Recent content by Beth Pavell

There is a certain amount of nostalgia on this one, it has to be said. I wonder how much Workshop history is buried on these pages

I think generally a good idea is to think things through. How far you think them through depends on how seriously you intend the world to be taken - it's a sliding scale - but the slip-ups tend to manifest when the author has come up with an idea that's convenient for the plot without...

Well, we're here at last folks! Time for the winners announcements for this year: Best Written (Judge Chosen) Feast of the Wolf, by @airmail Best Use of Theme (Judge Chosen) Night of the Coquecigrue, by @Viridian Beedrill We loved the imaginative worldbuilding in this one! Best Overall...

I had planned on finishing a one-shot in time for Hallowe'en - not as part of the contest - since I don't have the time to write a 10,000 word short as I did in previous years. At this point I don't know whether I'm going to finish it this year, either, but it doesn't much help to give up more...

And that's the entries! Keep an eye out for the discussion thread coming very soon! (Oh, and get writing)

Crystal Bells 22nd Spring - 28th Spring “And flies when I pursue it” 22ND SPRING I usually go up to the mountains by way of the village, taking the lane past the Community Centre, but today I went North, through the woods behind Buckland. The air sharp with resin, an earthy spice from Robin’s...

Bearing in mind that we're not going to narrowly define the theme - part of the point of the Best Use of Theme prize is to see who comes up with the most imaginative/interesting/apropos use of the given theme

It's that time of year again - the Autumn is rapidly approaching, and so it's time for the Hallowe'en one-shot competition The brief explanation is that it will last two months, each entrant gets to write a short story under this theme, and everybody gets a bunch of reviews. For more details...

I used to use some mild face washes, back when I sold cosmetics for living. Really, though, genetics has been kind to me in this regard - I'll only really use a bit of moisturiser around the eyes when it's allergy season. Face scrubs tend to make things worse, and any more moisturiser is just an...

Somewhat belatedly but the results are in, the challengers challenged, and soon - the prizes awarded. @lisianthus @Torchic W. Pip @InfiniteBakuphoon @DRX.maliant @Ryoma Maser @Daren @System Error @Cresselia92 @kintsugi - one of you will shortly have the choice of two bonus reviews for stories of...

This February I once again issue my challenge. To you. Yes, you. Go on. Chicken! CHICKEN! From the 10th of this month through to the 17th, I challenge you to write at least one review per day, every day! It doesn't matter who you write them for or for what stories. Just keep the streak going...

Good evening! At long last, we have a winner's list! I have to admit, this year was rather more chaotic than unusual, but we got there in the end, and more importantly, there are plenty of new stories to read and enjoy. I won't bore you with any further flannel: Best Written (Judge chosen)...

Voting is now closed! Look out for results announcement very soon!

General PSA here - you should be able to change your vote if you want to

It's time! The entries are in, and so from now until the end of the judging period, you can vote for Best Overall Story. As expected, you may not vote for yourself if you've entered - judges can't vote either - but otherwise the choice is yours. Behold, the entries: Weakened Boundaries, by...