CombatWords, November 26, 2010: News and Politics

CombatWords, November 26, 2010: News and Politics

The muses have many strange means of transmitting their will to the writer. Rhyme and meter is one way; life experience and the will to write is another. For Robert Frost or Stanley Kunitz, nature might serve as muse; for me—among other things—I'm inspired by politics and news. Many writers try to avoid these subjects, but the topics encode all sorts of aspects of our psyches. Politics and news are NARRATIVE; sheer story—but a specific kind of story: one that claims to be 'real.' I want you to engage the news or politics from any angle you wish. These are primal topics, but that's okay—I want a primal combat. Freestyle if you wish.

Combat Expiration: 11/29/2010, 12am PST
Critique Expiration: 11/30/2010, 12am PST. Grace period of 12 hrs for counter-critiques, to allow for rebuttals to last minute comments.
Bonuses/Penalties: +2 if posted by 8pm PST 11/26/2010, +1 if posted by 12am PST, 11/27/2010, -1 if posted by 6am 11/29/2010, -2 if posted by 12pm 11/29/2010.
The Rules: http://combatwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/official-rules-for-combatwords-updated.html

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CombatWords, November 19, 2010: The Future!

CombatWords, November 19, 2010: The Future!

Depending on one's current condition and temperament; the future is either going to be awesome, horrible, or at least... something. Some people slather their futures with science myths to justify their current conditions. We've built the rockets, space stations, clones and computers that look like lovers, we're still looking for the next invention that will somehow give us insight into our purpose. Alternately, some see the future as some sort of projection of self. "I will live w, and marry x, have y kids and work as a z." To this frame of mind, changes in circumstance are unimaginable. Both models are pledged to a deep, yet essential aspect of irrationality.

Combat Expiration: 12am PST, 11/22/2010
Critique Expiration: 12am PST, 11/23/2010
Bonuses/Penalties: +2 for posts by 9pm PST, 11/19/2010, +1 for posts by 2am PST, 11/20/2010; -1 for posts by 6am PST 11/22/2010, -2 for posts by 12pm 11/22/2010

The Rules: http://combatwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/official-rules-for-combatwords-updated.html with optional Freestyle http://combatwords.blogspot.com/2010/11/combatwords-november-5-2010-freestyle.html



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CombatWords November 12, 2010: Getting It Wrong

CombatWords November 12, 2010: Getting It Wrong

We misapprehend, delude ourselves or just fuck up. Ah, but being aware of the fuck up—THAT is what's interesting. How do we even know we're wrong at all? Getting it wrong means completely misunderstanding. Writers try to understand and get things right, so writing about wrongness is more interesting.

I liked last week's freestyle so much, I'm gonna tack its rules on to this thread. If you're not interested in the combat theme, just wait for someone to write on something you prefer and riff off him/her.

Combat Expiration: 9am PST, 11/14/2010

Critique Expiration: 12am PST, 11/16/2010

Bonuses/Penalties: +2 for posts posts by 7:30pm PST 11/12/2010, +1 for posts by 12am PST 11/13/2010. -1 for posts by 1:30pm PST 11/14/2010, -2 for posts by 6pm PST 11/14/2010

The Rules: http://combatwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/official-rules-for-combatwords-updated.html

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CombatWords, November 5, 2010: Freestyle

CombatWords, November 5, 2010: Freestyle

The first posters to this thread set the tone for this Combat. You can write about anything, so long as you're first. After 4pm, late posters MUST riff off existing posts. This can go on indefinitely. Example: posters A, B & C post by 4pm. They all pick different topics. Poster D riffs off B's post after 4pm PST. Poster E will be able to riff off A-D. This should keep the combat fluid & personal. If I suspect you just posted canned writing, I'll just disqualify it.

Combat Expiration: 12pm PST, 11/7/2010

Critique Expiration: 12pm PST, 11/8/2010

Bonuses/Penalties: +3 for posts by 5pm PST, 11/5/2010; +2 for posts by 9pm PST 11/5/2010; +1 for posts by 2am PST 11/6/2010.

Penalties: -1 for posts by 8am PST 11/7/2010, -2 for posts made by 4pm PST 11/7/2010. Sorry I didn't announce this sooner.

Oh yeah, da rulez: http://combatwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/official-rules-for-combatwords-updated.html

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