FAWC 5: Line, Please!

[xelliebabex]

Commenting and critiquing the stories can be done at any time, either on the thread or in the comments section of the stories themselves. However much any particular author wants to "out" themselves is up to them. Traditionally, most of us have stayed quiet while the stories are posted, and then discuss after the "winner" is revealed. But this is a pretty loose ship; nothing is stopping anyone from leaving comments or posting about the stories.

* * * *

A question: One of the authors noticed that a good part of their story is in italics because of a formatting mistake. They've asked to submit an edit, to which I originally said no. The reason I gave was based on the fiasco that occurred during FAWC 2. Basically, everyone had the same deadline, and what was submitted was what was posted. So the question is, should I allow them to submit an edit? I'd like to know what everyone thinks.

I've red that story and i have to admit it was difficult to read in it's current form. I assumed that the amount of italics was a glitch and didn't factor it into my rating or comment. However if this person is allowed to resubmit there are possibly several others that I read where their html tags did not work at all and the story was stilted because the tags were still sitting in their stories. So if you make the decision for one you need to make it a blanket decision for everyone who has an issue with the formatting and you could find yourself with a bit of work to do resubmitting.

I am good either way, but like you said it was a big issue in Fawc 2 and I would hate for this to degrade into an argument like that if several people want to resubmit and aren't able to.

 

[yesterdays]

an account for a bullet

This is my favorite story so far. It's an ambitious Civil War piece with rich and believable details. The author speaks with a language that seems authentic for the period, which is quite an achievement. The challenge has been integrated so well into the story that it almost vanished for me, because it did not feel in the least bit artificial. The writing shows in every line a passion for language. And it's also a sensual and heartfelt tale.

 

[Swilly]

I'd be fine with a 24 hour window for format/html tagging corrections. Since people aren't posting their own stories, they can't see what they look like when they're posted. Misspellings and punctuation errors should remain, I'd think.

Not everyone is adept at handling even basic html. I'd think a writers challenge should be a writers challenge.

I'm glad slyc is allowing this one.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

This is my favorite story so far. It's an ambitious Civil War piece with rich and believable details. The author speaks with a language that seems authentic for the period, which is quite an achievement. The challenge has been integrated so well into the story that it almost vanished for me, because it did not feel in the least bit artificial. The writing shows in every line a passion for language. And it's also a sensual and heartfelt tale.

The story is filled with many errors. No one scalded surgical tools as no one knew of Pasteurs Germ Theory. Surgeons cauterized bleeding wounds to seal the blood vessles and small veins, large veins and arteries were sewed. Wounds were cleansed with cold water, cauterized, packed with cotton lint, and bandaged.

Minie balls were large, conical, and generally passed thru arms and legs, often shattering bones and arteries. Most Minie ball wounds required amputation.

The whole premise is preposterous, tho remotely possible.

 

[Aynmair]

I'd be fine with a 24 hour window for format/html tagging corrections. Since people aren't posting their own stories, they can't see what they look like when they're posted. Misspellings and punctuation errors should remain, I'd think.

Not everyone is adept at handling even basic html. I'd think a writers challenge should be a writers challenge.

I'm glad slyc is allowing this one.

I wonder if some problems might be solved if next time the format submitted to Slyc is .txt rather than .doc? Of course others will arise.

 

[sr71plt]

Interesting start off this time in contrast to last. Higher ratings. Comments coming quicker. Last time was strange, as the comments were glowing, but both the voting numbers and ratings were down--almost as if "someone" was giving nice comments but not the ratings that went with them. Doesn't appear to be happening this time.

 

[AMoveableBeast]

Interesting start off this time in contrast to last. Higher ratings. Comments coming quicker. Last time was strange, as the comments were glowing, but both the voting numbers and ratings were down--almost as if "someone" was giving nice comments but not the ratings that went with them. Doesn't appear to be happening this time.

Just had a bit of a drop, looks like.

 

[patientlee]

I'm only on my sixth story. I've read some good ones though.

 

[Swilly]

At first glance, it seems most stories are relatively short. That will help with reading all of them. This many 8 pagers would have been a challenge!

 

[PennLady]

Just had a bit of a drop, looks like.

Yep, gone from high to low in some cases. But it's early yet and things will settle out.

 

[Blind_Justice]

At first glance, it seems most stories are relatively short. That will help with reading all of them. This many 8 pagers would have been a challenge!

*cough* I'm still not done with all of the Tag Team stories. I dimly remember having more reading time a few years ago.

Three weeks, no partner to kick my ass when I would eventually slack off and a generally turbulent time for me were all reasons to keep it brief(er) than normal. No 50k word epic from me this time. But that's all I say

 

[patientlee]

Ugh. I reread my own. I wish I hadn't.

 

[Swilly]

Ugh. I reread my own. I wish I hadn't.

Which one was that?

 

[sheablue]

Ugh. I reread my own. I wish I hadn't.

Ha! Me, too. I can commiserate. I'm going totally rip mine apart in the comments.

I should have stopped myself when I realized I didn't have enough time. Ah well.

 

[drteetho]

Ugh. I reread my own. I wish I hadn't.

Ha! Me, too. I can commiserate. I'm going totally rip mine apart in the comments.

I should have stopped myself when I realized I didn't have enough time. Ah well.

I don't know about that. I've read a lot of the stories (still about ten left to read). Compared to those, mine sounds like I entered a different contest altogether. I doubt either of yours is as bad as you think it is.

 

[AMoveableBeast]

Anybody want to discuss Desperate Times and Measures, the six page juggernaut with the perfect score? I'm guessing Tx, I think. It's a great story. Daunting,
But worth the effort.

 

[sr71plt]

I'm not reading anything over three pages for a while, if at all. But it will be interesting, yes, to know who wrote it.

 

[PennLady]

I read the 1- and 2-pagers today. Will try to get to the longer ones over the course of the week.

 

[yesterdays]

the true oracle

I grew up with epic fantasy adventures, but over time I've almost entirely lost my interest in them. But I have to say that none of those books of my teenage years had sex scenes like this one!++ This story was long, but it allowed for some good world-building by the author. And I liked the two main characters. Gets a favorite rating.

 

[jomar]

Anybody want to discuss Desperate Times and Measures, the six page juggernaut with the perfect score? I'm guessing Tx, I think. It's a great story. Daunting,
But worth the effort.

Last on the list then, if I can get to it. That's a lot of words.

 

[slyc_willie]

The longest story, I believe, is eight pages. I could be wrong. I think that translates to somewhere around 20k words.

Yesterdays, thanks for all the comments thus far on the stories. Having an outside reader do so adds a lot to this discussion.

 

[sr71plt]

You hit 6 Lit. pages with 20,000 words. 8 pages would be something over 26,000 words. The longest story I saw was 7 Lit. pages.

 

[slyc_willie]

You hit 6 Lit. pages with 20,000 words. 8 pages would be something over 26,000 words. The longest story I saw was 7 Lit. pages.

Yup, you're right. My math and memory were off. It's been a long night. Had to put up with the morons I share a class with tonight. I swear, every Monday, I feel like I'm going back to high school with a bunch of people who don't care about their education.

 

[yesterdays]

....Yesterdays, thanks for all the comments thus far on the stories. Having an outside reader do so adds a lot to this discussion.

Thanks for your work in running this. Hope you'll keep it up.

Reading these has helped expand my horizons a bit, and helped me to discover some new authors. Now I just need to wait to find out who they are....

 

[Swilly]

Breezing through a couple stories...I'm a little embarrassed by my submission. I kind of mailed it in, and it shows. The subject matter doesn't seem to be a real popular one either. Lesson learned.