Arthur’s Comments (group member since Oct 25, 2008)

Arthur’s comments from the Short Story Contests group.

Instructions:

Please do not use a story previously used on goodreads. After the week's contest, you are welcome to put it on your profile writings, but please refrain from using stories you have already put on there.

You have until Saturday afternoon to post a story on here. Please post it directly onto this topic, rather than posting a link. Also, please do not discuss stories on here. You must go to Weekly Short Story Contest Discussion for that. This will avoid any clutter and confusion, so that people can simply come on here and read the story, without having to read comments on the story.

This week's Topic is >Marvel. If anyone has any objections to this topic, please go to the Objections post. The rules are pretty loose. You could write pretty much anything. Just have the word in the story.

Weekly stories must be at least 500 words long to 2,500 words long. (if the whole story won't fit in one post, divide it into two)

Good luck!

Arthur [acting for Clare:]

P.S. PLEASE say if you would like to have your story on Short Story Galore, if you win. This way it wouldn't take me ages to get your consent afterwards. This includes adding a link to your stories. If you want to have your story on the Short Story Galore, but not the link, just say so.

Congratulations Jennifer for winning. You win the week's contest by default because you posted a story but no one else.

Pity, there are no more to read this week.

Instructions:

Please do not use a story previously used on goodreads. After the week's contest, you are welcome to put it on your profile writings, but please refrain from using stories you have already put on there.

You have until Saturday afternoon to post a story on here. Please post it directly onto this topic, rather than posting a link. Also, please do not discuss stories on here. You must go to Weekly Short Story Contest Discussion for that. This will avoid any clutter and confusion, so that people can simply come on here and read the story, without having to read comments on the story.

This week's Topic is Chase. If anyone has any objections to this topic, please go to the Objections post. The rules are pretty loose. You could write pretty much anything. Just have the word in the story.

Weekly stories must be at least 500 words long to 2,500 words long. (if the whole story won't fit in one post, divide it into two)

Good luck!

Arthur [acting for Clare:]

P.S. PLEASE say if you would like to have your story on Short Story Galore, if you win. This way it wouldn't take me ages to get your consent afterwards. This includes adding a link to your stories. If you want to have your story on the Short Story Galore, but not the link, just say so.

Instructions:

Please do not use a story previously used on goodreads. After the week's contest, you are welcome to put it on your profile writings, but please refrain from using stories you have already put on there.

You have until Saturday afternoon to post a story on here. Please post it directly onto this topic, rather than posting a link. Also, please do not discuss stories on here. You must go to Weekly Short Story Contest Discussion for that. This will avoid any clutter and confusion, so that people can simply come on here and read the story, without having to read comments on the story.

This week's Topic is Cheap. If anyone has any objections to this topic, please go to the Objections post. The rules are pretty loose. You could write pretty much anything. Just have the word in the story.

Weekly stories must be at least 500 words long to 2,500 words long. (if the whole story won't fit in one post, divide it into two)

Good luck!

Arthur [acting for Clare:]

P.S. PLEASE say if you would like to have your story on Short Story Galore, if you win. This way it wouldn't take me ages to get your consent afterwards. This includes adding a link to your stories. If you want to have your story on the Short Story Galore, but not the link, just say so.

Instructions:

Please do not use a story previously used on goodreads. After the week's contest, you are welcome to put it on your profile writings, but please refrain from using stories you have already put on there.

You have until Saturday afternoon to post a story on here. Please post it directly onto this topic, rather than posting a link. Also, please do not discuss stories on here. You must go to Weekly Short Story Contest Discussion for that. This will avoid any clutter and confusion, so that people can simply come on here and read the story, without having to read comments on the story.

This week's Topic is Pimples. If anyone has any objections to this topic, please go to the Objections post. The rules are pretty loose. You could write pretty much anything. Just have the word in the story.

Weekly stories must be at least 500 words long to 2,500 words long. (if the whole story won't fit in one post, divide it into two)

Good luck!

Arthur [acting for Clare:]

P.S. PLEASE say if you would like to have your story on Short Story Galore, if you win. This way it wouldn't take me ages to get your consent afterwards. This includes adding a link to your stories. If you want to have your story on the Short Story Galore, but not the link, just say so.

The vote has a winner. Or winners - a tie between Olivia and Gwen. Congratulation to you both for your story. Gwen's short story Utopia was excellent and worth a read. Olivia's a treasure.
I will soon have to learn how to update the group but until I do things will have to go slow.

For now the topic and contest is closed. It's been a good week for S.S.C. and our members because we have captured a few writers for this week’s contest, rules are winner has the most votes; please vote in the poll.

We will start having a new weekly contest starting every Monday. See you soon.

Title: Mary Anne and Her Editor
Author: Arthur
Words: 1488
Notes: I’m sorry if you can read this…
..........

“Mary Anne.”

Mary Anne?

She heard her name while she droned near being asleep while in her thoughts. Mary Anne had no claim to knowing the weather. She really kept away from the blitzes about the entertainment on the internet. One thing she did do although was write column after column for a rag paper. Only the pay wasn’t so good.

Now suddenly she received a sizable pay cheque with the increase. Recently Mary Anne’s articles had taken on many controversies and now were selling as her advice. Indeed had just helped the Wig Standard Entertainment from a starving paper out of poverty.

Two more weeks would pass before her editor-in-chief and the man she feared or loathed for a year since she came to the big Wig Standard Entertainment was congratulating her upon the threshold of his office. He even offered her one of his gentlemanly cigars. Ted Nutshells smiled when he held out the box. She declined and passed on the information that smoking would cause cancer, he snapped it shut again unsure how to judge little Miss Mary Anne.

Not long ago she had started here he thought and now she has single handedly created the largest buzz in history with her own personal fan cult. Mary Anne held her breath from the smell off his breath at his invitation to take a chair.

She shook her head as she found his white cold face and wondered when the last time was he had spent any in some sun. He took his time before speaking too. Doing the dankest thing he took out clippers and cut off one end of his editor-in-chief expensive cigars to smoke.

She choked as he lighted.

“I like your work. I don’t say it often enough.” He paused. “To you.” He finished.

She felt she was supposed to grin or something instead she found she felt irritated at his proposals and sweaty behind her collar. She was due some real raises and had saved the paper probably from being bankrupt. Her column means big money only now she had the queer feelings everyone thought about, it was about time to try to cash in on the success. There needed to be a legal contract with bigger money to boot. She wondered as she watched him as he puffed away on the cigar.

“It comes to our attention you are a big name and this is a small, or as this paper had been, even, in the past we tried to carry your stories across to as many people as we could only we feel we can’t continue in this speed.” Another pause. “So I suggest we try and sell your column rights to a few others of the Medias. They could be paying you more in a month than you made here in a year’s salary.”

“You’re overwhelmed, I know Mary Anne. Remember us even when you are writing for those other news papers as a professional. And the metropolitans are talking big about controversies it seems. So move up in the world.”

He stuck out his big hand and held it out to her. He puffed on his cigar and the smoke didn’t smell any better than his breath did until her leaving the editor-in-chief’s office and she closed that door.

She had the idea there was going to be big changes in Mary’s life though she realized quickly that the money will start rolling in that when she returned to her dank roomer-apartment room, weeks ago it was normal to be quiet, not now though for it had strangers waiting for successes behind every door in her building. Each person felt weary until they could step out each afternoon and say hi to Mary Anne since she became well known, she felt so much attention was so much regret. She thought in a little while instead of craving attention she was happy by being shy too.

After selling every week to a larger audience Mary Anne now had enough credibility to borrow on a mortgage. It was not going to be a bad thing paying it back nor be cheap even though she bought a little hobby farm in the country which is more expensive to buy and keep than real working farms today. Mary Anne had a need for quiet and was much too fed up with pomp and the noise and attention of it all, so she moved to the country in a fit.

Not knowing the country well but finding peace and solitude she booted up her laptop and issued another column having emailed it to her editor. A brief smile burked on the creases of her lips. The combination of success and the caffeine in her cup perked her beyond self recognition. It had been her third day already and she had yet met anyone much less moved in. Clothes were strewn around. She had made her bed on a couch. Did her laundry in the kitchen. Quietness hung about the room of her new home. This was another success. The soothing hush of country wind blowing softly along grass at departure of morning until the darkness came and the sunsets. She promised tomoorow she would explore the entire house. It was her triumph of personal enjoyment of being alone at last far away from the wreaking pollution and city.

Tomorrow she would step outside and see how her hobby farm looked as since she pictured it only at the real-estate agency when she made her rush purchase choice. The weather had been nice and she got a lot of work done on her computer freeing up at least a day for her solitude. She would use it and begin strolling through the outdoors.

After a quick look round that day Mary Anne decided the yard needed help by some landscaper company or other to weed the disgusting yard. Fences were seen everywhere separating many of the hobby farms which were sold in lots at condo prices likely than not. She couldn’t see over her fence to any other house. She couldn’t tell if they were being kept nice.

She found a stairs to her second floor later for the first time finding the large bedroom. It had a large picture window from where she could see across several houses in the fair distance. Row after row it seemed to her of hobby farms stretching past a horizon. Only thing that separate them was a few acres. Each of those were mostly she was thankful attractive unlike hers that had been weedy before she bought it.

A trip to the local town for supplies and seeing a hardware store Mary Anne ventured in only to buy rakes and shovels and a wheel barrel. After getting some price estimates from the local landscapers and the fact that they would come and go when they please Mary Anne pictured them disturbing here solitude and decided to do her work herself.

While Mary had been in the town her mother called leaving a message on the answering machine. Both she and Mary Anne’s sister planned would visit. They would arrive in two days. Mary Anne was taken aback because her sister had always been such a nag. She loved her mother. But mother would agree with the entire of the sister’s complaints making a fact of a visit was going to be painful until they went home. Her farm made a great place to start a family plot.

Working up the soil to plant cucumbers in a row she hears a brush past a fence. There must have been someone on the other side of her fence. Fascinated it was a neighbor she hums a tune to break any tension of meting a neighbor. The voice of a male hums in a similar way and his hands rise up over the white boarded fence.

He offers her a tulip. He says they grow almost wild now on his farm. At first his voice is too low. Not even able to hear she gets closer. His rough voice becomes pleasing, sounding handsome and she can’t quite put her finger on where she heard such strong tones. After chatting a few moments she notices he’s quiet too, hot, unlike most men who had those irritating habits of being rude!

He offers her roses this time. Saying yes she raised both arms to his. She feels his hands this time and finds them warm. He grabs one arm after the other. She’s mildly freaked. He lifts her over the fence.

The next day her emails piled up all unanswered. Her editor worries and calls through the phone to receive no answer either. The editor went to the house to find Mary Anne dead. Mutilated by a serial killer dubbed by the press as The Ruffian. He intimates his victim using gifts then just cuts up his victims in violent death.

The end.

That sounds interesting Olivia I hope to read it.

Instructions:

Please do not use a story previously used on goodreads. After the week's contest, you are welcome to put it on your profile writings, but please refrain from using stories you have already put on there.

You have until Saturday afternoon to post a story on here. Please post it directly onto this topic, rather than posting a link. Also, please do not discuss stories on here. You must go to Weekly Short Story Contest Discussion for that. This will avoid any clutter and confusion, so that people can simply come on here and read the story, without having to read comments on the story.

This week's Topic is Ruffian. If anyone has any objections to this topic, please go to the Objections post. The rules are pretty loose. You could write pretty much anything. Just have the word in the story.

Weekly stories must be at least 500 words long to 2,500 words long. (if the whole story won't fit in one post, divide it into two)

Good luck!

Arthur [acting for Clare:]

P.S. PLEASE say if you would like to have your story on Short Story Galore, if you win. This way it wouldn't take me ages to get your consent afterwards. This includes adding a link to your stories. If you want to have your story on the Short Story Galore, but not the link, just say so.

I feel kind of sorry there wasn't more this week considering Jessica's story had been so well. I suppose by tomorrow I will have another topic for a contest. I will waive the poll this week and according to previous rules make Jessica the winner of this week's contest. Congrats Jessica. I believe you did deserve the win.

Try and save your work for our next contest Olivia.

I'm going to have to wait and read your story this afternoon Jessica.

We need another story so we can have a contest poll this week.

Sad but true, dieing and but here we are. Hopefully this weeks contest attracts writers. I've had some story ideas I'm putting together for a story.

I posted the new contest today, and will send out a group item letter sometime tomorrow. Cheers.

Instructions:

Please do not use a story previously used on goodreads. After the week's contest, you are welcome to put it on your profile writings, but please refrain from using stories you have already put on there.

You have until Saturday afternoon to post a story on here. Please post it directly onto this topic, rather than posting a link. Also, please do not discuss stories on here. You must go to Weekly Short Story Contest Discussion for that. This will avoid any clutter and confusion, so that people can simply come on here and read the story, without having to read comments on the story.

This week's Topic is Army. If anyone has any objections to this topic, please go to the Objections post. The rules are pretty loose. You could write pretty much anything. Just have the word in the story.

Weekly stories must be at least 500 words long to 2,500 words long. (if the whole story won't fit in one post, divide it into two)

Good luck!

Arthur [acting for Clare:]

P.S. PLEASE say if you would like to have your story on Short Story Galore, if you win. This way it wouldn't take me ages to get your consent afterwards. This includes adding a link to your stories. If you want to have your story on the Short Story Galore, but not the link, just say so.

You are right Olivia. I will try to come up with something concerning members to notice our group once again in a letter and send it out as soon as possible. Thank you for the smart input Olivia, and everyone else who have commented in our group recently, you know how much work it will take to get a contest going again and we'll at least attempt at getting the members to notice some of the recent activity.

OK I'll start writing contests every Monday beginning real soon. Glad to, now that there will be postings.

Jennifer wrote: "Arthur wrote: "http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w2...

i like this one the most"


right.

Maybe so. What if others wanted to also write something? I may even post a contest subject. It's a good idea the same. I haven't written anything since the last time I submitted to one of the Goodreads contests.
Oh, and, I'm frightfully sorry Christy I didn't see your post until now. I'd planned a heavy weekend and hadn't checked to see really if there had been any changes to all the groups I'm member of until this moment. Come back and write one of your charming styled stories, it would be appreciated.