Carol: Simon, you remember how I told you that I spent two hours clothes shopping and that at the end of the excursion, I went back to return the first three shirts I had bought?
Simon: Yeeeeaaaaaahhhh…? [meaning, “um, not really”]
Carol: Well, Simon…that’s how I roll.
Simon: Huh?
Carol: I mean, this decision is killing me. We’re never going to be able to rank these finalists. And I really feel like _______’s story should be a finalist, too. Gads, they're all so good...it's killing me.
Simon: But we can't choose them all.
Carol: Right. But what about _______'s story. It really should be a finalist.
Simon: Yes, Carol, you’re right.
Carol: Huh?
Simon: You’re right.
Carol: Oh. Well. Fine then.
Simon: Right.
Carol: Of course.
Simon: So we’ll just add a fifth prize—
Carol: And have two tiers of finalists—
Simon: Two first place entries—
Carol: And three second place entries.
Carol and Simon: We’ll need another book.
Simon and Carol: Right.

Carol: How about—
Simon: Donald Maass’s—
Carol: Writing the Breakout Novel?
Simon and Carol: Perfect.
Carol: So, you want to devote all next week—
Simon: To the winning entries? Sure. One each day.
Carol: I’m so brilliant.
Carol and Simon: Let’s discuss something else now.
Simon: You go first.
Carol: What are your plans this weekend?
Simon: Shoveling snow.
Carol: Really, Simon, you’re way more fun than that.
Simon: Naked.
Carol: Well. There you go.
Simon: What are your plans, Miss Judgerson?
Carol: I’m going to a Super Bowl party.
Simon: Naked?
Carol: Don’t be silly, Simon.
Simon: You’ll have a hat on?
Carol: Of course. A Colts hat.
Simon: Really, Carol, you’re way more fun than that.
Carol: Fine, I won’t wear the hat.
Simon: That’s the spirit.
Carol: You’re so pushy.
Simon: You know you like me anyway. Separated at birth, remember?
Carol: Yeah, well, I have 9 more followers than you. So there.
Simon: Geez, you really are my sister, aren’t you?
Carol: Don’t be gross, Simon. I wouldn’t host a contest with my brother. Ew.
So, there you have it. We have winning entries chosen—five of them—but we won’t be posting the results until Monday. A new winning entry will be posted each day. Then (next) Saturday, we will post a final review mentioning the remaining entries and what we loved about them. Unfortunately, we’re too poor to be able to offer prizes for all the entries, but I must say, it was not an easy choice. All of the entries were remarkable. Simon and I nearly tore
I would like to apologize for the delay in our announcement, but I won’t. Because, well, I just won’t. It’s all the entrants’ faults, really. Their stories shouldn’t have all been so brilliant. Actually it might even be our mother’s fault, partially (yes, our mother—it’s come to our attention we were separated at birth), because she must have given us the indecisive gene (could be Dad’s, too, but we’re not yet certain we share the same father). So, really, we’re blameless.
Anyway, be sure to tune in next week for Flash Fiction Week on Simon and Carol’s blogs. I promise you’ll enjoy the stories. Good fun, I tell you. Good fun.
And because it’s the weekend, and because I’m feeling happy and generous, I think I’ll leave you with some hope:
Happy Friday, friends.
lol! Fun dialogue! I bet the stories are awesome! Can't wait to read them.
ReplyDeleteHard decision! I'm glad *I'm* not a judge! :) Y'all have fun with your snow shoveling and Super Bowl.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
Fun post - I love the Colts hat/shovelling snow loopy conversation! Curious to see the announcements next week :)
ReplyDeletehaha too cute! but the suspense ahhhhhhh!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun, fun post! You and Simon get along well for siblings, um, I mean partners! I'm smiling here...I think I need to go back and read this again.
ReplyDeletegah you're killing me!
ReplyDeleteOf course, now i have something to look forward to every day next week! Yay!
Cannot wait to read the winning entries!
Ha! Carol, you are hilarious! I love your dialogue. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI love your posts too funny! Made me smile :)
ReplyDeleteHahahahahaaaa! Ha!
ReplyDeleteHahaaa!
HAHAHAHAAAAAH!
*snort* *snicker*
That was kinda funny, good lady. I mean, just because multiple times we've typed the exact same thing at the exact same time while trying to judge this contest via chat, doesn't necessarily mean we were separated at birth. Though there may be some statistical correlation there. Erm...
Plus, I never shovel snow naked, just so everyone knows. I wear a fuzzy hat at all times when out in the freezing cold. So there we go.
And stop rubbing in that you have more followers than me. My self esteem's all bound up in the number of followers I have on my blog. (But I'm totally kicking your ass on Twitter... :)
Now I'm off to frolic in the snow...
LOL It makes sense now! Great idea, it gives something to look forward to every day next week. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteLove the dialogue. When are you coming to Philly so we can meet you IRL? Huh? Huh?
ReplyDeleteyou both are so funny. that was great banter between you guys. I have Donald Maass's book- it's great!
ReplyDeleteYou guys are just cruel. Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha! :-)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
I saw Simon's tease on his blog! I am very excited to read the entries next week :) Sounds like it was a great contest and I hope I'll be able to catch the next if you guys ever have another! Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! That was too damn funny for words, so I'm not going to add anything further :)
ReplyDeleteNisa, thank you! The stories--all of them--were amazing. I look forward to posting and discussing!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, oh brother, it was very difficult! Thank you for the well wishes! I look forward to the Super Bowl, but not so sure Simon will enjoy all the shoveling. Especially without clothes. A bit cold, I should think.
Jill, why thank you dear!! Simon is fun to chat with, and thankfully he's a good sport ;)
Frankie, thank you! Isn't Simon a dear? He actually didn't throttle me for posting this. Haha!
Liza, haha! So glad you enjoyed it! Simon is easy to get along with. It's me that makes life difficult ;)
Falen, ah, so sorry, luv. It couldn't be helped really. But I very much look forward to posting the stories. But I must say, it was an extremely difficult choice all around.
LOL! You guys are so funny. Good luck choosing.
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday!
Anne, awww, thank you! You're so sweet. I adore you ;)
ReplyDeleteChristine, thank you! I'm delighted you enjoyed it :) Hopefully Simon did as well. I'm sure he was surprised by my post ;) hahaha!
Simon, was it funny-haha or funny-OMG-I-can't-believe-she-wrote-that-about-me? Thanks for not sending me hate mail on sight. By the way, I'm pretty sure it does mean we're separated at birth. Actually, I'm positive. So there. You're stuck with me. The twin you never knew you wanted...and may not yet want ;)
My apologies for the dig. I couldn't help but fit it in, since I know it's only a matter of time before you've surpassed me (as you have in the past). Oh, these games we siblings play. And before I forget, don't bother looking for those magazines you left under your mattress--you know, the ones shoved into a plastic bag and then wrapped in duct tape? They're not there any more. (But before you hate me forever, remember we're blood. You have to like me.)
Angie, thank you! We loved reading through the stories, but did not enjoy the selection process. So glad you're not too peeved with us ;)
ReplyDeleteLaurel, how does next week work for you? ;) Haha! Would love to meet you all. Perhaps I'll find a conference near you guys some time. Are you planning to attend any conferences in the near future? I'll be at the SCBWI conferece in LA in July.
Kelly, thank you, m'dear. Simon is a great one to banter with. Fun times, I tell you!
Shannon, haha! *rubs hands together in glee*
Julie, I'm so glad you look forward to it! We do, too. We haven't discussed a contest for the future, but it would be fun to work with Simon again :) I would love it if you entered a contest in the future!
Wendy, hahaha! Well said, BloggySis. Thanks for being so adorable!
ReplyDeleteKimberly, why thank you, sweet. It was crazy difficult to choose. Just insane. Happy Friday to you, too!
Lord, woman! Every now and then--and it's only once in a while, mind you--I get the feeling you've temporarily lost your ever-lovin' mind.
ReplyDeleteBut I realized something today that made me slightly sad: I'm not actually kicking your ass in Twitter followers. WTH?
I'm slowly backing out of the comment section now, before you can start any more scandalous rumors about me... ;)
Wouldn't you two be fun around my snack bar right now. I mean...honestly. But you gotta admit....it has to be a lot more fun to be the judge than the judged. I'm staying tuned for next week, our after-the-Super-Bowl-party fun. And the I-don't-have-a-life peeps at work made Monday a blackout date for leave. Meaning you have to have a drs. note for a hangover. Bunch of straight-laced ex-military idiots.
ReplyDeleteLots of fun! Can't wait to read all of the winning entries :)
ReplyDeleteSimon, don't listen to me. That wasn't actually me. It was Lolita. And she's kind of insane. She seems to think she's your sister. I'm not really sure what that's all about. Be careful around her. She once started a rumor that I was a man, and that kind of freaks me out a little. Espceially because she said I was a man that liked to eat licorice. I mean, the man thing I get. I can be very masculine. But what kind of insane person would EAT LICORICE?
ReplyDeleteYvonne, I'm feeling the same way. I don't understand why schools haven't cancelled for Monday. It's an atrocity, really. By the way, I'd love to join you at your snack bar right now, except can we leave Simon at home? I'm pretty sure he's going to strangle me for spreading rumors about him. P.S. Not sure if it's more fun to be the judge, but certainly less anxiety-producing...still, it kinda sucks to be a judge. Truly. It would have been easier to judge the Miss America contest. At least some of them are boring. Yes, that would have been way easier.
Jemi, Thanks, sweetie!!
Smart and fun.
ReplyDeleteWarm regards and a lovely weekend,
Simone
I can't wait to read the winning entries, one every day next week! How fun is that.
ReplyDeletehee-hee. I love to read your hilarious banter, and I can't wait to read the sizzling flash fic winners.
ReplyDeleteThat video will haunt my dreams. What a voice.
Romantic query, thank you! And the same to you. Just stopped by your blog t read your latest chapter! Wowwwwwwww. Sizzling! Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteElle, Awww, thank you! I hope it will be fun to read.
Tricia, hehe! It was fun to write, for sure, though I think Simon is fairly certain I'm a bit nuts now. Haha! As for Iz, oh my word, he's amazing. I wish he were around to make more albums. But this song is my favorite of his. I think "haunt" is a perfect word for his voice. Once it seeps into your head, it just sort of stays there.
Funny dialogue. Maybe you were separated at birth. Shhhh.....
ReplyDeleteOff topic, but there's an award waiting for you on my blog that you can pick up. Enjoy.
http://sharifwrites.blogspot.com/2010/02/some-books-and-some-awards.html
Medeia, thank you for the sweet comment and for the award! I actually stumbled across your blog post about it before I even saw your comment! I was very pleased and happily surprised. So very kind of you.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the flash (naked?) fiction next week--and thanks also for the follow!
ReplyDeleteI can imagine it'd be tough to pick a winner! Good luck with the contest!
ReplyDeleteCorra
from the desk of a writer
Hi Carol! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm so glad you did because it led me over here. I was laughing at your conversation and since I'm new I don't even know what the heck you're talking about, LOL. Except... Darn! I missed your contest! :) Looking forward to reading, though!
ReplyDeleteLindsey :)
Jon Paul, awww, that's great! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCorra, It was crazy difficult. Thank you for your well wishes!
Lindsey, you're very welcome! I knew on sight that I would like your blog. And then I got a good read and knew I'd stay. So sorry you found the post confusing. It can get crazy around here. I hope you stick around and join the crazy. Look forward to having you on board!
You're fun! :) I look forward to your future posts!
ReplyDeleteLove that conversation! It was made of awesome-ness. Don't even get me started on the You-tube video...
ReplyDeleteI'm new to this crazy blogging stuff and just finished my YA MS and now procrastinating to send out queries by blog hopping slash blog stalking...
Fun! Can't wait to see the winners :)
ReplyDeleteDawn, thank you! I hope you will find my blog posts worthwhile!
ReplyDeleteTiffany, you are too kind! Thank you. Welcome to the blogosphere, by the way! I don't blame you for procastinating. Querying can be a painful stage of the process. Much luck to you! I look forward to seeing you progress through your journey.
Tabitha, Thank you, m'dear. First winning entry will go up shortly ;)
No, I'm not trying to bribe the judge...but there is something on my blog for you today. I hope you have fun with it.
ReplyDeleteLiza, you are a doll! Thank you, m'dear. I accept it graciously (and really look forward to blogging on this one--what a blast!)
ReplyDelete