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magnificent1rascal
Over 90 days ago
United States

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Don't let the name fool you: NATIONAL Novel Writing Month is actually an INTERNATIONAL event in which writers set out to write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November.

https://nanowrimo.org/

Are any Stories Space members participating this year? Have you participated in the past?

Participating or not, what do you think of the idea?
Please note: Off-topic comments, along with those posted to provoke a disagreement, have been removed from this thread.
Quote by gypsy
The women in my family, my mother...

Oh yes! My mother inspired my writing more than anyone else. She was a talented writer herself, an insightful critique partner, my first writing collaborator, and a thoughtful reader of my work.

Quote by gypsy
James Thurber, because he is just so observant and funny about how ridiculous life can be.

I should probably add James Thurber to my list as well.

Two other writers I might include, not only because I like their writing but also because of advice they’ve given me in person, are J.A. Jance and Karen Joy Fowler. J.A. Jance was the keynote speaker at a writers conference I attended last year, and Karen Joy Fowler spoke with me a few years ago during a charity auction to which we had both donated items.

Finally, it is apparent that I need to read more Shirley Jackson.
This is a tough one. I’m a “streaky” reader so a lot of writers have influenced me. To name a few:

- Erma Bombeck
- Dave Barry
- Patrick McManus
- Tom Robbins
- John Steinbeck
- Larry McMurtry
- Tom Wolfe
- Barbara Kingsolver

Gee, there should be more women on this list. Let me work on that...
You have a good question. Unfortunately, I don’t have a good answer, because my answer is: I don’t know what caused the problem. My guess would be that the old file was scheduled for deletion but not actually deleted, so when you uploaded a new image with the same filename, the system found and used the original file. Of course, my explanation might be wildly off base. Gav could tell us what really happened.
Quote by fuzzy1954
Quote by magnificent1rascal
Quote by DamonX
I an glad there is interest. I was wondering if there wood be a difference category for history or historic fiction.


As this site is primarily for fiction, the new category will be for Historical Fiction.




as this would be a Historical Fiction
[url=https;//www.storiesspace.com/stories/flash=fiction/the-square.aspx]The Square[/url]


by the one and only me... Fuzzy1954


That particular piece is too short to be in Historical Fiction, Fuzzy. It would remain in Flash Fiction because of its brevity.

Historical Fiction tells a story set in the past. The setting is usually real and drawn from history. Actual historical events are often embedded in the narrative, and actual historical figures may appear as secondary characters, but the main characters tend to be fictional. AnnaMayZing's novels "The Nurses" and "Kindred Spirits, Distant Hearts" are good examples of Historical Fiction.
Quote by DamonX
I an glad there is interest. I was wondering if there wood be a difference category for history or historic fiction.


As this site is primarily for fiction, the new category will be for Historical Fiction.
Congratulations are in order for all the entrants in our Stories Space Dirty Martini 420 writing competition. The overall quality of submissions was excellent, and the stellar work of our talented and creative members made the judging panel's job a difficult one. However, after much deliberation, we are pleased to announce the winners:

1. The Right Tonic by Paperboy
2. Good Time Blues by Welshdreamer42
3. Whatever by Ping

There was a three-way tie among the Top 10, so we expanded it to Top 12. The runners-up (listed alphabetically by title) are:

Black Birds by LloydOxton
A Farewell Drink by NymphWriter
Interstate 420 by Survivor
The Last Beginning by rantingsenior
Last Note by Dreamcatcher
Letter to a Friend by gypsy
One More by meredith
The Penguin Says by DenimAngel
Shining On by steffanie
Seder —> Versed

E always gives us plenty of time to play before proceeding herself, but we’re an inconsistent bunch (myself included!).

Quote by KindOfFool
A Historical Fiction genre would make even more sense here than on the other site, and I believe it would be well supported by many of our writers. Four of my stories would already fit the category better than the General genre which was the only place to put them.

Could I also humbly suggest that the Poetry category is too broad and could easily be divided between short poems, romantic poems, and narrative poems. Just a thought.


Thanks for the reminder about Poetry. The category is too broad, I agree, but I’ve been struggling with how to categorize it. Metered or free verse? Rhyming or not rhyming? Love poems, humor poems, short poems, long poems — there are a lot of options.

Quote by Jimwillhavefun


Just had a thought about the award of the winner of DirtyMartini badge. I wonder if it would make more sense to break this up by Poetry and Story. Meaning, have one for each. Poems and Stories are two different things after all.

Maybe call one the DirtyMartini Poem badge and one the DirtyMartini Story badge. Since Alan wrote in both and the comp started out as a story competition. Just a thought.

There some great poems entered into this comp as well but they could still receive the Story badge and that would leave the Poem badge for another comp maybe. There are so many great poets on here, I am sure the comp would be flooded with poems.


Thanks for your suggestion, Jim. We may very well be awarding more than one DM badge, and we'll be sure to get the wording on the badge description changed so it doesn't specify it as a poetry contest.
Quote by Adagio
What about play scripts. I really don't care. I have no fleas to scratch.


We already have a Plays category. And we are not a “clone” of any other site, nor are we moving toward becoming one. In fact, we are moving to remove references to another, related site. Historical Fiction is a popular genre that more than one member has requested be added.
Quote by gypsy
Remind me, please, the deadline is the 8th. Does that mean when the 7th ticks over to the 8th? Seems to me that is it but I can never recall.


I *think* this is how it works: The deadline is 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Oct. 7th, so it’s showing up as Oct. 7th for me but Oct. 8th for you.

I'm moving this question from another thread in the hopes of getting more readers to respond.


Quote by EyeOfTheBeholder
Let's talk about favorite story lines. As one that hadn't spent a lot of time here, What do most people in this SS like to read?
Quote by Dreamcatcher
From what I am reading, this competition to honor the legacy of Dirtymartini is a complete success. So many wonderful stories by so many wonderful authors. I am humbled to be amongst all of you.

Very nicely done Maggie, Molly, Gillian, Anna, anybody I forgot? If so, my apologies.


You left out Mr. Rumple deWriter, and it was his gentle nudge that got this thing off the ground.

I agree about the entries so far. I’m very pleased and impressed by the creativity of our members!
Quote by LarryFNigh
Quote by Welshdreamer42
Quote by magnificent1rascal
Quote by Welshdreamer42
Question - what's the significance of 420? Am I missing something obvious?

The significance in this case is that Stories Space recently marked its 420th week of existence. However, that fact was a mere spark and shouldn’t influence anyone’s creative direction. Any interpretation is welcome.




Nor should anyone take away any significance from the fact that I, personally, have 420 stories and poems at the moment on our site. Merely one of life's fascinating coincidences.


Larry, that sounds like a great hook for working the number 420 into your entry!
Quote by Welshdreamer42
Question - what's the significance of 420? Am I missing something obvious?

The significance in this case is that Stories Space recently marked its 420th week of existence. However, that fact was a mere spark and shouldn’t influence anyone’s creative direction. Any interpretation is welcome.
Quote by meredith
I like the idea.

Just a couple of queries though.

1) Isn't the camera's name spelled Exakta? Not Exacta.

If it is then...

2) Which model 66 are you referring to. There were several different styles of 66's made over the years.


Thanks, Meredith!

1. You’re right. I’ll fix the spelling.

2. It doesn’t matter. Any model you choose!
Quote by steffanie
Thanks for hosting this - you woke me up!

Yay, I'm glad of that! It's always a pleasure to see you.

Btw, I'm trying to figure out why it shows you as having -4 forum posts. How is that even possible?
Leadership

Dealership
Deal, Deals
Dealer, Dealers
Dear, Dears
Dip, Dips
Lead, Leads
Leader, Leaders
Lad, Lads
Lap, Laps
Lip, Lips
Leap, Leaps
Lash
Lashed
Ship
Hip, Hips
Read, Reads
Reap, Reaps
Pale, Pales
Pail, Pails
Pal, Pals
Paid
Peal, Peals
Pear, Pears
Pare, Pares
Spare
Spiel
Shred

AVARICIOUS
https://www.storiesspace.com/competitions/stories-space-dirty-martini-420.aspx

In our latest contest, we’re honoring Alan W. Jankowski, who used the handle Dirty Martini here. Alan was a longtime moderator at Stories Space, as well as a talented writer and friend to many. He passed away in March 2017. You don’t need to have known Alan in order to enter, but it would be a good idea to visit his profile page and read some of his work first.

https://www.storiesspace.com/dirtymartini

• No entry fee
• All entries must be new, original work
• One entry per person
• Limit 420 words
• Category must be Micro Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry or Songs
• Tags must include the word ‘whatever’
• Submission must include the number 420 in some form (time, date, distance, weight, temperature, length, or whatever) AND one item from EACH of the following lists:
1. Exakta 66 camera, Gibson Les Paul guitar, Albert King album
2. Penguin, potato, bee
3. A letter, a dirty martini, a neon sign

Submissions not meeting all requirements will be rejected. Before submitting an entry, please make sure that it has been thoroughly proofread and is the story you want to submit. Entries may not be edited after submission, or deleted and replaced with another entry.

Prizes:

In currency, a bit is 1/8 of a dollar, or 12.5 cents. As we have a limited budget (and to add a bit of whimsy), prize money for this contest will be calculated as bits.

Please note that only the first place entry is guaranteed an Editors’ Pick award. Second and third place are guaranteed a Recommended Read and will be considered for an Editors’ Pick. The remainder of the top 10 will be considered for both RR and EP awards but are guaranteed neither.

1st place: 420 bits ($52.50 USD), EP award, Competition Winner badge and Dirty Martini badge
2nd place: 210 bits ($26.25 USD), RR award, EP consideration, Competition Runner-up badge
3rd place: 140 bits ($17.50 USD), RR award, EP consideration, Competition Runner-up badge
Remaining top 10: 60 bits ($7.50 USD) each, RR and EP consideration, Competition Top 10 badge
Paintbrush

Paint, Paints
Brush
Rush
Bush
Push
Pith
Path, Paths
Bath, Baths
Urban
Turban, Turbans
Puritan, Puritans
Burnish
Banish
Tarnish
Pair, Pairs
Pain, Pains
Pin, Pins
Pan, Pans
Pant, Pants
Tin, Tins
Tan, Tans
Bin, Bins
Ban, Bans
Habit, Habits
Runt, Runts
Run, Runs
Ruin, Ruins
Harp, Harps
Tarp, Tarps
Star
Stair

CANDELABRA