WRITE WHILE YOU WAIT CONTEST! $25.00 PRIZE

2/14/2012

Edited for clarification:
Sometimes I have very complex reasons for doing things, but I don't say them very well. I want to thank my friend Dorie for pointing it out.

As you may or may not know, I entered the Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest. They'll announce first round winners on February 28th. I have my book of short stories coming out, but that's a hurry up and wait kind of thing. I also have a story that made it through two rounds of readers with Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine. They actually only accept 1/20 of the finalists but its hard not be a little excited and a lot of hopeful. Selling a story to Andromeda would bring me one step closer to SFWA membership.

Part of writing is waiting. Hurry up, get this done... Now wait. So what are you waiting on? Does an agent have a full? Or maybe your just waiting to have something to submit. There's a boat load of frustration in that.

So, I've decided to host a contest. In 150 words or less, write a story using the five words below. Leave your story in the comments. Also feel free to share what you're waiting on. Enter as often as you want between now and February 29th. The author of my favorite will win their choice of a $25.00 Amazon gift card or $25.00 in cash paid via Paypal.

The economy sucks and I happen to be in a position where I haven't been effected by it. This may not always be the case, but while it is, I don't mind buying someone dinner.

hullabaloo
contest
hurry up and wait
kimchi
beer

Jeremie

2/15/2012 02:45:11 pm

Plates

Old wood on the chair creaked as Jim crossed his legs. Slurping from his beer helped wash down the remaining kimchi. “We aren't stealing identities. It’s like lying to kids about Santa Clause.”

“Stealing license plates and then switching them for phony ones is still stealing,” Charlie said.

Charlie walked to the stairs, which groaned as he ascended.

Gulping down his beer, Jim crushed it in his fist. "Grab me another," he yelled.

"Hurry up and wait."

Jim sighed. Rubbing a palm over his hair, he sauntered to the pile of metal plates in the corner. He picked one up, grunted and tossed it back, creating a hullabaloo. Ignoring his cousin’s words and thinking about the clients that had asked for fake license plates to aid in escape from the police, he decided money was more important. Life wasn't a contest with Jesus, and money was better than salvation.

Matt link

2/15/2012 04:34:15 pm

Steve was twitching and pacing up and down by the bus stop. A man riding an invalid carriage asked why he looked like he'd done a hullabaloo in his pants, so Steve apologised and stressed that it was because he was expecting a bus carrying Kim Chi, the hottest girl in school, who had finally accepted his proposal for a date. The invalid waved his shopping bag in the air and told Steve to man up. “Just hurry up and wait! Relax!” he shouted. “She'd be mad not to turn up for you, there's no contest!” He then offered Steve a warm can of beer.

Steve thanked the man for his support but did mention that he was slightly scared of him and would he mind not talking to him ever again.

http://miscommunications.wordpress.com/

Marva Dasef link

2/15/2012 11:46:39 pm

Rangle used the neck of the empty beer bottle to force the last of the kimchi down Cord's throat. He stepped away and stared at the dead eyes staring back at him. Tearing his gaze away from the red, bloated face, he thought back to the contest, the one that created such a hullaboo. Who had the fastest dragster? Rangle thought he did, but when Cord beat him by a mile, he smiled, shook hands, and invited the winner over for an authentic Korean meal later in the evening. He felt like he had to hurry up and wait--get everything ready, then sit. Cord showed up at seven as promised. By seven fifteen he was dead.

Valerie

2/18/2012 12:27:24 am

Mr. Choi was crying again. I could hear him through the paper thin walls of my apartment, lamenting about how his wife had left him. He spent his days drinking beer and eating kimchi, until the reek of it was embedded in his very being. I could smell him from a mile away.
“You know Mr. Choi, it’s not a contest,” I yelled through the walls, meanly. “Nobody cares how much kimchi you can eat.”
“Hurry up and wait!” he yelled back at me in his heavy Korean accent. I laughed and banged on the wall. He didn’t know how to insult me properly in English.
“Hullabaloo!” I shouted, knowing he’d be more confused than ever. Was that even a word? He wouldn’t know, but he would sit and wonder if I was insulting him. Before I left, I shoved a five dollar bill under his door.

Noortje de Graaff link

2/19/2012 10:03:31 pm

I'm waiting on some inspiration for my story. I'm currently deep into editing mode (something which I'm not that fond of) and miss a spark to keep me going.... or at least going quicker than this snail pace I currently have.
I really enjoyed this little writing exercise however and had a lot of fun with it! So thank you for that! Good luck with the amazon contest!
Here's my short story (I don't think I've ever written one that was just 150 words)

~~~

Robert waited patiently at the restaurant sipping his beer. Even alcohol couldn’t take the edge of this moment; this amazing adrenaline rush, knowing that the man sitting across him was about to die.

It was a contest, really. He and Adam were always competing with each other. Robert clutched his drink and glanced towards the kitchen door.

He had planned it all perfectly. The kimchi chopped up and hidden in Adam’s food. The allergic reaction that would follow. The inevitable tragic death. If only Adam knew. Surely his friend would see the beauty of it.

The doors opened with a Hullabaloo and the waiter stumbled out holding the deadly dish.

‘Two more beers,’ Adam ordered, ‘hurry up and—wait—Robert?’

Robert clutched his throbbing head, trying to focus on Adam’s final bite. He wasn’t eating. His heart was burning and Adam’s mouth twitched into a smile.

‘How’s the beer buddy?’

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WRITE WHILE YOU WAIT CONTEST! $25.00 PRIZE

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