Variations on a Theme 15 [Magnetic 69]

Das Kitty

Hello lovelies!

With our VOAT writing period taking place from Febuary 1st -- 14th, a moderator's mind turns, of course, to shagging love.

No, I'm not making you write love stories (unless you want to).

In 1999 The Magnetic Fields released a triple album of 69 bonkers love songs, called, eh, 69 Love Songs.

I've taken just over a third of the titles (the ones I deemed to be less restrictive to a writer) and popped them into a spreadsheet.

Sign up here, and on February 1st I will allocate you a random title as an inspiration for your story. Simple as that.


What is VOAT?
An informal short story competition open to anyone with a boards account.

Here are some previous versions so you can get an idea.
13. Yuletide Yarns
11. Opening Line
10. Zappa
9. Twilight Zone

The word-count limit:
2,200

Deadline:
Midnight February 14th. But you can submit at any time up until that point.

How to Enter:
Firstly express your interest by posting below or sending me a PM and I will send you your randomly assigned prompt.

Then send the finished story to me in a PM, and I will post it on your behalf.
Don't post it on the thread yourself.

Voting:
February 15th to 28th.

Prizes:
The right to lord it over the rest of us.

Anything else?
If you're entering something, you are expected to give feedback on other entries during the voting phase. Be cool.

If you really really can't work with your prompt, come back to me for another. One change is all I'll allow though.

Das Kitty

People who've already signed up in the earlier thread. Please let me know if there's any change.

Rubecula
Mr E
Ficheall
Das Kitty*
Fuzzytrooper
echo_beach
redser7
bluewolf
trout
Brian Lighthouse
Hrududu
sheep?
Ilyana 2.0
Leafonthewind
R P McMurphy
Achilles
Digge
Arghus

*I'll take mine last, and get one of you to choose the from the remaining numbers.

Mr E

I'm still in.

I remember that album. Completely bonkers and about 40% great if I remember correctly...

redser7

I'm in, but not to be confused with redzer7 with a Z
Thanks

Brian Lighthouse

Finally get to log back in.
Yeah, still in, PM a prompt please Das Kitty, whenever you're ready.

Rubecula

Ooh a VOAT now what gave you that idea? LOL of course I am still in. Just give me the title that either everyone wants or the title NOBODY wants lol

Actually the former is too good for me the latter is best. Why? Well I am useless at these things so try not to waste a good one on me who will never do it justice anyway.

Das Kitty

This day week, everybody who signed up will be getting their randomly assigned prompt at the same time.

Apart from me, and anyone who wants to throw their hat into the ring after Monday.

echo beach

Some great titles there. Looking forward to this.

Das Kitty

I remember my first VOAT. Mainly because I'm still working on the novel that sprung from it.

Rubecula

Das Kitty wrote: »

I remember my first VOAT. Mainly because I'm still working on the novel that sprung from it.

Slow coach, you have spent far too much time with tea and biccies haven't you?

Not at all jealous you know :D:D

echo beach

Das Kitty wrote: »

I remember my first VOAT. Mainly because I'm still working on the novel that sprung from it.

And I thought we only had to write a couple of thousand words and then forget about it. That's what I'm doing wrong.:)

twignme

Unfortunately I will have to miss this one due to an unexpectedly large workload coming up over the same two weeks as the writing. I'm disappointed at not being able to take part but really looking forward to reading all the stories in due course.
Good luck guys, it looks like there will be some great prompts to get those creative juices flowing!

Leafonthewind

I'll give it a go!

redser7

(whistle whistle whistle) January sure is one loooong ass month.

Das Kitty

Soon.

Hopefully we'll have very few dropouts. A strong field. Maybe we'll publish an anthology!

echo beach

Das Kitty wrote: »

A strong field. Maybe we'll publish an anthology!

Wait until you see the offerings. You might change your mind!

Das Kitty

Prompts dispatched!

For transparency's sake. This is how I randomised.

I took the list of people, and the list of prompts, and I randomized each in the Random.org List Randomiser.

Then I put them beside each other in a spreadsheet.


So it's just me left to get a prompt.

Someone shout with a number between 15 and 30.

echo beach

24 for you DK.

ha, I have one of their songs on my ipod
good stuff

thanks

Das Kitty

echo beach wrote: »

24 for you DK.

Oh god.

I'm sure I can work with it though.

sheep?

I'm so bloody nervous about this! First time writing something since my LC. Thanks for the PM Das Kitty, will do my utmost to send you something resembling a coherent story.

Mr E

How many entrants, DK?

Das Kitty

Mr E wrote: »

How many entrants, DK?

15 out of the gate.

Das Kitty

A wild Achilles steps onto the field.

Mr E

... and Das Kitty said "Heel!"

Wrote 300 words last night. Not sure about the direction. Might start over.

Das Kitty

Mr E wrote: »

... and Das Kitty said "Heel!"

Wrote 300 words last night. Not sure about the direction. Might start over.

I've outlines on a bunch of post-its for three stories now. They're all lame. I just need to figure out which one is the lesser in lameness and write that one with actual typed words and not just scribbles with a blobby biro.

echo beach

Das Kitty wrote: »

I've outlines on a bunch of post-its for three stories now.

Such industry. You are far ahead of me I have ONE post-it, with the title.

Ilyana 2.0

Well I haven't written a dot yet. Had to let the prompt simmer away for the first day, but I think I have a rough idea now.

Ficheall

A pet hate of mine is "midnight deadlines". Is a "Sunday midnight" before or after the rest of Sunday? 23.59 or 00.01 seem much clearer. And don't get me started on "next Thursday"...

Not a criticism, DK, I just don't know when you mean

Rubecula

Just now got the title/theme Dunno what I am going to write yet. Thanks DK.

(Not been well so not been online for a few days ... sorry)

redser7

Ficheall wrote: »

A pet hate of mine is "midnight deadlines". Is a "Sunday midnight" before or after the rest of Sunday? 23.59 or 00.01 seem much clearer. And don't get me started on "next Thursday"...

Not a criticism, DK, I just don't know when you mean

Well for what it's worth I took it to mean that time of a Sunday when you say to yourself, ah crap, I have to stop drinking, I've got work in the morning.

Arghus

Are people still able to sign up to this or have I missed the cut-off point?

Das Kitty

Arghus wrote: »

Are people still able to sign up to this or have I missed the cut-off point?

Not too late.

Give me a number between 15 and 30 that isn't 23 or 24, and I'll assign you a prompt and send it to you in a PM.

The closing date for the submission of the stories by PM to me is midnight end of the day on the 15th.

Which is a Monday, because I goofed and said 15th instead of 14th.

Arghus

Das Kitty wrote: »

Not too late.

Give me a number between 15 and 30 that isn't 23 or 24, and I'll assign you a prompt and send it to you in a PM.

The closing date for the submission of the stories by PM to me is midnight end of the day on the 15th.

Which is a Monday, because I goofed and said 15th instead of 14th.

Ok Cool - 20.

Das Kitty

Send and added you to the list.

Mr E

How are people getting on? I have good story finished (first draft anyway), but I'm well under 2200 words.

I'm wary about adding unnecessary bloat just to reach a target.

I'll leave it alone for 5 days and revisit next week.

Ilyana 2.0

I'm about halfway through but I'm not sure where to go next with it. I like the story though, which is something.

Mr E

Yep, same here.

Rubecula

Started, laid out plot and then my computer died a miserable death. I will have trouble now. BUT I will try to get it done.

(sobs into his bowl of scouse)

echo beach

Mr E wrote: »

How are people getting on? I have good story finished (first draft anyway), but I'm well under 2200 words.

I'm wary about adding unnecessary bloat just to reach a target.

I thought the 2,200 words was a limit, not a target.

Mr E

Ah yeah, I know.

sheep?

Not going to lie, haven't started. I had a huge college project due today, but clear enough schedule up until next week. I'll be getting stuck in tomorrow.

redser7

How much would it cost me to buy another 100 words onto the limit?

Das Kitty

redser7 wrote: »

How much would it cost me to buy another 100 words onto the limit?

You've a week to cut out 100 words. Piece of piddle. I believe in you.

redser7

There's blood everywhere already!!

echo beach

redser7 wrote: »

How much would it cost me to buy another 100 words onto the limit?

You could donate 1,000 words to me. I'm not half way there and completely stuck.:D

Rubecula

echo beach wrote: »

You could donate 1,000 words to me. I'm not half way there and completely stuck.:D

Samehere except I am no where near halfway allI want is my computer back with all my draft work on it :eek::eek:

Mr E

Looking forward to next week... I have a feeling that we're all in for a quality reading session.

Rubecula

Mr E wrote: »

Looking forward to next week... I have a feeling that we're all in for a quality reading session.

Starts sobbing and causing his ink to become diluted, and his quill to droop.


If I fail to make the deadline (looking more and more likely) please forgive me, I do want to take part, but things are getting a tad fraught here.

Mr E

The mod of Oulwans 'n' Oudfellas talking about droopy quills, eh?

Modern medicine has come a long way, keep the faith.

trout

Nearly forgot about this ... suppose I should get started