A Short Fiction Festival.
Join this godless quest for mortal glory in an alternate universe in which the Kentucky Downs is surrounded by picturesque server farms, and noders race horses made of words. The track (one node for all the writeups) is short (writeups must be 300 words-or-less short fiction, any genre, using one of the titles below). But time slows down in these moments.
So much can happen in just a few lines.
Anything can happen in just a few lines.
Where will your horse take you?
Guidelines
Writing a work of short-short fiction. See also flash fiction, especially Lucy-S's writeup in that node. See also postcard fiction. Max length: 300 words.
The Race
I am having the gold(en) plate on the base of an actual-factual trophy (a cantering horse in faux gold on a faux white marble base) engraved "Prosenoder's Cup 2003." This trophy will be awarded to the winning horse (i.e., the writeup with the highest rep in the node) at the close of the race by US Postal Mail. Actual factual ribbons will be awarded to all other participants, decorated by my own loving hand.
Betting by the onlookers is encouraged. Also encouraged: ladies in fabulous hats. If anyone were to, say, set up a bookie racket on their homenode, I would look the other way. See also General horse racing betting and Basic horse racing betting.
Horses must be selected by 23:59 PM (server time) Friday, Sept. 19. ENTRY IS CLOSED. The Prosenoder's Cup 2003 node will go up at 23:59 PM (server time) Saturday, Sept. 20 - signalling the starter's gunshot is up. Writeups can be posted to the node at any time. Official reps will be tabulated seven days later, for publication in the Sunday morning paper and the racetrack marquee.
The Horses
The list of possible horse names came from the World Thoroughbred Championships Divisional Point Standings, i.e., Breeder's Cup entrants. In the workaday world, these are the world's finest horses. In nodespace, they're pure inspiration. Riders, stay close to your title. Hug its neck. Ride low and ride hard. Note:
This is not about writing horse stories.
This is about riding stories like horses.
You don't have to write Seabiscuity stuff. Any genre. 300 words or less. Recap: The node is a "racetrack" The writeups are the "horses" and each one is titled/inspired by a cool horse name. The highest rep writeup in the node in a week is the winning "horse" and gets a cool trophy. Claro?
Meet the equestrians and their horses:
NOTA BENE: these will be titles of writeups under one node, which will go up on Saturday at 23:59 server time. Formatting for the title: put it in its own paragraph (normal flush left) and bold it.
- ******************** Bold Arrangement: enth, riding in crosshatch grey and mirrorshades.
- ******************** Educated Risk: iceowl, riding in spontaneity.
- ******************** Clear Mandate: runaway, riding in royal blue over periwinkle.
- ******************** Halo Homewrecker: MacArthur Parker in cyan and magenta.
- ******************** Forbidden Apple: toalight, riding in a fur bandana.
- ******************** Autumn Glitter: JodieK, riding in diva red and black magic.
- ******************** Ten Most Wanted: Demeter, riding in chartreuse and ivory.
- ******************** Flirt With Fortune: MedicineKeeper, in gentleman's black and road dust.
- ******************** Bet on Sunshine: atriumjake, riding in pale yellow and light brown.
- ******************** Mandy's Gold: oakling, riding in gold and tuscan blue, wearing someone's light blue favor.
- ******************** Domedriver: montecarlo, riding in blue and white.
- ******************** Imperial Gesture: C-Dawg, riding in hunter green with a bright pink cummerbund.
- ******************** Storm Flag Flying: Wuukiee, riding in dark grey silks with minute gold accents.
- ******************** Composure: etouffee, riding in orange and black.
- ******************** Rock of Gibraltar: no one, riding in sea-green and lemon.
- ******************** Vindication: Simpleton, riding in red and black.
- ******************** With Anticipation: olmanrvr, riding in blue and purple.
- ******************** Summer Colony: nasreddin, riding in crimson and beige.
- ******************** War Emblem: sekicho, riding in black with a red kanji.
- ******************** Evening Attire: haze, riding in black and white.
- ******************** Two Item Limit: Tlogmer, riding in blue and ultramarine.
- ******************** Most Feared: O-Swirl, riding in alabaster and burgundy.
- ******************** Wake At Noon: JohnnyGoodyear, riding in black and black.
- ******************** Nuclear Debate: PMDBoi, riding in yellow and white.
- ******************** Empire Maker: HenryBok, riding in blood-red, with a silver star.
- ******************** Special Ring: Bang, riding in maroon and yellow.
- ******************** Royal Spy: kthejoker, riding in dark blue with silver rings.
- ******************** Noches de Rosa: princess loulou, riding in pale pink and bright pink.
- ******************** Be Gentle: Ysardo, riding in black and white, bearing a banner that says "God of Testosterone, for Scribe."
- ******************** Maple Syrple: Lord Brawl, riding in chartreuse and burnt orange.
- ******************** Good Day Too: Scribe, riding in orange and blue pasties!
- ******************** Mystery Giver: dTaylorSingletary, riding in charcoal gray with yage-vision psychedelic purple piping.
- ******************** Slew City Citadel: Thyme, running alongside in slate grey.
- ******************** Lunar Sovereign: eponymous, riding bareass naked with liquid crystal 00ff00 tattoos!
- ******************** Crimson and Roses: cmyr, riding in sky blue and pink argyle.
- ******************** Roar Emotion: tandex, riding in gold and grey.
- ******************** Lion Tamer: Serjeant's Muse, riding in black and silver.
- ******************** Secret of Mecca: Mr. Hotel, riding in clear and primer black.
- ******************** September Secret: arieh, riding in white silks with two sky-blue stripes.
- ******************** Delta Princess: booyaa, riding in jukka dim.
- ******************** Crazy Ensign: dannye, riding in Miami Floaters and walnut glaze.
- ******************** Cherish Destiny: Cletus the Foetus, riding in green and white.
- ******************** Moon Ballad: The Librarian, riding with rings on fingers and bells on toes!
- ******************** Refuse to Bend: Magus, riding in grey and black.
- ******************** Six Perfections:Chiisuta, riding in baby blue and grey.
- ******************** Danseuse du Soir: Gritchka, riding in crimson and pale sea-blue.
- ******************** Runaway Mary: dem bones, riding in Murder and Regret.
- ******************** Fit for a Queen: Cyberculosis, riding in scarlet and dark gray.
- ******************** Dream Well: DejaMorgana, riding in ocean blue with sparkles.
- ******************** Fifty Six in a Row: RalphyK, riding in a drug-induced haze.
- ******************** Miss Iron Smoke: nocte, riding in dark grey and violet.
- ******************** Key to the Moon: Orpheum, riding in scarlet red and ocean blue.
- ******************** Voodoo Lily: Narya, riding in dark blue and silver.
Names harvested from www.ntra.com, where you might even be able to see a picture of your horse...
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