WotW Round II: Discussion Thread

I was thinking about pitching a sort of bi-monthly event for Creator's Cafe similar to this after the end of WotW. Basically my idea was what we do for WotW now, except sans competition. Prompts would be given out and people are free to write stories to those prompts (it'd be the same prompt for everyone) and upload them for free critique/review (of which at least I'd read all of). I was thinking something dumb like "Truce/Treaty of the Words", heh. I for one love writing but often have little impetus to do so. I figure with something like this people can get plenty of practice and it can culminate yearly with the War of the Words. A pace of about 1-2 prompts a month with a set deadline to post and a loose limit on length would be in place. I just figure something like this would be great for whoever wants to increase their writing chops. Plus, reviewing all these stories has given me something to do and I'd like to continue doing so. Anyone have any thoughts?

Originally Posted by Ayos

Also, I had the idea of having the winners of this first round come up with the prompts for this secondary competition, but I could come up with some prompts myself.

I would personally enjoy coming up with these prompts. I could definitely create some better themes than the stuff Dekoa's used so far (Roadsters? Ugh). I've gone through enough writing classes and experienced numerous exercises, so it wouldn't be hard to think of some good stuff in different styles than we've seen.

I think the idea of other writers coming up with prompts is fantastic, given that some people have been less-than-pleased about prompts, and the fact that Dekoa has himself said that it's hard coming up with novel (haha) ideas.

Originally Posted by Crash Landon

I would personally enjoy coming up with these prompts. I could definitely create some better themes than the stuff Dekoa's used so far (Roadsters? Ugh). I've gone through enough writing classes and experienced numerous exercises, so it wouldn't be hard to think of some good stuff in different styles than we've seen.

I for one, welcome our prompt overlords and will smite down those who say otherwise.

Seriously though, good idea.

I say that the losers come up with the writing prompts for the winners
that would definately make it interesting....

Well, that would maybe work for WotW, but not this secondary competition, and the only "safe" way for it to work for WotW is if we staggered the people giving the prompts, so that the losers wouldn't be giving prompts to the person who ousted them in their round. You can imagine how easily someone might give out a crappy prompt to someone who beat them. Much better for them to give prompts to someone they've not competed against.

But, all that is for Dekoa to decide, since he's the MC.

I would be all for more community writing events after WoTW -- in the 5 (yes, five) years I've been visiting this place, this event has been the most fun so far, for me. I would have had participated in the first WoTW too, except that my visits had been sporadic last year, and I completely missed it.

Regarding the prompts -- again, I was one of the two who received the oft-mentioned Roadsters prompt, and while I was taken aback by it initially, I found that writing a story that fit the prompt, and yet was somewhat original, was an interesting challenge.

I would be fine with any kind of prompt, and who writes them, as long as they aren't too specific, like "Write a story about how your grandpa ate a frog and passed away", or something like that.

Originally Posted by Ayos

Well, that would maybe work for WotW, but not this secondary competition, and the only "safe" way for it to work for WotW is if we staggered the people giving the prompts, so that the losers wouldn't be giving prompts to the person who ousted them in their round. You can imagine how easily someone might give out a crappy prompt to someone who beat them. Much better for them to give prompts to someone they've not competed against.

But, all that is for Dekoa to decide, since he's the MC.

That's exactly what I mean, though. The ousted tries very hard to fuq them up, and the winner is the one that can outwit their bad prompts by making a stellar story.

It just adds a little hint of lyme, in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Stop Sign

I would be fine with any kind of prompt, and who writes them, as long as they aren't too specific, like "Write a story about how your grandpa ate a frog and passed away", or something like that.

That reminds me, back in High School I had a writing class and some of the assignments we were given were very close to that level of being nice.
So thoughts like this: "Write a story about THAT, are you f-ing nuts?", would pass through my mind.

Also, when is the reveal in the authors going to take place, for those who didn't auto-advance? I'm curious to see who wrote what (Despite my lack of comments/reviews ).

Originally Posted by Dark Nation

Also, when is the reveal in the authors going to take place, for those who didn't auto-advance? I'm curious to see who wrote what (Despite my lack of comments/reviews ).

Me too. I asked Dekoa if he would post a chart somewhere, but so far he hasn't responded. It would be nice if the winners and losers were posted in one location so we could access them more easily. I suppose I could start tracking it on my own.

As far as prompts go, I recall something we did in class recently:

look at a picture (in this case a link to a picture)
stare at it
come up with a story explaining it.

We did one with a brown house. Come to find out, the girl inside went insane...

Its vague pictures like that that make great stories. I know mine was (especially since I was like 1 of 2 who actually did it. For fun, of course, I never do my work... j/k. I'm a good kid...)

Yeah, I believe I mentioned picture prompts a little while back, I enjoy those as much as anybody. If I end up in charge of the prompts for this secondary competition, you can bet I'll hand out a few picture prompts to spice things up.

I am hoping against all hope that (if I make it to future rounds) one of our prompts will be to write a children's story. I think that would be so much fun, and it would be challenging to write a story that a child would understand and enjoy without insulting their intelligence.

I've updated all the current threads that have their polls closed. I also put them in the first post too.

Additional Spam:
Oh and any thoughts on making a losers bracket or something then thats fine with me, but I don't think I can come up with the prompts for it this time.

Where are today's stories?

Originally Posted by Dekoa

Additional Spam:
Oh and any thoughts on making a losers bracket or something then thats fine with me, but I don't think I can come up with the prompts for it this time.

Considering you haven't addressed the numerous offers for better prompts....

I don't think that would be a problem.

It looks like everyone is getting burned out on voting and writing reviews now, but I'm going to dig into those last four stories today, I promise.

Come on, guys, don't quit now! The finish line for this first round is in sight!

Ok, so i'm doing round 2. I've decided to stagger the pairs again, as there are 7 pairs, and i find myself barley able to handle two stories a day (if you haven't noticed i'm seroiusly behind on my reviewing and voting) I'm going to be sending out the prompts as soon as round 1 ends on daily intervals. I'm allowing for 10 days of writing, and 5 days of voting.

I look forward to working with you all.

Originally Posted by Alice

It looks like everyone is getting burned out on voting and writing reviews now, but I'm going to dig into those last four stories today, I promise.

Come on, guys, don't quit now! The finish line for this first round is in sight!

I plan to trudge through the remaining 3-4 rounds tomorrow. Got so bogged down recently.