Hello everyone!
Here's what you've been waiting for! The winners of the inaugural WEP/IWSG collaboration for the CHANGE OF HEART August challenge!
This is a long post as there's so much to say. I've used sub-headings so you can easily skip to the content you want!
WHAT WAS NEW ABOUT THIS CHALLENGE!
New people!! Welcome to 8 new entrants - Diane Burton, Tanya Miranda, Rebecca M Douglass, Jemima Pett, Roland Clarke, Deniz Bevan, Operation Awesome and Elizabeth Otten.
Welcome back Shannon Lawrence and Michelle Wallace who used to post intermittently or regularly in the past. We hope you're back to stay!
Some of you (5) missed the deadline and a couple of your emails broke my heart, but we hope you make it next time! The post date is clearly shown on the badge and the time zone clearly shown at the top of this website.
And of course, the rest of you are too many to mention. Thank you loyal WEPpers, some of whom came with me from RomanticFridayWriters when we became WEP in 2012, some later, but you all turn heaven and earth to turn up every second month. You make WEP the success it is.
We hope you're all enthused about the challenges and return in October for another write-fest for the Halloween month.
Pat H - wrote an open letter to 'dear Good and Evil' - profound and thought provoking in his usual dark style..
Michelle Wallace - penned a poignant and compelling flash of one long lost son’s heart changing the life of another. A brilliant take on the prompt.
J Lenni Dorner - loss, courage and new beginnings come together in an intriguing, creative flash built on a mix of the prompt and lyrics from a song.
After extensive reading, the team compiled a shortlist, longer than usual:
Please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!
Congratulations Toi!
Please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!
***
The random pick winner is -- Diane Burton! Diane, please accept the badge on behalf of all the great commenters and display on your blog!
As always, I thank my awesome WEP team members. I couldn't do this job without you:
I've just sent out a bulk email. Mine went to SPAM until I told Gmail it wasn't spam. If you are subscribed to the WEP mail list and didn't receive an email, go to your spam folder and click 'This is not spam.' Or 'add us to your address book.' Then you'll be up to date on WEP news!
Relative to comments: try to set up your comment system so it's easy to comment! No Google+ please. Leave a message on our CBox or in comments if you cannot post comments on someone's site.
Be sure to return to read the winner’s guest post in a couple of weeks!
#WEPFF Change of Heart Winners announced. @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @theIWSG https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2018/08/wepff-winners-post-for-change-of-heart.html #amwriting #flashfiction
Come congratulate Tanya Miranda, first place winner #WEPFF Change of Heart Challenge @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @theIWSG https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2018/08/wepff-winners-post-for-change-of-heart.html #amwriting #flashfiction
The #WEPFF writers are all winners! @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @theIWSG https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2018/08/wepff-winners-post-for-change-of-heart.html #amwriting #flashfiction
When you take the challenge for a spin you too could win! @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @theIWSG https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2018/08/wepff-winners-post-for-change-of-heart.html #amwriting #flashfiction
Here's what you've been waiting for! The winners of the inaugural WEP/IWSG collaboration for the CHANGE OF HEART August challenge!
This is a long post as there's so much to say. I've used sub-headings so you can easily skip to the content you want!
WHAT WAS NEW ABOUT THIS CHALLENGE!
New people!! Welcome to 8 new entrants - Diane Burton, Tanya Miranda, Rebecca M Douglass, Jemima Pett, Roland Clarke, Deniz Bevan, Operation Awesome and Elizabeth Otten.
Welcome back Shannon Lawrence and Michelle Wallace who used to post intermittently or regularly in the past. We hope you're back to stay!
Some of you (5) missed the deadline and a couple of your emails broke my heart, but we hope you make it next time! The post date is clearly shown on the badge and the time zone clearly shown at the top of this website.
And of course, the rest of you are too many to mention. Thank you loyal WEPpers, some of whom came with me from RomanticFridayWriters when we became WEP in 2012, some later, but you all turn heaven and earth to turn up every second month. You make WEP the success it is.
We hope you're all enthused about the challenges and return in October for another write-fest for the Halloween month.
CHANGE OF HEART resulted in some deep responses which, judging by the comments, garnered an emotional response in our readers. Many minds flew to heart transplants and that's no surprise, but how each one was so different, was.
BLURBS FROM EACH ENTRY
Here's a round up of all the entries we got for the prompt - CHANGE OF HEART, except the hosts'. An amazingly diverse collection, with many innovative interpretations of the prompt. Mind. Blowing.
Sally - gave us a sweet heartfelt entry, a lovely combo of poetry and prose on the value of friendship in overcoming grief and despair.
Desk 49 - spun one fun yarn of a man-snake tussle which ended with a rather unexpected 'strike.'
Pat G - gave us a story of courage to conquer inner demons, healing and a change of heart brought about by love.
Pat H - wrote an open letter to 'dear Good and Evil' - profound and thought provoking in his usual dark style..
Toi Thomas - paid tribute to Asimov and wrote a compelling story of self aware AI trying to create a better version of humanity.
Tanya Miranda - crafted a fascinating flash about the price of mortality. Deep and haunting.
Deborah Drucker - wrote a heartwarming story of an immigrant family's struggles in an new land and then ended it with a supernatural twist in the tail.
Laura C - gave us a fantasy flash where the hero switches sides but does not know if he's made the right choice.
L.G. Keltner - Sometimes a change of heart can lead to terrible, life long regrets. A moving flash about a romantic dilemma with devastating consequences.
Hilary - served up a super creepy take with an MC pondering stuffed heart recipes, not an ordinary dish we can tell you.
Roland Clarke - brought to life teenage angst over sexuality in an evocative flash set in Wales.
D.G.Hudson - gave us a further intriguing chapter of her well crafted scifi novel, with the intruders on Outpost 6 finally tracked down. But does finding a child among them lead to a change of heart?
Jemima Pett - made us instantly relate to her feisty MC who has to find ways to outsmart her space navigator.
Diane Burton - a fun take on the prompt that combined travel, adventure, independence and self-discovery, with the bonus promise of a new relationship? or a bogus brother of absconding friend?
Christopher Scott - jumped in with an intriguing flash on the gamer world. Will the MC escape to freedom and family life?
Rebecca Douglass – wove a funny and lighthearted ghostbuster story with a clever use of the prompt.
Michelle Wallace - penned a poignant and compelling flash of one long lost son’s heart changing the life of another. A brilliant take on the prompt.
J Lenni Dorner - loss, courage and new beginnings come together in an intriguing, creative flash built on a mix of the prompt and lyrics from a song.
Elephant's Child - gave us a flash involving genetic manipulation in the search for perfection, thought provoking and shivery, too close for comfort.
Deniz Bevan - wrote up a happy combo of travel and romance, set in that most alluring of destinations -Turkey, irresistible!
Elizabeth Otten - penned a heartwarming, well crafted monologue for her first WEP entry with the cutest MC we have come across in several months.
Roland Yeomans - wrought his usual magic with a lilting, melancholic cadence and poetic diction.
Kalpanaa - gave us an extract from her current work, and another MC vying for the cutest spot with Elizabeth's.
Shannon Lawrence – crafted a super chilling tale of a burglar... or is it a woman out for revenge? and a child that pivots the outcome around after pushing us to the very brink.
Elephant's Child
Tanya Miranda
J Lenni Dorner
Shannon Lawrence
Michelle Wallace
Jemima Pett
Toi Thomas
Rebecca M Douglass
The shortlist was outsourced to writer and editor, Nick Wilford, who is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) admin. Nick kindly read each entry on the shortlist, and chose 3 winners. (Agreement on the winner was unanimous).
So (((drum roll)))...here we go...
THE WINNER OF THE
2018 WEP AUGUST CHALLENGE CHANGE OF HEART
is TANYA MIRANDA
Nick said: "Tanya's flash made the biggest impact on me and posed a profound question that makes us all ponder as humans."
Congratulations Tanya!
Please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!
An Amazon Gift Card of $10 will be winging your way shortly.
***
THE RUNNER UP OF THE
2018 WEP AUGUST CHALLENGE CHANGE OF HEART
is MICHELLE WALLACE!
Nick said: "A circular tale with an interesting question - would a heart transplant change who we are as a person? Made me want to know more about what happens to Gary." Yes, please continue this story, Michelle (the team)
Congratulations Michelle!
Please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!
***
THE ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD FOR THE
2018 WEP AUGUST CHALLENGE CHANGE OF HEART
goes to TOI THOMAS!
Nick said: "Thought-provoking look at a possible future. Took me off somewhere completely. The narrator seems to have two changes of heart - an interesting twist."
Congratulations Toi!
Please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!
***
COMMENTING
All prospective winners are vetted to ensure they've commented on several posts before they are awarded a prize as this is one of the guidelines on every submission sign up.
For very strong commenters, we have a special award.
Past winners are Desk49 and Elephant's Child. This month I'd like to acknowledge Desk (Ellis) for his support to new participant, Roland Clarke. And Roland, we honor your effort in struggling to read every entry when you had so much going on.
The CHANGE OF HEART challenge demonstrates a change of heart regarding comments. The message has gotten through with MOST of you commenting on all/very nearly all, of the posts. Isn't it lovely to see SO MANY comments on each post? It delighted the team.
I set myself the task of tallying comments and stopped tallying on 24th August so apologies if you've since finished commenting. I'm taking volunteers for the role of Comment Police in October! Don't all rush me at once! You'll see by my messy page below that of those not in the running for the award, most made an excellent effort to get around!
I set myself the task of tallying comments and stopped tallying on 24th August so apologies if you've since finished commenting. I'm taking volunteers for the role of Comment Police in October! Don't all rush me at once! You'll see by my messy page below that of those not in the running for the award, most made an excellent effort to get around!
Some of you contacted me to say you'd finished reading all the posts. I think that's a good idea. YOU NOMINATE YOURSELF for the Comments Champion award and we'll do a cursory check.
I want to thank the following for their awesome effort at commenting. We had fourteen!! I used the online random name picker and left it to chance!
Here's the result. As all 14 names weren't shown on one page, I had to snip it twice.
So, the Comments Champion award goes to all 14 of you, but we can only send one badge.
As always, I thank my awesome WEP team members. I couldn't do this job without you:
* Olga, for the creative badges. Wow, CHANGE OF HEART and DEJA VU or VOODOO are magnificent
* Nila, who wrote those alluring blurbs on each entry
* Yolanda, who read for us and helped with the DLs and shortlist
* LG Keltner who offered to help monitor the C-Box and to be an extra pair of eyes on the entries
* Pat Hatt for creating/adding tweets to the posts
* Nick Wilford for reading the shortlist and for final judging
And from the IWSG:
* Pat Hatt for creating/adding tweets to the posts
* Nick Wilford for reading the shortlist and for final judging
BUT MOSTLY, THANK YOU PARTICIPANTS!
August was a blast!
A MESSAGE TO LATE POSTERS!
If you've subscribed to the email list on the blog, you will receive a notice on posting day. If you haven't signed up and would like to, send your email address to Denise and she will sign you up.
Remember to post your entry on or before the challenge date according to the clock on the website and choose your method to let us know you've posted! The linky will tell you how many hours to closing time.
Relative to comments: try to set up your comment system so it's easy to comment! No Google+ please. Leave a message on our CBox or in comments if you cannot post comments on someone's site.
We're excited to see you all again, plus spread the word for the October Challenge -- DEJA VU or VOODOO!
On the Challenges Page you’ll find the prompt schedule for the year and further inspiration for the above prompt.
Be sure to return to read the winner’s guest post in a couple of weeks!
We'd love if you'd Tweet this post or share to Facebook or your favorite social media site.
Come congratulate Tanya Miranda, first place winner #WEPFF Change of Heart Challenge @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @theIWSG https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2018/08/wepff-winners-post-for-change-of-heart.html #amwriting #flashfiction
The #WEPFF writers are all winners! @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @theIWSG https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2018/08/wepff-winners-post-for-change-of-heart.html #amwriting #flashfiction
When you take the challenge for a spin you too could win! @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @theIWSG https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2018/08/wepff-winners-post-for-change-of-heart.html #amwriting #flashfiction
HUGE congratulations. Not only to the winners but to everyone. My greedy reading self had a ball. As she always does.
ReplyDeleteAnd big thanks to all the team, both old and new.
Congratulations to the winners and to everyone else. Looking forward to more great pieces in October.
ReplyDeleteI'm adding a link to my latest post here as it was a memory triggered by the Challenge: https://rolandclarke.com/2018/08/27/can-we-change-youth-crime-hearts/
DeleteOh my. Thank you so much for the recognition. Congratulations to Tanya and all the entrants. I was so amazed to have been able to read all the stories this time around and was so thoroughly entertained. Thanks WEP and IWSG. Looking forward to the next one.
ReplyDeleteNow look at this crew of writers. How wonderful. I still haven't read all of the submissions, but I did read some and they were great. My huge congratulations to the winners. In my book, anyone who enters is a winner. It takes time and talent to put together a story written to a theme.
ReplyDeleteGreat entries this round. Although I don't qualify for any of the badges, as I'm part of the WEP crew, I hope my entry was worthy of all the others. It's an honor to be part of this group of talented writers.
ReplyDeleteIt surely was, Olga. I think we'll ask Nila to do a blurb for the hosts' entries, too, or we could help, as it takes a lot of time to create blurbs for this many entries.
DeleteCongrats to the winners and to everyone who wrote such fantastic flash fiction. Thanks to the crew. You guys go above & beyond. Thanks, too, for the recognition. I had a blast reading all the entries.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the winners and all who entered! The writing this month was absolutely superb and commenting was enthusiastic and brilliant as well. Thanks to all participants for a wonderful, productive Challenge. Looking forward to the October stories now!
ReplyDeleteOh, and will be happy to do blurbs for hosts if required. Anytime. Just say the word :)
DeletePlease do. The hosts stories are always a treat, and should be acknowledged.
DeleteI third that, but realize what a lot of time it takes, Nila.
DeleteSure it does, and time goes quicker when you're doing pleasant work!
DeleteA great collection of stories, and I’m honored to have been on the short list! Because I’ve been moving and traveling, I’m still working my way through the list, but I will get them all read before the October challenge goes live.
ReplyDeleteYou'll find some really neat takes on the prompts! Thank you for participating at what must have been a busy time. See you in October!
DeleteThe quality of writing was so high between all the entries. It was an honour to be able to judge them, but it can't have been easy to narrow down a shortlist either. I agree that all the writers were winners. Roll on October!
ReplyDeleteThank you for judging. One thing amazing about the WEP is it gets more difficult with each Challenge to narrow down that shortlist.
DeleteOMG! I'm so honored to have won! Thank you for the recognition, and to everyone's amazing comments and questions. The other entries I have read were awesome, and I have yet to finish them all! Thank you WEP for hosting this platform for us to share our writing. :-D
ReplyDeleteYour take was truly unique, unanimous agreement among the team on that and a very well deserved win. Congrats once again! Look forward to your participation in October.
DeleteCongratulations to the winners! All of you did such a fantastic job!
ReplyDeleteCan't but agree with that. The bar keeps rising at WEP. Thanks for all your work.
DeleteThanks WEP team for all your work for this bi-monthly challenge ... and congratulations for bringing in IWSG and for setting up the judges ... and excellent choices made for the awards - cheers to one and all - Hilary
ReplyDeleteThanks for your quirky horror post this challenge, Hilary. Looking forward to what you'll 'serve up' for Oct!
DeleteThank you so much to everyone involved in WEP - I didn't realise it was so massive! Thank you also for including my effort in the final list, I'm very honoured.
ReplyDeleteBut I think you probably got the right winners!!
Looking forward to next time :)
There is an amazing sense of community at WEP, thanks for being a part of it. Looking forward to your participation in October.
DeleteCongratulations to all the winners!
ReplyDeleteThe WEP is something special. Every story I read was a big hit.
Thanks to the WEP team. You ladies are an unselfish Awesome bunch of Writers.. You participate even though your stories will not be considered. You are right there with us. That’s what makes the WEP so great.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G
So agree with you about the special bit. Each writer here brings a unique wealth of experiences and writing mojo to the table. We learn so much from each other and enjoy the learning. Thamk you for being part of it! Looking forward to your entry for October. Always a fun Halloween month at WEP.
DeleteCongrats to all the Winners for entries and commenting, this was an exceptional outpouring of interesting reads. Such a juicy prompt helps fuel our imagination. Kudos to all the admin back support as well!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being part of WEP, can't wait to see how you develop the story further for the October prompt!
DeleteCongratulations to all the winners! It was a really great round!
ReplyDeleteExceptionally rewarding reads this month. Thanks for being here. Hope to see you in October.
DeleteCongratulations to the winner, Tanya, well done and to everybody else who contributed and thank you team for all your hard work - it is much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your entry and words of appreciation. Looking forward to seeing you here for the October challenge.
DeleteCongrats to all the winners. A grand round indeed.
ReplyDeleteGrand is just the right word. Thank you. Look forward to your entry for the next challenge.
DeleteCongratulations Tanya, Michele, and Toi. You all had interesting takes on the prompt.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deborah, for all your support and exhaustive reading of all entries. Hope you will join us for the October challenge. It's always extra fun the Halloween month.
DeleteI'm late to the party, but it's never to late to celebrate great writing!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Tanya, Michelle, and Toi - and all the participants for such amazing stories. Thank you for being part of this delightful writing challenge. I'm happy to see it flourish under the combined banner of the IWSG. Denise has done an amazing job. And as someone who knows the full in's and out's of putting this challenge on. I can speak to the massive effort that it takes to make it go smoothly and look flawless! Kudo's to her and her NEW great team! I'm looking forward to October and the Halloween Challenge, and despite my departure from the day to day operations after that, I'll continue to participate. The RFW and now the WEP have been an asset to my own writing experience and not one I will give up easily!
Thank you, everyone!
So pleased to hear that! Our best wishes always with you, I know I speak for everyone here.
DeleteI am so looking forward to your Halloween entry which is going to be as super as ever. No one does horror better. WEP would never be the same without your posts and comments, so very glad you're planning to be around - thank you. Take care and stay well.
Hi Ladies,
ReplyDeleteWOW.... I am SOOOO SORRY I missed this challenge. Just had NO time to write or read... Unexpected visitors popped into Chicago. I had THREE WEEKS to get my place finished here and ready for their visit. UGH... I had hoped to do the work over the WHOLE summer. BUT the good news is, it's DONE and I can write again... SOOOOO HAPPY to see that the next challenge is VOODOO.... I have the PERFECT entry... once I write it. LOL Another fun excerpt from MOMMY KAY~ Here s tidbit... MOMMY KAY meets the VOODOO KING in HAITI~ back in the late 1960's. How's that for a juicy tidbit. LOL.....
Look forward to your entry in Oct, Michael. Sounds perfect for the prompt and super interesting! October is always intensely fun at WEP.
DeleteOH... AND CONGRATS TO ALL THE WINNERS>>>> I hope to read some of their entries this weekend....
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ReplyDeleteCONGRATS TO ALL!!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed all the stories (I think I may have missed one or two...)
My computer problems threw me out of sync... still trying to find my rhythm again.
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ReplyDelete