whitemosquito:
Why do you ppl like arguments?
I said if it starts out as a tragedy it should have a twist that causes it to end on a happy note. You said all tragedies have unpleasant endings, now you've turned around to admit that there are tragicomedies. Oh, you knew that did you?

@ spacefreak, the rules said write any theme of your choice, true. But I DIDN'T SAY WRITE TRAGEDIES. I gave EXAMPLES of different themes, eg Romance, comedy etc.
Further prompts said 'weave it around the promise and excitement of the New year. Common sense would tell you that whatever story you produce should be happy/hopeful.
Sir, if you were expecting me to spell it out for you as in Queens Premier, then you aren't qualified for the Challenge.

spacefreak:


"2 Only one submission per entry. Each submission must be a prose written in any theme of your choice, (comedy, romance, tragedy etc)."

What I quoted above was your number 2 rule on the main thread. Im not a fan of arguments, I know when Im wrong and when Im right. You wrote clearly that the theme should be totally the writer's choice. Now you saying the story MUST have a happy ending. In that case a tragedy is a no no contrary to what I quote above. I might be wrong though. I would still love to read a piece written by you.

chrisviral:


For some people, the promise of the new year is pregnancy and HIV
It doesn't always have to be a good promise or excitement, lol, abi no be for nigerian culture wey I hear say 10 people died on the 1st

This theme E hard gan oooo

Bhenehdikt:
hahahahahaha!...whitey,u suppose undastand na,wen money dey involved,man fit forget rules...but nothing spoil sha.
Wen will the first phase end? @whitemosquito

whitemosquito:
Chris, the theme was the easiest I came up with. Now I'm wondering how the other themes would have been received. The one wey nearly provoke me na where person talk say nl contest rules are refined at will..Like wtf?
A promise, no matter how you choose to see it, is positive.

@theorbiters, yea, everyone should just relax and see the entries that make the first stage.

...nl contest rules are refined at will...mssstchew.

whitemosquito:
And the same, should I call it nonchalance or negligence, was displayed in the entries. Typos, tensal errors, misspellings...when you're submitting for the purpose of a competition? When you're work will be analyzed and scrutinized? In depth?

That's just sad.

Some of the entries I posted, I had to clean up and arrange, which strictly speaking, is wrong.
Entries without titles...when I specifically stated, TWICE- in the general guidelines and again when I dropped my mail address- that all entries should carry titles and monikers. I had to attach ppl's monikers to their entries.

Some addressed the SUBJECT of the mail as the title of their entry. So, how am I supposed to know what youre submitting FOR? What if I was running two separate competitions simultaneously? You don't leave things to chance like that.
The SUBJECT should have been The White Mosquito Flash fiction....blah blah, while the BODY OF YOUR MAIL SHOULD CARRY YOUR TITLE. If you were attaching files, same thing. Your title should be contained in your file.

Some people saved their files as "yeah" or "aha". Like really? When I opened them, they contained titles only or titles and monikers, no White Mosquito Challenge anywhere in the entire mail. Na wa.

Then the arrangement style was just...painful. Some people wrote like they were writing letters to themselves or perhaps their girl/boy friends. Some used fonts that my laptop didnt even recognise.

As far as arrangement or presentation of entries is concerned, very few people impressed me. One of such was mobsync; he/she included the nl profile URL for his/her moniker as well as the title. Beautiful. Over and above call of duty; well thought out.

I choose to believe that a lot of us didn't take the Challenge seriously. After all, some people even said they were in it for "fun", "to while away time", since the prizes offered were paltry for those of them that use "laptops to browse".

All well and good. There's nothing wrong with doing things for fun. Infact one of the purposes of the Challenge was to entertain. I haven't lacked that since I created the first Challenge post; there's been a bevy of entertainment, especially on this comment thread.

However, we say that we are writers. Writing is technical. Deliberate. Careful.
If there's anything I want anyone to take away from this competition, it's this: BE DELIBERATE. Work your craft. Yes, you have a gift of imagination. Yes, you have creative expression. But that's where it ends. Writing itself is a SKILL, NOT A GIFT. You have to WORK IT. Learn it. Hone it.

And not just for writing alone. It's a life skill. Being deliberate, that is. Whatever you choose to do, as long as you have chosen to expend time and effort to do it, DO IT WELL.

Divepen:

For those that said tragedy cannot turn to comedy, that's a joke.

Oahray:
smh... Tragedy isn't the same as tragi-comedy. Go do your research and stop being so patronizing.

What is right is right, regardless of who is wrong.

I've said my own. Whitemosquito, no vex o. Your house, your rules. Time to keep my peace and watch.

Caracta:


There is no winner. There is no loser.

Oahray:
smh... Tragedy isn't the same as tragi-comedy. Go do your research and stop being so patronizing.

What is right is right, regardless of who is wrong.

I've said my own. Whitemosquito, no vex o. Your house, your rules. Time to keep my peace and watch.

theorbiters:


But pls don't be angry, did u submit any entry?

Oahray:
lol. No. I carry the matter for head abi? No mind me o.

theorbiters:


Hehehehe, omo, there are winners and losers in a competition ooo. Don't believe that thing they use to tell us.

Caracta:


That means you are a loser if you don't win this competition?

That's a sorry case...

theorbiters:


Haba, calm down na, no say am like that. If I did not win this challenge, then u can say 'hey buddy, u lost this challenge. Better luck next time.'
Lol, telling someone that 'there are no winners or losers is even making it more painful for the person that lost. What of the winner ko? Did he not win abi wetin?
My dear, it happens, there are losers and winners in this competition

Caracta:


Your opinion...i respect that. We all see life differently. To me, there is no winner or loser.

Whatever present the winner gets is mostly measured in material items...things that could fade, die or become irrelevant. I'd rather place value on what is irreplaceable...the lesson I learnt from the experience.

Again, it's your opinion and what you believe in. No qualms.

theorbiters:


Chai, I just dey play with you naa!!! Smile small

Caracta:
Easy now whitemosquito.

Reviews should come later on...i think.

Let the judges decide.

Each entry can be reviewed (if possible). I believe the aim of the competition is to learn and develop the writing skill.

There is no winner. There is no loser. There should be an outline of rules flouted and the reason(s) the contestant didn't (or did) get the prize. I believe the judges can handle that pretty well (with constructive criticisms).

It's ok sweetheart. You've done well. Sheathe your sword and breathe easy.

Good job everyone.

Caracta:


Lol...you obviously don't know me.

Just trying to lift some people's spirit. I don't want anyone to feel bad afterwards. This may be someone's first competition.

@oahray

Caracta:


That means you are a loser if you don't win this competition?

That's a sorry case...

Point 1

Oahray:
*gladly drags someone's goat across thread*

chrisviral:


First time I'm seeing a lady that owns a goat!
But wait! Why did you get to her goat naa?

whitemosquito:
That's exactly what I had planned....
But who won't take umbrage at someone second guessing my motives, hinting at foul play, throwing false accusations and vague implications?
This is the first contest I've ever organised/participated in, I've even bent over backwards so as to accommodate popular demand... then some fellow walks in and makes a sweeping generalization - nl contest rules are always refined.
Honestly Caracta, that got my goat.