2008 Short Story Competition Final

[Scheherazade]

Please vote for the story you like best to determine the winner of 2008 LitNet Short Story Competition.

Discussion of the stories, to avoid influencing the outcome of the poll, are not allowed.

If contributers would like to ask questions, they should email us at [email protected].

Please note that the authors agree to keep their identities secret when they enter the competition.
Those who breach this rule will be disqualified automatically.


Good luck, everyone! :)


Competition Rules (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18200)
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Note: This poll will close on January 1st, 2009.
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[Scheherazade]

Such a close competition! Please keep voting!

[eyemaker]

and now the "tie" continues.. All stories have two votes..more votes!;)

[Scheherazade]

and now the "tie" continues.. All stories have two votes..more votes!;)This is really exciting! :)

[eyemaker]

It will surely be Scher!:) The thing is, we need more votes for this competition;)

[mosimo]

Come on people out of respect for these people's creations the least you can do is vote. Read the stories!!! They are worth it.

[Scheherazade]

We are half way through the final now.

[Jozanny]

Come on people out of respect for these people's creations the least you can do is vote. Read the stories!!! They are worth it.

I do not think it is fair for me to participate because I publish my work and was, or is, depending on how I judge my current circumstances, an accomplished writer. My standards are higher, or at least very different, from most members who use the Writing Forum, though I admit the cash prize excited my greed--depending, again, on the way one looks at it, from the time I became active on LN, I had nothing perfect enough and short enough to compete. Most of my fiction is over 5,000 words, and seemingly aims for the median novella, when I actually take the time to work on them. Ironically, all of my short fiction under 2,500m is published.

[Scheherazade]

I think Mosimo was simply asking more people to vote, not more people to submit stories (which is too late for this year's competition anyway). Whether one is accomplished writer or not, one can still read the stories and simply say which one they have liked better by voting.

As a side note, Jozanny, you would be surprised by the high standard of some of the stories that are submitted throughout the competition; they might give many "accomplished" writers a run for their money in my opinion - as an unaccomplished reader, of course! ;)

Another possible way of looking at all this is that as an established writer, you might be a good judge, especially at the final stage of our competition, to decide which story should be the overall winner.

[Jozanny]

I think Mosimo was simply asking more people to vote, not more people to submit stories (which is too late for this year's competition anyway). Whether one is accomplished writer or not, one can still read the stories and simply say which one they have liked better by voting.

As a side note, Jozanny, you would be surprised by the high standard of some of the stories that are submitted throughout the competition; they might give many "accomplished" writers a run for their money in my opinion - as an unaccomplished reader, of course! ;)

Another possible way of looking at all this is that as an established writer, you might be a good judge, especially at the final stage of our competition, to decide which story should be the overall winner.

My post was perhaps poorly expressed, since I am in a temporarily insanity driven spiral which no off-topic rant would alleviate:p (and aren't we glad Jozanny isn't going to rant profusely!:thumbs_up), but perhaps I will be better able to participate as a voter during the next cycle. One minor trait I share with Henry James is need of word length, which is out of fashion in the digital age, but I like a judicious 12,000 words to get at least a relevant psychology of character.

2k pieces seem to explode out of me, go bam bam bam, and get revised very little, but they come far and few between and need to depend on pacing more than anything else, at least for me--which is why I don't know if I'd ever have anything for the forum's deadline cycle.

I wish the finalists luck.

[DickZ]

My post was perhaps poorly expressed, since I am in a temporarily insanity driven spiral which no off-topic rant would alleviate:p (and aren't we glad Jozanny isn't going to rant profusely!:thumbs_up), but perhaps I will be better able to participate as a voter during the next cycle. One minor trait I share with Henry James is need of word length, which is out of fashion in the digital age, but I like a judicious 12,000 words to get at least a relevant psychology of character.

2k pieces seem to explode out of me, go bam bam bam, and get revised very little, but they come far and few between and need to depend on pacing more than anything else, at least for me--which is why I don't know if I'd ever have anything for the forum's deadline cycle.

I wish the finalists luck.
I would hope you could vote in this cycle rather than in the next, Jozanny. For this cycle, we need voters.

For the next cycle, maybe you could submit one of your stories - and hopefully you'll be feeling better by then. You are a great writer and your works would be greatly appreciated by some of us. We know you write professionally, and deserve to be doing just that. Maybe you could just dust off something you've already written and submit it.

And I sure hope your crisis passes soon.

[Jozanny]

And I sure hope your crisis passes soon.

Thank you for that. I'd break down in tears for a genuine display of kindness from a real person, of late, and I suppose I cannot really explain that without trying but so many members patience, so I won't. The loaner Jazzy bemoth and I are getting along, tentatively, and I was able to take my first shower since my Quickie's funeral before Thanksgiving. My power chair is everything, legs, car, independence, and at 46, after I get my new one, I need a better safety valve for future breakdowns, or else. My sister is not pleased that I've added my PTSD to her own. This is why I am in no condition to lend myself to voting this cycle. I apologize to anyone I might have irritated by explaining.

[Jozanny]

I realize the word *breakdown* may be cause for confusion, but a good analogy might be a person on a tight budget whose car is absolutely crucial, and then the automaker says "sorry, we aren't going to honor the warranty".

Medical supply companys do this to power chair users who do not have the economic wealth to thwart them on a daily basis. They go in and out of bankruptcy with more frequency than the airline industry, except, unlike 20 years ago, I cannot just find another company to do the repairs under my insurance provider, and I am thus caught in some crosshairs, which in turn is breaking me down worse than it used to, hehe! If it wasn't so corrosive the irony of it would be amusing.

It is amusing, except for the fact that I cannot trust the loaner just yet to get me safely out of the house, and back.

[Captain Pike]

I do not think it is fair for me to participate because I publish my work and was, or is, depending on how I judge my current circumstances, an accomplished writer. My standards are higher, or at least very different, from most members who use the Writing Forum, though I admit the cash prize excited my greed--depending, again, on the way one looks at it, from the time I became active on LN, I had nothing perfect enough and short enough to compete..

There is no rule (I don't think) prohibiting published authors from submitting work here for the contest. I think it might say somewhere that we shouldn't have published stuff elsewhere which we submit here for the contest, but I don't think that rule is really worried about too much.

Personally, I wish more people would post stories, seasoned authors or green horns, or at least VOTE on the ones that've been submitted!

Come on, now you got me Jonesing for your work.;)
_P.

[Jozanny]

Come on, now you got me Jonesing for your work.;)
_P.

If I can survive my latest cripple-crack up phase, there is always next time:p. I haven't been working at all Captain, so it may be depression and anxiety will force me to rest on my laurels as a not so well noted has-been. I am frightened of THE SYSTEM, in a vague, grandiose, Kafkaesque sort of way, screaming into my own head that I don't want Schiavo's fate or anything like it, with my own fear more withering than my physical condition itself.

My mother used to say, "Can't you just live your life?"

And I suppose it was a worthy retort. If I get from point A to point B, in getting a new Medicare power chair without entirely losing my marbles:rolleyes::banana:, I will have to learn to game the system better to hang onto my independence a wee little longer...

Really, if my vote has the possibility of influence, I want to be calm and clear-headed enough, since I know these contests are important, just as the ones I enter are important to me.

[Virgil]

Wow, is this close. I'm going to finally start reading. Hope people are too.

[Captain Pike]

... I am frightened of THE SYSTEM, in a vague, grandiose, Kafkaesque sort of way, screaming into my own head that I don't want Schiavo's fate or anything like it, ...

Really, if my vote has the possibility of influence, I want to be calm and clear-headed enough, since I know these contests are important, just as the ones I enter are important to me.

Drink plenty of fluids... and um, don't take yourself, or this contest's outcome too seriously. Ha ha, just having a bit of fun.

Sometimes, I think trying to rank/rate or otherwise compare two stories written by two different people (it's even worse for poetry) is completely subjective. I mean it's one human trying to judge the relative alphabetic excrement of other humans... it's crazy... it's meaningless. BUT IT SURE DOES GET THE JUICES FLOWING -- some days I just can't wait to logon to see what has happened next! What a world! :flare:

I'm the luckiest man alive,_P.

[Pf. HS Dimple]

Plz tell if it is possible for me to post my story here and how are the stories selected to be put for public to vote?

Who can vote here and why can not I vote here?

[TheFifthElement]

Pf. HS Dimple, you need to increase your post count in order to vote. Go and play lots of games and come back when you've got 100 posts, then you can vote. Do some shared haiku, comment on some threads. It doesn't have to take that long.

Come on Litnet get voting! Not long until the competition closes.

[Virgil]

I voted. Boy I think this is going to be an exicting finish. :D Let's get more people to vote.

[DickZ]

I voted. Boy I think this is going to be an exciting finish. :D Let's get more people to vote.
I agree - I just don't know how to get more people to vote. It's a good thing the recent presidential election didn't depend on this group's action.

[Virgil]

I agree - I just don't know how to get more people to vote. It's a good thing the recent presidential election didn't depend on this group's action.

:lol: From my point of view, I wish it had. ;)

[Pf. HS Dimple]

Okay, and thanks for the answer and can I post my story too?
I have read the rules that I should post it for the Jan2009 I mean for next year only
is it possible to post it now for this years'?

I did not want to vote, as I wanted to first go thru the stories, but when I tried just to try, my vote got voted, without my ACTUALLY wanting to vote in favour of the story for which I voted.....Even this FIFTH ELEMENT suggested me to first post at least 100 posts to enable myself to vote....what should I do to de-vote myself?

[Scheherazade]

Hello, Pf. HS Dimple,

If you simply would like to post a story to receive feedback from others, you can post it here: http://www.online-literature.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=5830

However, if you would like to submit a story for the competition, then you will have to wait till January and make sure that you have read the competition rules here: http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31482

Hope this helps. If you have further inquiries, please PM me.

You cannot actually "de-vote" yourself (pun intended?); however, unless you reach 100 posts by the end of this month, your vote will be disregarded.

[Virgil]

***Bump***

What a great contest. Every vote counts! Please read the stories and vote. :)

[tractatus]

Waow what a contest really.
Printing the stories now. I will vote as soon as possible for me.

[Pf. HS Dimple]

Thanks !!!
Plz tell what is the punishment for those who violate rules?
Where can we ask the general queries?

By the way as I am replying and replying the 100-number can be acheived soon

I wanna avoit reaching this number
but the queris are many

Kindy reply to the following questions –

1. What is the meaning of mannerism?
2. When we say that a particular heronine has SIZE ZERO, what does that mean?
3. When we say that her figure is 25-34-26, what does this signify?

I have put up two quesions first but the no of posts shwn here are only 21-21-22....Rectify this discrepancy as it should be 21-22-23 and this should get the number 24

[Schokokeks]

Wow, what a difficult choice!

Great stories, everyone!! :nod:

[Scheherazade]

Thanks !!!
Plz tell what is the punishment for those who violate rules?
Where can we ask the general queries?

By the way as I am replying and replying the 100-number can be acheived soon

I wanna avoit reaching this number
but the queris are many

Kindy reply to the following questions –

1. What is the meaning of mannerism?
2. When we say that a particular heronine has SIZE ZERO, what does that mean?
3. When we say that her figure is 25-34-26, what does this signify?

I have put up two quesions first but the no of posts shwn here are only 21-21-22....Rectify this discrepancy as it should be 21-22-23 and this should get the number 24You can post your general inquiries here: http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?p=647674#post647674

However, please note that flooding the forums to increase one's post count will not be tolerated.

[Scheherazade]

With less than two weeks to go, please keep voting!

[kiz_paws]

Unbelievable talent we have here. Makes voting very difficult indeed, but at last my vote is cast. Good luck to everyone! :)

[Virgil]

Wow what a finish!!

[Nighteyes5678]

Yeah, no kidding! This line up is pretty good. ^_^

So, what happens if there's a tie? Will the admins pool their collective awesome together to pick the winner?

[kiz_paws]

C'mon people - VOTE!!!

[Virgil]

BUMP


We're down to the last day to vote. It doesn't take long to read and vote. :)

[Scheherazade]

Going once...

(we have a tie!)

[Scheherazade]

Going twice...

PS: I would like to remind that votes by members with less than 100 posts will be disregarded.

[Scheherazade]

Congratulations to

the author of "Mirage", Nighteyes5678 (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/member.php?u=45404),

who is the winner of


the 2008 Literature Network Short Story Competition!

You have won the Prize (details to follow via PM and email) (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17653)



I would like to thank everyone who submitted stories during the year, participated in the voting polls, and provided encouragement and support to entrants :)



If the individual authors of any of the stories submitted this year wish to reveal themselves, please do so :) by starting a new topic and re-posting your story in the Short Story Forum:

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=5830

[PabloQ]

Scherezade,
Is it possible to publish the authors of the non-winners? Each of those writers won a "regional" in order to qualify for the final and the final vote was so close that all of the authors should be acknowledged for their efforts. I know I took my vote very seriously and it took me several days and a couple of rereads to select. So, regardless of whether a story received one vote or a 1000, all of these authors need to be applauded and given their due.
Now, I'm disappointed in the Lit Net. Twenty-four votes? C'mon!! We need more voters participating. Don't know what we need to do to encourage broader participation, but I think these efforts are worthy of a more attention than seems to be paid to date.
As usual, my two cents worth is probably over priced.
Q

[DickZ]

Scheherezade,
Is it possible to publish the authors of the non-winners? ...
I'm disappointed in the Lit Net. Twenty-four votes? C'mon!!...
I second your motion, Pablo. I hope we can find out who wrote each of the stories. Maybe all the authors will identify themselves.

And I don't know what can be done to get some of the lurkers to be more active and do things like vote. The percentage of lurkers in Lit Net is more than FIVE times the percentage of lurkers in Baseball Fever, which is similar in format.

[TheFifthElement]

Congratulations Nighteyes5678!

[aBIGsheep]

I feel kinda ashamed for asking, but where can I read them? I can't find the links.

[TheFifthElement]

Scher has removed them as the competition is closed. They were at the beginning of this thread.

[Scheherazade]

Pablo and Dick> Throughout the competition, we ask our writers not to reveal their identities. Once the competition is over, it is up to them to reveal their identities if they choose to do so; otherwise, I feel like we would be betraying their confidentiality.

ABIGsheep As Fifth mentioned, the stories have been removed and now it is up to their writers whether they would like to share them with others.

[prendrelemick]

Thank goodness the right story won

( I was not allowed to vote, not enough posts)

[kiz_paws]

Congratulations to you, Nighteyes5678!

As for the other stories, there was awesome work that was most difficult to choose from. Congratulations to all who were in that final contest, it was an honour to read your work.

Keep 'em coming, people! ;)

[lugdunum]

COngratulations Nighteyes5678! :thumbs_up

And congratulations to all of the writers for their work and for sharing it with us.

Now let's see what 2009 brings us ;)

[miyako73]

I know this is old.

Can an entrant vote for his/her own entry?

Nighteyes here voted for his own, and his vote broke the tie.

Just asking not making trouble.

[Scheherazade]

I know this is old.

Can an entrant vote for his/her own entry? It is not against the rules to vote for one's own story. If they truly believe that their story is the best one in the selection, why not?

We are all adults here after all. Right?

;)