A Good Ending Challenge Results + New Flash Fiction Challenge

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A Good Ending Challenge was open to submissions for two weeks, and in that time over two hundred people submitted an ending. Thanks everyone!

This challenge was difficult for several reasons. Authors had to balance a quick back story (to make the last scene significant for the reader) with an interesting set of final events, which isn't easy. Plus, coming up with an ending is tricky all on its own. Synopses and first sentences are all about the open road of possibility, while endings take you down that narrow alley of resolution

Ok, mediocre metaphors on WEbook's part aside, here are the winners to A Good Ending Challenge:

#1. Someday by AlexVolt
#2. The Dinosaur by vivalavida
#3. Curiosity, And the Death of the Cat by RhindraVekrah

Congratulations to the winners! You will be receiving your coupon code to PageToFame in your inbox's soon. We would love to see your endings again in the final rounds of PageToFame.

Now that we've had challenges that cover first sentences, synopses, and endings, it's time to kick things up a notch and combine them all into...

The Flash Fiction Challenge

This challenge was suggested by cxterri, thanks for the great idea! For this challenge, authors will need to submit an entire story (that means beginning, middle, and end!) in 100-110 words. The genre, topic, and everything else is up to you, so get writing! Deadline to submit is May 28, 2010.

But before you run off, check out the winning ending, by AlexVolt

Someday

"Are we doing odd seats or..."  The Host craned over the last row of the audience to see Judge's ruling.  She consulted her notes.

A thumbs up.

Half the crowd roared its approval, a ripple from the other half balked.

"Are we ready," the Host screeched.  Another frenzied applause shook the studio.  A few even gripped their smoothed, orange-sized stones, knuckles bleached from the strain.

On the stage Graham braced though all he could do was turn his head.  He looked at his new ex-wife, offstage.  Her eyes grew as wide as saucers. 

"Your verdict!"

A few whistled past but most connected.

Comments

[Aubrie]

I'm sorry, but are the rules even taken into consideration when the winners are chosen? No offense to the writers who were recieves 1st and 2nd place, their piece were very nice, but over the word count. Granted AlexVolt was only over by 2, but vivalavida was over by 21, and not because WEbook messed up the count.

Personally, I feel RhindraVekrah was royally gipped, considering they followed ALL the rules and ended up in 3rd. Perhaps if given 21 more words they would have won. Maybe someone else would have won.

Again, nothing against the authors, but why post a word count rule if even the judges won't follow it? Call it a guidline or a suggestion, but please don't make it a rule and then completely disregard it in the end. What's the point then?

[Kristal]

I think there was alot better entries out there and I think the one that one was biased where is the new want for new writing. Why is it the same formula? The same boring old crap! No offence to the top three but, I was unimpressed! I can't believe that the people out there that put out a whole new set of thoughts didn't even make it into the top three. That is crap and what is up with the crap that if your in the UK you can't entry the page or the Agent thing!!!!!! This site's just not worth it.

[Carrie]

Yes I agree I was no impressed either. I liked the last story about Curiousity and the Death of a Cat but I read many others stories that were waaaay more interesting. Boo.

[Maggie DiGiovanni]

Enjoyed the entries. Keep the contests coming. Loved choice for first place. Second place nicely written. Third place could have been a bit stronger, but good concept.

[Aubrie]

That's what I am saying! If third place had disregarded the word count, like the others, their piece could have been stronger.

Going over the word count gave others an unfair advantage and it's sad that the rules are not governed more strictly to prevent this from happening.

[Ashley]

i say you all need to stop griping about it. seriously, it makes you look like sore losers. i'm certain, that if you had won over the word count, you wouldnt be pointing it out.

[Enid]

I am amazed at the number of poorly written comments on a site that has to do with writing, learning and improving one's talents? In this case, only the last three entries above mine have correct spelling, grammar, syntax, punctuation, etc. Congratulations to them!
For the others, please get tutoring or books on the topics where you need help. A publisher won't even glance at an article or book if it isn't perfectly correct.
EABCE

[morleyt2009]

Is it me or does the winning submission too closely resemble "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

[Aubrie]

There is no way that I could win and be over the word count at the same time, because I follow the rules! Just calling those of us who are upset "sore losers" is a scapegoat! Our arguements are logical and our frustrations are justified!

A competition is not a competition without rules. The rules make the competition fair and are the basis of the challenge. The point of the competition was to write an ending in 100 words or less. If you did not do that, then you did not follow directions and did not challenge yourself!!!

And the most disappointing thing of all is that WEbook did not enforce their own rules, rewarding those who challenged themselves by staying within the bounds of the competition and creating something great at the same time.

It's not a difficult concept.

[Brenda]

My ending was 163 words. I cut it down to 100. Follow directions or don't participate. This is the first thing that came up on my page and did not realize all that this site involves.

[MM]

Don't you know that it is obvious that hardly any of these submissions to these competitions are read? And if they are, one wonders just who is readng them. There were many excellent entries that kicked these suckers way out of the ballpark. It is the same time after time after time, mediocrity and derivativess win out ... always. I personally think the first three that have no errors that are read become the winners. And to the person telling everyone to stop wining ... you shut up. These are very valid points and you are exactly what is wrong with the writing world for letting these atrocities happen. Let's see what 'winners' there will be for the flash fiction - hopefully the fact that they are taking two weeks to judge this time means someone will actually be reading them - for I don't care what they say, it is evident that they are not being read. Not only do these stories suck, but they are written simplistically with absolutely no identity to them whatsoever that would set them apart. But then that's what happens when the majority of people here are teenage girls.

[Brian]

Hey MM, I can assure you that the WEbook staff does read and consider every submission to each challenge. In fact, we are having a guest judge for The Character Creation Challenge who is an editorial assistant at St. Martin's Press.

[Aubrie]

It's fantastic that someone is taking the time to read every submission, I'd expect nothing less, but can they follow their own rules at the same time? I don't want to beat the word count subject to death, but like I said, what's the point if that ONE very simple rule is not followed? I guess we'll see on June 11th when the flash fiction winners are announced. Good luck to everyone who wrote a piece in 110 words or less :) You deserve to be considered for your efforts.