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Apr-2-2012 22:31

April Showers Writing Contest

When: April 16-20
Prizes: For 1st and 2nd places.

Who: Everyone is invited. The more the merrier. The Unsubscribed may join and even win, but prizes will be withheld until you subscribe (before May 1, 2012). The Subscribed may join AND you may enlist to be a judge by April 7.

Categories:
1) Detective Biography writing.
2) Creative writing. This category will NOT be graded on spelling or grammar.
3) (Optional) Case Intro writing â€" only if I can get 2 more judges by April 7.

Needed: 2 Judges. Please note that you may be judge and still enter the contest. Just not within the category you enter.
Contestants may enter more than one category.

Judges so far include:
Night Queen
Cordelia Falco
Lady Jas
DaRu
Summer Daze

Stay tuned for the rules for each category. Everyone please sign up!

Apr-19-2012 21:43

The day my parents brought me home from the hospital from being born, they considered me to be a failure. As a child, I never received the praise for doing something good like most children get. By the time I got to high school, my dad and I fought constantly. There was actually a time when he and I had an exchange of punches. Of course, I lost the fight but that was because my old man was a military veteran who fought with former president Theodore Roosevelt on San Juan Hill. After that fight, I left home with out ever looking back.

The corruption on the city streets nearly killed me on my first few days. I could not believe how many crooked people were actually on the streets. Mobsters, the homeless, civilians, and even police officers alike, were all doing what they could to steal money for them selves. I remember the first time I saw someone die. She was young. Probably twenty three. She was shot in the middle of the street in broad day light. When I got to where she was lying, she was nearly dead. All I could do was let her die in my arms.

That night I found myself drunk inside the Tricky Mister Bar, with dozens of people I've never met before. The shady character sitting in the back drinking his life away, the bartender, whose name I couldn't remember to save my own life. Drinking was the worst alternative to getting over anything. Weeks went by and I watched the crime rate grow as the economy fell. Crime began to spread like a disease.

It wasn't long before I realized this city needed someone to help clean up the crime. My parents refused to help me in my time of need. I intended to do the opposite of my parents and help those who need it. Without glancing back to my past, I got a license as a Private Investigator, working with prices to fit everyone, poverty, poor, middle class, and high prices for the rich. Over the years I've done a little bit of everything. I've solved murders. I've saved lives, and I've taken lives. My name is Sterling Hagen, P.I

Apr-20-2012 01:53

I come from a family of Bolivian troubadurs. The firsts of Zacatecoluca were great artists of their times. I am the only alien in my family, a detective, but honoring my family name, I will write about me in the sweet way that we know to use our given talent. Poems.

A murder mistery, a case for Sherlock Holmes
I'm intrigued by investigations of unearthed bones
Unsolved murders and crimes of today
Past mass murderers and who did they slay?

Bloody murders and bodies under the floor
I read with interest, even the gore
A poet detective adding up clues
As I watch ''Midsummer Murders'', then monitor the city news.

As victim's friends and relatives appeal
I'd swift through details with ''Ironside''s steel.
Not a stone would be left unturned,
Vital evidence quick will be learned.

Assorted questions and answers ''Columbo'' like I'd sift
Giving deceiptful suspects short thrift.
As on the slab ''Silent Witnesses'' lie
My ''Miss Marple'' intuition revealing the false alibi.

I can see a body marked out in chalk,
In my crime scene there's no idle talk.
An old man torso, from which angle did it fall?
My Poirot surveillence will reveal all.

Examining head and body bruises,
Stranggling, stabbing and all the abuses,
Found at the base of the stairs in the night
I'm asking like Morse, ''pushed, or the result of a fight''?

A Professional reputation earned as a sleuth
Keenly rooting out the hidden truth.
A ''hard-core Sweeney'' detector of crime
I collect hardened criminals to serve their ''Porridge'' time.

But just for now, I'm back to research and books
Difficult cases deserve second looks.
Unravelling Forensics, looking for an over-looked sign,
Before I become the new 1st lady of crime.

det. Pilar Zacatecoluca

Apr-20-2012 08:50

Some great submissions so far. Today is the due day for ALL submissions.

Happy writing!!!

Apr-21-2012 23:57

THE RESULTS

There were 3 categories:
1) Biographies: 3 contestants
2) Creative Writing: 1 contestant
3) Case Intro Writing: NO contestants

Ivy Spini was the sole Creative Writing entry where everything was deemed by inventiveness only. Both judges scored Ivy a 100. Ivy is the clear winner. In my opinion, it was a very good essay.

Biographies:
igotthepowerinme scored as follows:
--Spelling: 15 out of 15
--Grammar: 7.5 out of 15
--Creativity: 25.85 out of 55
--Parameter Check: 13.5 out of 15
--Total Score: 62 out of 100

M. Lacrimosa:
--Spelling: 12 out of 15
--Grammar: 10.5 out of 15
--Creativity: 51.15 out of 55
--Parameter Check: 14.25 out of 15
--Total Score: 88 out of 100

Cekuray:
--Spelling: 6 out of 15
--Grammar: 12 out of 15
--Creativity: 55 out of 55
--Parameter Check: 12 out of 15
--Total Score: 85 out of 100

Biography Standings:
--M. Lacrimosa: 1st place (score of 88)
--Cekuray: 2nd place (score of 85)
--igotthepowerinme 3rd place (score of 62)

Congratulations to all on some very fine writing!!

Apr-22-2012 00:48

WOOOHOO congratulations to all of you, and thank you all for participating. I had hoped more would join in, as the intent, from what I saw posted, was there. But that is ok. :)

Now, on to our prizes.

Detective Bios:

1ST PLACE:

M.LACRIMOSA-CONGRATULATIONS, you may chose from the following prizes:

A pair of shoes of your choice from Cairo. You can go to Blue Pagoda's website and check them men's shoes available and let me know which you'd like me to pick up for you. Once you are subscribed, we can work out delivery.

OR , a gift subscription as your prize, please see Night Queen.

2ND PLACE:

CEKURAY-You have your choice of either a gift subscription, OR waiting until you subscribe yourself and chosing a VH item from the following list:

The Knight- Tough -1, Smarts +7, Charm 0 ACCESSORY
Majong Set- Tough + 3, Smarts +5, Charm -1 ACCESSORY
Portable Bar- Tough -2, Smarts -2, Charm +8 ACCESSORY
Gold Rolex- Tough -1, Smarts 0, Charm +7 ACCESSORY

If you'd like to chose a gift subscription, please contact Night Queen.

CASE INTRO:

1ST and only Place:

IVY SPINI, you have won a VH item of your choice. You may pick from the following:

Adolpho Suit- Smarts +6 COAT
The Knight- Tough -1, Smarts +7, Charm 0 ACCESSORY
Majong Set- Tough + 3, Smarts +5, Charm -1 ACCESSORY
Velour Cloche- Tough -1, Smarts -1, Charm +6 HAT
Sailor Pantsuit- Tough -2, Smarts -1, Charm +7 COAT

Please PM me on which item you'd like and we can work out delivery details.

And now a very special award...

PERFECT SPELLING AWARD:

IGOTTHEPOWERINME. Congratulations, you have won a gift subscrption!

You all did a fantastic job, and again, congratulations to you all.

Apr-22-2012 04:22

Congratulations, everyone!

Apr-22-2012 07:01

Congratulations to those of you who participated. Everyone has done a fantastic job. I myself am in the process of coming up with a writing competition. More information soon to come and I hope each and everyone of you will participate in it!

Apr-22-2012 09:48

Sounds great Marc. I myself, am not a writer, but if you need help with anything, please let me know. :)

Apr-22-2012 12:24

Thank you Lady Jas! I will.

Apr-22-2012 21:06

I want to extend my warmest and heartfelt thanks to the following in helping bring about this contest:

Lady Jas for helping judge the grammar in the bio section. Also, for her fantastic assistance in planning and providing prizes.

Ivy Spini for helping judge the creativity portion of the bios.

M. Lacrimosa for helping judge the creative writing section.

Summer Daze for being willing to help judge the intro section. Also for her help in keeping my head straight.

DaRu for being willing to help judge. DaRu is ill, and we all wish her a speedy recovery.

Botsie Boots for her willingness to help. Botsie is relocating, and the timing of the contest did not work well for her.

Finally, Cordelia Falco for her volunteering to help. Cordelia also helped steer me in very beneficial ways.

Peter O'Neil and Joey "Bulldog" Bane for their willingness to help. Sometimes real life just gets in the way. But there will be more opportunities as M. Lacrimosa is already providing in the above post.

Finally, the support I continually receive from my fellow Crypt members. Their patience with me as I go campaigning for activities is extremely appreciated.

The other contestants: Cekuray and igotthepowerinme. Thank you for taking the time to submit wonderful writing.

I am very thankful for the friendships that I have cultivated with all of you.