AWI Finals Dealio and Discussion Thread

[William Haskins]

hey all,

i've seen a couple of posts around expressing some confusion about how everything's shaking out for the final round, so i thought i'd make a post, on behalf of sarah and myself, just to clarify the situation and allow for any discussion.

so, after an open call for prompts from the community, jenna asked sarah and i to choose our two favorites. these turned out to be:

sarah:

- Write the sequel to a fairy tale. (suggested by Kid Adelyne); and

- Create an entry using the stream of consciousness style. (suggested by Birol)

william:

- A random act of kindness has disastrous consequences. (suggested by Cassie88); and

- Write a story with a conversation between a writer from the past and a modern day author. (suggested by rhymegirl)

we were then instructed to select one of the prompts from our own choices and one of the prompts chosen by our opponent to create 2 pieces each by july 12.

i think that's pretty much it.

-william

[Sarita]

Um, William? I think you forgot one necessary step.

once it's narrowed to 2 final contestants, can we have them fight to the death on a live webcast? you know, throwing typewriters, poking each other with pencils, spraying ink cartridges in each other's eyes? that's entertainment.

http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=139496#post139496

[firehorse]

I've got a good arm, but I don't think I can throw anything all the way to Texas.

[KTC]

I think plane tickets should be supplied for airport typewriter throwing. It only seems reasonable, no?

[mommie4a]

we were then instructed to select one of the prompts from our own choices and one of the prompts chosen by our opponent to create 2 pieces each by july 12.

i think that's pretty much it.

-william

William - is the second one from one of the two you chose yourself, or from all the other prompts listed by everyone else?

[firehorse]

William and I each have to write one story based on a prompt we chose and one story based on a prompt the other person chose - so it's like a final exam: pick two out of the following four...

[William Haskins]

i pick one from my two choices, and one from sarah's two choices. she does likewise.

[mommie4a]

Glad you both know what you're doing. (smiley)

[William Haskins]

Glad you both know what you're doing.

speaking only for myself, of course... i wouldn't go that far.

[maestrowork]

You guys forgot the swimsuit competition.

[Sarita]

You guys forgot the swimsuit competition.
Oooo, I can't wait for that part! Haskins will have to put those stillettos back on! Are we doing an evening wear competition? (sarah, I have a hot little backless number you could borrow ;))

[mommie4a]

Do you both want to bring about world peace?

[Birol]

If William wants my vote, he'd be wise to wear slacks or shave his legs. Nothing worse than a man with hairy legs in an evening gown. It just ruins the whole look. Though a double-breasted suit certainly is sexy.

[Sarita]

Though a double-breasted suit certainly is sexy. You know what's even better? Those single breasted three-four button suits. They button up a bit higher than the double breasted variety and look really good on a tall guy.

[rhymegirl]

If William wants my vote, he'd be wise to wear slacks or shave his legs. Nothing worse than a man with hairy legs in an evening gown. It just ruins the whole look.

:ROFL: :ROFL:

[mommie4a]

Do you both want to bring about world peace?

I would just like to add a small incentive: if you have the solution that will bring about world peace, and can implement it successfully, I don't care WHAT you look like in a bathing suit, what your other talents are or whether you stumble and skin your knees in 5" Jimmy Choo stilletos.

[maestrowork]

You know what's even better? Those single breasted three-four button suits. They button up a bit higher than the double breasted variety and look really good on a tall guy.

I love those, especially the Euro/British cut.

Ahem on the hairy legs-evening gown comment... nothing kills my fantasy faster that way. :D

Just one suggestion for Sarah and Haskins on the swimsuit competition: no stuffing the suits.

Jill: World Peace. Really. I'd like to live long enough to see that...

[poetinahat]

Just one suggestion for Sarah and Haskins on the swimsuit competition: no stuffing the suits.

Reminds me of a joke. Punchline: "Buddy, it only works if you put the potato in front."

[William Haskins]

i can't decide which prompts to use. i tried to flip a quarter to decide and it hit me in my eye.

now i only have one good eye and i can't find my quarter.

[rhymegirl]

You better get writing, William. Tick tock, tick tock.

[William Haskins]

my eye hurts.

[Sarita]

i can't decide which prompts to use. You know, some of the actual fairy tales (not the disney versions) are quite dark.

[William Haskins]

oh yes, i know. i've been perusing (http://www.fln.vcu.edu/grimm/grimm_menu.html)them for days.

they crack me up.

[DJP]

Our exchange student from Denmark gave us some books by Hans Christian Andersen. There are more tales in there than I've ever heard before. One of my favorites is called 'What the Old Man Does Is Always Right'. If anybody would like to see it, let me know.

[maestrowork]

Just close your eyes, open up a Grimm Brothers', and point. Almost all their stories are really dark -- nothing Disney-like.

[Unique]

Just close your eyes, open up a Grimm Brothers', and point. Almost all their stories are really dark -- nothing Disney-like.


Isn't that why they're called 'Grimm'? oops, my mistake.

[William Haskins]

one of my eyes is already closed.

[rhymegirl]

Of course, in some of these fairy tales, the main character gets eaten or killed doesn't he/she? Don't Hansel and Gretel end up in the oven? Doesn't Little Red Riding Hood get eaten by the wolf? Hard to do a sequel when your main character has been gobbled up.

[William Haskins]

red riding hood was cut from the belly of the wolf and went on the live a long and productive life.

[Sarita]

went on the live a long and productive life.Or did she? How will we ever know, without someone writing it?

[William Haskins]

damn you sara

[Unique]

Ya'll better go check Paint's story in JFF.
And stay out of her brain!
Unless, of course, you're making a delivery.

[Sarita]

damn you saraHell found me. I've been damned by the Devil himself.

[maestrowork]

wolf: i'm gonna eat you

she took off all her clothes and lay on the bed.

red riding hood: now?

[rhymegirl]

Or did she? How will we ever know, without someone writing it?

Or perhaps she decides to write an account of her near-death experience. CUT FROM THE BELLY OF A WOLF by L. R. Riding Hood.

[Sarita]

The prompt was - Write the sequel to a fairy tale. Ray! Not: -Write a dirty fairy tale.

[rhymegirl]

wolf: i'm gonna eat you

she took off all her clothes and lay on the bed.

red riding hood: now?

This sounds like an x-rated sequel.

[firehorse]

Or did she? How will we ever know, without someone writing it?Sara, you of all people must've seen Into the Woods!

[rhymegirl]

The prompt was - Write the sequel to a fairy tale. Ray! Not: -Write a dirty fairy tale.

But ya know, Sara, that might have been a good one, too. Write a dirty fairy tale. Maybe we would get more voters this time.

[TemlynWriting]

Sara, you of all people must've seen Into the Woods!

Oooh..."Into the Woods!" One of my favorite musicals! I played Little Red in a high school production of various Broadway numbers.

"...And he showed me things
Many beautiful things,
That I hadn't thought to explore.
They were off my path,
So I never had dared.
I had been so careful,
I never had cared.
And he made me feel excited-
Well, excited and scared.

When he said, "Come in!"
With that sickening grin,
How could I know what was in store?
Once his teeth were bared,
Though, I really got scared-
Well, excited and scared-
But he drew me close
And he swallowed me down,
Down a dark slimy path
Where lie secrets that I never want to know..."

(From "I Know Things Now")

[astonwest]

But ya know, Sara, that might have been a good one, too. Write a dirty fairy tale. Maybe we would get more voters this time.

Probably not...everyone would keep reading them over and over, and the deadline for voting would pass...

[mkcbunny]

Of course, in some of these fairy tales, the main character gets eaten or killed doesn't he/she? Don't Hansel and Gretel end up in the oven? Doesn't Little Red Riding Hood get eaten by the wolf? Hard to do a sequel when your main character has been gobbled up.

Hansel is fattened for gobbling by the witch, but Gretel ends up stuffing the witch into the oven. They leave her to burn, then rob her house, and then they find their way back home to the father who abandoned them in the woods. And then they lived happily ever after.

[MacAllister]

Hansel is fattened for gobbling by the witch, but Gretel ends up stuffing the witch into the oven. They leave her to burn, then rob her house, and then they find their way back home to the father who abandoned them in the woods. And then they lived happily ever after. ...what a charming little fable, that. http://www.ezboard.com/image/posticons/pi_freak.gif

[maestrowork]

Or Cinderella's sister who saw off her feet so she can fit her bloody stump in the glass slipper...

thos grimms are some sick MFs.

[poetinahat]

I wanted to see the catfight between Cinderella and Snow White when they found out that Prince Charming was two-timing them.

[MacAllister]

I know, Ray--horrible, aren't they. :) I had a big book of the originals when I was a kid--harder and harder to find them now.

Does anyone remember the one with the talking horse-head, hung over the gates to the castle? I think the horse's name started with an "F"...Fedulah, or something...

arrrghghghg! Now it's gonna make me crazy.
-----------------------------
edited to add:

Falada! The horse is Falada! The story is the Goose Girl

8. Horse: Horses are intelligent, strong animals highly valued and sometimes worshipped in numerous cultures. Horses are often considered lucky in folklore.
Return to place in story. (http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/goosegirl/index.html#EIGHTRET)

9. Falada: Bettelheim conjectures that the name Falada is "derived from the name of Roland's horse, which in the Chanson de Roland is called Valantin, Valantis, Valatin, etc." (Betteleheim 1975, 317). Bettelheim probably found this theory elsewhere, but does not cite a source. You can read an online version of the Song of Roland (http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/OMACL/Roland/) at Berkeley University's Online Medieval and Classical Library (http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/OMACL/).

The name Falada has become well associated with this tale, however, and almost as easily identifies the story as the Goose Girl herself.
Return to place in story. (http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/goosegirl/index.html#NINERET)

10. Could speak: Animals with the ability to speak, and sometimes perform other human-like functions, are fairly common in fairy tales. The speaking animal is not usually surprising to the protagonist of the tale, but accepted as a common occurence despite the inability of other animals in the tale to speak. Another popular occurence of a talking animal helper is the cat in Puss in Boots (http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/pussboots/index.html). This particular horse is the princess/goose girl's only friend, and it gets its head cut off.

I'd think William would LIKE fairy tales a bit more...

[William Haskins]

http://www.fln.vcu.edu/grimm/gans_e.html

[MacAllister]

Ah! you beat me to it, Will.

[mkcbunny]

Does anyone remember the one with the talking horse-head, hung over the gates to the castle? I think the horse's name started with an "F"...Fedulah, or something...
This is giving me creepy flashbacks. It must be tucked away somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind.

[mkcbunny]

http://www.fln.vcu.edu/grimm/gans_e.html
Oh, this part is especially delightful:

""She deserves no better fate than to be stripped entirely naked, and put in a barrel which is studded inside with pointed nails, and two white horses should be harnessed to it, which will drag her along through one street after another, till she is dead."

[William Haskins]

Ah! you beat me to it, Will.

anything i can do to help stave off insanity...

[firehorse]

thos grimms are some sick MFs.Coming next month, Matt Damon and Heath Ledger play those sick MFs in Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0355295/combined). Terry Gilliam's a cool choice (second to Tim Burton), but somehow Matt Damon makes the whole thing seem a bit... PG-13, which is its rating.

Hijack alert: what about nursery rhymes?
Ring around a rosy [refers to ring-like rashes indicative of plague]
Pocket full of posey [to hold against one's nose to cover the smell of dead bodies]
Ashes, ashes [as in mass cremation during the plague]
We all fall down [dead]

[astonwest]

...but Gretel ends up stuffing the witch...

I thought we weren't going down the dirty fairy tales lane...

[poetinahat]

Ashes, ashes [as in mass cremation during the plague]


Over here, the line is
A-tissue, A-tissue [sound of sneezing, as though you've caught the disease]

Don't know which is more ghoulish....

[Sarita]

Ring around a rosy [refers to ring-like rashes indicative of plague] well....

http://www.snopes.com/language/literary/rosie.htm

Sarah, I haven't seen Into the Woods. Would love to.

[firehorse]

Oh dear.

Reminds me of an article I read once, "Deconstructing Madonna", in which the author - who wrote an entire dissertation on the topic - asserted that "Material Girl" was a coded reference to toilet training.

[maestrowork]

well....

http://www.snopes.com/language/literary/rosie.htm

Sarah, I haven't seen Into the Woods. Would love to.

Into the Woods is one of the funniest, scariest, best written musicals. The second act is wicked.

[firehorse]

The second act is wicked.I thought Wicked was the musical edged out by Avenue Q last year :tongue

Gregory Maguire's novel (on which the musical is based) is stunning. I wish I could write like that.

Avenue Q (http://www.avenueq.com) , the X-rated Muppet Show.

Into the Woods has some great life lessons and insights.

[Sarita]

Gregory Maguire's novel (on which the musical is based) is stunning. I wish I could write like that. I'm reading it now. You are right. He's an amazing writer. The history is so rich. I can't wait to see the musical, it's already one of my favorite cds.

[maestrowork]

I'm not into this whole Oz thing... but I might be interested in reading the novel.

[KTC]

I'm with Ray. I've heard the W of Oz too many times in the background while my daughter was growing up...she was a 6 year old Dorothy fanatic. My wife and I almost shared a Jim Jones Daquiri once trying to escape Dorothy and her little dog. But that book sounds like something worth reading. I'm piqued.

[firehorse]

I'm not into this whole Oz thing... but I might be interested in reading the novel.Fantasy isn't my thing, either, but Maguire's writing is so exquisite I found it impossible to stop reading (at least until the bookstore kicked me out).

[mkcbunny]

When Into the Woods first came up in this thread, we were talking about Little Red Riding Hood. So, instead of thinking of the right book/musical, I was thinking of Neil Jordan's film Company of Wolves (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087075) [werewolves, Little Red, etc]. Which does relate back to the original subject but has absolutely nothing to do with Into the Woods. Once people started talking about Oz, I finally figured out what you all meant.

[mkcbunny]

... although my vote for unusual film adaptations from children's literature would probably be Dreamchild (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089052). Though Little Red RH is a fairy tale and Alice is a novel. Just had to mention it because I like it.

[William Haskins]

i think you're all nuts, but it could be that i'm projecting.

[mkcbunny]

i think you're all nuts, but it could be that i'm projecting.
Tell us something we don't know.

[VOTE_BOT]

Six days till the voting starts. It's almost bittersweet.

[rhymegirl]

Will you be hitting the talk show circuits after your job here is done?

[VOTE_BOT]

No.

[rhymegirl]

Why not? You're kind of a celebrity now, Vote Bot.

[VOTE_BOT]

Like all good celebrities, I plan to die young and beautiful.

[rhymegirl]

What can I say to that? It was fun while it lasted.

[VOTE_BOT]

You'll forever be etched in my memory card, Candy Pants.

[maestrowork]

I'm Loopy Chucklepants.

[rhymegirl]

You guys need to get more vitamins. (or something)

[astonwest]

Yup, vitamins is a much better thing to call it...
*grin*

[rhymegirl]

You'll forever be etched in my memory card, Candy Pants.


Thanks. I'm touched.

[mkcbunny]

Six days till the voting starts. It's almost bittersweet.
We expect you to go all-out for the final voting. OK, maybe I shouldn't speak for anyone else but myself.

I, I expect you to go all out. In one final blaze of glory, VOTE_BOT. For the fans. [Lighter held high above the crowd.]

[mommie4a]

You'll forever be etched in my memory card, Candy Pants.

Kathy - now I'm jealous.

[maestrowork]

Kathy - now I'm jealous.

don't be. the memory card will be burned to ashes with the rest of vb.

[mommie4a]

don't be. the memory card will be burned to ashes with the rest of vb.

Ray - I'm elevating you to hero status.

[rhymegirl]

Hey, who says Vote Bot is gonna get burned up? He has a fan club; we'll protect him.