Nussey Mag Alpha Release

[australis]

Okay, I've added a poem I've been reworking. Hope y'all like it. This is also a bit of a test for me, in terms of posting etc. Let me know it it's right or not.

I've got another poem under way, then maybe a few articles. Could also add the book reviews I've already done in ReNext, what sayest thou?

ETA: RJ, I just read 'October Road'. They strike me as oddly similar, the repetition of the title each (sort of) stanza, and similar in rhythm.

Great minds think alike. And so do we.

ETA2: also added something different, an Aussie short story. See what you think.

[Renie]

Hi guys. Thanks so much on working on this! I'm going to be fixing the template in the next push (the poetry & fiction, and the nonfiction pages are still super funkified), and adding the submission guidelines for outside submissions.

Additionally, we should start thinking about the first round of contests. Poetry and short fiction to start. Let me know if you have any ideas!

[Sean]

Additionally, we should start thinking about the first round of contests. Poetry and short fiction to start. Let me know if you have any ideas!

I'm clueless about contests like that, so I'm going to chime out and leave ideas for that to RJ...as a Kellyz veteran, I think he has plenty of experience with writing contests. If I think of anything that might be of use though, I'll speak up.

[RJDiogenes]

^^ NAHT was always in charge of the contests, but I'm sure I can come up with something.

ETA: RJ, I just read 'October Road'. They strike me as oddly similar, the repetition of the title each (sort of) stanza, and similar in rhythm.

Great minds think alike. And so do we.

ETA2: also added something different, an Aussie short story. See what you think.

That poem is great; I love all the Minoan imagery and the speculative ending. I've often wondered that myself. And the story is hilarious, very amusingly written. Good work.

[australis]

^ Thamks for that

Renie, for a poetry comp, how about something simple as a starter? Suggest a haiku. Perhaps on sunrise, or wind, or lakesd. Haikus are supposed to have a nature theme, which is why I suggested those. Paraphrasong Wikipedia, "Haiku typically contain a seasonal reference, and a distinct pause", as well as 3 lines of 5, 7, 5 syllables. Elegant and straightforward, but involves a little thought and creativity to get right.

I'll have a think about the short story comp. In keeping with the thme off simple for starters, maybe a drabble, on some theme.

ETA:
Actually, I remembered an idea I had for a drabble, ooo, decades ago. I've rewritten it and added it. Now, a genuine drabble is apparently 100 words exactly. Mine, at 105 words, is perhaps a little too brief to get the idea and the characters across clearly. My suggestion would be 150 words and less. See what you think.

[RJDiogenes]

^^ I like that idea. We used to do drabbles all the time at Kellyz.

[Renie]

Cool, a haiku for the first poetry contest, a drabble for the first short fiction contest...sounds good.

[Sean]

Um...I hate to sound like a n00b...but what is a drabble?

[australis]

's ok, I didn't know 'til recently either.

A drabble is supposed to be a short piece of fiction that is exactly 100 words long. Apparently it comes from Monty Python's 'Big Red Book'.

Very tough to do. I've posted one in NusMag ('Gender') as a bit of an experiment, and it's 105 words. It's not very good, frankly, big idea, too few words, maybe. I'd like to either try again, which I don't think would help, or make our comp 150 words and less. Not that I'm going in it ( ), but I can see it's tough.

And now you know.

BTW, we'll need themes for the comp, I can't think of any yet, but in what is in effect a dynamic magazine, how do you know when the comp is closed? Do we just set a time limit and go from there? Or set a time limit, but people can add drabbles on the same theme after that if they want?

Not lookin' to cause trouble, just sayin'.

[Sean]

^Thanks. It's odd that I've never heard of a drabble before...Haikus are are easy to write though, IMO. Perhaps somewhere on the contest pages we should have an explanation of what each type of writing is, for people who wouldn't otherwise know.

[RJDiogenes]

^^ Hey, good idea. A writer's glossary.

australis, I suppose we should set some easily rememberable time limit on contests, like seasonal or something.

[Sean]

^now, how does the judging work? Do ya have several different eliminations (think American Idol *shivers*), or do all of them just get jumbled into one big hat, and decided upon from there? Or, are they judged by several editors, and given points, like Iron Chef? The one with the most points wins?

Ooo...this is getting exciting!

[australis]

That's up to out Goddess-like Editor in Chief.

[RJDiogenes]

Yeah, I don't know. At Kellyz, any member could vote. Here, maybe, the Editors will vote and choose.

[Renie]

Nope, contests will be very similar to how they've been at Kellyz, and how they've been here. The entries will be posted on *ReNext*, not the magazine. Then members get to vote here, just like usual. Then the winning entries will be posted to the magazine, with a link to all the entries and the voting thread.

Sound good? That's the most democratic way, really