August Prompt 2011

LaurieD · Aug 2, 2011

For August, let's talk monsters.

We know 'em, we love 'em, we leave the nightlight on at night so we can see 'em before they see us in the dark.

So, tell us a story about the unexpected monster.

Tell us about the rampaging psychotic who's actually the hero of your tale.

Tell us about the sweet, calm, everybody-loves-her lady who's truly a screaming homicidal nutjob.

Or about any creature anywhere in between - but keep the unexpected in mind. Lure us along with a nice sweet monster song, then, just when we think we know what's going on, change the tune and knock us down.

3000 word limit.

When you've finished and have it up in SYW, pm me the link and I'll add it to this first post so we can find your tale easy peasy.

FINISHED AND READY FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS IN SYW:
The Shepherd by Burnt Flesh
Untitled by Other

DL Hegel · Aug 2, 2011

Awesome prompt Laurie, can't wait to read the stories that come from this one.

Debbie · Aug 3, 2011

Ooo, nice. Me likee.

Looking for the part where it says 'goofy and predictable'.
Guess i'll slide that particular short back under the monkey barrel.

Once again you're all saved.

LaurieD · Aug 10, 2011

*pulls the dusty sheets off the furniture, flops in comfy chair*

Anybody in?

Other · Aug 10, 2011

I finished the first draft of my take on Tuesday. Now to see if I can finish all the needed rewrites before the end of August...

LaurieD · Aug 10, 2011

Awesome!

parumpdragon · Aug 10, 2011

Cool, hmm... a twist huh. I will have to think on that one.

Burnt Flesh · Aug 12, 2011

I'm just finishing the last few paragraphs before heading back to do my rewrites. This has been an enjoyable prompt to work with and I’m looking forward to sharing my story (and my twist at the end). One small problem though; I don’t have 50 posts… yet. I guess I’d better get busy.

Burnt Flesh · Aug 13, 2011

Holy Fudge! I actually did it. My first draft is in the bag at a mere 3800 words. And it only took me till 12:52 am to do it. I am going to be so bagged tomorrow, but seeing as this is the first story that I've ever written, I'm sure the exhaustion that I'll be experiencing tomorrow will feel a little like 'victory'.

Can't wait to start editing...

LaurieD · Aug 13, 2011

Awesome Burnt! Congrats!!!

:snoopy:

Good luck with your edits!

Can't wait to read it in SYW.

Burnt Flesh · Aug 13, 2011

Thank you Laurie. By the time I'm done I'm hoping the floor by my desk in the den will look like the remainders of a slaughter house at quitting time. I plan on ruthelessly hacking at least 800 words out of this beast. Ideally I'd like to trim 1000.

Wish me luck!

Burnt Flesh · Aug 14, 2011

I've been hacking away and I've lowered my word count from 3884 to 3248. It's now time to put away the chainsaw and go to work with my scalpel. I will get this manuscript down to 3000 words. And I know it will be better for it (even if only for the fact that I can then post it in SYW for this month’s prompt and have my distinguished AW peers go over it with their own power tools).

Ok, 248 words to go… I can do this.

Burnt Flesh · Aug 15, 2011

The Shepherd - 2834 words

My story ‘The Shepherd’ using the August writing prompt has been posted in SYW and can be found here.

It weighs in at 2834 words. I didn’t think I’d be able to find 1050 words to chop but it seems they were there.

As this is the first short story that I’ve ever written (and therefore shared with anyone) I’m feeling the overwhelming need to go and throw up. Hopefully I won’t do this while I’m in bed with my wife – she finds my hobby rather annoying already and a bed full of vomit probably won’t help matters.

Anyhow, please feel free to have a read and share any constructive criticism and insight that you’d care to offer. I look forward to your feedback, and the chance to see what the rest of you have done with this month’s prompt.

All the best…

Ian

toldyouso · Aug 18, 2011

I'm really curious to try this one. I've been wanting to write something a little dark again, this may be the best excuse. Even if I don't get it finished, I look forward to reading everyone's work.

LaurieD · Aug 27, 2011

Just a few days left until Greg rolls out a new prompt for September!

(a prompt story can always be posted in SYW anytime, even once its month has passed. If you finish one for August's prompt, feel free to email the SYW link to me and I'll still past it to this thread's first page.)

Good luck to anyone with one in the works!

Other · Aug 30, 2011

I am almost done with edit #5 of my prompt story. I'm spending the next two days chained to my desk in the hope I'll finish it in time!

Debbie · Aug 31, 2011

LaurieD said:
For August, let's talk monsters.

We know 'em, we love 'em, we leave the nightlight on at night so we can see 'em before they see us in the dark.

So, tell us a story about the unexpected monster.

Tell us about the rampaging psychotic who's actually the hero of your tale.

Tell us about the sweet, calm, everybody-loves-her lady who's truly a screaming homicidal nutjob.

Or about any creature anywhere in between - but keep the unexpected in mind. Lure us along with a nice sweet monster song, then, just when we think we know what's going on, change the tune and knock us down.

3000 word limit.

When you've finished and have it up in SYW, pm me the link and I'll add it to this first post so we can find your tale easy peasy.

FINISHED AND READY FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS IN SYW:
The Shepherd by Burnt Flesh

I have the bold part but nothing else in these specs.
Should the thread read Aug Prompt or is it not enough?

DL Hegel · Aug 31, 2011

Debbie said:
I have the bold part but nothing else in these specs.
Should the thread read Aug Prompt or is it not enough?

If you don't have a title for your story, you can simply put untitled and August prompt.

Other · Sep 1, 2011

I finished mine. It is under my name in SYW. Look forward to crits!

DL Hegel · Sep 1, 2011

Hi Other. Please post a link to your prompt story, you'll get more crits.

Other · Sep 1, 2011

Here is a link to my story: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=223683

LaurieD · Sep 4, 2011

My phone won't let me add your link to the first post but I'll log on via my computer tomorrow and take care of that for you, Other. Sorry I haven't been around to see your posts here.

TedTheewen · Sep 27, 2011

Better late than never. Here's my subbie.

August Prompt 2011

LaurieD

aka Skwirrel

DL Hegel

Tigress Tyrant

Debbie

conducting hijinks

LaurieD

aka Skwirrel

Other

LaurieD

aka Skwirrel

parumpdragon

I sometimes hiccup fire

Burnt Flesh

Burnt Flesh

LaurieD

aka Skwirrel

Burnt Flesh

Burnt Flesh

Burnt Flesh

toldyouso

Surly Temple

LaurieD

aka Skwirrel

Other

Debbie

conducting hijinks

DL Hegel

Tigress Tyrant

Other

DL Hegel

Tigress Tyrant

Other

LaurieD

aka Skwirrel

TedTheewen

AW's Most Adorable Sociopath