Well, my fellow Clocks, the winter writing contest is finally done, and the votes have been added up. It's time to announce the winners!


Ten entries, including a promising newcomer, a poem, some funny spiels, a pretty good crop overall. You all had great views of what a "gift" could mean to people. Here are the winners:


BEST OVERALL

The Gift of Perspective
By SnakeClock

SnakeClock's story about a kid from an artificial planet getting a spaceship for "Day 359" seems to have struck a chord with the readers.  An initially fantastic gift, Questun's use of it had given him a far practical but more wonderful present: the gift of seeing, knowing, and experiencing, and the ability to know what it's all for.


BEST PLOT

The Gift
By King David

Now this is a treat; a story from a brand new Clock writer has won for Best Plot! King David has wrote a humourous yet heartwarming story about a convict getting a visit from Santa Claus. His gift eventually leads to the convict giving another gift in a clever, sweet little twist. I tip my hat to you, King David, and hope this is the beginning of great things.


BEST STYLE

In the Doorway
By AbsintheClock

Absinthe's trademark dark yet flowery style permeates in this short but sweet story. He personally told me that he didn't think much of it, but he doesn't give himself nearly enough credit. The "gift" in question is a little hard to see, but it's a touching gift indeed. Way to screw it up for everyone else, Absinthe!


BEST USE OF THEME[/u]

The Gift
By DiscoBallClock

DiscoBall's story addresses the difference between a "material" gift and an "immaterial" gift. It details the story of a spoiled rich kid who's used to the most extravagant presents for Christmas, and is horrified to receive a book as a gift of "culture". Disgusted, he throws the book out the window, where a passing vagrant finds it. The book inspires him on a scholarly journey that leads to fame and prestige, while the rich kid stubbornly refuses to exert himself and ends up in squalour. DiscoBall's story effective demonstrates what a gift should be all about.


LOLLERMASK (FUNNIEST)

The Gift
By GodClock

GodClock has written a profoundly emotional story about a loving father that would do anything, and I do mean anything, to get his daughter exactly what she wants for Christmas. What a sweet man. This story absolutely decimated the "Funniest" vote, and rightly so.


BEST POETRY

AIDS. Gift?
By VoodooClock

A dark and compelling poem about a man's gift that runs all through his blood and mind, coarsing through his organs and his soul, becoming a part of him. It's a gift that has entered him and run all through him. It's an example of a gift that he didn't want that is making his life Hell. A chilling poem indeed.


Congratulations, folks! You all did fantastic!


I'll also be drawing up an award for this contest soon, with any luck.

Wow, thanks to everyone who voted on me, and congratulations to the other winners!

Congrats Discoball

And everyone else.

Congratz guys!

I demand a recount!

Well done chaps, they were all good.

Nice one guys!

NOICE!

When is the next writing contest? I'm getting in on that.

You know, it's just occurred to me that I forgot to award "Most Original" for this writing contest and the last one! I'm especially upset that the last one, "Walking Around Your Mind", didn't get a Most Original award handed out; there were some really fantastic entries in that contest. I should hold a special voting for them.

Quote from: FileCabinetClock;1488905NOICE!

When is the next writing contest? I'm getting in on that.

I've already got an idea for the next one and it could be ready as early as the middle of this week, but I'm trying to determine if it's a good idea.

aw thanks guyz, congratulations to everyone else as well!

Quote from: Hogarth Hughes;1488929I've already got an idea for the next one and it could be ready as early as the middle of this week, but I'm trying to determine if it's a good idea.

awesome

I would like to read them but it's too tiresome to read all the way from one end of the screen to the other for 10000 lines of text. Format it better kthx.

Quote from: DWARFINATORclock;1489000I would like to read them but it's too tiresome to read all the way from one end of the screen to the other for 10000 lines of text. Format it better kthx.

I'll try to accommodate you. What would you rather?

Quote from: Hogarth Hughes;1489007I'll try to accommodate you. What would you rather?

This forum reads pleasantly. And documents (like .doc and .pdf) read nice, because they have the right width.

Quote from: DWARFINATORclock;1489022This forum reads pleasantly. And documents (like .doc and .pdf) read nice, because they have the right width.

I'll prepare a PDF.

Dammit!

Here's a PDF of the entries. Enjoy.

Quote from: Hogarth Hughes;1488929this week

Please do. Seeing as the last contest took about a month from all the extensions and had a long voting period on top of that, it would make sense.

Quote from: Hogarth Hughes;1489061Here's a PDF of the entries. Enjoy.

Cool, thanks. I suggest you also put links to the .pdf in the clockopedia IT IS LIKE A LITTLE BOOK!

Make a Clock Crew book section.

Quote from: DWARFINATORclock;1489103Cool, thanks. I suggest you also put links to the .pdf in the clockopedia IT IS LIKE A LITTLE BOOK!

Make a Clock Crew book section.

Intriguing. I'll get the wheels in motion on that.