Amph Writing Contest FIVE. The Authors Strike Back. (Week 3 writing)

What's the exact deadline time for this? I seem to be making a lot of progress with my coursework and might just have time. If it's midnight on saturday then I should be able to do it, any earlier and it'll be anyone's guess.

 

I think it's 12 a.m. (as Saturday becomes Sunday, like last time) but I wouldn't quote me there. I'm only trying to rationalize it (a first )

As for my writing I haven't been able to start yet either, but I'm sure to have something for the deadline, I think.

 

Yes it is (and will be evey week, unless FatBurt announces a change).

 

okay, I want to try and do this, so can I enter into the 3rd round?
I cant promise anything, Im pretty busy, but Ill try.

 

I don't think I'll have something turned in on time. I just can't get myself inspired . . .

 

I'm half way through, it's not going as planned. Silly characters doing what they want and not what I want.

 

Characters have a way of doing that, don't they Usually it helps things turn out for the better, though.



I'm almost done with my first draft. It's not going to be as well edited as I'd like, but I had such a time getting the words to flow at first.

 

Yeah. In fact, if you write fast, you can write in the second round

 

I didn't make the deadline this time and apologize - got about 2/3 finished - rats! Next time though. Good luck to all who did manage to complete chapter 2. I'm looking forward to seeing how it turned out.

 

I didn't either, I was going to do it yesterday but I spent most of the day ill in bed.

 

That sucks Hope you feel better!!

 

I've just realised the judging will be revealed with the chapter three prompt soon.

Luckily I've got two weeks off now, so I should be able to finish it.

 

What are the results?

 

They'll be up within the next couple of hours.


Been busy in the garden planting today so lost all track of time.

 

Entrant 6 won this time round.

We had a total of 2 entrants for this chapter as well which means that although entrant 6 has the foretunate hand to know where his/her story is going (within reason with the prompt) all the other entrants are making their life easy by not getting their entries submitted.

I'm sure everyone will be back in there again this next time.



There will be no breakdown of reviews this time due to the limited number of entrants meaning that it kinda gives away who could be winning so far.


Winning entrants will be anonymous after the next chapter as well.




So without further ado I give you



CHAPTER TWO

Ten minutes later Fren and Jauna escorted Erika into the conference room at the far end of the base. Drake was still in the infirmary ward, for the wounded were many and some of the injuries were quite severe. Erika was more than glad that Drake had had to stay behind, relieved in fact, though she hardly would have admitted it.

The conference room was small but more than adequate. Only about a dozen people were present (the Council of Officers) and all were seated, their somber eyes locked on Denise Laran.

Laran (Erika's second-in-command) was a beautiful, toned woman. She wore dark greens that commemorated her rank, and her brown hair was held loosely behind her. Laran stood at the head of the room behind a podium, addressing her subordinates.

?So this has been a tragic day for our Unit and also for the whole Western Army, but I needn't tell you that. You were there, leading our valiant men and women onward. I commend you all. Today's defeat??

Laran fell silent when she saw Erika and the others out of the corner of her eye.

With a slight smile Denise flagged them forward and added, ?Well, perhaps this day has been slightly less tragic than we feared.?

Laran saluted Erika. The two shook hands and the crowd applauded. When the glad sound subsided, the commander spoke in a voice that even Fren and Jauna had to strain to hear.

?It's so good to see you well. Every other Unit involved in today's battle has lost their captain.?

?Fren told me,? Erika said, but all the while she found herself thinking, Is Laran glad that I'm all right? Really? She has wanted my position since before we even met, and what's more, she's never made any qualms about hiding it.
Erika quickly pushed those thoughts away. They were paranoid and hardly professional. Perhaps Laran was a little disappointed, but it didn't show. Besides, what did it matter? Nothing could be done about it.

?Chopping off every head?so to speak?is a sinister tactic,? Denise continued, paying no heed to Erika's momentary distance. ?But the organization of it.... It seems that the Anarians have made use of their Dark Magic yet again.?

?Hmm...?

Erika knew that was most likely true. The enemy, whenever desperate or extra bloodthirsty, relied less on their technology and more on their most ancient and damnable rights. This sorcery seldom failed the Anarians.

?There's a print out on the podium. It's an order from General Vargas.? With a slight gesture Laran added, ?You should read it and relay the facts to everyone. After all, you're still the Captain.?

Erika swore she heard a touch of bitterness in the commander's voice.

Oh, just stop it! Erika chided herself.

Before she took to the podium, she gestured for Fren and Jauna to sit alongside their comrades, and as Erika stepped forward, she also nodded to Laran and quietly asked Denise to stand adjacent to the podium.

Even without reading it, the General's order looked intimidating as well as important. The body of the work was typed in bold caps, and near the bottom of the print out, in jagged script, was Vargas's signature, larger than she had ever seen it. Erika ingested every word before speaking.

?Friends and comrades, I'm glad to be able to speak to you again.? Another round of applause swelled up, and Erika paused until the sound began to fade. ?As much as celebration might be in order,

 

I have a little over 1000 words down. I'm having trouble coming up with actual events for the chapter, and making the Anarians interesting.

I'll keep working, and hopefully get something I'm at least not displeased with in by the deadline.

 

I'm only making headway just now. I'm roughly 1,500 words in, and it has been a battle the whole way through.

 

Well, mine's definitely going to be a whole lot shorter than I intended. If I wrote all that was in my head for this one though it'd probably turn out something like 5,000 words instead of 3,000 And all the while I'd be thinking 'this is probably too strong for the TOS', so it's best that I stick with less.

 

If you have questions about what is and isn't over the limit, PM it to me and I'll check it (same goes for any week).

 

So how's everything going with the judging?

 

Results for this round will be up later today.


There will be a one week break before the next prompt is up due to only two entries again


I need to know if the time restraints prompts etc are too restrictive etc.. but I'll go into more detail later. I think a one week break whilst we iron out any issues will be a good idea ready to take things forwards.

 

Only two entries?

Let's hope everyone can get something in for the next one.

 

Only two entries again? Thoughts on this later, but for now I'll leave it at Come On, People!

 

I was shocked to hear that as well, I thought there'd be at least a couple more. But everybody else probably figured that too. I'll be thinking of possible options while we wait on the results.