When we set the prompt, UNRAVELED YARN, the team wondered how it would be received. We needn't have worried. Your posts explored 'yarn' from many and varied POVs, some literal, some metaphoric, some fictional, some raw non-fiction, some poetic. The variety showed the creativity of the writer's mind.
The reading part of a WEP challenge is easy for the team, even though we often go back several times for a re-read. Then another read if there are similar stories. Then comes the hard part. Choosing three outstanding entries. Often the writers who make the final cut tugged at our heartstrings and stood out above the rest or simply entertained us. Whatever the process, coming to a final decision should be easier, but how we respond to writing is SO subjective. What floats one's boat, sinks another's.
UNRAVELED YARN resulted in some deep responses. Isn't that really the point of writing? To garner an emotional response in our readers? That's the sort of thing editors crave from submissions that cross their desks. Here at WEP, we like being emotionally involved in your stories and poetry.
Here is a quick run through of the entries, excepting your hosts':
Pat Garcia – Engaging, emotional as always. Pat's heroine was someone with insecurities we could sympathise with.
Christopher Scott - combined punk fiction with classical mythology to weave a thought provoking tale. Fixing fate is a tricky job!
L G Keltner – riveted us with her chilling, powerful flash on abuse, murder and thwarted revenge in the afterlife.
Kalpanaa – came in with a poetry entry that beautifully combined unravelling and yarn with gender stereotypes, expectations and freedom.
DG Hudson– gave us another snippet of her stellar sci-fi story set on an abandoned space station where some mysterious intruders are up to something disconcerting.
Jo-ke Ojo– was amazing as always. Her brilliant poem explored the trappings and unravelling of gender identities.
Elephant's Child - posted a stunning, courageous and poignant memoir of a life unravelled by grief and alcoholism and its far reaching ramifications.
C. Lee McKenzie - delivered a poetry entry with splendidly evocative imagery and metaphors. Generations of women and the knowledge, or ignorance, of handling yarns.
C. Lee McKenzie - delivered a poetry entry with splendidly evocative imagery and metaphors. Generations of women and the knowledge, or ignorance, of handling yarns.
Orlin - a cute, playful take on the prompt with kittens literally unravelling the yarn, told from a cat POV done to a turn.
Jaya - posted a well-crafted and sorrowful tale of the unravelling of a suburban neighbourhood to creeping urbanisation. A dream home turned into a nightmare under the boots of progress.
Hilary Melton-Butcher - wove a cool, colourful flash with children and wool and a napping grandpa which felt almost like a fairy tale, interspersed with amazing images, as is her forte.
Crystal Jepsen - a first timer at WEP, Crystal gave us a disturbing and powerful flash on child abuse. Looking out for her future entries!
Dolarah - wrote an exquisitely atmospheric tale of an everyday hero set in small town USA. Is this navy Seal-turned-small-town-good Samaritan as whole and as wholesome as he appears?
Randomzb - Another first timer. Randomzb gave us a flash which kept the reader guessing whether grandfather was reminiscing or telling a tall tale. A Turkish delight!
Elephant's Child - non-fiction
Pat Hatt - flash fiction
L.G. Keltner - flash fiction
C. Lee McKenzie - poetry
Pat Garcia - flash fiction
Dolorah - flash fiction
As we couldn't get a consensus amongst ourselves, I outsourced the shortlist to writer and editor, Nick Wilford, who is also associated with the Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG). (More on that in a later post.) Nick kindly read each entry on the shortlist, giving the following feedback:
Elephant's Child - non-fiction - 'Very powerful stuff and causes one to think about how things could have been different. Excellent interpretation of the theme.'
Pat Hatt - flash fiction - 'Packs quite a punch and took me by surprise! I know this one wasn't a poem, but it had a lot of haunting and poetic images and something of a flow to it. Dark and mysterious.'
L.G. Keltner - flash fiction - 'Powerful and moving. A great take on the theme.'
C. Lee McKenzie - poetry - 'Great structure, stream of consciousness feel. Manages to convey regret, nostalgia and hope in only a few words. Nice job.'
Pat Garcia - flash fiction - 'Very vivid and intrigued me to know more.'
Dolorah - flash fiction - 'Nice and understated, but hints at something deeper going on. Leaves it to the reader to fill in the blanks. Great folksy feel to it.'
So finally, we came up with three winners.
So finally, we came up with three winners.
THE WINNER OF THE
2018 WEP JUNE CHALLENGE UNRAVELED YARN
Congratulations Elephant's Child!
Please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!
Please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!
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THE RUNNER UP OF THE
2018 WEP JUNE CHALLENGE UNRAVELED YARN
Congratulations Lee!
Please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!
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THE ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD FOR THE
Congratulations L. G.!
Please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!
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All prospective winners are vetted for their comments before they are awarded a prize.
Why? Because WEP is a supportive writing community where each person is valued. Wouldn't we all be sad if no one took the time to read/comment on our posts?
Why? Because WEP is a supportive writing community where each person is valued. Wouldn't we all be sad if no one took the time to read/comment on our posts?
For the very strong commenters, we made a special award.
For the inaugural Commenting Champion Award, issued in April for the Road Less Traveled prompt, we acknowledged Desk49.
For June, we pass the Commenter Award to Elephant's Child, who, even when she cannot take part in the writing challenge, often reads all our entries and comments. That's true dedication!
Thank you Elephant's Child!. Please accept the badge and display on your blog!
We thank our team member, Olga, for the creative winners' badges. And kudos to team member Nila who re-read all the entries whilst in India to produce those alluring blurbs on each!
THANK YOU TO ALL PARTICIPANTS!
THE NEW TIMEZONE: In June, WEP began posting to EST (East Coast USA) time which is shown on the clock on the site. Still, we sent out 5 reminders to late posters. In the future, we will no longer send reminders. Late posters often lack readers, so remember to post your entry on or before the challenge date according to the clock on the website. The linky will tell you how many hours to closing time. Thanks for making our lives easier!
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.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING AUGUST WEP COMING SOON! WATCH THIS SPACE AND YOUR EMAIL!
Thanks, everyone, for joining us in JUNE. We appreciate each and every one of you.
Our next Challenge will be in AUGUST -- CHANGE OF HEART!
Our next Challenge will be in AUGUST -- CHANGE OF HEART!
So what's your CHANGE OF HEART going to be about? And I think this is the most gorgeous of Olga's badges yet. How about you?
On the Challenges Page you’ll find the prompt schedule for the year and further inspiration for the next 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.
Your Hosts…
Denise – Renée – Nilanjana – Olga
