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Authors Challenge 28: Sing us a song

 

Congratulations to the winner of Author's Challenge 28: Sing us a song

The awesome, the fantastic, the wonderful, the talented....Alistair Marquise.

Congratulations for a job well done, indeed!

Welcome to Challenge 28: Sing us a song

fat lady sings

♪ ♫ 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.

Go here for the offical thread of Authors Challenge: 28: Sing us a Song.

 

And now, to keep the lawyers happy, the fine print...


photo by Southbanksteve

Here are the official rules of On-Board Author Challenges as developed during the previous 27 competitions, and modified once again for Challenge 28.

 

  • The official starting date for this challenge is April 2, 2011
  • Cut off for entries is April 16, 2011
  • These contests ARE NOT sponsored by, endorsed by, or guaranteed by Helium or any of its legal representatives
  • Rules of each competition are subject to change without prior notice, as deemed fit by your host, Jim Bessey. Any rule changes will be clearly posted on the challenge zone and on  Challenge 28 comment thread.
  • Contests are open to all Helium members. Member must have an open and active account at the time the contest is concluded, in order to win
  • Entry is made by posting a reply to the group forum thread for Challenge 28. All entries will be listed in Reply #2 to this thread plus on this zone.
  • One entry per contestant.
  • All articles written and submitted to the challenge must be an open HELIUM TITLE.
  • Entries must be posted at Helium.
  • Entries must be no more than 550 words.
  • Any TOS or User Agreement violations contained within an entered article may be grounds for disqualification.
  • Conditions for inclusion in a challenge may include the requirement to read and comment upon other authors' articles. Challenge 28 includes the following three special provisions:
  • JUDGING: Vote for the article and/or story which best represents the song in question ~ one vote per contestant.
  • PROMOTION: By participating, you agree to promote your chosen Scariest Story using some means of Social Networking. Emails, Facebook Posts, Tweets, Stumbles, etc are all acceptable choices for Promotion of entries.
  • PROMOTING THE WINNER: You also agree to promote the final Winner at least once, via some means of Social Networking.
  • Winner will be determined by which article gets the most votes.
  • Deadlines for entries  will be posted on the challenge zone and in the forum thread, first reply.
  • Decisions of the contest host are final. In the event of a tie, some  sort of Tie-Breaker will be created.
  • There are no Cash prizes. This is NOT an official Helium contest , and NO  EARNINGS ADJUSTMENTS be shown on the member's Earnings page. There is however a collection of prizes from which the winner will get to chose one.
  • The winner's article will be prominently featured on the Challenge Zone. 
  • These rules, and any changes to them, will be displayed in the first Post at the Authors Challenge Thread and on the matching Challenge Zone.
  • Additional information regarding this contest may be displayed in other areas of the thread or zone, and may also be supplied at a later time. Failure to modify these rules to include such additional information does not negate the inclusion of those conditions as part of the Challenge guidelines and rules.
  • Void where prohibited, cheaters will be publicly chastised, see Dealer for details, exclusions may apply, thank you for actually reading this far.

 

Entries for Challenge 28: Sing us a song


photo by Flabber DeGasky

*A Proviso...*

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 as of yet unknown 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.

~Update~

Renee has chosen the two required challenge words and as I suspected they are killer. The two required words for Author Challenge 28: Sing us a Song are:

Lyrical  and  Autopsy

The Let's-smack-Renee line forms to the right with me in front, Louisville slugger in hand. ;-)

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.

Celtic Women sing

♬ ♪ Music Inspires us all ♫ ♩

We may not actually write the songs like Barry Manilo does, but we surely get inspired by them! Anything which was written with a song in mind can be added here.

Comments (1 to 10 of 10)

Jim Bessey
Apr 01, 11 at 02:54 AM
Beautiful job on this, Glory!
Donald Hancock
Mar 31, 11 at 09:26 PM
Here is my contribution. Hope you like it. Lyrical Autopsy - wow! A toughy!
Link below:

http://www.helium.com/items/2127512-short-stories-a-band-of-their-own

R. Renee Bembry
Mar 31, 11 at 07:24 PM
Alas! My posts appeared and my Thumb Up worked as well!! Glory could you delete one post???
R. Renee Bembry
Mar 31, 11 at 06:59 PM
April 2nd! My submissions may be slow but my two cents, both spoken and unspoken, are usually rather hasty! LOL!!

Just for you Sir Don - "Lyrical Autopsy" -- Hope these challenge words are satisfactory - Glory and all else !!

Aside from that, I present my three songs - "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" Judy Garland, "Lover's Concerto" The Toys, "Impossible Dream" Man of La Mancha - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfHnzYEHAow

Diane Quinn
Mar 31, 11 at 06:24 PM
My toes are tapping already. Another great Zone, Glory. :)
Donald Hancock
Mar 31, 11 at 05:07 PM
You really put together a neat page Glory! It is going to be fun. And excuse my silly question about "do we wait for Renee's two words before we enter?" Of course we wait. It is one of the qualifications! Duh! OK. I will wait patiently. Actually semi patiently. Well, truthfully, with baited breath!
Glory Lennon
Mar 31, 11 at 04:19 PM
It would be best to wait until Renee gives us the required words before we start to write our stories. Unless you are particularly clever and can stick just any word into a story, that is. I know I'm going to start now and see. So, In essence, I'm giving Renee until April 2 Saturday, to get us those words and then we can enter. Good luck to all!
Donald Hancock
Mar 31, 11 at 03:59 PM
Two questions: Must we wait until April 2 to enter? Also, do we wait for Renee to give the two words that must appear in the article (or did I misunderstand the special proviso? Thanks, Sir Don Here! (You can tell I'm bustin to go!)
Glory Lennon
Mar 31, 11 at 03:46 PM
Thanks so much, Ann! :-)
Ann Hinds
Mar 31, 11 at 03:27 PM
Nice job Glory. I always wait in anticipation of the wonderful zones you create.

Prizes? Yes, we've got some!


If you're thinking of entering this competition with $$$ in your eyes, fageddaboudit! There ain't none!

Okay so we won’t get money, but there is a prize!  The winner will even have a choice. Oh Joy!

Go see the prizes being offered for this and future  authors challenges.  

Well, you won’t get rich winning this contest, but all contestants will still have the thrill of an almost captive audience, some useful feedback on our work, and we also have the added bonus of having our article or story promoted for us  on Facebook,  Twitter, StumbleUpon and any other social media you prefer to use. You’ll also have the Glory of winning, plus you’ll receive loads of accolades from friend and foe alike!

Really, what more could you ask for?

Lookie here! Former Challenge Winners

Challenge 27: Spring fling

Winner: The Awakening by R. Renee Bembry

Challenge 26: Flash of winter

Winner: Going home by Petra Newman

Challenge 25: Home for the holidays

Winner: Short Story: Going home by Raymond Alexander Kukkee

Challenge 24: Annual Halloween Scary Stories


Winner: Reflections: Living in a haunted house by Revel Arroway

Challenge 23: Can you make the grade?


First place winner: Reflections: School by Raymond Alexander Kukee


Challenge 22: Pitch and Query

First Place winner: The Best decade to grow up in by Petra Newman

Second Place winner:  Burying the "N" word  by Ann Hinds

Challenge 21: Your best advice

First Place winner: How to recognize good writing advice by Glory Lennon

Challenge 20: Know Your Place

First Place winner:  Reflections : Smalltown Baseball by Ann Hinds

Challenge 19: Characters Welcome!

First Place winner:  Short Stories: Despair by Abagael MacAskill

Challenge 18: Leapin' Losers!

First place: Getting over writer's block by MJ Joanchim

Challenge 17: What about friends?

First place:   Essays: Friendship by Raymond Alexander Kukkee

Second place: Best ways to break up with a girlfriend by Jim Bessey

Challenge 16: Giving Thanks.

First place:   Thanksgiving Day: A reminder of why we are thankful by Olivia Bredbenner. 

Second place: Reflections: The art of giving thanks by Diane Quinn.

Challenge 15: All about Cats!

First place:  Memoirs: How my cat adopted me by Jim Bessey.

Second place tie: How big cat habitats are altered by people by MJ Joachim,

and  Memoirs: How cats guided me through life's journey by EJ Young.

Challenge 14: How to ___your own___.

First place:  How to propagate plants from cuttings by Glory Lennon.

Second place: How to develop your own writing style by Jim Bessey.

Places to go

Wanna chat? Wanna rant? Wanna burst out with awesome news?

Wanna tell everybody about your latest, greatest article, how-to-guide, advancement at work, ascendency to supreme ruler or just tell us about your kid's latest amazing acheivement? Well, even if you don't, we want to hear it.

Try these threads perfect for one or the other. Chat, rant, brag and promote at will.

"The Castle Coffee House and Pub, rest for the weary traveler"

Here at the castle all is good in the world. No rants please! Just good news and positive attitudes. Post your latest articles, give us your sunny smiles and share your triumphs.

"I just gotta RANT, and you can't stop me!"

Well, when even the castle can't let you forget about the nastiness in the world, come to the rant room and spew at will. Let out the venom, get it off your chest, breathe out the bad stuff and then when you're all good again, join us at the castle.

Authors Challenge Facebook group 

Our place on Facebook-- just in case Helium comes down with a gremlin-induced virus-- where we can share and chat. All challenge entries are posted there too so read up and leave a comment if you like or just stop by and say hello.

Talking Heads sing, too

 Although you'd never know it to look at them!
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