What next: Contest? Collaboration?

Ambrosia · Jan 7, 2012

Blarg said:
<snip>

If so, or if not, you can always host and/or donate to another contest, maybe even your own. I'll even help you get started. It looks like one of my prizes was not chosen. It, or its rough cost equivalent, will be rolled over into the next contest.

I hope we continue to have fun with these contests in the future. I'm crossing my fingers we won't have to wait too long!

I, for one, think we shouldn't wait too long. Is February too soon?

And since (for personal reasons) I am in no mood to write anything at the moment, I would be glad to have something to do to keep me occupied. I offer to host the next contest, if someone will be kind enough to supply the information on how to proceed with it.

Poets, let me know what you think.

CDSinex · Jan 7, 2012

Great! I'll offer a book as a prize for your contest, Patty.

The other day I was wondering how hard it could be to track and tally votes, so I wrote an Excel spreadsheet. If you have access to Excel, and would like to try it, I'll send it to you. It's pretty neat (even if I do say so myself.

)

kdnxdr · Jan 7, 2012

Hello? Is there a mod in the house?

Maybe we could break this conversation out into it's own thead?

A February contest is a great idea. Thank you for offering to host, Ambrosia. You're a braver soul than I.

We've had some really great February contests in the past, often taking a different slant on the traditional February themes.

I honestly didn't give a great effort the last go around, not that I would have any better boing in doing so. I just felt a little guilty that I did it half hearted.

I know how it is when it seems your life's issues seems to sap the inspiration right out of you. Writing seems like going to the gym sometimes.

ajc · Jan 8, 2012

I'm in for a February contest.

thehairymob · Jan 8, 2012

I will keep my ears open to the theme before I see if I can come up with something suitable. I am interested though as I enjoyed Blarg's contest very much.

kborsden · Jan 8, 2012

I'm in for a February contest.

Steppe · Jan 9, 2012

February is winter, winter and then winter. Some places it snows and blows, some it rains and in some places you can't tell the difference between seasons until you've lived there all your life. Hard to get away from weather for poems in February.

mccardey · Jan 9, 2012

Steppe said:
February is winter, winter and then winter. .

Not here, it ain't ... :tongue

ETA: But I won't be entering - just voting. And by February I'll be very happy to be reading poems about Winter.

poetinahat · Jan 9, 2012

I'd like to do a cooperative/collective project again, along the lines of Absolute Poetry, Blue Rock, and The Gunfighter Hollis Brown. But there's no reason we can't do both.

Patty, your offer is very generous. Let me know if you'd like to talk about it (not that you need to talk to me, but I'm here).

Magdalen · Jan 9, 2012

poetinahat said:
I'd like to do a cooperative/collective project again, along the lines of Absolute Poetry, Blue Rock, and The Gunfighter Hollis Brown. But there's no reason we can't do both.

Jolly-good idea there, mate! I recall a collective Christmas story once in OP, I think, and character/theme-driven collaboratives are great fun when everyone gives a little bit. I'd be up for something like that, over the long-range or until December, whichever comes first!

Fallen · Jan 10, 2012

I'd love a february one....

How about a photo-themed comp...? Even a photo-knockout themed one?

Poets are split into so many groups of two, each group given a pic (each photo themed differently), and best poem moves on to the next stage (you get quarter finals, semi-finals etc)...

But a lot to work out on the organization side, and it would cover a longer period (but a good way to test poets).

Ambrosia · Jan 10, 2012

Rob, I will be in contact with you later today or tomorrow. Thank you very much.

Rob, Kid suggested we split off this discussion to a new thread. What do you think? If so, whisk away.

HarryHoskins · Jan 10, 2012

I'm in for a February comp. I also agree the threads should be split, as I think Blarg should be posting the full results of the Zipcode comp today and things could get a little confuzzled.

Ambrosia · Jan 11, 2012

I believe we have enough interest in a February contest to pull it off. So I am going to go ahead and host it.

Blarg offered to roll his prize that wasn't chosen forward to the next contest, so that is one prize. (I will confirm with Blarg his intent is still the same.) David (CDSinex) offered a book for another prize. So we need one more prize.

I want to talk to Rob and I will get back with everyone about the contest. Thanks, guys!

kdnxdr · Jan 11, 2012

Yeah!!!!

And, if any modtypes are out there that want to lead us in a collaborative, all the more better!!

kdnxdr · Jan 11, 2012

Don't know if all the newer folks know it but the previous collectives are, in fact, for sale, and they turned out smashing. Poetinahat could direct you how to purchase if interested.

DL Hegel · Jan 11, 2012

kdnxdr said:
Hello? Is there a mod in the house?

Maybe we could break this conversation out into it's own thead?

A February contest is a great idea. Thank you for offering to host, Ambrosia. You're a braver soul than I.

We've had some really great February contests in the past, often taking a different slant on the traditional February themes.
I honestly didn't give a great effort the last go around, not that I would have any better boing in doing so. I just felt a little guilty that I did it half hearted.

I know how it is when it seems your life's issues seems to sap the inspiration right out of you. Writing seems like going to the gym sometimes.

I was acually posting some of these in the horror section as inspiration.

Blarg · Jan 11, 2012

February holds Valentine's Day deep within it's bosom ... there's a good theme or two in that, if it appeals.

Ambrosia · Jan 11, 2012

kdnxdr said:
And, if any modtypes are out there that want to lead us in a collaborative, all the more better!!

I don't see why we couldn't do both.

But, then again, I am optimistic like that. :tongue

kdnxdr · Jan 12, 2012

If anyone hasn't seen the Hollis Brown collection, you should check out the artwork/cover, it's fantastic, and the collection rocks, as well!

Ambrosia · Jan 12, 2012

DL Hegel said:
I was acually posting some of these in the horror section as inspiration.

Nice.

poetinahat · Jan 12, 2012

kdnxdr said:
And, if any modtypes are out there that want to lead us in a collaborative, all the more better!!

Ambrosia said:
I don't see why we couldn't do both.

But, then again, I am optimistic like that.

I'm going on two weeks' leave after today, so I'd love to start looking into it in a fortnight. I'll start a thread about it, and you can post there or PM me if you're keen.

dobiwon · Jan 12, 2012

kdnxdr said:
Don't know if all the newer folks know it but the previous collectives are, in fact, for sale, and they turned out smashing. Poetinahat could direct you how to purchase if interested.

The links to the Absolute Poetry and Hollis Brown books are in my signature below (you can ignore the link to my own book --or not--

)

poetinahat · Feb 13, 2012

Okay, so here's a thought. We've done collaborations around the town of Blue Rock, and around the antihero Hollis Brown.

This time, the focus could be a family - define the members, give them names, a location and a very general context - for example, two parents and a child or two, in a fishing village, maybe.

That leaves us to explore the past, present and future, and their household, community, history and descendants - anything.

We found before that people build poems on the other poems too, and things take off.

Who'd be interested?

kborsden · Feb 14, 2012

I'm interested, Rob -- very much so, but I don't think the focus should be the immediate family as I think/feel that could run dry very quickly and/or even become prone to continuity issues when several voices enter the equation. Perhaps, in keeping with your theme, a family tree or line of descendants from one family would be better suited to a collaborative project as this way there is no danger of any particular character becoming strangely-developed or confused... also, with past characters they do offer new paths of inspiration when creating new ones.

What next: Contest? Collaboration?

Grand Duchess

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Has a few recurring issues

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One of the most important people in the world

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Has a few recurring issues