Competition: Variations on a theme 8 (Flashfiction)

pickarooney

Version 8 of our VOAT competition will be running tomorrow, 16th February 2011. The format of this is a little different than usual and will follow the same rules as Version 3.5.

Each contestant will be given one hour to write a story (approx 500 words) based on a brief outline.

The contest will run over the course of the day, from 7 a.m. to midnight.

To enter the contest, either post on here or send me a PM indicating the time you'd like to start writing. Once you receive the outline, you will have 60 minutes to complete the story and PM it to me.

As the day goes on, writers who have finished the story will be able to send the PM of the outline when I'm not around, so keep an eye on the thread to see who's finished and if I don't get back to you straight away try PMing them. Also, Leafonthewind, who will not be entering, has kindly offered to send the PM to anyone who requests it after 6 p.m.

Once you have been given the outline, I (or the person who sent you the PM) will update this thread with your name and start/finish time.

I generally tend to be AFK completely from 12-1 p.m., from 5 to 6 p.m. and only sporadically from 6 to 10 p.m. so if at all possible try aim for an earlier time slot or CC your PM to other contestants if entering later.

*****

Mr E began writing at 07.17 a.m but failed to finish on time

Daemos began writing at 11.18 a.m and finished at 12.03 p.m.

--Kaiser-- began writing at 5.54 p.m. but failed to finish on time

EMF2012 began writing at 8.52 p.m. and finished at 9.45 p.m.

Wantobe began writing at 8.53 p.m. and finished at 9.48 p.m.

Das Kitty began writing at 9.00 p.m. and finished at 9.51 p.m.

Antilles began writing at 9.10 p.m. and finished at 10.08 p.m.

hcass began writing at 9.11 p.m. but failed to finish on time

PurpleBee began writing at 9.25 p.m. and finished at 10.24 p.m.

echo beach began writing at 9.54 p.m. and finished at 10.50 p.m.

Das Kitty

9ish-10ish please! :pac:

pickarooney

AM or PM? Confound ye with your non-specific 12-hour clock!

Mr E

I'm off work tomorrow, so might be able to do this early.
As per your OP, is 7am or 7:30am doable, Richard?

pickarooney

It honestly depends on my daughter Can you send me a PM close to 7 and if I'm there I'll send the outline back. If not, I'm making breakfast.

Mr E

Perfect, will do.

If I get it done, then I'll be free to PM the theme to anyone who requests it during the day (apart from a 2 hour window in the morning when I'll be in the car).

Antilles

Mr E wrote: »

(apart from a 2 hour window in the morning when I'll be in the car)

Pfft, get yourself a smartphone and a healthy disregard for the rules of the road!*

*Don't do this

pickarooney

We totally have to have a VOAT using dictaphones.

Das Kitty

PM

Ar maidin is off limits for me

--Kaiser--

Between 6 and 9 PM would suit me

Daemos

I'll put my name in the hat for about 7pm. Whether I'll be free at all tomorrow however is another question, so I'm basically just naming a time and hoping for the best

echo beach

I should be free from about 9.30PM

Antilles

8pm for me, just to be safe and make sure I'm home

Blush_01

Aww boo, can't do tomorrow, going straight to from work to a thing in town - will be gone before 7 and won't be back until after 12.

Can we do this quarterly?

Antilles

Anybody doing it before they go to bed after midnight?

Wantobe

9pm too please.

Mr E

Outline received @ 7:17.

pickarooney

Sorry - looked at my watch and forgot to subtract the hour and two minutes!

Mr E

Damn... not even close to finishing.
My ambition got the better of me.

PMing what I have to pickarooney now.

Mr E

The hour time limit is strict. I was 10 minutes late and my entry is void. It was incomplete anyway, so I don't feel too bad.

Good luck to everyone else - I look forward to a good read at some stage tomorrow.

Just watch that deadline!

I'll subscribe to this thread. If anyone requests the theme during the day, I can send it to them if I'm online.

seven stars

I've decided that flash fiction is probably too much of a challenge for my first short story effort. I'll wait for the next (non-flash) VOAT before giving it a shot. I'm happy to join in with the judging efforts for this one though.

pickarooney

Daemos is on the clock!

Daemos

Aaaand... submitted. It isn't going to win any awards, but it was good to stretch the story-writing muscles

pickarooney

AFK for a few hours now. Daemos, Mr E and Leafonthewind have the outline if anyone needs it.

Daemos

Well the good news is that with just over 6 hours to go, technically I'm winning

Daemos

Template sent to --Kaiser-- at 5.54pm

--Kaiser--

Feck it. Couldn't finish it in the hour. Looks like you're still ahead Daemos

Mr E

Flippin' hard, isn't it?

Antilles

I had intended to start at 8 but something's come up and I won't be around until 9. Will somebody be around to send me the prompt then?

--Kaiser--

Mr E wrote: »

Flippin' hard, isn't it?

Tis. Wasn't up to my usual high *cough cough* standards anyway

Leafonthewind

Antilles wrote: »

I had intended to start at 8 but something's come up and I won't be around until 9. Will somebody be around to send me the prompt then?

I'll be around. Just PM me when you're ready.

Das Kitty

Leafonthewind wrote: »

I'll be around. Just PM me when you're ready.

You'll be getting more than one PM around then Leaf!

PurpleBee

Is it too late for me to give this a go?

Leafonthewind

PurpleBee wrote: »

Is it too late for me to give this a go?

The contest is open until midnight. I can send you the outline when you're ready.

pickarooney

Leafonthewind wrote: »

PurpleBee wrote: »

Is it too late for me to give this a go?

The contest is open until midnight. I can send you the outline when you're ready.

I don't see any harm extending it to 2 a.m. If it suits people

Ectoplasm

Leafonthewind wrote: »

The contest is open until midnight. I can send you the outline when you're ready.

I've just sent you a PM requesting the outline, but forgot the part about posting my interest here. May not be my best effort but I'm game for giving it a go.

Wantobe

Cup of tea at hand, all set to go too...:D

pickarooney

I just realised Das Kitty is currently both VOAT and Arena champion.

Das Kitty

pickarooney wrote: »

I just realised Das Kitty is currently both VOAT and Arena champion.

I have a feeling my run is over. Just about to PM for the outline.

Leafonthewind

Outline sent to EMF2010 at 20:52.

Outline sent to Wantobe at 20:53.

pickarooney

Outline sent to wantobe. Using tablet so updating the first post is too much hassle just this minute

pickarooney

Outline sent to Das Kitty at 9.00

hcass

Hey - am I too late? Can you PM me the details at 9.30 pm?

pickarooney

Not too late but best to pm one of the others. I'm going offline soon for a bit

Antilles

Just requested the prompt from Daemos

Antilles

Daemos

Template sent to Antilles at 9.10pm

Leafonthewind

Outline sent to hcass at 21:11

pickarooney

pickarooney wrote: »

I just realised Das Kitty is currently both VOAT and Arena champion.

no pressure there DK

pickarooney

I think that's everyone updated in the OP. Let me know if I've missed any. Remember to PM me with your story when finished, regardless of who sent you the outline.

Leafonthewind

Outline sent to PurpleBee at 21:25