Alexandra Dahlem Posts: 1
Created: Feb 22, 11 at 04:34 AM
Hello,
I also like the idea of previewing our content before posting. That's why writers have editors! It looks like I'm joining awhile after everyone else, so can anyone fill me in about where we are now? Thanks
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Mar 03, 11 at 03:32 AM
We just finished our most successful Authors challenge 26: flash of winter. So it only goes to reason a green awakening would follow a winter fury. Of course, spring fling is an idea more so than a reality for some of us. While spring may be springing up all over the place, some of us are still under heaps of snow. That, however, doesn’t mean we can’t wish for spring. After such a dreary, long and weary winter, we most certainly need a green awakening!
So, we come to Authors challenge 27: Spring fling.
Think spring, think green and think awakening. What do these things make you feel? What do they make you think? What do they make you wish for? Now, put it in writing and you have your entry. This is open to all forms of fiction and non-fiction with the solo proviso that the words “green” and “awakening” be somewhere in the article. All articles will be limited to no more than 500 words. (That would be another proviso, wouldn’t it? So it is.)
There are your marching orders, if you should choose to accept the challenge. We hope you do!
Visit the official zone for all rules, clues and a bit of spring to start this fling.
Authors challenge 27: Spring fling Zone
W. Diane Van Zwol Posts: 61
Created: Mar 15, 11 at 01:56 PM
Hi Folks,
You can add this to my list of comments on the writer's contributions for "Spring Fling".
14. Poetry: Spring Awakening by Jon Coe - http://www.helium.com/items/2115586-poetry-spring-awakening
The imagery in this poetry is quite beautiful and very well penned. I wondered at first, what was awakening. Was it a bear or some other wild and woolly creature? Then, i realized it was probably a beautiful flower.
There is one typo which could be leaprfogged, ie. the word 'destined'.
This is poetry written by a 'master' poet, no doubt about it. Well done!
God bless you all,
Di
P.S. A wonderful collection of different and unique perspectives!
W. Diane Van Zwol R.N., B.A. (Honors), M.A.
Certified Counselor
Certified Web Designer
Freelance Writer
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Mar 31, 11 at 03:05 PM
I made two of these threads by some blunder I couldn't even begin to explain.
Go here for the official Authors Challenge 28: Sing us a Song Thread
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Mar 31, 11 at 03:05 PM
♪ ♫ Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of ♩ ♬ ...sorry, couldn't help it, but this is a challenge full of song, so I needn't apologize. That is to say, those of us who are willing to take this Authors Challenge 28: Sing us a Song will have to sing for their supper. Okay, not really, but almost.They shall pick a song, any song at all and sing it to the rest of us...sort of.
No, not like American Idol nor Glee. You shall use your considerable skills as writers to weave a tale around your chosen song. Challengers can also create a song of your own, set to an existing tune or one of your own invention. For those of us who are not inclined to the creative side of things, pick a song with bizarre lyrics and interpret, analyze, explain or tear them about.
This challenge is open to all channels at Helium. It will be up to the individual to find which may be most suitable; creative writing short stories, flash fiction, songs, humor are obvious choices but there is also:
- Arts and Humanities music channel--that's where album and band reviews are stashed, you know.
- Parenting channel--what? You never sang your or someone's kid to sleep?
- Home and Gardening channel--What, you don't sing to your plants?
- Auto channel--Come on now. You gotta sing in the car even if you're not driving!
- and so on and so forth.
Truly, anything goes just as long as the entries all center around music, a particular song you love, hate or never understood. Set free the imagination and sing at the top of your voice. It's good for the soul...even if the neighbors--covering their ears, no doubt-- tell you otherwise.
For the complete rules please follow link tothe zone for:
Authors Challenge 28: Sing us a Song.
In our last Authors Challenge 27:Spring fling Jim gave a rather special "prize" for the winner, R. Renee Bembry. She is to supply the two required words for each and every entry. Cool huh? Well, only if those two words aren't killer for us!
On top of our two required words, we shall also be required to place the title of our chosen song within the entry. As the article/story will be about the song you choose this should be quite do-able...unless you pick something bizarre from Panic at the disco. (I can never tell what the name of their songs have to do with the song itself....that must be just me though.)
For a bit more ease for those of us who are long-winded, we decided to raise the word limit a tad to 550 words maximum.
So, two required words and the title of your chosen song need to be within the 550 word max entry for qualification. Got it? Hope so.
*Renee Has given us quite the challenge. She supplied the two required words and here they are:
Lyrical and Autopsy
Thankfully they don't have to be used together.
Good luck to all!
Elizabeth Elia Posts: 25
Created: Apr 02, 11 at 03:45 AM
Hello everyone again! SO happy to be back on again and just for the record, soon I will be posting many poems online. I finally reached (and exceeded!) my goal of 200 poems unpublished ANYWHERE including Helum and soon I'm hoping to get the chance to self publish a poetry book with a select 100 of those. The other 100 will be going on Helium! Things have been SO busy and I hoped I haven't missed too much... !!!
-- Elizabeth
Elie Hutcheson Posts: 239
Created: Apr 10, 11 at 02:59 AM
I have come to respect this group of writers and I wish to submit what I consider one of my better short stories for your consideration. I hope it's okay to post this here, I didn't know where else to put it to get it read by the challenge group I've been conversating with.
Here's the link:
http://www.helium.com/items/1941518-short-stories-a-grim-situation
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: May 15, 11 at 08:27 PM
They come in all shapes and sizes, in all temperments and attitudes, with desires all their own and wishes for the world. They may be human and non-human, too. They can be warm as sunshine and as cold as ice, as soft as silk and as hard as stone, as delicate as a flower and as tough as nails. Mothers can be loving and giving or critical and selfish. Some are cuddlers and some are coddlers. Some push you to be the best you can be and some just push you over the edge. Some are quiet and love unconditionally and others are domineering and show their displeasure when you don’t live up to her ideal.
We all have a mother and some have more than one. There are open adoptions now so kids could have two mothers and then there’s the foster mom and the daycare worker who acts like mommy to a dozen kids at a time. There’s the grandmother or aunt who took over mom duties when the “real” mother no longer could for whatever reason. There’s the big sister or cousin who always acted like a bossy mother. There’s the motherly lady down the street who always had time for a bit of tea and sympathy and maybe even a home-baked cookie for a “lost lamb”.
Yes, mothers are human with all the frailties of humans. We love them, we revere them, we cherish them. We miss them when they go away. We step away when they start to smother us and we go to them when all else fails. We revile them too. We may even hate them, but still they are our mothers and so…Mom’s the word.
In Author Challenge 29: Mom’s the word…and mother, mum, mama, madre, mommy and ma. The entry can be fiction or non-fiction, fact based or fantasy. It can be based on the best mother you’ve ever know or the one who ruined your life. You can tell us how to be a good mother, how to become one or how to avoid becoming one. As always, your imagination is the limit.
- · Ah yes, word limit is upped a bit to 600 words ~650 by Helium’s faulty count.
- · Alistair, the winner of the last challenge, needs to provide the two required words. Let’s see what he comes up with!
- · Also we ask the entry to include any of the mother words or close affiliates (mum, mommy, mama, madre, mami, ma or mom)
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: May 15, 11 at 08:28 PM
They come in all shapes and sizes, in all temperments and attitudes, with desires all their own and wishes for the world. They may be human and non-human, too. They can be warm as sunshine and as cold as ice, as soft as silk and as hard as stone, as delicate as a flower and as tough as nails. Mothers can be loving and giving or critical and selfish. Some are cuddlers and some are coddlers. Some push you to be the best you can be and some just push you over the edge. Some are quiet and love unconditionally and others are domineering and show their displeasure when you don’t live up to her ideal.
We all have a mother and some have more than one. There are open adoptions now so kids could have two mothers and then there’s the foster mom and the daycare worker who acts like mommy to a dozen kids at a time. There’s the grandmother or aunt who took over mom duties when the “real” mother no longer could for whatever reason. There’s the big sister or cousin who always acted like a bossy mother. There’s the motherly lady down the street who always had time for a bit of tea and sympathy and maybe even a home-baked cookie for a “lost lamb”.
Yes, mothers are human with all the frailties of humans. We love them, we revere them, we cherish them. We miss them when they go away. We step away when they start to smother us and we go to them when all else fails. We revile them too. We may even hate them, but still they are our mothers and so…Mom’s the word.
In Author Challenge 29: Mom’s the word…and mother, mum, mama, madre, mommy and ma. The entry can be fiction or non-fiction, fact based or fantasy. It can be based on the best mother you’ve ever know or the one who ruined your life. You can tell us how to be a good mother, how to become one or how to avoid becoming one. As always, your imagination is the limit.
- · Ah yes, word limit is upped a bit to 600 words ~650 by Helium’s faulty count.
- · Alistair, the winner of the last challenge, has provided the two required words. This is what he came up with: Preciosity and Nonplussed
- · Also we ask the entry to include any of the mother words or close affiliates (mum, mommy, mama, madre, mami, ma or mom)
So, with all that, this starts our Author’s Challenge 29: Mom’s the word. Good luck to all!
*A Proviso...*
In Authors Challenge 27:Spring fling Jim gave a rather special "prize" to future winners. The winner gets to choose two required words which have to appear somewhere in every entry.
On top of our two as of yet unknown required words, we shall also be required to place a Mother (mom, mummy, mama) type word within the entry. As the article/story will be about Mothers this should be quite do-able.
For a bit more ease for those of us who are long-winded, we decided to raise the word limit a tad to 600 words maximum.
So, two required words and the Mother word need to be within the 600 word max entry for qualification. Got it? Hope so.
The two required words for Author Challenge 29: Mom's the word are:
About the all-important critique
We ask that each story receive gentle, informative and helpful critique.This is to make our experience at the Author Challenge a worthwhile endeavor. We should all learn something from this exercise, after all.
When all entries are in, please read each and post:
1- A positive comment. What did you especially like about this article or story?
2- A gentle critique. What didn't work in this story? What could have made it better? Could anything improve it? How would you have done it?
We ask that these be kept short, one or two sentences at most so no one gets over-tasked nor overwhelmed.
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Jun 08, 11 at 08:28 PM
It’s summer time! After such a brutal winter and a soggy spring (for some of us anyway!) we’re finally into Summer!
Summer is the time for fun in the sun, fun at the beach, fun out camping, fun with the kids…No more school! YAY!
Or is that a nay? Perhaps you dread having the kids home all summer? Too hot-hot-hot for you? Prefer the snow, do you? Then this may indeed be a challenge for you.
Yes, Author Challenge 30 is all about SUMMER TIME! So, start thinking about summer and all its concerns or lack thereof. It is the best of times...it is the worst of times...it's totally up to you! Want ideas?
What to do in summer
Your best summer memory
I love summer! (prose and verse)
How to deal with excessive heat in summer
What to do with the kids in summer
Summer stories of all sorts
What I did on my summer vacation
What not to do in summer
The wildest summer in history
How to keep the pets (kids, people, trees, boats, cars) safe in summer
As always, your imagination is the limit.
- Word limit is 600 words (~650 by Helium’s faulty count)
- Diane Quinn, the winner of the last challenge has provided the two required words.
Opprobrium - Disgrace, shame, dishonor
Serendipity - Fate, by chance, destiny, Karma (and more)
- Also we ask the entry to include the words summer time.
So, with all that, this starts our Author’s Challenge 30: Summer time. Good luck to all!
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Jul 12, 11 at 06:52 PM
Summer is the time for moving and groovin'. We're talking about vacations, road trips ~ by plane, train, bike, boat, car or RV~, traveling aboard, globe trotting and/or personal journeys of the body, mind and spirit. We want to hear about the journey on the road less traveled or a busy highway, riding on country back roads or the mean streets of the big city.
So, where have you been lately, physically or in your mind? Last week? Last year? Doesn't matter when or where or if you personally took the trip. Just tell us of a journey to a place, real or imaginary, near or far. Doesn't even matter who went on this journey. Did it take you to the moon and back? Did the trip take your Mother-in-law to hell where the devil kicked her out because she was making hell unbearable? Perhaps your friend went to a foreign country or another plane of existence? Just tell us of the trip itself.
As always, your imagination is the limit.
- Word limit is 600 words (~650 by Helium’s faulty count)
- Alexandra Heep, the winner of the last challenge has provided the two required words. Hold on to your hats, people! We're in for an interesting challenge!
1. wampum - slang for money
2. zeitgeist - the spirit of time. **
- Also we ask the entry to include the words "Are we there yet?".
So, with all that, this starts our Author’s Challenge 31: Are we there yet?. Good luck to all and heaven help us!
** I have a pile of hitting instruments including bats, clubs, maces, wet noodles, whips and chains. The line forms behind me. Now where is Alex hiding, I wonder? ;-)
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Aug 14, 11 at 03:54 PM
There are many things in our lived which garner a love/hate relationship…family being the biggest one (love them to pieces but hate how they make you feel), but there are others. Our job (I love the money but hate the work involved), the boss (yes, she pushes you to the point of telling her to shove it, but the project turns out great because of her), a teacher (yeah, she’s a bitch but damn it if you’re not smarter for it!) , the car mechanic (he keeps the car running but does he have to charge an arm and a leg?), the baker (Love the bread and desserts but it sure puts on the pounds), hearth and home (Love that house until the fridge breaks and the roof leaks and the termites take over), the garden (need we mention weeds?) and perhaps even ourselves (You may love your hair one day and hate it the next!) just to name a few.
There are things around us we love to hate (The mother who got away with killing her child and is now a celebrity) and others we hate to love (that evil thing we can’t stay away from, tequila, bad boys or gambling) We love writing but hate the assignments we are forced to do to earn a buck (or should I say wampum?)
Love and hate, two extreme opposite emotions and yet too often there’s a fine line between the two. We may do the exact same thing out of love which we do out of hate. Go figure! Let’s explore this, shall we? What do you make of love and hate?
As always, your imagination is the limit.
- Word limit is 600 words (~650 by Helium’s faulty count)
- The required words chosen by the winner of the last Authors Challenge, Glory Lennon:
- Connoisseur- One who has knowledge, an expert, a critic of art, music, etc.
Sample sentence: Not that I'm a connoisseur of baked goods or anything, but I thought the cake was horrible.
Surreptitious- Done by stealth or fraud, enjoyed secretly.
Sample sentence: With a surreptitious glance toward the page in his hand, he knew she was not on the list.
- Also we ask the entry to include the words love and hate, although not necessarily together.
So, with all that, this starts our Author’s Challenge 32: Love and hate. Good luck to all!
The all-important critique
We ask that each story receive gentle, informative and helpful critique. This is to make our experience at the Author Challenge a worthwhile endeavor. We should all learn something from this exercise, after all.
When all entries are in, please read each and post:
1- A positive comment. What did you especially like about this article or story?
2- A gentle critique. What didn't work in this story? What could have made it better? Could anything improve it?
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Sep 21, 11 at 04:04 PM
For Challenge 33 we will be showing our ability to show others how to______whatever. You fill in the blank. How to wash a car, how to clip your nails, how to tell when someone’s making fun of you, how to make amends, how to start a fight, how to juggle steak knives, how to pick your nose…I tossed that last one in to see if you were paying attention!
As always the sky and your imagination, or lack there of, should be the limit. Fiction and non-fiction works here, but we really must stress showing how to do, make, build, learn, see, create and/or show something. Your entry can be a serious piece or whimsical, fact or opinion, truth or fiction, but it must be informative. How can you be informative in fiction form? Well, you figure it out and then write about it. There’s your entry!
As always we have stipulations, addendums and provisos:
Elie Hutcheson our latest illustrious winner has given us the required words and here they are:
Cumbersome, adjective
1. awkward because of size, weight, or shape, as in cumbersome baggage
2. difficult because of extent or complexity, as in cumbersome accounts
SaSample sentence:
He He walked slowly with a tenuous grip on the cumbersome box.
enigmatic, adjective
resembling an enigma; perplexing; mysterious.
Sample sentence:
The confused look on her face showed she found the subject too enigmatic to comment on.
Great words, huh? We could have fun with those!
- Also we ask the entry to include the words How to.
Other than that it is a free-for-all! So, with that, this starts our Author’s Challenge 33: How to_________. Good luck to all!
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Oct 19, 11 at 06:56 PM
Challenge 34 Going on Holiday!
For Challenge 34 we will be going on holiday! Which holiday? Well, that is completely up to you! Some holidays we like, some we love, some we hate. Others we don’t even understand what they are about. They could use some clarity and that’s where you can come to the rescue!
How many holidays are there anyway? Mother’s day, Christmas, Yom Kippor, Boxing day, Labor day, Father’s day, Kitty-cat day, Passover, Memorial day, Thanksgiving day, Independence day, Halloween, Easter, Bonfire day, grandparents’ day, siblings day.…What? There is no kitty-cat or sibling’s day??? Well, then someone ought to write about that!
As always we have stipulations, addendums and provisos:
Doreen Martel, our latest illustrious winner has given us the required words:
harbinger: a precursor; one that presages what is to come.
hermitage: a secluded residence; a retreat
Powerful words, huh? I like them plenty! We could have fun with those!
- Also we ask the entry to include the word holiday.
Other than that it is a free-for-all! That is to say, factual articles on holidays can co-exist quite peacefully with creative writing memoirs, stories and/or testimonies of holidays spent in various stages of distress—thinking family gatherings here--- or delight—thinking family gatherings here too—
So, with that, this starts our Author’s Challenge 34: Going on Holiday! Good luck to all!
Eniola Obamiyi Posts: 1
Created: Nov 19, 11 at 01:35 PM
This post has been deleted by forum moderator, Jim Bessey
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Dec 30, 11 at 06:38 PM
Well, this is the thing....or rather we are not to know what it is...at least not yet.
What thing? That's entirely up to you. In this Authors Challenge 35 you are to write a story, a poem, a reflection or what have you from the point of view of an inanimate object. You are not to reveal what the item is, of course, but you can give clues as to the purpose of this thing.
Can you handle that? We will soon find out.
Who wins this challenge will be the one who most creatively allows their thing to speak. What shall it say? What are its concerns? How does it feel? Needless to say, this may be interesting...indeed it may!
Michael Ojelabi Posts: 1
Created: Jan 09, 12 at 05:03 PM
I'm Michael Ojelabi.
I joined Helium November 2011, but started writing and getting published December 2011. So far I have five articles published on this network.
Still learning the ropes, you could check-out my works on michael.ojelabi.
Warm regards to all members of this group, and would be glad to be accepted as member.
Michael.
Jeremiah John Posts: 1
Created: Feb 01, 12 at 02:16 AM
My name is Jeremiah John. I have been writing for a long time but have never published or been published hence my subscribing here. i really dont know how this place runs. I'l be most grateful if i am accepted and put through. I have written 2 articles so far, fill free to look it up.
Cheers.
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Feb 07, 12 at 04:06 PM
We’ve all been there. Someone, probably the neighborhood bully, dares you to do something stupid. You ignore it at first but then he double dares you. Still you hesitate… just a nanosecond and then he double dog--or triple-- dares you. Well, you have no choice at that point. A double dog dare…well, that’s just not something you can ever get away from doing. What? And be laughed out of the playground, the school or even town? No way!
So, you’ll be the kid with his tongue frozen stuck to a metal pole, the chump with his head stuck between the bars of the banister or the silly girl spinning around until she's so dizzy she falls down and knocks her head against the coffee table.
Yeah, that worked well, didn’t it? No one’s laughing at you now, right? Or are you a laughing stock and possibly one requiring medical assistance? Hmm, that seems more like it.
And so we come to Authors Challenge #36: Double dare ya in which each entry will incorporate and dwell on this bullying tactic childishly known as the double dare.
Terry has provided the required words for this challenge even before the challenge was created.
They are thus as he presented them:
Courage - This comes in many forms. Perhaps my favorite Hollywood example is Neville standing up to Harry, Ron and Hermione in the end of Sorcerer's (Alchemist's—I believe Terry meant philosopher’s) Stone. It leaves plenty of room for creativity.
Honor - What a powerful word. "We are here to honor..." "You sir, have no honor!" "I think Honor Blackmon is my second favorite Bond girl, behind Dame Diana Rigg" "I'm sorry, I can't honor your coupon"
This time around we may not actually have to forgive Terry for these, because they fit in quite well with this challenge. After all, don’t we need courage to take a dare thrown at us and more so to defy one? And is it not a matter of honor to follow through? Of course it is!
So, use your creative minds, both serious and whimsical, and tell us of a personal experience or make up one. Tell us how to avoid, discourage or eliminate such stupid behavior as the double dare. Write about the bully behind this demeaning mentality. Of course, the added challenge is putting in the actual words double dare you within the entry. Other than that it is a free-for-all. That is to say, anything goes, fact and fiction, useful advice to parents, a poem or reflection. Take your pick.
So, with that, this officially starts Authors Challenge 36: Double dare ya! Live long and prosper!
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Mar 20, 12 at 01:02 PM
Did you see that? It was there and then it wasn’t.
Did you hear it? It sounded like crying…or was it a whisper?
Did you feel something? An eerie chill swept through you for no apparent reason.
Did the hair on the back of your neck suddenly stiffen? Did you sense something, some presence you could not see? Did you see an object perhaps in the sky, across a misty field or in the dirty, cracked window of the old abandoned house down the road by the cemetery? Did you hear odd sounds when everyone was asleep? What was it? Why…the SUPERNATURAL, of course.
We’ve all experienced things we cannot explain. The phone call from the person you had just dreamt of the night before, the very same one you haven’t heard from in ages. The tiny voice in your head telling you to take a different route to work and then later that day you hear of the deadly wreck which left several people dead and injured. That vision in the twilight which you convinced yourself was a trick of the light. That odd sense of calm after the funeral of a loved one, as if they came to you in spirit to tell you all was well.
Yes, we’ve all had these type of supernatural experiences, but even if you haven’t actually seen it for yourself, you can imagine it and tell us, can’t you?
And so we come to Authors Challenge #37: SUPERNATURAL in which each entry will incorporate and dwell on this strange phenomemom, of spirits and ghosts, the unexplained, the frightening and the blissfully calming.
Glory has provided the required words for this challenge.
They are:
Phantom- something which appears to the sight but has no physical existence; apparition, vision, specter
Tantalizing- to show or promise something desirable only to have it withdrawn, to tease with something pleasing.
As always we should include the title of the challenge, in this case Supernatural, within the entry.
So, use your creative minds, both serious and whimsical, and tell us of a personal supernatural experience or make up one.
So, with that, this officially starts Authors Challenge 37: Supernatural
Live long and prosper and don’t let the ghoulies bite!
Terry Mahoney Posts: 168
Created: Apr 20, 12 at 03:38 AM
Glory, once all the votes are in, I guess I'll explain my story a bit. But I'll just say your confusion about the identity is about what I was going for.
Alistair Marquise Posts: 164
Created: Apr 20, 12 at 11:19 AM
My favorite piece overall: Flash Fiction: The Phantom by Diane Quinn
Best use of required words: Short Stoires: Spring Bouquet by Terry Mahoney
Seriously,
-Alistair Marquise
Creative Writing "Flash Fiction" Channel Manager
Olivia Bredbenner Posts: 969
Created: Apr 20, 12 at 12:00 PM
Congrats Don !! on your fulfilling publishing venture..way to go !! :)
Olivia Bredbenner
healthcare-helium-caring-caregivers
http://justsayingbyolivia.blogspot.com
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/oliviarn02
Freelance writer
Olivia Bredbenner Posts: 969
Created: Apr 20, 12 at 12:13 PM
Another tough decision (sigh}
Favorite Piece:
Flash fiction Forgotten Alistair Marquise
Best use of required words :
Short story A spring bouquet Terry Mahoney
Olivia Bredbenner
healthcare-helium-caring-caregivers
http://justsayingbyolivia.blogspot.com
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/oliviarn02
Freelance writer
Donald Hancock Posts: 374
Created: Apr 20, 12 at 12:56 PM
Hello everyone!
My votes are: My favorite piece - The Nature of Ghosts - Olivia
Best use of words: Spring Bouquet - Terry
================================
Thanks Glory, Raymond, Diane, Conny, and Olivia for your comments on my publishing. I self published with Createspace. It is absolutely the best way that I have found. You copy your manuscript into a template that they send you and the margins, top, bottom, numbers, etc. are automatically correct. Then you send it PDF and they review and pass it within 24 - 48 hours. The cover is just as simple, using cover backgrounds that they furnish and using cover pictures either from you or from them. This gives you a place on Amazon plus a site for your book to use as you wish. All of this is free. For $25.00 extra per book they send the book to bookstores and libraries. When I order about 10 copies of a $10.00 book (to sell to friends or give to family) each copy averages costing about $3.50 - $4.00 (including shipping). So I think it is a good deal. No up front money and I usually receive an order in about 3 days. Will be glad to talk to any of you further about it. Sorry for bending your ear! You can see what the books look like from links below. Sir Don de lu here!
https://www.createspace.com/3661643
https://www.createspace.com/3817794
My new novel, A MESSAGE FOR ALL TIME, can be seen and/or purchased at the link below:
https://www.createspace.com/3656431
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Apr 20, 12 at 01:30 PM
Favorite entry: Poetry: Ghosts by Charlotte Howard
Best use of words: Meeting Ghosts by Conny Manero
I guess I better start tallying votes...so much to do I'm running around like a headless chicken...only I'm sitting still. No wonder I'm dizzy!
Charlotte Howard Posts: 274
Created: Apr 20, 12 at 01:30 PM
My votes:
1. The entry you like best for whatever reason.- Diane Quinn
2. The best use of the required words. - Donald Hancock
It was quite tricky - they were all really good!!
Charlotte
Channel Manager Pets & Animals
EAB Team Member
http://www.helium.com/users/381464
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Apr 20, 12 at 01:43 PM
We've changed this a bit, Charlotte. Only a favorite and the best use of words. You can still change your vote if you wish. And each vote will be only one point each, just for ease.
Conny Manero Posts: 829
Created: Apr 20, 12 at 01:51 PM
My absolute favorite is Terry
Best use of words would be Glory
(Good choice for your book publisher Don. I'm with CreateSpace too. They do a fabulous job and you don't have to worry about anything.)
Conny
Raymond Alexander Kukkee Posts: 1306
Created: Apr 20, 12 at 02:35 PM
Well done, everyone, and I thank each of you for the great comments and suggestions for improvement, etc............. I vote:
Favourite: Terry
Best use of words: Glory
Raymond
http://incomingbytes.blogspot.com/
http://www.helium.com/users/341447
Diane Quinn Posts: 1149
Created: Apr 20, 12 at 02:52 PM
For sure, there's an abundance of spooky creativity in our little group. As always, I'm torn about my favorite, but here goes:
Favorite: Alistair
Best use of words: Terry
Diane Quinn
Terry Mahoney Posts: 168
Created: Apr 21, 12 at 04:28 AM
If the point of a supernatural story is to cause a physical reaction (goosebumps) then I can only vote for Conny. She got me with that ghost.
Best use of words. This one was less of a clear victory for me, but I would have to say Charlotte most impressed. In my mind, I can refashion a paragraph to use the required word, and it should be seamless. That's because prose is more fluid, like a big bowl of soup. As long as the flavors meld, go for it.
Poetry is more delicate, less likely to forgive an awkward step. Each word has its place, and if it is out of place, the piece is shot.
For copy and paste purposes:
Favorite: Conny
Best use of words: Charlotte
Semper Fi!
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Apr 21, 12 at 04:09 PM
I believe that is all the votes. Thus are the results:
Best use of the required words:
Third place goes to Charlotte, Don and Conny in a three-way tie. Great going, all.
Second place Is Glory.
The one who took it far above the others is Terry. Woo-hoo!
Favorite entry was a toughie. Almost every entry was a favorite for someone. Still, we have a few who stuck out.
Third is tied… Olivia and Diane. Yay!
Second, another tie, is Charlotte and Terry.
First goes to the master…Alistair! Wonderful story and Great job, Alistair.
Congrats to all. All the stories were quite enjoyable.
Charlotte Howard Posts: 274
Created: Apr 21, 12 at 04:18 PM
Congrats to everyone!
(Wow! Thank you!! Can't believe I actually placed!!)
Charlotte
Channel Manager Pets & Animals
EAB Team Member
http://www.helium.com/users/381464
Olivia Bredbenner Posts: 969
Created: Apr 21, 12 at 04:31 PM
Congratulations Alistair !!! :)
And to the runners up in this " fun challenge" :)
Olivia Bredbenner
healthcare-helium-caring-caregivers
http://justsayingbyolivia.blogspot.com
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/oliviarn02
Freelance writer
Donald Hancock Posts: 374
Created: Apr 21, 12 at 04:35 PM
Congratulations to all who won and to all that entered. It was a really fun ride! Sir Don de lu here!
My new novel, A MESSAGE FOR ALL TIME, can be seen and/or purchased at the link below:
https://www.createspace.com/3656431
Alistair Marquise Posts: 164
Created: Apr 21, 12 at 06:21 PM
Hey, I'm not complaining, but are you sure that I came in first for that category, Glory? Regardless, congratulations to us all. It takes courage to share your work with others, and we all deserve accolades for doing just that.
Originally, I'd planned to have the point of the piece be that the reader should not know whether or not the "thing" was a ghost or simply another resident of the nursing home. I left some of that in there, but didn't want it to be too much of the focus. I don't know about the places where you all live, but here in Florida, we get regular news stories about nursing home abuse and the foul conditions that exist in some of those places (the emphasis on the word "some"), so I wanted to try and capture that and the feelings of despair, isolation, and fear that the residents of those places must feel. Most of all, I wanted to paint a picture that conjured a feeling, and if I did that for the reader, then I'm happy.
Thanks for reading!
Seriously,
-Alistair Marquise
Creative Writing "Flash Fiction" Channel Manager
Glory Lennon Posts: 1587
Created: Apr 21, 12 at 06:37 PM
Of course I'm sure! You trying to say I can't count??? I can and I'll prove it.
1...2...3...4....6...8...7.....wait...think I missed something....okay so I need practice or maybe just another vacation!
You won fair and square, baby! Get over it. We like you!
Raymond Alexander Kukkee Posts: 1306
Created: Apr 21, 12 at 06:45 PM
Congratulatons, Alistair! Great story!
Also congrats and salubrious felicitations Terry and all runners up! Great job by all participants, these challenges are becoming tougher!
Raymond
http://incomingbytes.blogspot.com/
http://www.helium.com/users/341447
Diane Quinn Posts: 1149
Created: Apr 21, 12 at 07:07 PM
CONGRATS to our king of all things macbre, Alistair! (Darn, I couldn't beat you even when my phantom spirit swallowed a scream.) <lol>
To everyone else who placed with votes, well done! It's always so hard to choose favorites.
Terry, I have to agree with your comment about Charlotte's poem making solid use of our words in a more difficult form. I was torn between your story and her poem and flipped a choin! Nice job, Charlotte. Your poem was very creative and entertaining. :-)
Diane Quinn
Write and get published
Share with other writers
Polish your freelancing skills
Quality articles from proven freelancers
Exclusive rights, fast turnaround
Brand engagement, business blogging -- our writers do it all
INFORMATION
Copyright © 2002-2012 Helium, Inc. All rights reserved.