January 2012 Challenge: "A New Day Is Dawning..."

[Saito S]

I don't write short stories. I really don't. I'm not very good at it. I'm struggling to find a way to finish this thing and keep it at roughly 10,000 words. We'll see.

While I'm here, though, a question, since this would be my first time having a "horse in the race" in one of these challenges (assuming I somehow manage to finish and then trim it down to an acceptable length): what is the general guideline for voting? Does everyone just vote for their own story? Are we NOT supposed to vote for our own story? Do authors vote at all? I never really paid attention in the past to who was voting for what, I just noted who won and read whatever stories seemed interesting to me.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Self-voting is generally viewed as unsportsmanlike conduct, and is banned by most challenge runners--and voting is usually public, so it can be seen if someone does it. Self-voters are usually disqualified for doing so.

 

[Enterprise1981]

My entry: "The Dating Game"

 

[Sandoval]

Self-voting is generally viewed as unsportsmanlike conduct, and is banned by most challenge runners--and voting is usually public, so it can be seen if someone does it. Self-voters are usually disqualified for doing so.

Except they're not usually disqualified.

I've seen it done a few times here and there were no disqualifications.

 

[Saito S]

Self-voting is generally viewed as unsportsmanlike conduct, and is banned by most challenge runners--and voting is usually public, so it can be seen if someone does it. Self-voters are usually disqualified for doing so.

Except they're not usually disqualified.

I've seen it done a few times here and there were no disqualifications.

I would think if it were grounds for actual disqualification from the challenge, that would be something that would need to be mentioned somewhere, in the rules for that month or wherever? I mean, I decided to ask before doing anything, but others who are new to it might not (especially since in a vacuum, "everyone votes for themselves" doesn't make any more or less sense than "no one votes for themselves," or "authors don't vote"). I figured it was an "unwritten" rule if anything, not something that had serious consequences.

Of course, it may be moot in my case. The story is done except for some editing/proofing, but I also have to figure out if I can trim it down without ruining it. It's well over the 10k limit at the moment.

 

[Sandoval]

If your story is so much longer than the contest word limit I'd suggest just posting it in the normal manner rather than performing a hatchet job and potentially ruining it in order to enter it into this contest.

I'd rather read a decent 15,000 word story than a mediocre 10,000 word one that has had large chunks edited out.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I have seen disqualifications occur. It depends on the challenge runner. But just because you weren't around for it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.

I'm of two minds on the editing thing. Sometimes trimming the fat is necessary. On the other hand, I had one contest prompt over at another site that turned into a novella that took 6 months to complete and came in at about 35,000 words and needed that in order to tell the story because of the scale of events and span of time it was covering.

 

[Sandoval]

But just because you weren't around for it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.

Yes it does.

 

[Rush Limborg]

I'll dispel the controversy, in this case:

Self-voting will NOT be approved of, in my contest...and it will be grounds for disqualification.

 

[Saito S]

If your story is so much longer than the contest word limit I'd suggest just posting it in the normal manner rather than performing a hatchet job and potentially ruining it in order to enter it into this contest.

I'd rather read a decent 15,000 word story than a mediocre 10,000 word one that has had large chunks edited out.

Well, maybe. Thing is, I know that I tend to write "more than I need"; there might be some filler, or some parts that simply don't need to be as wordy. These are changes/cuts that might make sense even if I'm NOT trying to submit it for the challenge. But will the cuts I am OK with be enough to whittle it down from about 13k to about 10k? That's what I'm not sure of, and what I will be trying to determine over the next few days. If so, I'll post it for the challenge; if not, I might just take your suggestion and post it on its own.

I'll dispel the controversy, in this case:

Self-voting will NOT be approved of, in my contest...and it will be grounds for disqualification.

Duly noted. I have no problem with that, I just wanted to know what the deal was.

 

[Rush Limborg]

Well, Saito, as a rule, I hate the idea of causing a writer to ruin their story due to a limit.

I would recommend, if your tale goes over the limit--look at it, and (as you said), cut out what you don't need or necessarily want.

An example: In my tale for last month's contest, I had originally intended an epilogue involving Garak and the Bajoran customer. The word limit demanded I not write it...but frankly, I think the tale packs more punch as it is, without said epilogue. While, had I had no limit, I probably would have written it--still, looking back, I think the ending the tale now has is the best for it.

Now...after the trimming, if you're still over, PM me, and tell me how far you are over the limit. We'll discuss it, and I'll make the call then.

 

[Dnoth]

I got inspired to write this today and throw my hat in the ring. Maybe not the most original topic to write about, but I always wondered...

http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=158944

 

[Dinai Evtek]

Originally I did not intend to write a story, I just wanted to read some and therefore came to TrekBBS. However this month's challenge somehow triggered a last minute idea, and once I sat at the keyboard it developed into a story. Here is my entry and firstborn, so to speak

Cardassian Sunrise
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=159298

Note: I'm not a native speaker, so please excuse if my English might sometimes be a bit awkward, I did my best. Thanks.

 

[Rush Limborg]

^Welcome aboard the BBS, Dinai Evtek!

NOW...

Eight--count'em EIGHT--stories! Talk about turnout!

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I had a fatal POV error unfortunately, and will not be able to enter.

 

[Cobalt Frost]

Here's number nine: "After Time After"

http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?p=5696563#post5696563

Nine entries, some sort of record? Should be a fun vote!

 

[jespah]

T-minus 6 hours (more or less) 'til the challenge closes ....

 

[Saito S]

T-minus 6 hours (more or less) 'til the challenge closes ....

Oy the suspense! Will it stay at 9?! Will even more stories crop up?!

I'll be bowing out of this one after all. The only way to get the story down to the word limit would be to cut out FAR too much that I think is, in fact, important to the story. But since I already went to the trouble of writing it, I'm going to continue to tweak it a bit, then post it on its own in this forum sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Good luck to all the entrants!

 

[Rush Limborg]

2 1/4 hours left!

 

[Rush Limborg]

AND...the entry box...is...SEALED!!!

The polls will be opened promptly. Let's hope it can handle all the candidates....