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Competition - Total Write-Off

pickarooney · 2011-04-15 07:59:18

I'm thinking of some kind of variation on a variation on a theme here - same basic idea in that contestants are given an outline and submissions are posted anonymously, but with a little twist - this time it would be head-to-head with everyone competing against one other (unknown) person, one story per pair. Winners go…

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15-04-2011 8:59am

#1
pickarooney

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I'm thinking of some kind of variation on a variation on a theme here - same basic idea in that contestants are given an outline and submissions are posted anonymously, but with a little twist - this time it would be head-to-head with everyone competing against one other (unknown) person, one story per pair.

Winners go through to the next round where it starts again with a new story. We would ideally need 8 people (or 16!) who can commit to writing three stories in a fairly short space of time.

To try and explain it graphically, in cup knockout format:
[B]QF SF Final[/B] Ct. 1 vs (3 little pigs) Ct. 2 Ct. 2 | vs (rapunzel) Ct. 3 | vs (red riding hood) Ct. 3 Ct. 3 Ct. 4 | vs (pinocchio) [B]Winner: Ct. 3[/B] Ct. 5 | vs (little mermaid) Ct. 6 Ct. 7 Ct. 6 | vs (snow white) Ct. 7 | vs (sleeeping beauty Ct. 7 Ct. 8

Edit: The 16 confirmed contestants (so an extra preliminary round is needed) are:

angelll
Antilles
Aoibheann
azzeretti
Blush_01
Dermo Doluc
Hrududu
Insect Overlord
Killer_banana
Memnoch
Mr E
Oryx
Phantasos
Slow Show
smcgiff
Turtyturd

Waiting list:
Darkestlord
Lensbaby89
Doluc

Round One (16 contestants)
The draw for round one,which ended on May 11th at 23.59 BST and was extended for 72 to hours to accommodate a replacement entry is posted here.

The word count for round one was approximately 1000.

Quarter-finals
The draw for the quarter-finals, which ended on the 18th of June 2011 at 23.59 BST is posted
here.

The word count for the quarter-finals was approximately 1500.

Semi-Finals
The draw for the semi-finals, which ended on the 21st of July 2011 at 23.59 BST is posted
here.

The word count for the semi-finals was approximately 2000.

Final
The line-up for the final pairing, submissions for which closed at 23.59 BST on the 18th of August is posted here.

The word count for the final was approximately 2500.

On the 31st August at 08.42 BST the winner will be revealed.

19

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#2 15-04-2011 10:28am
Phantasos

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That sounds like a good idea - I really need something to give me a kick and force me to write. The knockout idea (although it sucks if I get knocked out at stage one) is an interesting twist.

Looking forward to it already!

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#3 15-04-2011 12:34pm
azzeretti

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I like it. It would give me a bit of motivation to write. What kind of time frame might there be between rounds though? Not sure I could get 2-3 stories out in a few days!

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#4 15-04-2011 1:03pm
Hrududu

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Sounds good.

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#5 15-04-2011 1:25pm
Oryx

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Im liking this. Havent written a thing since the last voat, this would make me work again.

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#6 15-04-2011 3:03pm
pickarooney

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We might make it a 500, 1000, 1500/2000 increasing limit with the rounds and about 5 days between rounds. Whatever suits best.

Can you thank the first post if you're interested so I can get an idea of numbers. If it's not a perfect power of 2 we can draw for byes.

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#7 15-04-2011 10:04pm
Antilles

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I'm working on a big project at the minute but could take time out for this

Not sure about your theme selections though, Pickarooney!

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#8 15-04-2011 10:29pm
pickarooney

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Antilles wrote: »

I'm working on a big project at the minute but could take time out for this

Not sure about your theme selections though, Pickarooney!

Those are just placeholder texts.

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#9 15-04-2011 10:36pm
Oryx

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Good, cos I think Disney have most of them covered anyway.

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#10 16-04-2011 10:24am
Memnoch

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Sounds fun. I can't start till early may, but feel free to go ahead.

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#11 17-04-2011 6:08pm
Killer_banana

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I like the sound of it. Need something to get me writing again.

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#12 19-04-2011 2:10pm
Mr E

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Haven't been visiting this forum lately, but need a kick up the ass to get writing again. Count me in.

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#13 19-04-2011 2:14pm
Insect Overlord

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I'll give this a go.

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#14 19-04-2011 2:16pm
Aoibheann

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I'd like to try this! I'm mid-study for exams which are in a few weeks, but I'm sure I can manage the time to get a story or two together.

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#15 19-04-2011 4:09pm
Phantasos

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Aoibheann wrote: »

I'd like to try this! I'm mid-study for exams which are in a few weeks, but I'm sure I can manage the time to get a story or two together.

Procrastination will be a great motivator to spend time on this competition!

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#16 19-04-2011 4:14pm
pickarooney

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What do you think if we schedule the first round for the week of the 2nd of May? That would give us (me) time to collect the names, make the draw and pick the stories.

On the latter, if anyone wants to make suggestions, we'll need at least 7 themes.

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#17 19-04-2011 4:29pm
Oryx

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Theme idea: Use a single word, for example:

Silence
Procrastination
Infinity
Mistakes
Remorse
Boredom
Rage

Or to use the same idea, the seven deadly sins.
Lust
Gluttony
Greed
Sloth
Wrath
Envy
Pride

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#18 19-04-2011 5:35pm
pickarooney

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I like that!

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#19 19-04-2011 5:42pm
Aoibheann

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+1, really like both of those ideas.

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#20 19-04-2011 8:05pm
angelll

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All sounds great

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#21 19-04-2011 9:19pm
Blush_01

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I was just thinking this evening (I kid you not) that my hand was going to fall off next time I tried to hold a pen out of sheer spite as a result of the neglect it's experienced.

I'm definitely in.

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#22 19-04-2011 10:38pm
Antilles

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+1 for the "Seven Deadly Sins" idea!

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#23 19-04-2011 10:42pm
Turtyturd

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Would be interested in this....ended up being a no show for the last VOAT because sickness and a philosophy essay conspired against me but will definitely take part this time.

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#24 20-04-2011 10:04am
Phantasos

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Love the Seven Deadly Sins theme Oryx. Great idea!

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#25 20-04-2011 12:28pm
pickarooney

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It looks like we'll need a further round! Just two more places left; after that we'll need to make a waiting list. This is based on thanks in the OP - if your name is not there, please add it now.

So then... 8 more stories needed for the preliminary round.

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#26 20-04-2011 1:44pm
Dermo

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count me in for this. I would be interested in giving it a go

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#27 20-04-2011 3:00pm
Slow Show

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I don't post here a whole lot, so if you wanted to put regulars ahead of me, that's perfectly fine, but I'd be willing to give this a go.

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#28 20-04-2011 3:06pm
pickarooney

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Ok then, the 16 are:

angelll
Antilles
Aoibheann
azzeretti
Blush_01
Dermo
Hrududu
Insect Overlord
Killer_banana
Memnoch
Mr E
Oryx
Phantasos
Slow Show
smcgiff
Turtyturd

This could take a while to run off and I'd like to make allowances for people's times, so I'll be PMing people once I have made the draw to arrange dates.

I'm thinking of something vague like colours for the first round, or one randomly selected word from a book...

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#29 20-04-2011 3:11pm
Phantasos

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Maybe we should do the Seven Virtues for the other side:

Chastity
Temperance
Charity
Diligence
Patience
Kindness
Humility

They aren't as much fun as the Deadly Sins, but it would be interesting to have a Good vs Evil write-off, culminating in a final battle between the remaining writers of both sides! Something along the lines of this.

Besides, I'm just wondering what people would come up with from those themes - they are so abstract! Would be fun.

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#30 20-04-2011 3:13pm
Oryx

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While I did make a suggestion above, this is your baby, pickarooney, you get to make the call on what we write about. If you only pick stuff we like, well, that just makes it too easy.

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#31 20-04-2011 3:21pm
pickarooney

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Phantasos wrote: »

Maybe we should do the Seven Virtues for the other side:

Chastity
Temperance
Charity
Diligence
Patience
Kindness
Humility

They aren't as much fun as the Deadly Sins, but it would be interesting to have a Good vs Evil write-off, culminating in a final battle between the remaining writers of both sides! Besides, I'm just wondering what people would come up with from those themes - they are so abstract! Would be fun.

I had never heard of the seven virtues before. If only there were 8...

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