Week 5 - Finalists' Process Thread

[firehorse]

Even though this is a contest, I'd love to hear some comments from other finalists on how you work. Some of my favourite books are those in which writers discuss their process and challenges.

My first reaction on reading the assignment was, "What's the fun in that?!" Then I realized we have to leave the reader with a feeling of hope. Uh-oh. How do you inspire someone without resorting to cliches and without making the readers - some of whom are presumably as cynical as I am - nauseated? On top of that, how do we write one story that elicits the same emotion from a wide variety of people? Or is there a way to elicit different hopes from different readers, all with the same story? The latter is my goal, but I have no idea how to go about it.

This is definitely the toughest assignment yet for me. Like Haskins, I've got a crazy week ahead and a greatly abbreviated time frame in which to work on this.

I have a bunch of ideas, but as Simon-Ray points out so often, we're supposed to be raising the bar in each round. So far, none of my ideas feels strong enough. So do I go with the one I know I can write quickly and well and spend what little time I have revising, or do I keep brainstorming and hope (there's that word) that a more inherently compelling idea comes along?

What do the rest of you think?

[trumancoyote]

Oy. Zach's got a similar problem.

I'm leavin' for China this Thursday, so I've got to finish mine before then, as well as all the other crap one has to accomplish before leaving the country for two months >.<

Hope is a difficult thing.

I wish I had some insight to share.

[William Haskins]

it's an interesting theme, to be sure. i'll share some more thoughts later, but i'm still chewing on it, and it sure does taste sugary.

therein lies the challenge.

[firehorse]

I'm leavin' for China this Thursday, so I've got to finish mine before then, as well as all the other crap one has to accomplish before leaving the country for two months.Two months? Where are you going and what are you doing there?

[Cassie88]

I'm not in the same boat you're writers are in but I was thinking about this week's theme. I hear the word hope and the cynic in me wants to gag. But then I realized I grab on to hope all the time. I find it in the little things.... If I stop by my brother's ..and play with my 2 year old niece....she's a real pip and loves to laugh...sudden, loud bursts of laughter ..and I think, she's going to have a good time....and that gives me hope. Of course, two hours later, I wonder how anyone gets up in the morning. But we do....hope's gotta have something to do with that.

Hope: A feeling that what is wanted will happen; desire accompanied by expectation.

My sister found a man who she truly loves...who loves her back....Her third marraige.... She's a singer/songwriter and her husband, the same...He's from England and they met on a board like this ..in the songwriting forum.....

That's hope.

And we wouldn't need hope if there wasn't so much hell, would we?

[William Haskins]

yes, it's interesting because of the structural implications.

admittedly, i would be more confortable if the theme were "hopelessness" instead, but we play the hand we're dealt.

i'll be very interested to see how the others approach this, and i'm also interested in how the hell i'll handle it.

good times.

[Cassie88]

But William, can't you write about the "hopelessness" ...won't hope appear in some way or another?

Well, on that note, I'm signing off. Good luck!

[maestrowork]

I think this week's theme, on the surface, sounds easy, but it's actually very challenging. You need a story that makes the readers feel "hopeful" at the end, but you don't want to have to sink down to cliches and sentimentality (anyone can write a 9/11 story, for example, and draw tears and hope!) or hit the readers in the head with a 2x4 and sugar.

If I were a contestant, I'd probably go along with this thought process: Let's pretend the readers DO NOT know anything about the theme... leave them no clues that this is a "hope" story. That might be one angle to tackle this week's challenge.

[William Haskins]

an astute observation, ray. thanks for posting it.

[Cassie88]

Reread "Down at the Dinghy," in Salinger's Nine Stories today. I had forgotten how it ended and was surprised by the last two sentences. I thought, oh my God, is this hope?

[William Haskins]

you make me smile, cassie. jd salinger is food for the soul.

[Cassie88]

William, this hope thing has got me all nuts, too. You'd think I had to come up with something! Today, I read "The Balloon," by Donald Barthelme ...hmmm, I'm thinking, ...could be hope?

Everywhere I turn f****n hope. Can't stand it....But..as one of the readers, I'm really looking forward to the entries....especially................

Oh, one more thing: do you or any of the other writers feel you'd have the same chance of staying in if you wrote a poem at this point?

[Sarita]

Oh, one more thing: do you or any of the other writers feel you'd have the same chance of staying in if you wrote a poem at this point?

Excellent question. I've been wondering that for a few weeks now. And wondering when William is going to venture down that road.

[mommie4a]

Did you all know that there's a monthly magazine called HOPE?

[firehorse]

do you or any of the other writers feel you'd have the same chance of staying in if you wrote a poem at this point?I think William would still have an excellent chance, but I'm not a poet and never have been. So if you see a poem from me in this contest, it'll probably be the last you see of me ;)

I'm not putting myself down; I just know my strengths, and poetry isn't one of them.

[maestrowork]

Did you all know that there's a monthly magazine called HOPE?

Do they accept submission? I've been thinking about write a story and posting it in "Join the theme." I think it would be fun. It's definitely one of my favorite themes.

(Simon-Ray: yeah, yeah, yeah, you always have to come out sounding so nice and cute, don't you? Wait until they read all your trunk stories about rape and incest and twisted tortures. Hope, my arse, Raymond)

[maestrowork]

I think William would still have an excellent chance, but I'm not a poet and never have been. So if you see a poem from me in this contest, it'll probably be the last you see of me ;)

I'm not putting myself down; I just know my strengths, and poetry isn't one of them.

Knowing one's strength is part of the keys to win.

[Duncan J Macdonald]

I'm not putting myself down; I just know my strengths, and poetry isn't one of them.Cue Jenna cackling wickedly while rubbing her hands in unholy glee.
<sfx> Moderators dressed as minions dance in the background in ragged syncopated counterpoint to Jenna's Evil Glee (TM) </sfx>

[mommie4a]

Thanks for asking that Ray - I just googled it to get the writers guidelines for you and found this - an article about how it's ceasing publication! I guess there's not enough hope in this world.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0910-03.htm


Do they accept submission? I've been thinking about write a story and posting it in "Join the theme." I think it would be fun. It's definitely one of my favorite themes.

(Simon-Ray: yeah, yeah, yeah, you always have to come out sounding so nice and cute, don't you? Wait until they read all your trunk stories about rape and incest and twisted tortures. Hope, my arse, Raymond)

[Cassie88]

Jill, that's funny! A few years ago, when I was submitted stuff to Magazines, I looked at Hope and I thought, "There's not a bloody thing I could write for this Magazine!" NEXT

[mommie4a]

That IS funny. Wow.

[firehorse]

Knowing one's strength is part of the keys to win.I just hope revealing one's weaknesses isn't one of the keys to losing ;)

[brokenfingers]

I hope you're right about the hope thing.... I hope.

[William Haskins]

Oh, one more thing: do you or any of the other writers feel you'd have the same chance of staying in if you wrote a poem at this point?

it would depend on the poem, i suppose. but it would be a risky move. that said, i've written poems for two of the entries so far. i just opted for fiction in the end.

if i were to write one that i felt worked, i would enter it regardless of whether it cost me the contest or not. but i haven't managed to write anything i was happy with so far.

[JennaGlatzer]

Cue Jenna cackling wickedly while rubbing her hands in unholy glee.

:ROFL: Poetry, you say?

When I thought of this week's theme, I thought of West Side Story. Carnage? You bet. Tragic? You bet. But there is hope at the end.

[William Haskins]

not to mention cool dancing.

[maestrowork]

There's a place for us... (now, everybody)

SOMEWHERE A PLACE FOR US...

[William Haskins]

The most beautiful sound I ever heard:
Jenna, Jenna, Jenna, Jenna . . .
All the beautiful sounds of the world in a single word . .
Jenna, Jenna, Jenna, Jenna . . .
Jenna!
I've just met a girl named Jenna,
And suddenly that name
Will never be the same
To me.
Jenna!
I've just kissed a girl named Jenna,
And suddenly I've found
How wonderful a sound
Can be!
Jenna!
Say it loud and there's music playing,
Say it soft and it's almost like praying.

Jenna,
I'll never stop saying Jenna!

The most beautiful sound I ever heard.
Jenna.

[JennaGlatzer]

You win.

:banana:

[William Haskins]

http://www.news.wisc.edu/wisweek/01-Mar-2000/images/Wfilmfest_West_Side00.jpg

[Unique]

See there, William, you can write out of character. Either that or your meds are wearing off.....










(No dis to Jenna, she's sweet. But Haskins & sweet? Somehow they don't seem to belong in the same sentence.)

[William Haskins]

i was channeling broadway. i assure you there's nothing sweet about me.

[JennaGlatzer]

William's first avatar here was a kitty cat. I rest my case.

[William Haskins]

...with rabies.

[firehorse]

i was channeling broadway. i assure you there's nothing sweet about me.Hmm... When I channel Broadway, it's more like Avenue Q (http://www.avenueq.com) , which has songs like "The Internet is for Porn" and "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" (also my personal anthem, "There is Life Outside Your Apartment"). But even X-rated Muppets find hope in the end.

See, I think Haskins is the closet sweetheart, and I'm the true cynic.

Jenna, forget buying your vote - how much would it take to elicit a promise not to assign poetry for the length of time I remain in the contest? ;) (I'm sure Dude still has some body parts left...)

[Unique]

Pssst. I think he is, too. But I'd never expect him to admit it. It'd be bad for his image, ya know.

[William Haskins]

believe me, assigning poetry is no more cruel and unfair to you than assigning hope is to me.

[Unique]

Channel, William. Think Marie Osmond or Debbie Boone. Keep a large brown bag handy - just in case 'something' backfires.

[Cassie88]

HE KILLED YOUR BROTHER!

[Unique]

Well, in that case, I've changed my mind. But I still think he could 'channel' his way into hope. (But only if the channel really, really wants to change.)


Sorry, couldn't resist that lame old thing.

[firehorse]

believe me, assigning poetry is no more cruel and unfair to you than assigning hope is to me.You actually write poetry. Hope? :Wha:

[maestrowork]

You changed your avatar, Firehorse. While I like the Avenue Q muppet... I miss your beautiful face.

;)

[William Haskins]

so, er.... how's it going for you all?

[brinkett]

I'm getting nervous. There's usually at least one story posted by now. What the heck are y'all doing (except Haskins, who'd break tradition if he posted early)?

[jdkiggins]

Congrats! William on having some words. I haven't had time yet to think of the theme this week, let alone write anything. Good luck everyone!

[Unique]

Not to offend anyone's sensibilities but,

'Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.'


Let me break this down as it applies to this week's theme:

1) Hope. You all have hope. You hope you can think of something coherent to say on the topic of hope.

2) Faith. We all have faith that you can do this. We understand the outside pressures that some of the contestants are facing in their personal lives.

3) Evidence of things unseen. We haven't seen the evidence of your entries yet, but we have hope that we will see them because we have faith in your abilities.

Clear as mud? Perhaps, but let me put this question in your minds. Are you looking at this topic in terms of fiction? Perhaps you should consider the themes in terms of non-fiction.

Zach, you must have hope in terms of what you want to learn from your journey to China.
Joanne, I'm sure you're hoping your mother's health will improve.
William, I'd hate to hazard a guess, but I'm sure that you have hope for your children.
Everyone else, I don't know enough about you to hazard personal statements, but I'm sure you have hopes in your personal lives, or at least hopes for people you know.

Anyway, I'll shut up now. It isn't my intent to offend, so I apologize in advance if I have. I'm just trying to interject a different way of looking at the topic in hopes of percolating new ideas for you all (ya'll). I have the utmost faith in your abilities and I hope you'll take the topic to heart, because I believe you can do it. (((Big Hugs)))

[William Haskins]

a very sweet post, unique.

despite my sometimes cryptic comments on these types of things, i'm never at a loss for ideas. i do wander the lonely desert of execution, though, but i know that's part of the process - the infinite possibilities of the blank page and the sheer terror of committing to one single idea with the hope that it will be coherent, incisive and perhaps even entertaining.

given the short turnaround time, there isn't a bunch of days to toy with it, to set it aside while you grow fresh eyes, to reexamine alternate paths from the same genesis or to the same conclusion.

it is, at the end of the day, a leap of faith.

and one that will be silently judged by over a hundred writers with over a hundred ideas of what constitutes a compelling piece, and over a hundred ideas of how they would have done it.

these are the variables that a piece will face, once completed. and i've found it's best not to think about them during the creative stage.

overall, it's a hell of a lot of fun, and i'm glad i've been fortunate enough to make it this far. i don't truly see the theme of hope as any more daunting than dredging up childhood memories or having the opening sentence mandated, or any of the other challenges we've encountered in the assignments.

ultimately, it's just writing...

[firehorse]

Well said, William. Gee, has anyone ever told you that you should be a writer? (I would put a wink here, but I know how you loathe smileys)

I often have an abundance of ideas but no clue which one to run with. I can't change horses in mid-stream, so if it turns out my initial idea is crap, I just have to find the pony in it (the theme of today's cliches is: equine).

For a couple of rounds, I became disciplined and was able to write a first draft that was close to the word count, rather than my usual "vomit up the entire dictionary and sculpt something out of it" process. This week... well, pass the Dramamine. My rough draft is 4000 words.

And that's where I stand - or sit, rather - at the moment.

[mommie4a]

I can't speak for all who vote, but I'm certain many of us who've done so regularly empathize with the constraints under which you operate since most of us are, after all, also writers who've faced the blank page.

I thank each of you for running that gauntlet, in addition to your regular lives, for our enrichment, enjoyment and inspiration. It's impossible for you to know the ripple effects of your entries, but I know for me, it's made me start writing in genres I never, never, never thought I'd ever try. And who knows, maybe I'll even start reading horror soon.

[maestrowork]

And who knows, maybe I'll even start reading horror soon. Not over my mangled, twisted, rotting dead body.

[mommie4a]

You got it!!! Now, no matter what the theme for Week 6, I will write horror! And it won't be pretty.

[firehorse]

Hmm... I haven't killed anybody since week 3, I think. ;) If I make it through, maybe I'll try that.

One of the difficult things for me is that, as the contest progresses, I'm more inclined to play it safe and write what I know I can do well.

In improv classes, one of the games is to do a scene (or monologue) against type. It would be interesting if Jenna gave each of us a different assignment, something totally foreign to the individual writer (though I don't think there's anything Haskins can't write). I think mine would be a rhyming horror poem (Darla wrote an exceptional one for her audition).

skc

[William Haskins]

Well said, William. Gee, has anyone ever told you that you should be a writer?


no, but i often get the opposite.

[Unique]

no, but i often get the opposite.


Liar, liar, pants on fire.....

[Kevin Yarbrough]

When I thought of this week's theme, I thought of West Side Story. Carnage? You bet. Tragic? You bet. But there is hope at the end.

Hope? Jenna, you are a wicked, wicked, woman. But there is hope for you yet.

Is there hope out there in the cruel, devious world? No!! With Rhush out of the contest all the hope is gone. What is left then, you sick, twisted man? You may ask. And I will reply: There are still great writers left and the world will go on but Rhush was a breath of rotting air that blew up from the bowels of the darkness. And I loved it. She made me see that women can be as demented as I. A dark, lovely skeleton that you keep dressed in the closet only to take out and play with on special occasions. In other words, Rhush was hope. Hope that there are still great horror writers out there and that we can be heard. Heard like a freight train coming down the tracks. That we can be felt. Felt like syphilis after a few nights in a bad red light district.

A rocker lost American Idol. A horror writer lost Absolute Idol. Is there hope? I don't know, I'm to depressed to think about it. Where are my smokes, bottle of Jack, and my straight razor? Damn, I misplaced them.

(The other writers in the contest are all awesome, but the house was built to small. Where did that come from? Damn Geico commericals. Rhush was just my fav. I will get over it and vote again....eventually.)

[firehorse]

I will get over it and vote again....eventually.)I know I'm not a horror writer, but there's a pancreas in it for your vote ;) - hell, I'll even track down the guy who got Surfer Dude's kidney and get it back for you.

[DJP]

I think mine would be a rhyming horror poem (Darla wrote an exceptional one for her audition).




Thanks firehorse. I'm afraid I've run into a few problems this week. My computer died. I emailed a piece to my Mom to check out, so now I'm going to get it from her and just go with that. I don't think I would've done anything differently anyway, but I'm getting more nervous as the contest goes on. You guys are all great! So, here I sit at the local library while my kids run through the aisles. I don't know when I'll be able to check back. Good luck to all, I'll find a way to read everything and vote when the time comes.

[sgtsdaughter]

Hey finalists!

DJP posted (yeeee haw!), now where's the rest . . .

Actually, I know . . . the peanut gallery of me needs to shut up. But, here's some suggestions for ya.

DJP since you already got yours in I can't taunt you . . . wait until next week, then I just might.

I already told Firehorse to write a story based on the hope that an old condom won't break.

Zach could continue last week's theme and use the hope of getting that "first time. "

Blue: Hope that you will see, feel, and fully experience a ghost tonight (you know, when they crawl inside of you).

And JdK . . . hummm. I honestly can't think of a wacky one for you. So, I'll venture to saying the hope of everyday life. You know, when the editor pulls your story, you hope that his tires go flat. When another editor "forgets" to pay you, you hope he gets an incurable computer virus . . . there, kinda funny. More vindictive though.

William . . . the hope of scoring that first kill--or in your world the 100th.

Yes, I'm nutty . . . taking a break from a far more laborsome project. You guys got the humor.

Good luck, and have do try to fun with the assignment . . .

[firehorse]

At least we all have equally crazy lives this week.

[sgtsdaughter]

Yup, that at least puts all of you on an equal footing. And the theme of hope during a crazed weak--now there's irony at its finest.

[BlueTexas]

Hey finalists!


Blue: Hope that you will see, feel, and fully experience a ghost tonight (you know, when they crawl inside of you).

Good luck, and have do try to fun with the assignment . . .

ACK! You WANT me to get possesed?

How thoughtful of you ;)

[William Haskins]

William . . . the hope of scoring that first kill--or in your world the 100th. ah, yes... the velvet-wet comfort of blood on my hands.

[Kevin Yarbrough]

ACK! You WANT me to get possesed?

How thoughtful of you ;)
Kira, need some help getting possesed? I'm available. I will bring my own sheets and chains. I hear I can moan pretty good too.

Whoooooooooo

To quote a good movie, Repossesed.

Father MayI: Lady, could you please pull your dress down.

Lady: Sure Father MayI.

Boing!

[Kevin Yarbrough]

Not over my mangled, twisted, rotting dead body.
Ray, Ray, Ray. If you don't like horror that can be arranged, my friend. I'm sure William will do it.

[firehorse]

The Canucks have posted! Now I can get two hours' sleep before heading to my niece's wedding.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

[William Haskins]

congratulations on finishing and posting a great little piece, sarah.

very interesting work.

[BlueTexas]

I'm afraid I'll be posting down to the wire this time. We just finished installing a new floor, due to a complete carpet disaster yesterday. Ever ripped out a carpet at 9PM? Not fun. Even less fun in finding the cracked and broken asbestos-ridden linoleum tiles from 1968 underneath, and shopping at Lowe's for a floor at 10PM.

Even less fun is having to work in the stirred up muck when you're allergic to every particle that ever flew in the air...sigh...wish me luck in getting something passable written.

[mommie4a]

Ooo- good luck Kira. Would send you a little blue paper mask if I could.

[jdkiggins]

I managed to get something up. Hope you make it in time Zach. :)
Kira, good luck getting time to write in between the remodeling. William, hope you found enough verbs and good adjectives to include in your piece. (hugs)
Good luck to the rest of you. Now I can go read DJP's and Firehorse's entries.

[sgtsdaughter]

This is my plea for William and Zach . . . please don't make me cry too! Sh!t.

Anywho, good reads so far. I won't torment the two of you since I already posted my "fun-filled" story ideas.

A.

[Rhush]

I just want to say right here and now that I'm not paying Kevin but I certainly should! Thanks man! When you said "Rhush was a breath of rotting air that blew up from the bowels of the darkness. And I loved it. She made me see that women can be as demented as I."...wow. What a compliment! I think.... Just kidding! Thanks. I'm sending you the very first "Read the Rhush" (front) "Parental Advisary" (back) T-shirt. Now where did I put those puffy paints and stencils?

Oh, and never fear Kevin. My fantasy novel has a twist of horror and the bloodiest battle scenes around. No doe eyed unicorns or happy little elfs in my book!

[DJP]

Hey, my computer's back and running like new. I'm happy to be back on the boards, but sad to see Zach didn't post. Everyone did great this week with their entries, crazy lives and all. I have to spread some rep points around, so I'm saying here 'Good job and good luck' to all the other contestants.

[MacAllister]

I was sad to see that Zach didn't post, too. Will's story blew me out of the water, though--sort of 1984, but even nastier...yet still clinging tenuously to the stated theme, and incorporating the self-reflexive interior sketch of the protag-as-writer...

It should/could have been really dreadful and inspired only eye-rolling, but by damn the guy pulled it off! Salut, Haskins!

[BlueTexas]

I was sad to see that Zach didn't post, too. Will's story blew me out of the water, though--sort of 1984, but even nastier...yet still clinging tenuously to the stated theme, and incorporating the self-reflexive interior sketch of the protag-as-writer...

It should/could have been really dreadful and inspired only eye-rolling, but by damn the guy pulled it off! Salut, Haskins!

His was a pretty damn amazing entry.

[brinkett]

For the first time, I don't know which story to vote for and will have to read several of them again. Usually a story jumps out at me, but this week, none have. Some missed the theme, IMO, so I can eliminate those. There isn't a clear front runner for me in the ones remaining behind. Some of the stories, while inspiring, didn't leave me with a feeling of hope, a requirement stated in the guidelines. A couple of stories in the "Just for Fun" thread captured the theme much better. It's going to be tough...

I guess this'll all be moot if Jenna decides Zach is eliminated and we don't vote this week...

[MacAllister]

Actually, a contestant did miss the first week--and we voted anyway. So there is precedent.

[brinkett]

Yes, which is why I suspect we'll be voting no matter what happens.

[JennaGlatzer]

You're right. I'm evil like that.

[William Haskins]

welcome home, jenna. the kids missed you.

we're out of cereal and chocolate milk, and i think ray was lighting rolls of toilet paper.

[Kevin Yarbrough]

I just want to say right here and now that I'm not paying Kevin but I certainly should! Thanks man! When you said "Rhush was a breath of rotting air that blew up from the bowels of the darkness. And I loved it. She made me see that women can be as demented as I."...wow. What a compliment! I think.... Just kidding! Thanks. I'm sending you the very first "Read the Rhush" (front) "Parental Advisary" (back) T-shirt. Now where did I put those puffy paints and stencils?

Oh, and never fear Kevin. My fantasy novel has a twist of horror and the bloodiest battle scenes around. No doe eyed unicorns or happy little elfs in my book!
Thank God! Becuase if I read about a happy unicorn frolicking among the roses with a big grinned elf I might have to make a road trip, Becky.

[Rhush]

Happy unicorns.....? Me? Never! Just the thought makes my eyes roll so far back that I get sick!