAL CHALLENGE from the judge is:


Include the words:
hoard[s]
mountain[s]
scale[s]


AAAAAAAND WE'RE OFF!!!

FINISH THAT THOUGHT - RULES

 

Finish That Thought is a weekly flash fiction contest held on Tuesdays Eastern time. (The prompt goes live early at 10pm Monday night and closes 26 hours later - Midnight Tuesday/Wednesday.) The following is the long form of the rules (I was tired of having to read through it all every week to get to the contest!):


1. Any genre except erotica: Show us action, adventure, romance, mystery, scifi, and all things fantastical.

2. Nothing R-rated or above: If it'd be rated R in a movie, please don't put it up. Thanks! (Moderator reserves the right to remove entries that violate this rule)

3. Optional Special Challenge: The judge chooses a purely optional prompt in addition to the first sentence (this can include, but is not limited to, specific words, themes, actions, pictures, or objects to include in your story).

4. There will be two winners named each week: One Grand Champion and one Special Challenge Champion (they may be the same person). The judge may also award one runner up in each category. If the judge prefers, the runners-up may be named as Honorable Mentions. For every five entries over 10 the judge may name another HM.

The Grand Champion will be the judge the next week. If that person is unable to fulfill that role, it will go to the Special Challenge Champion. The Champions will receive world-wide acclaim...er...mmm...at least a shout-out on twitter from everyone about how awesome they are!

5. 500 word limit (exclusive of title): You will have up to 500 words to play with, don't go over or you will be disqualified.

6. Most of all, have fun! Try something different! Get out of your comfort zone!

7. Post your story in the comments section with your Twitter handle (or email if you don't have Twitter) and word count and be sure to mention if you've completed the requirements for the Special Challenge - we wouldn't want to accidentally miss anyone!

8. Only one entry will be judged per person per round. You may enter multiple stories, but you must indicate which one you would like to enter into the judging round. If you fail to indicate which one you want judged, the first one entered will be judged.

The judging will be posted by Thursday (hopefully Wednesday afternoon).

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3 - RESULTS!

Sorry for the lateness of the results! The judge got her choices in to me yesterday, but I am in the process of moving into my new house and we don't have internet until tomorrow. :( Anyway, thanks for waiting! We had tons of fun on Tuesday and here are the results:



Christy says:

Here are my notes, followed by the winners:

 The Last Minute @postupak
Completely unexpected direction, personifying minutes. A little confused about where the minutes who left the timer go (very much felt like a blank space/ empty room), but I like the interaction between them, and the different personalities they have.
 
Something Borrowed, something… Late Crystal Alden
A wedding, and a bride trying to be on time, except her timer is broken – and a time machine. Very good at establishing the setting (wedding) right away with just a few words thrown into the conversation – felt natural. A little confused about what the timer actually did, though, and would like that to be explored or explained a little more.
 
Unnamed @drmagoo
Cooking contest in a high fantasy setting. I like the details about the world, but I was really curious to know more about the “her” that the MC refers to – I got no sense of what kind of creature she is, and it caused me a little confusion. Good use of the special challenge words to make the judges more intimidating.
 
 
Grand Champion - Rebekah Postupak - for defying my expectations regarding the first line

Runner up: Crystal Alden - For high stakes, and time travel

Special Challenge Champion: drmagoo - the cooking show

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3

Welcome back to FINISH THAT THOUGHT! - where we give you a first sentence prompt and you take it from there! Show us action, adventure, romance, mystery, scifi, and all things fantastical (pretty much anything except erotica. Actually, if it'd be rated R in a movie, please don't put it up. Thanks!).  

Each week there will also be a Special Challenge, issued by the judge, that is purely optional in addition to the first sentence (this can include, but is not limited to, specific words, themes, actions, pictures, or objects to include in your story).

There will be two winners named each week: One Grand Champion and one Special Challenge Champion (they may be the same person). The judge may also award one (and only one) runner up in each category. The Grand Champion will be the judge the next week . If that person is unable to fulfill that role, it will go to the Special Challenge Champion. The Champions will receive world-wide acclaim...er...mmm...at least a shoutout on twitter from everyone about how awesome they are! (And I'm working on a badge!)

You will have up to 500 words to play with, don't go over or you will be disqualified. Most of all, have fun! Try something different! Get out of your comfort zone!

Post your story in the comments section with your Twitter handle (or email if you don't have Twitter) and word count and be sure to mention if you've completed the requirements for the Special Challenge - we wouldn't want to accidentally miss anyone! The judging will be posted by Thursday (hopefully Wednesday afternoon).

Let me sum up:
1. Up to 500 words
2. Keep it clean (nothing rated R or above)
3. Start with the given first sentence.
4. Optional Special Challenge
5. Include Twitter/email, word count, Special Challenge accepted

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 Christy also known as @weylyn42. Read her winning tale from last week here!

And now for the part you've all been waiting for (and crossing your arms and tapping your feet...) *ahem* HERE'S YOUR PROMPT!

Your first sentence for FINISH THAT THOUGHT #3 is:


One minute remained on the timer.


Your Special Challenge from the judge is:


Include the words:
twin[s]
doctor[s]
luminescent[scence]


What are you waiting for??? Go write! :)

The Price

Here is my entry for the 55 word challenge over at Jezri's Nightmares. This contest has the choice of three photo prompts. I chose the one below. I had a lot of fun writing this! I hope you enjoy it as well! (note: I entered it without the paragraph breaks, but thought it worked better with them. So you have the updated and revised edition...seriously, that's all I changed.)

The photo is blurry, like my memory. Even now I cling to knowing she existed. I can’t remember her face.

She’s too much to sacrifice to save the world. I don’t want to finish. I want to keep this memory, keep her.

I shudder and complete the incantation.

A tear falls on a blank photograph.

FINISH THAT THOUGHT #2 - RESULTS

Well that was an adventure! And I do mean ADVENTURE! Great job, everyone! :) I had tons of fun reading the entries this week! If you haven't done so go here now...spoiler alert below! Great! Now onto the spectacular judging from Mark! Comments first:


OK. In the order they appeared on Alissa Leonard's blog:

1. Laura James (@lejamez) - Running - Can you say, "Zombies!" I knew you could. Laura, I like how you captured the nightly chaos of the particular zombie apocalypse you describe in this little tale. I expect the surviving humans will be lean, mean, highly trained, exceptionally enduring running machines.

2. drmagoo (@drmagoo) - A tale of self-preservation in the future, on another world. Like very much how the no longer capable captain of the vessel solves the problem of the insubordinate underling.

3. Christy (@weylyn42) - The plants can move, and are predatory. This is one creative concept, and caught my attention. I read it several times. Each time, I like it better than before. There's a whole world here, filled with stories.

4. Michelle (@Chelle87Fox) - The start of a much larger epic. Visions of Alice and the rabbit hole, Oz the Great, the adventures of Narnia, and so many other epics that start this same way. With an accident leading the MC into another realm. Very hard not to like.

5. Bullish (@bullishink) - As with Michelle's piece, I sense the start of a much larger tale, in the vein of the movie Night At The Museum, perhaps crossed with something Indiana Jones like. Another case of "I want MOAR!"

6. Rebekah Postupak (@postupak) - Be careful who you select as the target of your bullying campaign. In which a dryad gets vengeance, and no one ever knows what happened. Let that be a lesson to all the bullies of the world that pick on those who are different.

And now the results:


I enjoyed reading them all. But the rules say I can only pick one Grand Champion, and one judges Special Challenge Champion. So, here's where I follow the rules (at least for once).


Special Challenge Champion: Michelle (@Chelle87Fox)


The piece tells the start of a story, so it's not an entire work. But it does leave me wondering where the characters have wound up. And any character named Sandstorm has got to be fun to learn about.


Grand Champion: Christy (@weylyn42)


A tale of predatory plants. How could that not win? I'm a big fan of creativity, and this struck me as perhaps the most creative of all the entries. It's a complete tale of a battle fought, and lost, in a strange world I would like to learn more about.


There you have it, gang.

On another night, I could have picked drmagoo and Rebekah. All 6 entries were fun, and having to pick just two was not fun. There are some grand ideas here, gang. Don't let them wither on the vine.

Happy Writing!

Mark (@lurchmunster)