Previous: >>25378611https://warosu.org/lit/thread/25378611~Itinerary~• Friday, August 7th, 10:00 AM GMT>Character & theme requirements revealed—start writing!• Friday, August 14th, 11:59 PM GMT>Submission deadline. Voting and critique begin.• Monday, August 17th, 11:59 PM GMT>Voting ends and winners crowned. Critique persists with thread.~Rules~Writing>Write a work that fulfills the character & theme requirements.>In all ways, your piece must belong to you—no plagiarism or AI.>And it must be written AFTER the requirements have been revealed—no previous work.>Do not edit your writing on Rentry after the submission deadline.Submitting>Format and publish your submission on rentry.co>In this thread, open a reply window, then type a unique tripcode (Name + “#” + Password) into the Name-field.>Using that unique tripcode, post your submission here as a Rentry link.>However, if your submission is short enough that it fits inside a single reply-window textbox, you can simply publish it here.Critique, Process, and Q&A>The deeper you delve into your peers’ stories, the more likely they’ll be to engage with yours.>Share your thoughts, advice, improvements, polemics—anything you think an author ought to hear, and you might get it too.>If you had an interesting creative journey in crafting your piece, please divulge your process.>And, above all, ask questions! “Did this land?” “What were you going for here?” “Is this a reference to something?” etc.Voting>On Strawpoll, rank your top 3 submissions: 1st (top) = 3 points; 2nd = 2 points; 3rd = 1 point.>Do not vote for yourself.>Vote as the “Name” part of your tripcode.>Immediately after voting on Strawpoll, reply “Voted” in this thread, using your full tripcode.>Non-authors (Anonymous voters) can skip this in-thread verification.
>[Countdown to requirements reveal]https://countingdownto.com/?c=7292171And as it bears repeating: You’ll have a whole week to write your submission this month, August 7th–14th.
bump
>>25448513Were the results of last month's competition ever revealed?
>>25449911>Were the results of last month's competition ever revealed?https://warosu.org/lit/thread/25378611#p25407614
>>25450031Huh it happened way earlier than I had realized. I completely missed it at the time.
Might participate this month if the prompt is good
~Requirements~Character: Wears a disguise.Theme: Shock.>[Countdown to submission deadline]https://countingdownto.com/?c=7294389
I like posting early because sometimes other writers take inspiration from mehttps://rentry.co/Gender_Trouble
Terrific first submission.157 hours remain.
Chicken and ChocolateI couldn't eat.Fried chicken. I hated it. Always did. Tried to eat it, to remind me of home. Eating with family. Ma, Pa, and my brother.I remember taking a bite or two, then saying I'm full. Not too full for dessert, of course.Here, I couldn't even take a bite.The guard called out a name, then looked over my plate."You didn't eat?" he said. "What's going on?""Something's wrong with my guts," I lied. "I'm just sick."He looked me over, studying me. "Sorry to hear that. Still, you should force yourself," he said. "Even a little.""I'm fine." I said. "Let's go."He stared at me, then pulled out a chocolate bar."Have this.""Why? A kid's dead because of all this.""I know that," he said. "Still, you gotta have something on the tongue." He held out the bar. "It calms your nerves on the chair. Everyone's entitled to that.""...Thanks." I took the bar."Mr. Smith, right?""Sure," I said."I can see you're grieving over your mistake. That's enough for me. Maybe enough for God."I searched for some regret. The mistake. The choice I should have made."Sorry. There was no mistake," I said. "Only sin."*** I licked my lips. Sweet, nutty flavor caressing my tongue.It was nice.They strapped me in. The leather tightened around my wrists. The priest read my rites."Thomas Smith," the priest said. "Do you have anything you want to confess?"For a moment, I wanted to shut up. To get it over with. But I had to ask."Is it a sin," I said, "to protect evil?"He looked at me, confused. "What do you mean?""It's just, well..." I said. "I know Jesus died for us sinners. But would he die for the devil?"He stared at me, then said, "He would. He loved all of us.""Would Jesus die," I whispered, "when the devil was ready for hell?"He studied me. I could see him going over the words in his head. He flipped through the Bible until he landed on a page."All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."It lifted my heart. "I hope dying will make it right."He shook his head. "Jesus died for our sins. Not you. He wouldn't want you to.""Jesus?""No. The devil."10. I could feel the sweat coming over me.9. The steel and straps wrapped all around me.8. He fucked up, but what am I supposed to do?7. He's got a wife, kids, and I got his face.6. Was real easy, on account of us being twins.5. He pleaded no. I said I was going down for him, or with him.4. I left some seed money for him.3. Everything I saved.2. What's the point of saving for the future when you don't like the future?1. I wanted my death to give to the world, not take from it. Not take from Tom.0. Maybe I took from Tom anyway.Lightning coursed through my veins.Spasm, pain.Thinking-no.Just accept the dark.The chocolate helped me drift.I hope you forgive and forget, Tom.And I hope I don't see you soon.Your brother,Bob.
Wow, two great submissions already.144 hours left.
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Halloween Prankhttps://rentry.co/49rhyvd8
Three in so far; 94 hours left.
>>25450031>3 votesAre these competitions a new thing or is this about reflecting of how active /lit/ is?
>>25458901There used to be more, but those anons stopped participating when they realized this is just a circlejerk for the same 3-4 guys
>>25459765To be fair, I was one of the writers, forgot about it, and didn't vote. It should have been 4.I won't say who I was, because I am kinda ashamed to not vote because of this.>>25456871I enjoy the letter style. It gave it a very nice sketch of a place and tone. This is less of a story and more of a moment, for better and worst.>Anyway, I put it on and, for whatever reasonI would change this now to be something else, like "The plan was I walk to my parents with the mask and demanded the inheritance/said it was all towards my favorite grandson Noah." Something childish, stupid, and casual. Right now it's just a kid doing something stupid for no good reason.>>25453184I hate editing>I hate editingI hate editing>I hate editingI found some stuff I wanted to edit, like "Not you." and "kid dying", to make the story meaning come across clearer.I refuse to because I hate editing. From what I observed from peers, my story's too obtuse. They didn't get the main point of what the main theme, and instead just shit talk Tom. >>25451812There's a funny story here, but I do feel this story isn't focused enough. The big thing I was interested in was Alexis objectifying Jackie, her camera and posing as a man. Yet, I felt those elements weren't explored to the big moment: it's just "Jackie please text me I'm a girl secret =)".Still, the dinner, and the weird tones Alexis gave, reminded me of Lawerance in House of Mirth.
Good to read some feedback already.Only 61 hours left now.
