[[2007: NOV-DEC] Writing Challenge Discussion]

Pretty quiet for such a good topic

[[2007: NOV-DEC] Writing Challenge Rules & Topic]

Guidelines: To participate, create a new thread. The subject of the thread must be the title of your story. If it is a Work In Progress, denote that with the heart post icon. If your work is complete, use the horizontal arrow post icon. Items not marked with an icon or marked with the WiP icon will not be considered for judging and will be moved to the "Character Cafe" forum at the end of the contest. Your work must be entirely your own. No co-authoring. You are welcome to create any character you so desire, but they must be from the Star Trek universe. No "canon" characters allowed. (i.e.- No one who has been on a show.)

Want to participate, but can't start a new topic? Why didn't you view the "Read Me First!" forum? You'll need to ask a moderator or Senior Member to create a thread for you!

Length: No more than 3000 words accepted.

Beginning Date: Mon. Nov. 12th

Ending Date: Fri., Dec. 21st

See Also: the Writing Challenge Website

Challenge: "What if the Dominion had won?"

We all know that Good triumphed over Evil at the end of the Dominion War, with the resourceful StarFleet soundly trouncing the cunning Founders. But what if the tables had turned and the Dominion had beaten back our heroes to take control over much of the Alpha and Beta quadrants? In the short form you're allowed, give us a glimpse of a potential (albeit non-cannon) aftermath of the war. Feel free to answer, or not answer, any of the many questions surrounding this possible timeline -- do the Dominion leave the Federation in tact, under their control? Do the Romulans and Klingons succumb? Is there a viable rebel movement? Billions of people await the nub of your pen, dear writer -- are you gentle, or ruthless with their futures? Show us this provocative scenario from any angle you like (Dominion, Federation, Romulan, Klingon, or any other that comes to mind!), as long as it's interesting, creative, and Trekky!

Good Luck!

[[2007: NOV-DEC] Writing Challenge Discussion]

Please use this thread for any discussion or questions about this writing challenge.

[[2007: SEP-OCT] Writing Challenge Discussion]

Thanks

[[2007: SEP-OCT] Writing Challenge Discussion]

Congrats to the winner/runner-up I hope others will join me in saying so!

[[2007: SEP-OCT] Writing Challenge Rules & Topic]

Congratulations to Jhen Thelev, winner of this round, with his story "Els"! Runner-up is Jackford B. Kolk, with "Saving Grace."

The last two reviews will be posted in the coming days, as will the winner's banner and updates to the area of the website where the challenge info is posted. (Please be patient -- I've got a busy week/end.)

Thanks to everyone for making this one of the most fruitful rounds we've had in a while! The judges commented that all the stories were of great quality, and choosing was, as always, quite difficult.

[[2007: SEP-OCT] Writing Challenge Rules & Topic]

Final results are going to be held up a few days due to one of our judges having computer issues. I'm still on top of things, and hope to have the results by Friday. Many apologies

[Graduating Class of 238410.28]

Doesn't look like it

[[2007: SEP-OCT] Feedback]

This thread is ONLY for moderators to post their feedback as they write it. All other posts will be DELETED.

Remember: you are under no obligation to accept or follow the feedback provided. It is only provided as a courtesy to challenge participants, and only reflects the personal opinion of the person writing it. If you don't like the feedback, we don't want to hear about it -- just close the thread and move on.

[[2007: SEP-OCT] Writing Challenge Discussion]

Here's to bringing home more trophies, eh?

[[2007: SEP-OCT] Writing Challenge Discussion]

You can insert one or two spaces into the word to throw off the censor, as long as the entire word is innocent.

[[2007: SEP-OCT] Writing Challenge Discussion]

Hopefully at least five or six

[[2007: SEP-OCT] Writing Challenge Rules & Topic]

Guidelines: To participate, create a new thread. The subject of the thread must be the title of your story. If it is a Work In Progress, denote that with the heart post icon. If your work is complete, use the horizontal arrow post icon. Items not marked with an icon or marked with the WiP icon will not be considered for judging and will be moved to the "Character Cafe" forum at the end of the contest. Your work must be entirely your own. No co-authoring. You are welcome to create any character you so desire, but they must be from the Star Trek universe. No "canon" characters allowed. (i.e.- No one who has been on a show.)

Want to participate, but can't start a new topic? Why didn't you view the "Read Me First!" forum? You'll need to ask a moderator or Senior Member to create a thread for you!

Length: No more than 3000 words accepted.

Beginning Date: Sat. Sept. 15th

Ending Date: Fri., Oct. 26th

See Also: the Writing Challenge Website

Challenge: "What are little girls made of?"

"Sugar and spice, and everything nice," as they say? From the recent behavior of some young celebrities, we think otherwise... As with last year's Sept./Oct. theme, we're doing a TOS title. You're invited to use the chosen challenge title and create a completely original story around it. Just don't be predictable, and you may find yourself in our hall of fame!

Good Luck!

[[2007: SEP-OCT] Writing Challenge Discussion]

Please use this thread for any discussion or questions about this writing challenge.

[[2007: JUL-AUG] Feedback]

D'oh! Stupid Yahoo held this post to our judges list.

"The Little Monkey" by LTCMDR Toni Turner

Reviewed by Captain T’Pen

I think most of us can relate to this story. Whether you are a parent with small children or can imagine a time when you were a child, this was a compelling story.

I like the blend of moods and descriptions of what the little girl is seeing, as she attempts to entertain herself. I’ve caught my own daughter in the midst of turning her room into tornado explosion-disaster area and couldn’t help but laugh. James was a very tolerant individual, considering the aftershave doused pillows, bed clothing, etc.

There are times, when I really felt like I was watching and experiencing the adventure with Ashlyn. There were other times when I felt like I’d stepped away from her and the transition didn’t feel smooth.

Otherwise, a very good story.

Thank you.

[[2007: JUL-AUG] Writing Challenge Discussion]

Congrats to Danzia of course, but just wondering how soon we can expect to see the next challenge title?

Coming this weekend. Just got the next round's challenge from Danzia on Tuesday or Wednesday. And anyway, no one ever submits anything until the last two weeks

[[2007: JUL-AUG] Challenge topics]

There seemed to be no great hatred for the themes, so we're going to keep them for now. The 1st and 3rd challenges of each year are non-themed, so people have that to look forward to...

[[2007: JUL-AUG] Feedback]

Reviews from VAdml. Hollis:

> 4 The Missing Statue

> By Danzia

This is a complete story with beginning, middle, and end. It is all linked nicely together and does a great job of being a mystery. I have a real sense of a space port and the characters that inhabit it. All two often everyone in Star Trek wears a uniform. This shows us the civilian side of the Federation.

Characterization is strong. Plot is good. My only complaint is it ends to Conveniently. I put this down to the word constraints. Also I would suggest defining the statue a bit better at the beginning. I thought this was a beautiful statue of some size up until the end when it turns out to be small and ugly.

I could hear Bogart (or a female version of him) as I read the story.

> 3 Evolution

> by Nemitor Atimen

This reads like early scifi of the 50s. It has real energy and ends badly for the main characters. Saul is a great character. I kept thinking Heinlein as I read it. I consider Heinlein Iconic, but not not always the best story. The story is choppy and the ending is confusing, until you realize that maybe the Borg wasn't entirely sterilized. I liked that it reached for a goal that was perhaps beyond what the writer could easily reach.

> 2 The Little Monkey

> By Toni Turner

Very nice story. Turner understands children very well and little monkey is the perfect word for her character. I'd say Turner wins if this was purely theme. The story is a bit syrupy, but to that I say good for Turner. We live in a day and age when it seems everyone strives for darkness and disturbing. A dozen other writers might have turned the father into some sort of abuser.

I ranked it a two only because the other two stories had a lot more energy and there was more meat to them. The Little Monkey is like a narrative poem. A bit more back story on how the father came to be alone and what the crisis is might punch up this story.

Still hats off to this story teller.

> 1 WHO NEEDS A VACATION

> By Tal Tel-ar

What I liked about this story is what I liked about missing statue; it gives us a great look at the civilian side of the Federation. It is well written with good characters. I like the loki and surprise ending tie in to the trickster theme.

I ranked beneath the other three because it was not imperative that I finish this story. About 3/4 of the way through I found my mind wandering asking where this was going. While technically while written like the main character it lacks heart.

It too reminds me of the early Sci Fi, which painted a vision of the future that was much like today, but at its center had a surprise.

My suggestion would to play up the threat of 'firing' the George character. Make his use of the Orion dancers a more apparent manipulation of the new boss. Maybe show us the Original George on a private island drinking cocktails and watching the sun going down while remotely checking his bots day's work. Or explore the possibility that one of the 4 stolen designs is somehow the new boss.

There is a lot of potential in this story.

[[2007: JUL-AUG] Writing Challenge Discussion]

Congratulations again, Danzia

[[2007: JUL-AUG] Feedback]

These are other reviews from Lily Ventu, our guest judge who was winner of the last round. Reviews from other judges are also coming soon.

"The Little Monkey" was a nice little story that addresses the continued optimism of the human condition, which is really what "Star Trek" is all about. Like most of Turner's stories, it managed to do a lot in what was the shortest entry, but I felt she could have done a couple more revisions. For example, "fold[ing] her hands 'regally'" -what does the adverb truly tell us about the action? Her third-person storytelling was effective, but it shifted in terms of degrees of omniscience: "She stuck her bottom lip out in an exaggerated pout[...]" is more omniscient than "he didn't care 'cause she looked pretty." However, since the author didn't utilize Ashlyn's first-person POV, this isn't as much of a problem as it would have been in that case, and probably would've been ironed out with the aforementioned revisions.

"Who Needs A Vacation" was a strong contender for a higher position, but in the end, it was a combination of two major issues that brought this story down: The submission wasn't very clean, and it had no real ending. The story itself was sharp, and it draws the reader in right away, but it seems like a part of larger work where we understand that the story has a larger point. As it is, there isn't much to this story, and it left this reader, at least, wondering why I had been given such an ineffective ending when I had begun to invest interest in the characters. As with Turner, I believe this story could have been a lot sharper with a couple more revisions.

"Evolution" was not a bad story, but I rated it lowest because I trouble with the basic premise. A Borg trickster is an intriguing idea, and knowing Atimen's talents, I was disappointed he didn't take this in a more interesting direction. I had a very hard time believing that the Borg Queen would grant individuality to any drone; we've already seen the lengths she'll go to recruit fallen Borg in various episodes of Voyager and First Contact.

[[2007: JUL-AUG] Writing Challenge Rules & Topic]

Congratulations to Danzia, winner of this round, with her story "The Missing Statue"!

More reviews will be posted in the coming days, as will the winner's banner and updates to the area of the website where the challenge info is posted.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this round -- our next round will be announced soon!

[[2007: JUL-AUG] Writing Challenge Rules & Topic]

Sorry for the delay. One of our judges has some personal commitments come up. We'll get the results out ASAP.

[[2007: JUL-AUG] Feedback]

This thread is ONLY for moderators to post their feedback as they write it. All other posts will be DELETED.

Remember: you are under no obligation to accept or follow the feedback provided. It is only provided as a courtesy to challenge participants, and only reflects the personal opinion of the person writing it. If you don't like the feedback, we don't want to hear about it -- just close the thread and move on.

[[2007: JUL-AUG] Challenge topics]

No, but people are still welcome to solicit comments in that forum...

[[2007: JUL-AUG] Challenge topics]

FltAdml. Wolf Posted Sunday, Aug 12, 2007 - 11:20 pm

How would a "writer's choice" work?

The writer's would choose any topic they wanted to write about. No particular theme to the challenge once a year, but I suppose the stories should be based on Star Trek.

Isn't that what we already have in the "Character Cafe," though?