First off, I'd like to submit my opinion that if it were my way, I'd have like a four-way tie where everybody wins and end it there. But that's not the way things work, I guess.

So I found a legitimate way to make a four-way tie anyway. :)

Since this contest basically has no reward other than bragging rights, I figured the only difference between 1st place and honourable mention is that one is listed before the other. And that's honestly how it all turned out. Each and every entry had its own merits, and the four finalists were virtually identical in terms of literary quality. So hopefully next time round, tina-go-lightly will be judging and not me.

Anyhow, I guess I can't put it off any longer. Here's what happened:

1st place: throneliesfallow.deviantart.co…

2nd place: reader2951.deviantart.com/art/…

3rd place: penessence.deviantart.com/art/…

Honourable mention: tobeapoet.deviantart.com/art/E…

At the end of it, I was simply overly impressed with ThroneLiesFallow's execution of approaching the idealistic theme of words falling short in a fashion in which words literally do fall short. In addition to thematic wit, the Greek mythological elements and the quips of Freudian allusion in combination with brilliant usage of archaic language and careful diction augmented the piece to a level that was at the very least a hair above the rest.

But again, I can't really pick a clear "winner", so formalities aside, all those pieces up there are equally amazing.

Peace, love, and lol. :heart:
I hope everybody's had a lovely first week of 2011! As much as we grow in our daily lives with each new year, so have we grown as a group. But with a new year comes even greater opportunity and room to grow. Time to take the first few steps!

Courtesy of our very own tina-go-lightly, we, as a group, are the proud parents of a new form - the sonnet petit! (I believe "petit" is intended as a French word, which means "small" [and is pronounced "peh-tee"], but maybe it was supposed to be "petite"? Either way, you get the point.)

So since it's a new year, we've got a new form, and we'll soon find nature itself basking in novelty, there is no better way to break it all in but with a big, snazzy contest! Or a little one. Hopefully big. At least to our standards.

The basic thematic idea should centre upon new birth of some sort, such as the re-vitalisation of nature in Spring, or a new phase in your life, etc. The catch is that you'll have to write it in Tina's form. (Or so we think. If you're reading this and thought up this form before Tina and would like to slap us a nice lawsuit... Well, you're too late. Better luck next time, chummy.)

Of course, we're a bit short on hands round here, both in terms of benefactors and participants. History has proven that writers are, in fact, poor. So don't look to Tina and I to be of too much assistance in that regard. However, we'll cater to the occasion the best we can, as this group means the world to both of us. But we could use a helping hand, and that also means in terms of participants. You know. It'd be nice if people actually entered the contest. Just a suggestion. :)

So your first question is probably how in the bloody name of all things purple do you write a sonnet petit. Or, for that matter, what in the bloody name of all things jolly and crimson is a sonnet petit.

The basic form is as follows:

:bulletblack: 9 lines (preferably in iambic pentameter, as per sonnets go).

:bulletblack: Rhyme scheme ABABCDCDEE (with the E rhyme occurring in the same line, splitting it in half).

And here's an example by Tina:

In beauty like eternal night I sigh
Cold-filled longing, desperation out-poured.
Caught here at lost impasse are you and I
And I can not decide which I want more.
You crashed into me with bitter desire
But what was the ratio of love to need?
For lovers' truth is sometimes a liar
And love is oft' outweighed by lustful greed.
North star answer me: Why can I not see?

If you need further guidelines, contact tina-go-lightly.

Rules:

Starting Date: 7 January 2011

Closing Date: 20 March 2011

:bulletblack: Only one entry per deviant.

:bulletblack: No late entries will be accepted. Please plan accordingly.

:bulletblack: Entries must be structured in sonnet petit form. (See above)

:bulletblack: Entries must follow basic thematic idea above. Interpretations are welcome, but please ensure the reader can capably identify the idea explained above.

:bulletblack: Entries will be sent in via note to li1121. Any entries submitted elsewhere will be void.

:bulletblack: Mature content should be minimal at best, and if present, should be addressed with a mature content warning. Such would include strong profanity, sexual references, or violent situations. Use common sense!

:bulletblack: Entries will be judged in terms of adherence and creativity in regards to the sonnet petit form and in terms of originality and thought put into the prompt.


Prizes:

We're working on these. Be patient. Don't be greedy.

:bulletblack: Feature and critique, courtesy of li1121.

:bulletblack: Front page feature, courtesy of BleedingHeartsPoetry.

:bulletblack: Feature and induction into the Hall of Fame, courtesy of Rhyme-and-Reason.

Have fun!
As I discussed in our last blog entry, I've got a contest going on over at BleedingHeartsPoetry that seems ripe for a fixed form invasion. All the details are here: bleedingheartspoetry.deviantar… I hope all of you can participate!
For those of you interested, it'd be an absolute privilege if I could get a large number of members here to stage a fixed form invasion of my other group's upcoming holiday contest. Since I find everything foreign in poetry but rhyme and metre, it'd be nice to have a good number of entries that I actually can judge.

If you're interested, all the details will be posted at BleedingHeartsPoetry around the 30th of November. Also, if you can donate a prize or spread the word, it'd be greatly appreciated. I would've loved to do another collaboration between groups, but I couldn't find a way to tie structure into the holidays. :P I sincerely apologise!

Thank you!
Technically, it's not our contest, but that doesn't matter. :)

Penessence is hosting a "Pity of War" contest centred upon the ongoing Afghanistan War. Rhyme and structure is encouraged, so go forth my rhyme minions! news.deviantart.com/article/12…

Recent Journal Entries

Journal Writers