Competition: Variations on a theme 11 (VOAT)

pickarooney

It's time for another Variations on a Theme contest. This one is number 11 and the theme this time will be open to everyone, with no maximum number of entrants and no requirement to state your intention to participate beforehand.

To enter, simply write a short story of up to 2000 words. The limit is strict this time: 2001 words means instant disqualification. There is no lower limit.

The theme of the story this time round is as follows:

Sam comes home to find the mysterious letters VOAT daubed on the garage door.


You may submit and resubmit at any time between the moment you receive your synopsis and the end of the contest by PMing me your story. The competition will close at 23.59:59 on the 17th of February 2013.

For anyone new to our short story contests, you can see previous editions here and here.

Some stories themselves can be seen here and here.

Rubecula

I am seriously struggling with a story for this. If I can not think one up I may have to drop out. Please forgive me and not think too badly of me, I am trying very hard.

pickarooney

You can't drop out as there's no dropping in There are two weeks before you even need to begin thinking about a story, then up to an hour to write it.

Toasterspark

Rubecula comes home to find the mysterious letters VOAT daubed on the garage door...

FudgeBrace

so i can just write a story based on that heading? About anything to do with it?

Insect Overlord

Insect Overlord arrived home to find the mysterious letters VOAT daubed on the garage door. This was particularly mysterious as his house didn't have a garage, and because "daub" was a verb he'd rarely associate with the use of his favourite carrot and coriander soup...

Blush_01

This synopsis - am I receiving it telepathically? (Brain has been rather pathetic of late, think lack of jobz has made head melt internally.)

Actually, despite all my bs to the contrary, I have managed to not write a single iota in a good 6 months.

Think it's time to force myself to think a little bit again. YAY THINKING*!!

(*May not actually involve any thinking of any sort whatsoever, at all, at all. Brain usage is at owner's discretion, and any time wasted is non-refundable.)

Das Kitty

An idea came to me just as I was drifting off to sleep, and astonishingly I remembered it when I woke up.

Oryx

I have ideas alright, but its very hard to spin the theme into something less than obvious.

I have not thought about it at all
Can wait until the 16th sure

Rubecula

Das Kitty wrote: »

An idea came to me just as I was drifting off to sleep, and astonishingly I remembered it when I woke up.

Yes, well I think we should have an 'Adult' section especially for those thoughts Das Kitty. :pac:

Toasterspark

Oryx wrote: »

I have ideas alright, but its very hard to spin the theme into something less than obvious.

Oh no! I had an idea, but now that you mentioned there's an obvious choice of story, I'm sure that's what mine is.

I am so tracking you down and defacing your garage.

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRzmSjFLpWzkwtMP86SAjQgCaTLoZsTUSdLyYp9LXaHAvNt1moWpA

Turtwig

bluewolf wrote: »

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRzmSjFLpWzkwtMP86SAjQgCaTLoZsTUSdLyYp9LXaHAvNt1moWpA

This kind of was my idea.:o

El Guapo!

I've spent two days trying to think of a clever acronym for VOAT.
It ain't happening.

Variations on a .... no wait, damn it

Toasterspark

Vipers On A Train?

Antilles

I have so many amazing ideas for this one my only problem is choosing which one is going to win the competition.

Antilles

We're still doing "The Secret Life of Pickarooney", right?

Toasterspark

I'm imagining Sam as his wife, and Pickarooney as a slightly batty 'artist' daubing VOAT on the garage door.

"That is it, Pick, I've had it with your crap!"

"But honey, inspiration struck! You cannot tame the fiery roar of inspiration when it comes. I had to paint..."

"Yeah, well, paint your name on the bottom of the divorce papers when they arrive in the post."

throws ring on ground in front of Pickarooney, walks away

Agent Weebley

Rubecula wrote: »

I am seriously struggling with a story for this. If I can not think one up I may have to drop out. Please forgive me and not think too badly of me, I am trying very hard.

Hi Rubecula,

First of all, a little birdie left me a Post-It Note to apologize for assuming you were a lady. Oops, sorry! You seem to be such a sensitive soul; I mistook your Situational Awareness for ladylikeness. That has happened to Dad a few times, so you should take it as a compliment.

I figured I would leave a little note here to say that I will step up to the plate and write a story for this VOAT thingy. I know my Mum (Lucy) said she would write a story if Dad (Agent Weebley) did not appear back in time, but it seems my Mum, Agent Paddy, Agent Heggle and Epstein are all missing now too! Very strange indeed.

Gulp . . . I've never written a story before . . .

Rubecula: if you need a nudge to get your story writing juices flowing, then PM me on Dad's account. I will share my idea with you. I'm sure it will help.

Love, Nerfy.

Toasterspark

Agent Weebley wrote: »

Rubecula: if you need a nudge to get your story writing juices flowing, then PM me on Dad's account.

Bom chicka wah wah!

pickarooney

There's a bit in the T&C about not sharing accounts with other people but nothing about alternative personalities...

I don't want to hear about his dad getting anyone's juices flowing...

okay okay I'm leaving

Blush_01

bluewolf wrote: »

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRzmSjFLpWzkwtMP86SAjQgCaTLoZsTUSdLyYp9LXaHAvNt1moWpA

That is EPIC hair. AMAZING hair. HAIRTASTIC hair.


I want that hair.

echo beach

pickarooney wrote: »

You can't drop out as there's no dropping in There are two weeks before you even need to begin thinking about a story, then up to an hour to write it.

Is there a time limit on this competition? 2000 words in an hour sounds a lot, especially at my typing speed.

Agent Weebley

Hyperlinks NSFW

Toasterspark wrote: »

Bom chicka wah wah!

Ew, gross. Gaga me with a spoonful of Urban Dictionary definition #2*. (Number 1 is golden, though.) Oh, and it's actually Boom!

*I cannot display the link here for PG13 scatological reasons.

pickarooney wrote: »

There's a bit in the T&C about not sharing accounts with other people but nothing about alternative personalities...

Are we mining a multi-user loophole? You think I'm Dad . . . do I look like a fatty? That happened to Mum on Day 1 of our site. Dad metamorphed into a Ninja that infamous day. Good thing he's not around right now . . . I won't tell him if you don't.

bluewolf wrote: »

I don't want to hear about his dad getting anyone's juices flowing...

I am Nerfy . . . an 18 year old woman . . . I look a bit like Yolandi.

Hakuna Matata . . .

Turtwig

I know it's looking a bit ahead but can the theme for the next VOAT be something about the secret life and translations of Agent Weebley?

No, I haven't even thought of anything for this one yet!
I have friday off, supposedly, that can be writing day

Toasterspark

Jernal wrote: »

I know it's looking a bit ahead but can the theme for the next VOAT be something about the secret life and translations of Agent Weebley?

I think all the Youtube links would take down boards.ie if we had a VOAT based on that.

pickarooney

Agent Weebley wrote: »

I am Nerfy . . . an 18 year old woman . . . I look a bit like Yolandi.

I have to say I love that track. Cheers.

Brian Lighthouse

Damn, just saw this now. I`d like to enter another VOAT. Not sure if I`ll get the time. We`ll see though.

Das Kitty

How's everyone getting on with this? I started mine last week but I've been in a terrible funk since. I can't concentrate and want to spend all my spare time outside of work sleeping. I'm still hoping I can finish though.

pickarooney

Das Kitty wrote: »

How's everyone getting on with this? I started mine last week but I've been in a terrible funk since. I can't concentrate and want to spend all my spare time outside of work sleeping. I'm still hoping I can finish though.

Ehm, congratulations?

Das Kitty

pickarooney wrote: »

Ehm, congratulations?

You can remove the question mark. :P

Thanks. I forgot how crap this bit is.

I will start tonight or tomorrow, have the time off now

Toasterspark

I wrote a 12-page script sample the other day, so I've been writing. Just not VOAT writing. I'll start soon. I promise... kinda. Maybe. I don't promise.

Toasterspark

Oh God! The VOAT story!

*checks closing date*

Oh thank goodness, I can forget about it for a couple more days.

Blush_01

I have cellulitis on my face. One of my eyes was virtually swollen closed yesterday, though it's way better today. That said, my face is still lopsided. And I'm trying all I can not to scratch the rest of my face which currently has the texture of sandpaper. There, my excuse for not starting yet.

It's a good one, right? Well, only if I write with my face. Which I do... not. Man, I have got to stop procrastinating.

Apparently, you remember things better if you write them in blue rather than black ink. Yup, random fact for the day.

I came up with an idea but I duno if I'll have time tbh

Toasterspark

bluewolf wrote: »

I came up with an idea but I duno if I'll have time tbh

*looks at bluewolf with a disappointed yet hopeful look*

Ventures of a Toasters-park

Oryx

My half ar5ed, poorly written effort will never see the light of day, sadly, as I wont get a chance to finish it. Probably just as well.

Turtwig

HOLY CRAP THE DEADLINE FOR THIS IS TOMORROW!:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Rubecula

This has been a very hard VOAT. (For me anyway, if you had a good idea I am sure it wasn't too bad) But It has been enjoyable.

Silly question but did you know that VOAT is said to be the correct spelling for the word Vote?

One of the useless facts I dragged out from the depths of my computer while i was scratching around for ideas.

How many stories will actually beat the deadline?

Das Kitty

Seeing as someone else has finished I'm going to do my best to get mine done.

Pray for Mojo.

Okay toasters, I've dashed off a quick story, just for you. You better vote for it. If you can identify it.
:pac:

not great but better than nothing
I thought the deadline was today
super productive!

Back to study now...

Rubecula

bluewolf wrote: »

Okay toasters, I've dashed off a quick story, just for you. You better vote for it. If you can identify it.
:pac:

not great but better than nothing
I thought the deadline was tomorrow
super productive!

Back to study now...

I thought it was tomorrow too. Have I missed it?

I'm a bit special
That should have said: "I thought the deadline was today, not tomorrow."

Toasterspark

I still have to write mine! Pressure's on now!!