NYC Finals Update

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I've been behind in sending this out, but about 2 weeks ago, the final results were released for the NYC Midnight Flash Fiction 2020 competition.

I didn't make it into one of the top spots.

There's some obvious disappointment, but I'm still proud to have been in a group of 75 down from 4,100+.  The judges provided some really great feedback and seemed like overall the story did well, but I also imagine that all of the final group stories were very well written.

I'll try to add the judges feedback and some details to the NYC section of my site.  I've been lax on building that up over the past year.

The same week I got the results of the finals for Flash, I also received the results for the first round of the 250-word Microfiction competition.  I don't know why but I can't seem to break the secret for the 100/250 competitions and advance further.  This one got an honorable mention which is great, but like I said, it wasn't enough to advance to the next round.

The prompts for the 250-word piece were Sci-Fi (genre) / Fixing a leak (action) / Heavy (word).  I felt pretty good about the piece, but it didn't quite make the cut.  The judges feedback was reasonably positive, but I'm always perplexed when they ask for things like more back-story in a piece of microfiction.  Perhaps that's just an indication that the story doesn't work quite as well without more exposition.

In any event, getting two different near misses in the same week is rough.  2021 is starting off slow.  Going to have to buckle down and try harder!

 

NYC Midnight – On to the Finals!!!

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The results are in for the third NYC Midnight 2020 Flash Fiction challenge and I scooped 2nd place in my group.

I'm stunned -- even more than I was getting the win in the last challenge.

This will be my first time making it to the final round.  4,100 original entrants, down to now the top 3 from 25 groups... so just me and 74 others slugging it out this weekend.  No idea what the prompts will be, but I'm a crazy mix of anxious nerves waiting to kick this off.

Wish me luck!

Screenshot 2020-12-02 183912

NYC Flash Fiction 2020

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A couple of weeks ago I was stunned to learn that I managed a first place finish in my group for NYC Midnight 2020 Flash Fiction round 1.

This round has two challenges.  For the first challenge, my prompts were Comedy/Car Wash/An Apple.  I had a lot of fun with this round, crafting a quirky tale titled 'Pomme and Circumstance' about a space car wash worker that manages to get himself involved in a precarious situation with a highly controlled substance -- apples.  I was proud of the piece I churned out, and it managed a 5th place finish for the round.  Not bad.

The second challenge was a bit tougher for me to write.  The prompts were Drama/A Gymnasium/A Fanny Pack.  Drama can be an uphill genre to write (at least for me).  That said, it's can be pretty broad and I managed a piece about an elderly lady and her younger healthcare worker who has become close with his patient.  The story has a tragic ending and while I was happy with how the piece turned out, I wasn't sure about its chances.  Imagine my surprise when it came back with first place!

With the 5th and 1st place finishes, it gave me enough points for an overall 1st place win for my group.  Did I mention... stunned.

The 3rd challenge kicked off on October, 16th and my prompts were Drama (again!)/An Audition/A Keyboard.  This round will be tougher still as only the top 5 from the previous groups move forward and they are usually very solid writers.  Last year, I got this far and managed an honorable mention, but didn't move on.  I'm hoping the story I crafted, titled 'The Waiting Room' will propel me into the finals.  This story is about a man who has to face some of his past transgressions before being allowed to move on in the afterlife.  Some of the stories in my group have been posted in the forums and I'm surprised that other writers decided to go a similar route with afterlife/death kind of stories.  I thought taking this angle on the "audition" part of the prompt might be a bit outside of the box, but it seems I wasn't as original as I thought.

In any event, making it this far again is a huge confidence boost and I continue to enjoy participating in this competition year-over-year.

Tint

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I've been trying to get this piece published for well over a year and it saw it's fair share of rejections.  I really liked this story and I knew I'd eventually find it a home, but it's sometimes disheartening to have to wait that long.

Well, the fine folks as Flashes finally gave 'Tint' a look and it's up on their site today.

I always liked the use of color in writing, it brings scenes to life and, for me personally, makes them more memorable.  So I decided to write a piece that played almost entirely off of that idea.  A lot of feedback I received while drafting the piece was how the readers enjoyed the narration and point of view -- i.e. the voice.  That, combined with the use of color as a vehicle, I think really helped bring this story to life.

See what you think -- Tint

It hath arrived!

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A tad late in reporting, but last week this arrived:

I mentioned this in an earlier post, but Chris Fielden runs a number of challenges and puts together anthologies from the submitted works.   And I have one of my stories in volume 3.  The proceeds from the anthologies go to support a charity in the UK named The Daisy Garland - a charity dedicated to assisting children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

If you're at all interested in purchasing a copy, they can be found on Amazon:

Nonsensically Challenged - Volume 3

I receive no money from this at all, just the extreme satisfaction of seeing my work in (physical) print and sharing alongside some really clever and talented writers, and also helping a good cause.  And hey, if you don't like my story, there's 99 others in the anthology, so there has to be one that will appeal to you!

I personally purchased 2 copies.  I'd like to say it was one each for my daughters, but neither seemed interested so I guess I have one to carry in each hand now...

Nonsense!

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So, today I got an email.  I wrote the story many months ago and submitted it to one of the (many) challenges on Chris Fielden's website.  Well, now it gets to be in a book!

The story is in the "Published Works" section on the right hand side of the main page of my site, or you can click here: Honour's Harvest (story #211)

Email from Chris on 8/28/20:

Hello

You’re receiving this email because you are one of the authors featured in Nonsensically Challenged Volume 3.

The book is scheduled for release on Saturday 26th September 2020.

I’ve prepared a page about the book on my site. You can see it here:

https://www.christopherfielden.com/books/nonsensically-challenged-volume-3.php

The eBook is available for pre-order now (links are on the page about the book). Links to buy the printed anthology will be added the day before the launch.

I’ve developed a 3 step strategy for launch day. It’s super simple:

BUY – REVIEW – SHARE

There is a page on my website that explains the plan in more detail, showing why it’s used:

https://www.christopherfielden.com/writing-challenges/how-to-sell-books.php

With your help, we could make Nonsensically Challenged Volume 3 an Amazon bestseller. Please visit the page, read it carefully and follow the plan on launch day – you’ll help us sell more books, gain readers for your stories and generate money for charity J

If you have any questions about the launch, please reply to this email.

Cheers, Chris

Nerve – Podcast

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A few weeks ago I was approached through the website by a gentleman that read my story, 'Nerve', published by Bandit Fiction back in May.  He was interested in using the story as part of his podcast to teach English to advanced and intermediate learners.  We began a dialogue over email and I'm happy to say that the podcast is now available.

I'd like to thank Laurence for this opportunity to feature the story in this way.  It's something I didn't expect and it was a pleasure to work on with him.

Please have a listen at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1110122/4709240-short-story-nerve

You can also download the transcript here along with other episodes of Laurence's podcast: https://www.jamesfable.com/podcast.html

Laurence's website, under his pen name James Fable, can be found here:  https://www.jamesfable.com/

 

Our Life in Ink and Skin – by Jake TS Wryte

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One of the very prominent fixtures of the Flash Fiction Master's group that I've been a part of for a while now is a gentleman by the name of Jake TS Wryte.  Jake has powerfully strong voice as a writer and I've thoroughly enjoyed reviewing his pieces over the years.

Every Day Fiction picked up one of the stories I had the pleasure of reading a few months ago.  Its a bittersweet piece that hits some very deep emotional spots with beautiful and impactful prose.  Very worth your time for a read.

Our Life in Ink and Skin by Jake TS Wryte