History of The Prose Competition

Back in the old old old days I used to have a keen interest in writing. Even my interdepartmental emails at work reeked with pretentious grandeur.

Then I discovered chess and became quite passionate about this stupid game. I am quite fickle about where my passions lie.

So I decided that in this place, these forums, where all that one can do is write, write, write, that I could introduce a writing competition, and boy was I surprised.

The mind-numbingly-awesomely-fantastically-brilliant prose that some people produced for the Prose Competitions literally stunned me.

So I thought that I would post a history of what has happened in the competition before. If you're a new user you can get to see what it's all about, or if you're an old participant you might enjoying revisiting these threads and seeing your work once more.

Round # - Winner - Thread - Date
Round 1 - Starrman [Thread 22395] (Apr 05)
Round 2 - Ragnorak [Thread 22910] (Apr 05)
Round 3 - hopscotch [Thread 23612] (May 05)
Round 4 - ncrosby [Thread 24068] (May 05)
Round 5 - XanthosNZ [Thread 32297] (Nov 05)
Round 6 - abandoned [Thread 34123] (Dec 05)
Round 7 - Starrman [Thread 38287] (Feb 06)
Round 8 - pawnhandler [Thread 92312] (Apr 08)
*Round 9 - Bosse de Nage [Thread 112330] (May 09)
*Round10a - Gatecrasher [Thread 129211] (Apr 10)
*Round10b - Gatecrasher [Thread 129212] (Apr 10)
Round11 - Mike169 [Thread 151594] (Feb 13)
Round12 - In progress [Thread 156409]

Unfortunately, or should I say, TRAGICALLY, round 9 and 10 were erased when all of catfoodtim's public forum posts were erased, so those entries are gone forever because, unfortunately, he hosted those rounds. I say it is tragic because, if I remember correctly, round 10 had some of the best entries of the entire series.

Some of you people could be professional authors. I really enjoyed hosting the competition, except when I didn't, and I hope to see it continue for a long time yet!

(reminder: Round12 - Thread 156409)

Originally posted by hopscotch

Back in the old old old days I used to have a keen interest in writing. Even my interdepartmental emails at work reeked with pretentious grandeur.

Then I discovered chess and became quite passionate about this stupid game. I am quite fickle about where my passions lie.

So I decided that in this place, these forums, where all that one can do is wri ...[text shortened]... ope to see it continue for a long time yet!

(reminder: Round12 - Thread 156409)

Thanks, hopscotch; this thread has already become an RHP Historical Heirloom. I'm glad you've returned.

http://themommyproject.typepad.com/.a/6a0133f30ae399970b0192aa1b426b970d-800wi

Originally posted by hopscotch
Back in the old old old days I used to have a keen interest in writing. Even my interdepartmental emails at work reeked with pretentious grandeur.

Then I discovered chess and became quite passionate about this stupid game. I am quite fickle about where my passions lie.

So I decided that in this place, these forums, where all that one can do is write ...[text shortened]... ope to see it continue for a long time yet!

(reminder: Round12 - Thread 156409)

I was actually quite proud of my 3rd place in 2008, what with me being a school drop out and all. Ahh, the good old days.

Originally posted by huckleberryhound
I was actually quite proud of my 3rd place in 2008, what with me being a school drop out and all. Ahh, the good old days.

Ah yes, Let’s call her Lucy, Thread 92312.

You brought a tear to my eye with that piece. [/spoiler]

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
Thanks, hopscotch; this thread has already become an RHP Historical Heirloom. I'm glad you've returned.

Did any of the Prose Competition hosts ever manage to squeeze an entry out of you? Considering how much you write already...

Originally posted by hopscotch

Did any of the Prose Competition hosts ever manage to squeeze an entry out of you? Considering how much you write already...

Yes, hopscotch. Submitted by email on July 9, 2012 for the RHP 2012 Prose Competition: "Cellfonemania" (A Short Play in Three Acts, Written by Jon Doe, Jr. of Toronto, Canada in 2001) Playbill Synopsis: It’s late one Friday evening in ‘lilac time’ at the George & Dragon Pub in the lovely village of Turnbridge Wells, Kent, not too far from London...."

Isn't there another round between Round 10 and Round 11? Because I think I recall Mike 169 having won the last two competitions... maybe Silverstriker can verify.

Originally posted by Suzianne
Isn't there another round between Round 10 and Round 11? Because I think I recall Mike 169 having won the last two competitions... maybe Silverstriker can verify.

Thank you. It was quite a fair amount of work trying to put them all together, and there was a miscommunication with Silverstriker.

Fixed list:

Round # - Winner - Thread - Date
Round 1 - Starrman [Thread 22395] (Apr 05)
Round 2 - Ragnorak [Thread 22910] (Apr 05)
Round 3 - hopscotch [Thread 23612] (May 05)
Round 4 - ncrosby [Thread 24068] (May 05)
Round 5 - XanthosNZ [Thread 32297] (Nov 05)
Round 6 - abandoned [Thread 34123] (Dec 05)
Round 7 - Starrman [Thread 38287] (Feb 06)
Round 8 - pawnhandler [Thread 92312] (Apr 08)
*Round 9 - Bosse de Nage [Thread 112330] (May 09)
*Round10a - Gatecrasher [Thread 129211] (Apr 10)
*Round10b - Gatecrasher [Thread 129212] (Apr 10)
Round11 - Mike169 [Thread 147590] (Jul 12)
Round12 - Mike169 [Thread 151594] (Feb 13)
Round13 - In progress [Thread 156409]

Originally posted by hopscotch
Thank you. It was quite a fair amount of work trying to put them all together, and there was a miscommunication with Silverstriker.

Thanks for doing it. It's always good to take a look back and see where we've been. And thanks for starting it up in the first place.

Originally posted by hopscotch
Thank you. It was quite a fair amount of work trying to put them all together, and there was a miscommunication with Silverstriker.

Fixed list:

Round # - Winner - Thread - Date
Round 1 - Starrman [Thread 22395] (Apr 05)
Round 2 - Ragnorak [Thread 22910] (Apr 05)
Round 3 - hopscotch [[threadid]23612[/threa ...[text shortened]... adid]] (Feb 13)
[b]Round13 - In progress [Thread 156409][/b]

Thank you for getting these all together and thank you for starting it up in the first place 🙂

Still some time to enter the 2014 competition there is lots of inspirational reading on here

Originally posted by Silverstriker
Still some time to enter the 2014 competition there is lots of inspirational reading on here

yes it is, and may be we should try to float this thread?

The latest contributions are to be found here:

Thread 157410

Originally posted by hopscotch
Back in the old old old days I used to have a keen interest in writing. Even my interdepartmental emails at work reeked with pretentious grandeur.

Then I discovered chess and became quite passionate about this stupid game. I am quite fickle about where my passions lie.

So I decided that in this place, these forums, where all that one can do is write ...[text shortened]... ope to see it continue for a long time yet!

(reminder: Round12 - Thread 156409)

Originally posted by hopscotch
Back in the old old old days I used to have a keen interest in writing. Even my interdepartmental emails at work reeked with pretentious grandeur.

Then I discovered chess and became quite passionate about this stupid game. I am quite fickle about where my passions lie.

So I decided that in this place, these forums, where all that one can do is write, write, write, that I could introduce a writing competition, and boy was I surprised.

The mind-numbingly-awesomely-fantastically-brilliant prose that some people produced for the Prose Competitions literally stunned me.

So I thought that I would post a history of what has happened in the competition before. If you're a new user you can get to see what it's all about, or if you're an old participant you might enjoying revisiting these threads and seeing your work once more.

Round # - Winner - Thread - Date
Round 1 - Starrman [Thread 22395] (Apr 05)
Round 2 - Ragnorak [Thread 22910] (Apr 05)
Round 3 - hopscotch [Thread 23612] (May 05)
Round 4 - ncrosby [Thread 24068] (May 05)
Round 5 - XanthosNZ [Thread 32297] (Nov 05)
Round 6 - abandoned [Thread 34123] (Dec 05)
Round 7 - Starrman [Thread 38287] (Feb 06)
Round 8 - pawnhandler [Thread 92312] (Apr 08)
*Round 9 - Bosse de Nage [Thread 112330] (May 09)
*Round10a - Gatecrasher [Thread 129211] (Apr 10)
*Round10b - Gatecrasher [Thread 129212] (Apr 10)
Round11 - Mike169 [Thread 151594] (Feb 13)
Round12 - In progress [Thread 156409]

Unfortunately, or should I say, TRAGICALLY, round 9 and 10 were erased when all of catfoodtim's public forum posts were erased, so those entries are gone forever because, unfortunately, he hosted those rounds. I say it is tragic because, if I remember correctly, round 10 had some of the best entries of the entire series.

Some of you people could be professional authors. I really enjoyed hosting the competition, except when I didn't, and I hope to see it continue for a long time yet!

(reminder: Round12 - Thread 156409) [Reset for CFT]