Viewing Thread:
"Short Story Competition 31"

The rules:

Enter as many times as you like, and it can be as long as you like, but if I'm not interested by the time I have to scroll down the screen, I won't read the rest.

I'll judge on the weekend of the 10th/11th, so entries in before then please.

And the topic is:

Blood in the snow

That doesn't mean it has to be about murder and mutilation, by the way. Or self-harming. I won't read any stories that go "I cut myself because I am sad, and I want attention," but if they're forced to harm themselves for other reasons, gnaw off an arm to free themselves from a wreckage, for instance, that's okay.

RESULTS

Fantastic entries, very high standard this time, many were a joy to read. Had trouble picking a winner from the last three, all of which were very strong. Special mention for Styke for mocking self-harming. 4 REAL.

Runners up:

tnc: - Noble trades are no more
FFF: - Escape

Winner:

unknown kernel: - At the Bottom of a Flask

I'm having trouble coming to a decision. Honestly, there were some fantastic entries this time, and some that aren't in the top three could easily have won a different SSC.

I'm still to decide who wins, but it's between:

unknown kernel: - At the Bottom of a Flask
tnc: - Noble trades are no more
FFF: - Escape

Turns out my idea was rubbish. I'll leave this one, methinks. :D

Done mine - Bloody Bastogne. Will read others tomorrow.

That all depends on whether or not you really think they would dismiss it. After all, although ITV isn't exactly a beginners channel it doesn't just show things made by those who've been writing for donkeys years.

It will look good on your CV especially because of the channel, although it shows some dossy stuff it'll give you some clout and boost your credntials.

The main thing is to keep submitting the scipt to various channels and producers if you've been working on it for a while. Sooner of later someone will accept the script.

Good luck to 'ya.

Well it was a chance to get something on TV, and something to go a on a writing CV when I send stuff out.

When I finish working on the sketch show idea I'm writing, in the proposal document I can write that I have been previously broadcast in both series 1 and 2 of Shoot the Writers - hopefully given that I have a slight track record they won't be so quick to dismiss it.

So you did the Shoot the Writers! series for kudos rather than cash? an admirable decision and that would obviously be a great break if you were spotted by an agent.

The same goes for me, except I'm not making the break as a career choice or in tv. I'm basically submitting pictures to the 'Wanderlust' magazine in the perhaps slightly vain hope I could win.

So, how do we vote for you?

tnc wrote:
> Tell me, as I'm not
> entirely sure; are you a writer by profession?

No. Not yet. Still have a day job, as I'm not earning any money from my writing at this point. Hopefully one day someone will pick up the sketch show I'm working on, or a sitcom idea, and I'll have a ticket into it full time, but for now, no. The prize for Shoot the Writers is the chance to present some of your work to an agent, so if I can get enough peopl to vote for me, it might help!

And Cool Boy, Blood in the Snow is in image I find rather striking, and thought it would generate some strong stories. And there have been some fantastic ones.

Cool Boy wrote:
> I've got Freeview. It's crap. Really crap. You have to keep adjusting
> the ariel to make it work.

That's your tv aerial, mate.

My Freeview isn't affected by the aerial, but problems arise with thundery weather conditions as they distort the picture.

Meka Dragon - what inspired you to choose the topic Blood In The Snow?

I've got Freeview. It's crap. Really crap. You have to keep adjusting the ariel to make it work.