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Author Challenge 27: Spring Fling

 

Our newest competition for Flash Fiction/Non-fiction writers in a Spring theme.

Welcome to Authors Challenge 27: Spring fling

jim's tulips

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!

Come to the Authors challenge 27: Spring fling thread for posting any questions, your entries, critiquing and for voting.

 

Winner of Authors Challenge 27: Spring fling


photo by Lars Plougmann

Short stories: The Awakening by R. Renee Bembry

"This little piggy went to the market. This little piggy stayed home," a mother giggled. Fingers moved from wiggling her toddler's toes to tickling his soles and before long her hands were clapping his feet together as "Patty cake, Patty Cake," laughed from her lips. "Green green your momma is a queen!" she cried - at last, ending the infantile diversion....read more.

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

Here are the official rules of On-Board Author Challenges as developed during the previous 26 competitions, and modified once again for Author Challenge 27.

 

  • 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 the forum thread, Authors challenge 27: Spring fling 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, Challenge 27. All entries will be listed in Reply #2 to this thread.
  • One entry per contestant.
  • All articles written and submitted to the challenge must be an open HELIUM TITLE in any channel.
  • Entries must be no more than 500 words.
  • The official starting date for this challenge will be March 2, 2011
  • 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 27 includes the following three special provisions:
  • JUDGING: Vote for your choice of "The best representative of "Green awakening" ~ one vote per contestant.
  • PROMOTION: By participating, you agree to promote your chosen favorite  using some means of Social Networking. Emails to friends, 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  March 16, 2011.
  • 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.
  • The winner's article will be prominently featured on the Challenge Zone and on our Author challenge Facebook page. 
  • These rules, and any changes to them, will be displayed in the first Post Reply on the Challenge Thread as well as here on thechallenge 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.

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.

Prickly pear

Butterfly on Sweet autumn clematis

Cardinal

Flutterby

Blue bird

Entries for Challenge 27: Spring fling

Coral roses

Blue Flag Iris

Sorbet peony

Can we talk?

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.

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Comments (1 to 6 of 6)

Diane Quinn
Mar 04, 11 at 08:03 PM
Thanks, Glory, for adding the photos that represent a look at spring in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of the U.S. The desert willow is also called the "orchid tree" or the "hummingbird tree" for obvious reasons.
Raymond Alexander Kukkee
Mar 04, 11 at 07:14 PM
WONDERFUL job on this zone, Glory!
Glory Lennon
Mar 04, 11 at 02:53 AM
All for it Diane. Send them to me!
Diane Quinn
Mar 03, 11 at 03:45 PM
Spring has sprung! Beautiful job, Glory! One thing...how about a spring representation from the desert? I have photos.
Glory Lennon
Mar 03, 11 at 03:05 AM
LOL, thanks, Jim.
Jim Bessey
Mar 03, 11 at 02:37 AM
Great job, Glory -- love it! I'm green with envy, and awakening to your amazing talents. ;-)

Vivaldi's Four Seasons - Spring (Part 1)

All three movements of Antonio Vivaldi's Spring Concerto from the Four Seasons. I'm sorry I have no idea who is playing. Enjoy and thanks for watching. Be sure to check out part 2. PS If you would like the solo violin sheet music for this song, send me a message.

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 Spring fling authors challenge.  

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, StumbleUponGlory of winning, plus you’ll receive loads of accolades from friend and foe alike! and any other social media you prefer to use. You’ll also have the

Really, what more could you ask for?

Spring is Sprung!

How does spring make you feel
Happy
Adventurous
Amourous
Alive
Weary
Miserable
Wheezy and sneezy
Depressed
Energetic
Indifferent

Desert Willow

Nasturiums

Palo Verde

Recent Challenge Winners

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.
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