Wulf Moon's SUPER SECRETS Workshop & Challenge!

While we're waiting for the other SUPER SECRETS Top Gun members to check in with their results, I'll post your Monday writing prompt a day early:

KINDNESS THAT CAN KILL

Have fun with this one! For you onlookers, the workshop members are required to write one Kill Your Darlings exercise per month based on one of these weekly prompts. Many have later turned them into full-fledged stories. Liz Ticknor (disgruntledpeony) did so, and she almost won WotF with hers--Joni told her she took fourth place! I assigned Brittany Rainsdon to do a set of them as a personal challenge. She did so, and her story "Perfectly Painted Lies" is one of the results. Published in the Spring 2020 issue of Deep Magic magazine, and also reprinted in BEST OF DEEP MAGIC ANTHOLOGY TWO. I've used this system to win contests and to create several of my published stories. It's an exercise that has helped many here hone their skills. Check it out!

https://writersofthefuture.com/forum/the-contest-quarterly-topics-and-other-items/wulf-moons-super-secrets-workshop-challenge/paged/33/#post-28269

@cabarrett

God bless. And my prayers for you. I think though that you'll still write. It might only be once a week or a month or whatever, but I believe that you'll sit down to write at least one sentence: which might then turn into a paragraph. One word at a time in life.  

@zeeteebeez

How'd you feel when you wrote the story?

Hey Top Gun Super Secrets members, and all those following:

Here’s a fun Monday prompt for you!

Promised You Heaven  OR

Sent You to Hell  OR

Combine the two with a comma and do both in one KYD exercise!

Happy writing! Be sure to check in with Swiftpotato that you did your requirements for the last month. We are now in our final quarter for the year! Two more of you will receive full line-by-line and developmental edits by me on your manuscripts, which does help, but smart practice through writing fresh stories is how we all grow.

Best of success as you finish out Q4 with a bang. May the Force be with you!

@wulfmoon nice one! This will be fun to write ✍

I think the combo would be fun to write.  

Making an executive decision today on the Top Gun membership roster of the SUPER SECRETS Workshop for the Volume 38 year.

We lost another of this year's naval aviators when Catherine had to step aside due to life issues. She's a great writer, earned her wings with a Finalist, and I'm sorry to see her go. Goodspeed, Catherine. I haven't filled her spot because I've been busy with writing the Super Secrets' books and conducting workshops and doing edits for clients. But there's one quarter left on this Volume 38 year, and I'd like to fill that slot with someone that hasn't benefited fully from the workshop yet, even though she's been doing all the requirements behind the scenes. 

She's WotF Forum member Victoria Dixon, AKA empressed. Victoria, for tirelessly doing the work of this workshop behind the scenes since the start of the year, and for proving yourself in combat by earning Finalist in the Quarter 2 results (Q2, Vol. 38), you are hereby admitted into the Top Gun Year SUPER SECRETS training school. Even though there's only one quarter left, you deserve recognition for your diligent efforts, and for your recent stellar accomplishment in this world-renowned contest. 

Welcome to Top Gun! May you and all the members feel the need for speed, and finish out this contest year in a blaze of glory!

You know the requirements--you've been doing them all along. Carry on, naval aviator! 

And to all of you in this workshop, pull out all the stops this quarter. I want original ideas, executed flawlessly. Seeing perfection in these skies gets your commander all teared up.

Do your worst.

Commander "Beastmaster" Moon

Thank you for your confidence in me, Beast Master! 😀 

@empressed of course you belong here. You are Top Gun! You have earned your wings!

 Woohoo! Go @empressed!

First of all: welcome, @empressed !! Happy to have you in the workshop!

Second, it is indeed that time again! Today's Monday prompt is: RICOCHET IN RUINS.

@zeeteebeez                An HM is no small thing. 

@crlisle Thanks, Candice!  

@swiftpotato Thanks, Brittany!

AMAZING RECENT RESULTS FROM CURRENT AND PRIOR MEMBERS OF THIS SUPER SECRETS WORKSHOP!
LET THE WILD RUMPUS START!

A quick look at the latest highlights of the exciting results from all of our year long SUPER SECRETS Workshop members. These are all writers from this forum that took my year long challenge and workshop, with a strong focus on writing fresh, original stories. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL! But the latest results are so significant, I would be remiss not to offer commendations. There's more, of course. These are just the latest from this hard-working group:

1. Brittany Rainsdon earned published finalist in Writers of the Future, Vol. 37 in Q4, and was a winner in WotF, Vol. 38 in Q1. She gets to go to Hollywood, the workshop, and the gala TWICE! She also obtained her first published story from a KYD exercise I assigned her, and that same story went on to be reprinted last month in BEST OF DEEP MAGIC, ANTHOLOGY TWO!

2. Elizabeth Ticknor achieved several finalists, including a fourth place rank (not an official win, but it shows the level of quality) from a KYD exercise we did in in this workshop together. And she just won Writers of the Future, Vol. 38 in Q2. FIRST PLACE!

3. Victoria Dixon was a finalist in Writers of the Future, Vol. 38 in Q2!

4. Robert/Dr Jest, was a finalist in Q1, Vol. 38!

5. Christopher Henckel, Vol. 37 Q4, and Rebecca Treasure, Vol. 38 Q1 were both finalists in Writers of the Future!

6. Ari Officer and Elizabeth Ticknor are finalists in the Baen Adventure Fantasy Award, final results to be announced at Dragon Con this year!

7. Z.T. Bright and Christopher Henckel are finalists in the Mike Resnick Award, final results to be announced at Dragon Con this year!

Again, these are just the latest top tier results from members of the year long SUPER SECRETS Workshop. There are many more wonderful results by all, including more winners and finalists in this WotF contest, first respectable sales, and not to be overlooked are the many that follow along privately and write to me about their successes from utilizing the Super Secrets in their writing.

WELL DONE, CHALLENGE BEASTIES! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOUR EXCELLENT WORK!

I'm about to pull out all the stops for this final quarter. Get ready, members and onlookers! May each of you conclude this contest year knowing you gave it your all!

Fortune favor the brave . . . and those that do the work!

Cheers!

Beastmaster Moon

&ct=g

Thanks for all your help, support, and motivation @wulfmoon ? 

Posted by: @swiftpotato

First of all: welcome, @empressed !! Happy to have you in the workshop!

Second, it is indeed that time again! Today's Monday prompt is: RICOCHET IN RUINS.

I do like this one.

I think, when I have time, I'm going to go back through and just gather up a collection of these prompts to play around with. One of my earlier SHM entries came from a single-word prompt (lachrymose, in that case), and I've found them to be an excellent source of flash-length and seed stories.

Posted by: @doctorjest

Posted by: @swiftpotato

First of all: welcome, @empressed !! Happy to have you in the workshop!

Second, it is indeed that time again! Today's Monday prompt is: RICOCHET IN RUINS.

I do like this one.

I think, when I have time, I'm going to go back through and just gather up a collection of these prompts to play around with. One of my earlier SHM entries came from a single-word prompt (lachrymose, in that case), and I've found them to be an excellent source of flash-length and seed stories.

Rob, You were an original member from our first year, and you recently made finalist. We’re about to finish out our special Top Gun year for prior members—this is the last quarter. If you’d like to do the exercises and requirements for this final quarter, I’d welcome you in. Are you ready to drop and do 250? ?

Posted by: @swiftpotato

First of all: welcome, @empressed !! Happy to have you in the workshop!

 

Second, it is indeed that time again! Today's Monday prompt is: RICOCHET IN RUINS.

Just wrote my first flash piece based on this prompt. Now to cut it to 250 words. Really cool exercise, I can see how it helps and am excited to incorporate this into my routine. Plus, sometimes it’s nice to write but write knowing that this needn't grow into anything more than what it is. Conversely, by taking that pressure off, I can see how it might flourish beyond just a flash piece. Very cool.  

@wulfmoon thanks Moon! Your tutelage has been invaluable!

Posted by: @wulfmoon

Posted by: @doctorjest

Posted by: @swiftpotato

First of all: welcome, @empressed !! Happy to have you in the workshop!

Second, it is indeed that time again! Today's Monday prompt is: RICOCHET IN RUINS.

I do like this one.

I think, when I have time, I'm going to go back through and just gather up a collection of these prompts to play around with. One of my earlier SHM entries came from a single-word prompt (lachrymose, in that case), and I've found them to be an excellent source of flash-length and seed stories.

Rob, You were an original member from our first year, and you recently made finalist. We’re about to finish out our special Top Gun year for prior members—this is the last quarter. If you’d like to do the exercises and requirements for this final quarter, I’d welcome you in. Are you ready to drop and do 250? ?

Hmm...the 250 thing seems fun, and I think I'd like to come and dance with you guys, but I am currently being crushed by other things--and if I don't give my time to them, other folks will have to carry my weight, which is not something I can do in good conscience. If you would be open to a very late arrival, though, with a fair wind I could probably join you guys and play in the waters from mid-August or so...

(I knew my life was going to be a mad mess for a while from mid-June into mid-August, so I made sure to have my Q4 crit-ready before that all began. Come hell or high water, I will be entering Q4 with a story I'm proud of! I'm just having to go about it with a degree of pragmatism for the time being.)

Posted by: @foxed

Posted by: @swiftpotato

First of all: welcome, @empressed !! Happy to have you in the workshop!

 

Second, it is indeed that time again! Today's Monday prompt is: RICOCHET IN RUINS.

Just wrote my first flash piece based on this prompt. Now to cut it to 250 words. Really cool exercise, I can see how it helps and am excited to incorporate this into my routine. Plus, sometimes it’s nice to write but write knowing that this needn't grow into anything more than what it is. Conversely, by taking that pressure off, I can see how it might flourish beyond just a flash piece. Very cool.  

Foxed,

Glad you see the benefits. I trust you read the Super Secret on KYD. There's a system to it. It's helped many here. I have several published stories based on my 250 KYDs. 

Have fun with it, but don't forget to use it to find the beating heart of your story.

Best,

Beastmaster Moon

@doctorjest 

Sounds like you are pretty busy, Rob. I'm ramping things up for the end, which would create even more pressure. So focus on creating your awesome Q4, and we'll all be rooting for you. And it's not like you can't do some of the exercises as you find time on the side.

I do look forward to seeing you make finalist again, and obtaining the win. The rewards are worth it.

Beastmaster Moon

For those of you that are on the roster for this Top Gun SUPER SECRETS Workshop year, you have a KYD ASSIGNMENT.

I'll make it easy on you. By July 29th (two weeks), you must do a full KYD using all the phases on a prompt you've already seen. If you've already used it, this assignment will be easy. If you didn't, it's got enough options that it should be easy to come up with something. Post only the 250-words portion, WITH TITLE, during the next two weeks. I'll comment on each. This is a good way for me to see your progress, and to offer suggestions for improvement. This exercise will count toward your monthly KYD requirement if you wish.

I look forward to seeing what you create. Please review the three phases of the exercise HERE.

Here's the prompt:

Promised You Heaven  OR

Sent You to Hell  OR

Combine the two with a comma and do both in one KYD exercise!

Show me what you've got! Remember: these are vignettes focused on the beating heart of your story. Pluck those heartstrings!

Dismissed!

Commander "Beastmaster" Moon

And if you plan on using the KYD 250 as a story seed for the contest, just change the character names before posting here. It's going to change so much expanded out, the KYD won't matter. But if you worry, change the names.

Show us what you got, naval aviators registered in this Top Gun SUPER SECRETS year. You've been doing a KYD a month, or you wouldn't still be here. I want to see what this part of the training has done for you. Take your time, remember all the elements I'm looking for, and in such a small piece, errors are not an option. Have your wingman (writing buddy) I asked you to team up with at the start of the year critique it. Be honest with one another so your piece can shine.

Light 'em up!

Commander "Beastmaster" Moon

@wulfmoon Hey, Moon. Trying to clarify, does it have to be that prompt, or can it be any recent prompt? (I've got a rough start on Ricochet Ruins.)

@empressed 

Has to be the prompt I gave with the assignment, Victoria. 

There will be no Monday prompts this week and next. Everyone in the workshop will be focusing on the current KYD assignment on the prompt I posted above.

And if you aren’t on the roster, there’s a topic in the general forum where you can share your result if you wish. I do comment on them there for onlookers as time allows.

Happy writing.

Beastmaster Moon

Here is my 250, based on the prompt "promised me heaven, sent me to hell".

Once, Ever After

Once, upon a time, I got lost at the library. I fell between thin pages pressing against goose-prick flesh, musky dusty carpet and creaky towering shelves muffled by what I could only imagine.

For minutes and months I wandered. Story, promised heaven, flooded every sense. Meadow's dew, hot breath at the nape of my neck, voices calling from faded black holes of ink stretching me thinner and thinner until I disappeared and words were all that remained.

The journey came to an end, as journeys are wont to do. The hero triumphed, transformed, and I with them. The villain defeated, defiant, and determined to rise again, and I did not dare to breathe.

The moment passed and I tried to inhale, but nothing came. Unaware and unconscious, I'd been sent to hell in a paperback. The smooth paper between my fingertips crept along my arms until pressed pulp was all that remained. I tried to scream but the book stole my voice.

Hush, this is a library.

The book closed. I remained between the silent pages on the shelf, somewhere between magazines with dogeared quizzes and books none read for pleasure.

I am lost in the library.

Save me.

Open the pages, read me from this prison of ink and glue, cardboard and dust. Take my place until a fresh fingertip drifts down the title page, unaware their skin thins, words crawling into ears and eyes, until they are the story and the story is them.

Happily.

Ever after.

END

Here is my 250, also based on the prompt "Promised You Heaven, Sent You to Hell":

Albert’s Angel

Albert waited and rocked left to right, hands in pockets.

At 1:00 p.m., every Tuesday, a rift between Heaven and Earth opened for two hours.

Ella, his daughter, strode towards him through the mist, her shoes clicking on the pavement. Her blue dress matched her eyes. Ella’s blonde curls waved at him as she ran into his arms.

“Daddy!”

Albert sighed and held his angel tight.

At a nearby diner, they shared a hot fudge sundae.

“How was your last day at school?”

“Fine.” Ella giggled as he wiped a dot of whipped cream off her nose.

Two o’clock came much too soon. Ella had to catch the train.

She looked so grown up sitting there with her hands folded. Albert wanted to pull her off the seat, but his arms were frozen in time. Instead, he leaned down and kissed her warm cheek. The scent of honeysuckle rose from her hair and tickled his nose.

“Have fun at grandma’s. Be good.”

“I will. Bye, Daddy.”

As the train pulled out of the station, it disappeared from Albert’s tear-blurred sight. Steam billowed around his feet. He heard Ella’s screams through the train’s whistle as it crashed and the rift closed.

Albert didn’t understand. All he knew was that Heaven brought Ella to him every Tuesday afternoon. His heart hurt. He crossed his arms, trying to protect it. He rocked left to right and put his hands in his pockets. Albert knew what Hell felt like because it came every Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.

END