Prose That Blows 4: NOW OPEN

Submitted by doubleintegral on Thu, 11/11/2010 - 04:59

Out of 33 people that responded to our poll, nearly a majority preferred that the contest be held before the holiday season kicks into high gear. So we're not gonna sit on our hands.

DETAILS HERE

The deadline for submissions is Friday, December 17, 2010 at 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time.

Thu, 11/11/2010 - 13:35

carnatic

more important than deciding when it will be, is deciding what it will be.

And by the way, your survey asks a 'loaded question' because you've worded the options 'Early' 'On-time' and 'Late' thus implying that a suitable time was already decided upon and the question is just asking whether to move it forwards or backwards.

Fri, 11/12/2010 - 00:21

doubleintegral

carnatic wrote:

And by the way, your survey asks a 'loaded question' because you've worded the options 'Early' 'On-time' and 'Late' thus implying that a suitable time was already decided upon and the question is just asking whether to move it forwards or backwards.

This is true. So far we've tried to keep a set schedule: submissions open for about four weeks, voting open for about two weeks, and then about 4-6 weeks off. The "on-time" option is just a projection of that schedule.

So far, the voting is 5 early, 5 on-time, 4 late, and 2 don't care. You people are making it REALLY easy to make a decision.

Stories I have written

Sat, 11/13/2010 - 02:12

darth_clone19

Ill participate on this one, for sure.

- Read my stories: darth-clone19.deviantart.com

Wed, 12/01/2010 - 06:39

darth_clone19

Im gonna make a comment/suggestion; its a bit late, since its PTB 4...but oh well...

What do you think of each contest, aside from the usual four awards, having its own award? The Halloween one could have had the "Spooky" award. This one can have the "Merriest story" award, or Most Festive, or something to that effect.

Good idea, or just a cute but inapplicable mental vomit?

- Read my stories: darth-clone19.deviantart.com

Wed, 12/01/2010 - 23:47

doubleintegral

It's a good idea but doesn't necessarily work for every contest. For instance, with Halloween, is "spooky" sufficiently different than "disturbing"?

We will be doing some of that in the future, though.

Stories I have written

Fri, 12/03/2010 - 07:43

darth_clone19

well yeah. i think scary/spooky is pretty different from being disturbed. maybe you cant be scared without being disturbed, but you certainly can be disturbed without being scared.

- Read my stories: darth-clone19.deviantart.com

Sun, 12/19/2010 - 17:57

RenegadeKamui

Are the stories ready to be posted yet?

Tue, 12/21/2010 - 02:08

doubleintegral

We only had four submissions this time. Trying to decide how to handle voting and possibly whether to extend the deadline.

Stories I have written

Tue, 12/21/2010 - 02:31

#10

Murkstorm

I couldn't figure out how the heck to relate "staying warm" to inflation, short of a fur suit.

Tue, 12/21/2010 - 03:35

#11

RenegadeKamui

Murkstorm wrote:

I couldn't figure out how the heck to relate "staying warm" to inflation, short of a fur suit.

This is pretty much my situation as well. For one thing, the contest this time just seemed like a retread of PtB 3, only with a different holiday thrown in. But more importantly in my opinion, the theme just doesn't have anything to do with inflation. It doesn't really challenge the writers to explore different ground or create new concepts; they just take their existing favorite scenarios and throw on the holiday theme like window dressing. For PtB 5, I'd like to see a theme that relates to the inflation itself. Something like a specific method of expansion, unusual filling material, perhaps a particular plot device.

Fri, 12/24/2010 - 06:11

#12

Inflate123

Murkstorm wrote:

I couldn't figure out how the heck to relate "staying warm" to inflation, short of a fur suit.

Sitting close to a fireplace. A Jacuzzi with malfunctioning jets. The phrase "hot air."

Let me know if you need anything else. :P

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Sat, 12/25/2010 - 20:40

#13

cboy

Sitting close to a gas fireplace.

Sat, 12/25/2010 - 22:41

#14

doubleintegral

notsosupersaiyan wrote:

For one thing, the contest this time just seemed like a retread of PtB 3, only with a different holiday thrown in. But more importantly in my opinion, the theme just doesn't have anything to do with inflation. It doesn't really challenge the writers to explore different ground or create new concepts; they just take their existing favorite scenarios and throw on the holiday theme like window dressing.

Those are fair criticisms.

I will say that, given the quick turnaround time between PTB3 and PTB4, we didn't want the contest to be too challenging. I don't, however, want it to seem like we're mailing it in when it comes to thinking up the contests.

Quote:

For PtB 5, I'd like to see a theme that relates to the inflation itself. Something like a specific method of expansion, unusual filling material, perhaps a particular plot device.

If you are looking for a challenge (and a significant one at that), I think PTB5 will be right up your alley.

Stories I have written

Tue, 01/11/2011 - 00:35

#15

doubleintegral

Because I'm a lazy forgetful ass, the results are just now posted on the PTB blog.

Stories I have written

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 09:40

#16

RenegadeKamui

doubleintegral wrote:

Because I'm a lazy forgetful ass, the results are just now posted on the PTB blog.

Well, that's understandable. I'm looking forward to the next theme, though.

Tue, 01/18/2011 - 04:27

#17

darth_clone19

Wow, only 4 submissions...if onlt I had finished mine before the deadline :(

- Read my stories: darth-clone19.deviantart.com

Sat, 01/29/2011 - 17:59

#18

RenegadeKamui

So when's the next contest starting? I'm eager to hear the theme.

Sun, 01/30/2011 - 03:37

#19

doubleintegral

Patience, grasshopper.

Stories I have written

Prose That Blows 4: NOW OPEN

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