Wednesday Wrap Up Post for Challenge No 37 - Yes, No, Oh, Alright Then!

Hi my friends

It was a lovely turn out this week. We were happy to see three new participants having a go and doing very well!

The theme of indecision came across very strongly, with some using the actual words from the prompt (this was not a compulsory requirement!) and others titling theirs to suit the theme.

Thank you all for your well-considered entries. I know we're all frantically busy with various writing projects, so Donna and I are thankful that you regularly take time to write for us, whether you're adjusting your WIP to fit the theme/word count, or whether you're crafting a brand new poem or prose offering, we salute you.

I just finished my rounds again, so I can see all the lovely comments. Those of you who're new may not have seen that you can get a full critique if you'd like, but you must tell us. Otherwise we're mainly offering positive feedback which is good too.

In order of sign up here is a quick overview of the entries this week:

ROLAND: Strong, atmospheric emotive writing as always as Victor and Alice danced their last dance before the fae High Queen Oxggia. Even the grass was smouldering. A delight for the senses, with a sweet waltz, sighing violins as they 'whirled and twirled in a dance of love.' The indecision was an interesting part of the piece. Alice was asking of Victor something he was witholding.

CHARMAINE: Welcome to a new participant who delighted us all with her present tense tale of conflict regarding expectations in a relationship. I love the progression of the story which takes place amidst various musical references and crumbs in beards. Full of atmosphere. Why does she stay? Why does she love him? The surprise ending was a humdinger.

LINDA: No romantic element in this semi-autobiographical story, but Linda captured the essence of the theme well. Indecision! Will I go? Will I stay? Don't we love risk takers? As always, loved the strong ending.

HEATHER: Welcome to another first timer for RFW. A great debut Heather, with a story of teenage angst which has its roots in a true experience. These are often the best tales, aren't they? Loved the set up with the interference in Monica's and Ryan's relationship. There's always another teen to run your life! Great use of theme.

FRANCINE: A feisty extract from Francine's latest WIP, Venetian Encounter. I adore Venice so was right there in the Georgian/Regency romance but I didn't have my frilly petticoat on. Loved the characters, especially Ropo the monkey. I thought he was an interesting motif, but he's a major character. A story of powerful temptation with a lot of questions - will/won't she get aboard?

KIRU: An extract from Kiru's novel, His Strength, this extract had many declaring they can't wait to read the full text. Nneka (always love the names Kiru chooses), caught between body and mind. Who can resist the alpha male? I don't think Nneka can.

MICHAEL: Michael nervously presented his story, but he wowed us with his tale of Jason and Shannon. She was a bit of a whinger and needed to sort herself out, but a guy who describes himself as 'Grade A prime beef' either has a great sense of the ridiculous or is just plain stupid. Well...you choose. Michael's emotive piece had us taking sides, er, Shannon's side mainly.But he is a handyman...

SALLY: Oh, lovely to see what we call prosetry at RFW. It was great to lose myself in this prose that beautifully conveys anguish and indecision. Swayed by that sexy English accent she makes up her mind to move to England, to start a new life. Alrighty then. Great twist at the end.

DONNA: Well we often say that being a member of RFW helps us to improve our writing and Donna is proudly not-a-romantic-writer, but she does a great imitation doesn't she? Ha! Your'e doing great Donna. We all  loved your sensory piece with all our favourite props - yellow roses, vintage wine (pity the glass was empty and she doesn't fill it up again - that created great tension for me!), cordon bleu cook, classical music - ah, seduction! But Jason has done something bad. We don't know what. Maybe we'll find out more in Being the Perfect Ex!

ANNA: Sweet pirate birthday party! The usual kiddie party stuff which many of us can relate to, but bring a Pirate into the mix and single mum may have a romance on her hands. We're all hoping. And several were left begging for more Anna, so please, please...

ANDY: What can you say about this super-romantic poet? Just that he delivers again and again with words that drip honey. Yet this time to adhere to the theme, he managed to add some loneliness and despair and tears to the prose. A sense of vulnerability and a little humourous touch at the end with the inclusion of the prompt words - 'Oh, alright then!' Great, Andy.

DENISE: Thanks for your supportive comments on my monologue. Loved writing it. May do another for the next prompt.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE

Well we have to kick this off again! I've sent out emails and waited for more votes, but nothing has changed for awhile now, so that leaves both Donna and I with two votes each. Doesn't seem much, but we're a small group and I know not everyone can/will go around and read all comments. That's the only way the vote means anything. So thanks for voting for your two hosts.  Here's to you all!







So thank you ladies and gentlemen. I hope you enjoyed this prompt and will return for the next which is below: It's going to be a cracker!

Click on the Challenges Page for more ideas...

Linky will go up next Thursday June 14.

Challenge No 26 - Response to Image - House in the Snow

Don't forget to read the post on critiquing below!

Featured Writer - Challenge No 25 - Haunting! And what's happening at Romantic Friday Writers. New Challenge December 2!

This post has to be long, so I've divided it into sections with our blood rose. 

Haunting! was a great challenge to have around Halloween. A warm welcome to 7 new participants - sHoNA, Simran, Deniz, Priyanka, The Solitary Writer, Leo and Michael. I hope if you haven't already, you'll join our membership and post on a regular basis. Please read the Submissions Page then sign up using the Linky in the sidebar. It's free and it puts you in the running to receive awards. Thanks to those of you who publicised the theme and invited your blogger friends to join us.

The stories and poems were entertaining as always, and it made a change to have a dash of blood and paranormal amongst the mix. Most of your offerings maintained some element of romance which is sometimes a bit harder to do when you go a-haunting.

Due to gremlins at work we had to relocate RFWers here. The old site has been practically demolished. All that's left is the 91 Followers, most of whom haven't yet joined this site (well, I just checked and now this has been removed so I cannot contact the rest of our members!) If you haven't joined this site, please do or you'll miss updates!

The biggest change around RFWer is that Francine Howarth, my co-co-ordinator has already relinquished admin duties but will be submitting to themes as other commitments allow. In recent months Francine's writing projects have really taken off which is so exciting.

Francine, thank you for sacrificing so much of your time in helping me get RFWer operational. Your input has been invaluable. You put the site together, saw to the interior decorating features (you know where to find great stuff!) and wrestled with me as we tried to discover the best ways to run our burgeoning group.

Francine and I took turns in coming up with themes each week. She was the one filling the sidebar with the theme and adding stimulus to the Challenges Page and so many other tasks. She ran the group single handedly while I jaunted around overseas for a month and she didn't have an easy time of it with critiquing blues happening that were never resolved satisfactorily due to my absence.

So Francine, please accept this bunch of roses from me and those at RFWer who will miss your jaunty presence. RFWer would not be as successful today if not for you, so my Pommy friend, it's been great working with you and I wish you every success in your e-publishing career and in traditional publishing.

RUNNER UP, FEATURED WRITER

As usual it was excruciating to have to choose a Featured Writer and Runner Up this week. It's taken up to three readings to make a decision.

There are many writers who need an honourable mention - Nancy for taking us on a Zombie Crawl with Tod, who manages to find romance, Marsha who treated us with an excerpt of Anson's life of bondage to the witchy Zandra, Deniz' sweet, yet spooky tale of Devran, Andy's Unknown Spirit...so many good stories. I can't mention them all! We are blessed at Romantic Friday Writers. But I had to choose...

So, ta dah! There were so many different things happening this week, but reading Adura's prose rather than poetry was an unexpected treat. Thank you Adura, our Runner Up this week, for prose as soulful as your poetry. Didn't we all enjoy Grandma and Grandpa's waltz?! The Runner Up badge is yours to display on your blog.

Our Featured Writer for the Haunting theme must go this week to Madeleine for her Bewitching Hour. Who wasn't shaken to the core by Madeleine's carefully-crafted tale of Jack and Rosie? As Francine said in comments - 'stunning, simply stunning...' It was a heart-breaker, yet oozing with romance. Congratulations Madeleine. There is a special badge this week to display on your blog. I loved the image for Haunting so much I didn't want to say goodbye.

So everyone, I hope you agree with my choices. Huge applause to our winners this week.

WHERE DO RFWers GO FROM HERE?

You may have noticed that RFWer will be on hiatus until December. What this means is that I need time to regroup, as well as time to participate in NaNoWriMo, which I find very beneficial. Are you in? I have plenty of on-going themes waiting in the wings for RFWer, but don't have the time to be writing/reading/posting etc...

From now on I'll be running RFWer alone. It's a huge task, yet lots of fun. However, looking at the long-term, I feel weekly posts are too much for me to sustain if  I want to achieve other writing goals. I want RFWer to continue, so this is what I've come up with:

• For a trial period, at least until the end of this year, Romantic Friday Writers will become a monthly, rather than weekly blogfest. There may be special themes from time to time as well.
• There will usually be guest posts on Wednesday each week during November, so check in. I'm asking guests to give us tips on writing flash fiction and romance. 
• Because we only have to write one story or poem monthly, the word limit can be upped to make it 400-600 words temporarily. You can of course submit 200 words if you so choose!
• The challenges will be broadened - to include response to a photo, an image, or you might be given phrases to begin your story with. There may or may not always be a theme. 

OUR FIRST MONTHLY CHALLENGE:

Here's our first challenge - responding to an image. Christmas is big at our house, but I know not everyone celebrates, or celebrates this holiday in different ways. So rather than making a Christmas blogfest, I'm giving you the opportunity to respond to this image in whatever way you wish - it reeks of a ghostly romantic tale to me, or we could have a 'lost in the woods' poem or story, or it could be a Christmas story (obviously not an Aussie Christmas!) Over to you! Stun us with your masterpiece. You have a whole month to write your piece, and you have extra words to play with. Don't forget we are Romantic Friday Writers.

How about posting the challenge on your blog? All the more fun to read.

I'll be looking forward to reading your December stories.

Let's get writing people!

• I'd appreciate any comments/suggestions on this post. 

Denise (L'Aussie)

(I'll be adding the First Monthly Challenge section to our Challenge page.