Re: Fortnightly Writing Competition: The Opposite of Christmas WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Started by selmiak, Mon 21/12/2015 20:17:00

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selmiak

Yes, my thought process for the theme went exactly how you'd imagine it:
Well, it's christmas, everything is about christmas, why not have a competition about the opposite of Christmas?
But what is the opposite if Christmas?
Well, let's have the creative writers of the AGS Forums find out.

And that's why there are no pictures in this post.

Your theme for this contest is : Write a (more or less) short story about the opposite of Christmas.
No more and no less!

You have time to write your story until the 4th of January 2016.
Should be enough to sober up from eating too much and excessive new year celebrations.

Voting will happen in the following categories:
Best Protagonist: Was the porotagonist likeable? Or so unlikeable that the protagonist stands out even more?
Best Plot: What's it all about?
Best Atmosphere: Did it capture the spirit of not Christmas?
Best Writing Style: words good?
Best Worldbuilding: Is it just a glimpse into some place somewhere or did you feel like it hints at a bigger world?




< previous competition - Concrete Poetry <

Mandle

My entry:
Spoiler


"!thgin-doog a lla ot dna ,lla ot samtsirhC yppaH"
,thgis fo tuo evord eh ere‘ ,mialcxe mih draeh I tuB
.eltsiht a fo nwod eht ekil welf lla yeht yawa dnA
,eltsihw a evag maet sih ot ,hgiels sih ot gnarps eH

!esor eh yenmihc eht pu ,don a gnivig dnA
,eson sih fo edisa regnif sih gniyal dnA
.krej a htiw denrut neht ,sgnikcots eht lla dellif dnA
,krow sih ot thgiarts tnew tub ,drow a ton ekops eH

.daerd ot gnihton dah I wonk ot em evag nooS
,daeh sih fo tsiwt a dna eye sih fo kniw A
!flesym fo etips ni ,mih was I nehw dehgual I dnA
,fle dlo ylloj thgir a ,pmulp dna ybbuhc saw eH

!yllej fo luflwob a ekil ,dehgual eh nehw koohs tahT
,ylleb dnuor elttil a dna ecaf daorb a dah eH
.htaerw a ekil daeh sih delcricne ti ekoms eht dnA
,hteet sih ni thgit dleh eh epip a fo pmuts ehT

.wons eht sa etihw sa saw nihc sih fo draeb eht dnA
,wob a ekil pu nward saw htuom elttil llord siH
!yrrehc a ekil eson sih ,sesor ekil erew skeehc siH
!yrrem woh selpmid sih !delkniwt yeht woh-seye siH

.kcap sih gninepo tsuj ,relddep a ekil dekool eh dnA
,kcab sih no gnulf dah eh syoT fo eldnub A
.toos dna sehsa htiw dehsinrat lla erew sehtolc sih dnA
,toof sih ot daeh sih morf ,ruf ni lla desserd saw eH

.dnuob a htiw emac salohciN tS yenmihc eht nwoD
,dnuora gninrut saw dna ,daeh ym ni werd I sA
.fooh elttil hcae fo gniwap dna gnicnarp ehT
foor eht no draeh I ,gnilkniwt a ni ,neht dnA

.oot salohciN tS dna ,syoT fo lluf hgiels eht htiW
,welf yeht sresruoc eht pot-esuoh eht ot pu oS
.yks eht ot tnuom ,elcatsbo na htiw teem yeht nehW
,ylf enacirruh dliw eht erofeb taht sevael yrd sA

"!lla yawa hsaD !yawa hsaD !yawa hsad woN
!llaw eht fo pot eht ot !hcrop eht fo pot eht oT
!neztilB dna rennoD no ,no !dipuC ,nO !temoC ,nO
!nexiV dna recnarP ,won !recnaD ,won !rehsaD woN"

!eman yb meht dellac dna ,detuohs dna ,deltsihw eh dnA
,emac yeht sresruoc sih selgae naht dipar eroM
.kciN tS eb tsum ti tnemom a ni wenk I
,kciuq dna ylevil os ,revird dlo elttil a htiW

.reednier ynnit thgie dna ,hgiels erutainim a tuB
,raeppa dluohs seye gnirednow ym ot tahw ,nehW
.woleb stcejbo ot yad-dim fo ertsul eht evaG
wons nellaf-wen eht fo tsaerb eht no noom ehT

.hsas eht pu werht dna srettuhs eht nepo eroT
,hsalf a ekil welf I wodniw eht ot yawA
.rettam eht saw tahw ees ot deb eht morf gnarps I
,rettalc a hcus esora ereht nwal eht no tuo nehW

.pan s'retniw gnol a rof sniarb ruo delttes tsuj daH
,pac ym ni I dna ,feihcrek‘ reh ni ammam dnA
.sdaeh rieht ni decnad smulp-ragus fo snoisiv elihW
,sdeb rieht ni guns lla deltsen erew nerdlihc ehT

.ereht eb dluow noos salohciN tS taht sepoh nI
,erac htiw yenmihc eht yb gnuh erew sgnikcots ehT
.esuom a neve ton ,gnirrits saw erutaerc a toN
esuoh eht hguorht lla nehw ,samtsirhC erofeb thgin eht sawT

[close]

JudasFm


selmiak

This is great Mandle!  :-D
And for the readers too lazy to read everything backwards:
Spoiler

Mandle

It's interesting at the least to see the rhyming scheme put at the front of each line, and also backwards...For someone putting more thought into such stuff than I will this could reveal a very profound insight into the basic structure of poetr...

OH CRAP!!! Jacksepticeye has a new Undertale video out... LATERZ!!!

selmiak


Baron


selmiak

With Baron signaling interest (and probably playing it to the max and delivering a last minute entry, so be prepared) the competition is rising.
Are there only 2 writers on the AGS forums telling their fictional opposite christmas stories? Time will tell... so get your keyboard clicking!

JudasFm

I'd like to enter, but I've done a lot of head-scratching and I still don't fully understand what the prompt's getting at, so I'm sitting this one out ??? Plus, I'm working overtime trying to finish my MAGS December entry before the deadline :-D

Noto

I remember I caught wind of there being writing competitions like these a few months ago, and I completely forgot I wanted to participate until now. It may be a bit late for me this month because I'm finding this one only today (and the theme doesn't resonate with me too much), but I'd still really love to be a part of them in the future. Short story writing is my passion, I just hadn't really given it thought to applying it in the AGS community.

kconan

I'm working on a song about Santa's evil twin brother, who steals from little girls and boys...So I should have an entry.

EDIT: I've heard of a Krampus horror movie, but I don't know anything about it.  My entry is just about the opposite of Santa Claus.  Rather than give presents this guy steals them, he's mean to children, etc...


kconan

'Tis the Season, but for whom?  Its Santa's thieving, egotistical, and evil twin brother:  Swindle Claus! 
*Sung to the tune of Here Comes Santa Claus*

Here comes Swindle Claus
Here comes Swindle Claus
Right from
His stockade
Blitzed vixens
And all his shady peers
Pulling on windowpanes

Alarms are ringing
Children screaming
All wary searchlights are bright
Hide your belongings
And say your prayers
'Cause Swindle Claus
Bums tonight

Here comes Swindle Claus
Here comes Swindle Claus
Right from
His stockade
He's got a gag
Fitted for noise
For boys and girls waylaid

Hear those periphary bells
Jirple jarple
Oh, what a cynical sight
Duck your head
Cover up your spread
'Cause Swindle Claus
Bums tonight

Here comes Swindle Claus
Here comes Swindle Claus
Right from
His stockade
He does care
If you're rich or poor
But loots you just the same

Swindle knows
That we're some broad's children
And Dirty Matt makes alibis airtight
Fill your hearth
With cantankerous Bill Laimbeer
'Cause Swindle Claus
Bums tonight

Here comes Swindle Claus
Here comes Swindle Claus
Right from
His stockade
He bums around
When the search flames out
It's a larcenous morn again

He'll fleece all your worth
With some fraud
If we hollow the skylight
Let's prep shanks
For the horde above
'Cause Swindle Claus
Is bummin' tonight
'Cause Swindle Claus
Is bummin' tonight
'Cause Swindle Claus
Is bummin' tonight

Sinitrena

We are quite a poetic bunch around Christmas, aren't we?

Here's my enry:

The Last Candle

A Christmas bauble sparkles bright
in every living room.
You see the hope, you see the light,
while others're waiting for their tomb.

“Help the helpless, feed the poor.”
The Christmas spirit's strong.
“Give to those who need it more.”
You look away; do nothing wrong.

The feast is done
and gifts are given.
You helped no-one.
You are forgiven.

Why should you open up your eyes?
Why should you listen to the cries?
Who cares about the world outside?
It is enough â€" you tried.

The candle from your Christmas tree
falls slowly to the ground.
You are happy, you are free
- and dance to death's own sound.

“Open up your hearts and doors.”
“Listen to the cries.”
The happy family is yours
until the day it dies.

The family is gone,
the children finally asleep.
You helped no-one
of those who weep.

Why should you look beyond your door?
Why open up your house and floor?
Who cares about a starving child?
It is enough â€" you cried.

Baron

When in Rome....

How the Gimp Stoled Kryzmis!!1!

Every Penik down in Peniksville loved Christmas a ton,
They thought it arousing and wonderfully fun.
But on the top of Mount Harlot, in The Fancy Man wreck,
Lived a soul that stood loathing it out on the poop deck.

It was Oceanspirit Dennis, the villainous scourge,
of oceans and internets and the multiverse purge!
The most feared emo ninja pirate this side of Taiwan
A most powerful battler despite being so scrawn!

“They iz havings teh singings and dancings!” he raved.
“They iz givings teh gizmos and boxed-puppies enslaved!
“They iz roastings chest hair nuts and sharings egged-Snog!
“They iz rappings teh bling-bling!1!” he said eyes-agog.

Then he turned to look over his mutinous crew,
His uneyepatched eye roving over man and beast, too.
There was Life-Partner Ray, both first-mate and first-rate,
(Except that he cheated behind your back when out late.)
Then there was Pre-Op Pete, collapsed on the deck
Drunk as a cougar, or more stoned than heck.
And then the most twisted and craven and weak
Was wee Mr. Cheeses, who merely said “Squeak!”

“I is havings teh thinkings!” Dennis spat out aloud
To the murderous, lazy and gaseous crowd.
“The Peniks iz gettings very exciting, mefinks,
Abowt teh hole Khryzmis thing-a-ma-jinx!
But I iz havings teh plan; a brillyant thawt:
We will bee steelings teh Kryzmis form themz, teh lot!

“We will disguys ourselfs az Kryzmis carrotkers,
And trick teh Peniks into thinkings weer merriters!
Zen wen evry1 iz ass-leaping, wheel spare no remorse
In teh lootings and plunderz, like Geeks from a Whorse!

Then he hoed himself up like a dwarven-princess afeared,
Complete with white-trimmed red-gown and a beard!
And he dolled up LP with sparkling green fleece
Pointy ears, pointy boots, and a curly-pointy cod-piece.
And he gussied  ol' Pete to look like a Snow Ho
By using lots of make-up and rolling him in dough.
And finally he made a reindeer out of poor Mr. Cheeses
Using herb-sprig for antlers which gave him the sneezes!

They wanted for a sleigh on that desolate summit,
So they pushed the wreck of The Fancy Man o'er the edge to plummet,
Like a bobsled steered by a drunken Mr. Bean,
From the peak of Mount Harlot in two minutes clean,
They arrived down in Peniksville like lips to a flask,
Fast as lightning to metal, hot to their task!

The first Penik perked up to see them with glee
Before being hewn down by Dennis like a fine Christmas tree!
Other Peniks were aroused to their presence anon,
But those Peniks too were mowed down like grass in the lawn!

The only Peniks that survived the clippers
Stayed holed in their holes and zipped in their zippers.
And slowly, despite the threat lurking beyond,
Those Peniks succumbed to ass-leaping (of which they were fond).

“We iz havings the Peniks rite where we wantz them!”
Denniz gleefully gloated full of vim and venom.
“All limp and flaccid, ass-leaping in there wholes,
Thoze Peniks will soon feel teh cleats form my soles!!1!”

And the Peniks were kicked till they were blue in the head
And then they were robbed, and some were even fed
To the Sarlacc Virgina pit on the outskirts of town
Just to prove to the townsfolk Dennis' ruthless renown!

Then they sailed off into the sunset, The Fancy Man crew
Loaded with presents and loot and reputations that grew
From the sad doings in Peniksville that one fateful yule
Spoilt and despoiled by Dennis, that tool.

-------------

Yeah, well, it's pretty much my idea from last comp, just fleshed out a bit more.  I really couldn't think of anything less Victorian Christmassy.... (roll)

selmiak

Time is up, in every timezone worldwide, please cast you votes for the entries you liked the most of the 4 entries among these voting categories:

Best Protagonist: Was the porotagonist likeable? Or so unlikeable that the protagonist stands out even more?
Best Plot: What's it all about?
Best Atmosphere: Did it capture the spirit of not Christmas?
Best Writing Style: words good?
Best Worldbuilding: Is it just a glimpse into some place somewhere or did you feel like it hints at a bigger world?

Voting will go on until saturday the 9th of january, should be enough time to read everything and cast a vote. Have fun reading these 4 very unchristmassy stories.

Sinitrena

Best Protagonist: kconan - I like the idea of Santa's evil brother, even though we don't actually get the information who Swindle Claus is in the text itself, only in kconan's description beforehand. I still reward this point here. (Also, Oceanspirit Dennis wasn't created for this contest...)

Best Plot: Baron - Very descriptive and an actual story with a plot. (Mandle's entry also offers a storyline but it's not Mandle's story.)

Best Atmosphere: Mandle - I like the atmosphere in Baron's and kconan's work and I'm not sure you can call what I'm voting for "atmosphere" in Mandle's entry, but the sheer creativity of this deserves at least one vote from me and I can't really decide between Baron and kconan in this category anyway, so yeah, I vote for Mandle here because I don't know what category would be better.

Best Writing Style: kconan - I like it that you made it fit an existing tune.

Best Worldbuilding: Baron - Baron's world is simply more descriptive and detailed than kconan's.


Merry belated Christmas and a happy New Year to everyone. :-*

kconan

Best Protagonist: Sinitrena for "You"

Best Plot: Baron

Best Atmosphere: A point for Mandle's word reversing.

Best Writing Style: Sinitrena for clever wordplay that ultimately brings Christmas guilt rather than cheer.

Best Worldbuilding: Baron takes us back to the World of OSD.

Baron

Best Protagonist: kconan for Swindle Claus, and not just because he's the only original character in the other entries. ;)
Best Plot: What's it all about? Sinitrena.  It's a bit of an abstract plot wherein you have to fill in the blanks in your mind, but at least it's thought provoking.
Best Atmosphere: kconan.  I like how the kitschy feeling to the song fits with the petty thief's seasonal rampage. :)
Best Writing Style: kconan for clever word-play like "blitzéd vixens" and "Swindle Claus bums tonight."
Best World-building: Sinitrena, since her piece hints at a broader world that *hint* *hint* might actually be all around us.

MiteWiseacreLives!


Best Protagonist: kconan, Dirty Matt is a winner :-D
Best Plot: Baron, OSD sacking a town.. of Penicks.. oh boy (wrong)
Best Atmosphere: kconan, some good old Un-Merry-Swindling fits the theme!
Best Writing Style: Baron, I'm so envious of your OSD rhymes!
Best Worldbuilding: Baron, very uncomfortably vivid mental image.

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