The Paul Haines Challenge
The AHWA would like to congratulate Robert N Stephenson for writing the winning conclusion to and for naming the Nameless Competition!
The complete version of 'Accepting the Stone' can be read here.
Accepting the Stone round-robin concept as an entirety © Stephen Studach. September 2008.
Each section of Accepting the Stone is copyrighted to the individual designated as the author of that section.
Here's what our Special Guest Judge Ramsey Campbell had to say: Lordy, this was a hard job! But I’m not complaining. As far as I’m concerned all the finalists are winners in the best sense, and so are the contributors to the round robin. I thought Martin Livings’ piece had a real gruesome poetry to it, and indeed all three are very ably written. Tim Martain’s conclusion takes hold of the tale and uplifts it, but I think Robert Stephenson moved me just a little more with his. For that reason, and by heaven the competition was close, I’m going to choose Stephenson’s piece. But once again, they all deserve high praise.
Here were the 3 finalists:
Choose Life? by Tim Martain
The First Stone by Martin Livings
Accepting The Stone by Robert Stephenson
The competition's details...
The AHWA and 'Nameless' competition director Stephen Studach are thrilled to announce that the ‘Nameless' competition will be judged by multi-award winning master of dark fiction Ramsey Campbell.
In honour of Mr. Campbell's involvement, the competition's deadline has been extended to the 13th of March, 2010.
* Read the story (Part I here; Part II here), get to know the story elements, the characters, their journey and their motivations. Then, write a fitting ending for ‘The Nameless' and give the tale a title while you're at it.
* Make your donation of AU$10 (ten dollars) through PayPal using our official PayPal ID: ahwa@australianhorror.com
* Send your conclusion, with title, to ahwa@australianhorror.com
* Your title and ending will then be sent to one of our Judges. If your piece makes it into the finals corral you will be notified.
* Those writers and organisers who have already participated in the assembling of ‘The Nameless' as well as the judges in said comp, are barred from taking part in the competition itself. Outside of that specification anyone from anywhere can compete as many times as they like.
* Once submissions have closed, the six best endings will be featured on the HorrorScope site, when Ramsey Campbell will decide the winner.
And the winner will receive cold hard cash to the sum of $500! As well as the following:
- The honour of giving the story a title.
- A copy of The Last Days of Kali Yuga, the second collection of Paul Haines' stories. This one is from Brimstone Press and due to be released in December of this year. Kindly donated by Angela Challis.
- A manuscript version of the story signed by all of the writers involved.
- A copy of The Australian Writer's Marketplace 2009/2010.
- A copy of ‘The Year's Best Fantasy & Horror' 19th annual collection (edited by Datlow, Link & Grant.)
- Free 1-year membership, or 12-month renewal, to the Australian Horror Writers Association.
- Books: Signed limited editions of - Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge. Wild Things by Douglas Clegg. Prodigal Blues by Gary A. Braunbeck.
As well as - Development Hell by Mick Garris. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill. Infected by Scott Sigler. The Nature of Balance by Tim Lebbon. The Dark Descent edited by David G. Hartwell. A used copy of The Books of Blood (vols 1-3).
All proceeds from this competition will go to Paul Haines to use in whatever manner that he and his family see fit.
The Challenge, as it was laid down by Stephen Studach (October 2008)
IMAGINATION AS A BULLET.The Paul Haines Posse.
All you prize guns, I'm a standin' in the dusty main street with my six-shooters, one chamber empty, and I'm a callin' you out!
The (Blastin') Battersby's, Lyn and Lee. Nathan (Barrage) Burrage. Jack (Dandy) Dann. Stephen (Doctor Deadshot) Dedman. Will (Eagle Eye) Elliott. Richard (Howling) Harland. Robert (Monster aka Hoodlum aka Bob) Hood. Rick (Killer) Kennett. Margo (Lash) Lanagan. Rosaleen (Loveless) Love. Brett (McDeath) McBean. Cameron (Doc) Rogers. (Lucky) Lucy Sussex. Kaaron (Whirlwind) Warren. Kim (Wildcat) Wilkins. Sean (The Kid) Williams.
Those hellions from the Big C are comin' ta town. Are we gunna let ‘em burn the whole place to the ground, or are you gunna step out?
All I'm askin' is one shot from each of you, that'll do it.
So, come on, don't leave your shootin' irons in boxes and drawers or hangin' on hooks.
Signed: Stephen (No-nicknames-left-but-I'm-sure-you-can-think-of-one) Studach.
The opening of a story, under the heading ‘Nameless' will soon appear on the HorrorScope site. The writers listed above (and, largely, in that sequential order) are invited to each contribute 50 to 500 words to the story's progression. Each new piece will be added to the tale on the HorrorScope site along with the writer's name.
At the penultimate point in the story the last, end section will be held open. Those who wish to try their hand at writing the ending, within the word limits quoted above, can submit their version with an entry fee of 10 dollars. Payment details will, of course, also be available at that time. Everyone and anyone from anywhere can enter the competition.
At a designated cut-off date the six best endings will be featured on the HorrorScope site where the three finalists will be decided by votes. The winner will then be judged by a yet-to-be-announced individual.
The prizes for the writer whose ending is chosen (aside from the rewards of collaborating on a unique work with some local legends of speculative fiction) will be:
- The honour of giving the story a title.
- A copy of The Last Days of Kali Yuga, the second collection of Paul Haines' stories. This one is from Brimstone Press and due to be released in December of this year. Kindly donated by Angela Challis.
- A manuscript version of the story signed by all of the writers involved.
- A copy of The Australian Writer's Marketplace 2009/2010.
- A copy of ‘The Year's Best Fantasy & Horror' 19th annual collection (edited by Datlow, Link & Grant.)
- Free 1-year membership, or 12-month renewal, to the Australian Horror Writers Association.
- Books: Signed limited editions of - Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge. Wild Things by Douglas Clegg. Prodigal Blues by Gary A. Braunbeck.
As well as - Development Hell by Mick Garris. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill. Infected by Scott Sigler. The Nature of Balance by Tim Lebbon. The Dark Descent edited by David G. Hartwell. A used copy of The Books of Blood (vols 1-3).
Thanks to Marty Young and Shane Jiraiya Cummings for their generosity and for allowing their respective sites to play host to this project.
Major thanks also, to Felicity Dowker. Felicity innocently started the story on her site ‘Here There Be Tygers' and then kindly allowed me to hijack it for this concept.
And last, but far from least, a thank you to Talie (Widow's Peak) Helene for her cooperation and positive comments.
This is a chance to directly use one's imagination to add just a little extra to an excellent cause.
All proceeds from this round-robin (or flight of crows) will go to Paul Haines to use in whatever manner that he and his family see fit.
So, get ready, read each shot, and, if you think your calibre is up to it, fire away when the next-to-last part appears and the comp is pronounced open.
Happy conjuring.
S.S.