More VOAT please?

Blush_01

I'm getting VOAT withdrawals. Can we get VOAT up and running again? It was fun!

I think we should start again with one of the flash fiction things too - I know it was a small bit of a logistical nightmare, but it was so much fun and threw up some really interesting stories!

Pweeeeeeze?

pickarooney

Yeah, I reckon when I'm back from holidays on the 18th I might kick one off to start on the first of November or thereabouts. Meanwhile if anyone has any more suggestions...

Oryx

Im up for this.

Suggestions. A warped and abridged version of your favourite book in 1500 words. And we have to identify the book. Kind of like the bookwise puzzle in the Sunday Times.

pickarooney

All right then. It might be a little tight for a Hallowe'en edition of VOAT, but who's up for starting a new season of write-offs and what kind of original ideas have you got that will get people involved?

Oryx

Im in. I need the mental stimulation.

Antilles

I won't be taking part in a Voat if its in November. I'm desparately scrambling to get my NaNoWriMo outline together as I type!

angelll

I'm in too

Mr E

Count me in.

RoodBoi

what's VOAT?

Oryx

RoodBoi wrote: »

what's VOAT?

Variations On A Theme. A short story competition (with no prize except the respect of your peers ) that runs here from time to time. A theme, story outline, or opening line, is given for everyone to write about in their own style or with their own spin on the story. Usually about 1500 words. Its a bit of craic.

pickarooney

If we can get 5 we might as well give it a go. Whatcha say, RoodBoi?

RoodBoi

very tempted, but i've never wrote a story before really. i'm lazy so i stick to poetry. what would the theme be?

pickarooney

The contestants usually come up with a theme.

Details of the previous contests are in these threads:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055831744
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055882596
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055906961
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055934660
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055942776
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055966372&highlight=variations

and the stories themeselves are here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055871576
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055900675
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055928167
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055936787
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055956945
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055986133

RoodBoi

ok i'll do it for the gas so. but it may be ****. but who cares right. yea i'm in so.

Blush_01

I'm in!!!!

Wow, that was a bit over-eager, but YAY more VOAT!

pickarooney

I'm back in work on Monday - tell all your friends to post here with ideas.

pickarooney

OK, I'm pimping about for entrants. One more added so far...

Oryx

Well, seeing as noone else is.

Idea: Central character, Chris, looks at a bundle of money and smiles. Now, all they have to do is get through that locked door....


A kind of dumped in the middle of the action scenario.

Mr E

I'm in too... looking forward to it.

pickarooney

You were already in by post 8

I'll try and get 10 by the weekend, if not we'll go with what we have. We need consensus on the theme though.

Oryx

pickarooney wrote: »

You were already in by post 8

I'll try and get 10 by the weekend, if not we'll go with what we have. We need consensus on the theme though.

We need more ideas on the theme.

I need this kickstart to write again, havent written a thing in months.

Mr E

I'll think about it and throw up some intro lines tonight.

Insect Overlord

Thanks for the message about this, Pickarooney.

Count me in.

Mr E

OK, here are some suggestions....

The Box.
Ann was first in the office that morning. Just as she noticed the strange box on her desk, her phone rang.

Bob's First Day
Bob, the bank's newest security guard was about to leave the men's room when he heard gunfire and a voice shout "EVERYBODY GET DOWN ON THE GROUND NOW!".

Oryx

Liking The Box suggestion. Think the First day one could give us quite a few robbery/hostage situations and weve had those already.

pickarooney

Yeah, I like the box but security guards and robberies and whatnots - no thanks.

Mr E

The robbery one could be loosened up a bit....

Bob was about to leave the men's room when he heard gunfire and a voice shout "EVERYBODY GET DOWN ON THE GROUND NOW!".

In that case, he could be a security guard, an inside man, someone who was about to rob the bank himself, a member of the public, a wheelchair user leaving the disabled toilets, a cleaner....

It's up to the writer to elevate it above the robbery/hostage scenario. The ones that stand out (and do something different) are the ones that will do well.

Oryx

Sorry, I just dont want to write about a robbery, full stop. And its kinda hard to turn it into chick lit. Ye men and your guns. Sigh.

Mr E

Fair enough.

pickarooney

However, a mystery box could contain a neutron bomb or a ransom note, so everybody wins.

Blush_01

pickarooney wrote: »

However, a mystery box could contain a neutron bomb or a ransom note, so everybody wins.

Or an anonymous gift from an admirer - nothing like a good stalking!

Antilles

...or it could never be opened at all.

Feck it, colour me in for the next VOAT.

pickarooney

NanoWrimo, VOAT, Lame Protagonist needing a crutch... are you growing a beard as well this month?

I think we have 8 so far and the Box is a nice idea IMO. I'll see if Friday is not too busy to kick this off.

Antilles

The first and third may be related, and lets just say readers of my NaNo shouldn't be surprised to see a mysterious box appear in my plot

angelll

Liking the box idea May not be around tomorrow as i'm getting a wisdom tooth out :eek: but count me in. (i know my name is down already...just saying in case i'm offline crippled with pain all weekend)

pickarooney

This will be a long one, not a flash-fiction.

Antilles

Long as in long or long as in 1k like the others?

pickarooney

Long as in a week to write 1500 words or so.

Antilles

That works. Are we going with the box description as above so?

Aoibheann

Hmmm.. I may be in! Or, I can do the accepting entries thing again if you'd like to enter, pickarooney? This sort of thing will hopefully give me the kick I need to get writing again - I've been woefully short on time and ideas. >_<

pickarooney

Grand so, if nobody has any objections, or a last-minute brainwave, I'll start a thread on this around midday.

RoodBoi

so, what do i do here, shoul i start writing?

pickarooney

The competition is now open. See here for details. I'll lock this thread later so as to keep any further discussion in that thread.

Antilles

RoodBoi wrote: »

so, what do i do here, shoul i start writing?

Its traditional to start writing 1-2 hours before the deadline.

pickarooney

Antilles wrote: »

Its traditional to start writing 1-2 hours before the deadline.

If by 'writing' you mean 'stop drinking' and by '1-2 hours' you mean '10-15 minutes', sure.

Antilles

pickarooney wrote: »

If by 'writing' you mean 'stop drinking' and by '1-2 hours' you mean '10-15 minutes', sure.

If by 'drinking' you mean 'bothering with a glass'....