From Lead Buckaroo, Charli Mills
The dust has settled, and the bulls are back out to pasture after the first Flash Fiction Rodeo at Carrot Ranch. From idea to event, this was no solo endeavor. It took a community to dream, organize, support, promote and engage.
To all of you who wrangle words at the Ranch, to those of you who quietly read from the other side of your screen to all who dared to make this contest their “first rodeo,” thank you!
Our Flash Fiction Rodeo consisted of eight unique events that differed in length, prompt and form. Each leader devised their own contest and rules for participation. We worked together as a team to shape the Rodeo, and each leader worked with a partnership of judges. We allowed leaders and judges to enter any contest they were not judging. We also allowed writers to participate as challengers if they did not want to enter as contestants.
A toss of hats in the air to the Rodeo Leaders who showed leadership on and behind the page. Not only did they work diligently to make each event fun and fair, they also rode hard to keep pace with an event that spanned three months. Their counsel, creativity, and camaraderie have kept it all rolling at Carrot Ranch. Thank you, Geoff Le Pard, Norah Colvin, JulesPaige, Sherri Matthews, D. Avery, Irene Waters and C. Jai Ferry. You all earned your spurs!
And a huge Rodeo Thank You to all our judges: Robbie Cheadle, Anne Goodwin, Barb Taub, Lucy Brazier, Susan Zutautas, Susan Budig, Angie Oakley, Sharon Bonin-Pratt, Mardra Sikora, Lisa Kovanda, Hugh Roberts, Mike from the UK, two anonymous judges in the US, and Sarah Brentyn. Your tasks were not easy, and I appreciate the regard you gave to all who entered.
Thank you to all who rodeoed!
Garth Brooks sings an edgy song in tribute to rodeos. He croons, “It’s the ropes and the reins, the joy and the pain, and they call the thing rodeo.” To me, it’s like the calling to write and be read.
A literary artist has something in common with rodeo’s biggest hero: tenacity. You write, revise, polish, submit, wait for — all in hopes to win that gold in the buckle. The gold might differ from writer to writer. Maybe you want to publish, maybe you want validation, maybe you just want to give your words wings and let them fly. The Flash Fiction Rodeo honors all the sweat, tears, mud and blood writers put into their craft. All who rode the Rodeo in 2017, you got grit!
We hope you’ll stop by the Ranch for some good reading and writing. Keep working your skills, wrangling words and roping stories. Keep on the path you’ve set for yourself. Write on!
See ya’ll next Rodeo in October 2018.
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From All-Around Judge, Sarah Brentyn
This was a whopper of a job.
Initially, there was a panel of judges. And then there was one. It was supposed to be three and wound up being little ol’ me. But I took up the challenge, happy at heart!
Choosing a winner for this final contest was extraordinarily difficult because let’s face it, they were all winners. Literally. They had all won their respective contests. Also, they are different in genre, form, and length. I was comparing apples to oranges to turnips.
Alas, this is an ‘overall winner’ contest, and an overall winner there must be.
During the past few months, I distanced myself from the contests. I popped in to say ‘Congrats’ then snuck away. Names were removed when I received the final entries.
It was delightful to read these. They are well-written, fantastic pieces. Thank you to everyone who entered the Carrot Ranch Rodeo contests and to the winners who gave me wonderful stories to read. I am honored and humbled to help announce the winner of this collection of contests.
2017 Flash Fiction Winners include:
- Rodeo #1: When I Grow Up (“Father Christmas” by Hugh Roberts)
- Rodeo #2: Little & Laugh (“The Bus Stop” by Colleen Chesebro)
- Rodeo #3: Septolet in Motion (“Practical Magic, Or Even Best Efforts Need a Push Sometimes” by Deborah Lee)
- Rodeo #4: Scars (“Galatea” by D. Wallace Peach)
- Rodeo #5: TwitterFlash (Winning Tweets by D. Avery)
- Rodeo #6: Bucking Bull Go-Round (“Like Retribution” by Kerry E.B. Black)
- Rodeo #7: Murderous Musings (“Mr Blamey” by Marjorie Mallon)
- Rodeo #8: TUFF (“The Sun Shines on the Half-Moon Café” by Liz Huseby Hartmann)
The All-Around Best of Show goes to:
Rodeo #4: Scars (“Galatea” by D. Wallace Peach)
Congratulations, Diana!
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That concludes the Flash Fiction Rodeo for 2017. However, that is not the last word. Carrot Ranch is completing an e-book collection that includes the winning entries, honorable mentions, entries, challenges and a few new pieces from our judges and leaders. Stay tuned later this month!
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Please give our Rough Writer’s a debut anthology Vol. 1 a look-see. If you’d like to support our efforts as a literary community you can purchase our book online at Amazon. Soon to be available through other locations (officially launches January 19, 2018).
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Author Bio For All-Around Judge Sarah Brentyn
Sarah Brentyn is an introvert who believes anything can be made better with soy sauce and wasabi.
She loves words and has been writing stories since she was nine years old. She talks to trees and apologizes to inanimate objects when she bumps into them.
When she’s not writing, you can find her strolling through cemeteries or searching for fairies.
She hopes to build a vacation home in Narnia someday. In the meantime, she lives with her family and a rainbow-colored, wooden cat who is secretly a Guardian.
Books by Sarah Brentyn
Follow Sarah at:
Congratulations to all and to a fine all around ride by D. Wallace Peach. Well done, Sarah, that was also quite a ride you had to saddle up for. Phew. Best rodeo ever!
And Charli, you sure have earned a big shiny buckle for all this. You did it! Write on.
Thanks so much, Dave. 🙂
Sorry, D. I keep seeing the Dave-ry, and just can’t get “dave” out of my head. I’ll learn. 🙂
Best ranch community ever! 🙂
Congratulations D. Wallace Peach for your story being chosen All Around Best of the Show! That’s quite a feat. There were so many wonderful stories. Thank you to Sarah for judging the finalists, and Charli for hosting the show. What a fantastic first rodeo. Do we really have to wait until October for the next? Better get our writing spurs on and keep practising in the meantime!
Thanks, Norah. I’m just thrilled. You’re right that the competition was stiff! Amazing stories all around. 🙂
That’s right – amazing writing – and to be the winner of it all – what a wonderful achievement. Congratulations can’t be said too loud or too often.
Thank you for your leadership, Norah!
It was my extreme pleasure, Charli (as in my extreme sport – writing and leading is about as extreme as I get!)
Ha, ha! It’s my extreme sport, too!
Reblogged this on Norah Colvin and commented:
Congratulations D. Wallace Peach for being the All Around Best of the Show in the inaugural Carrot Ranch #FFRODEO! What a feat!
Thanks, Norah!
Congratulations D. Wallace Peach for winning the All-Around title at the Carrot Ranch #FFRodeo.
A huge thank you for the tremendous efforts by all who stepped up to be judges and those who worked behind the chutes to make it happen.
To everyone who entered, kudos to you. This rodeo was a success because of your participation.
And last, but not least, thank you Charli for nodding your head and letting the chute gates swing open. You brought some amazing events and writers together to be showcased in this rodeo arena.
Thanks for the congrats, A. E., and I completely second your thanks for the tremendous efforts, the wonderful participation, and for Charli for “letting the chutes swing open.” 🙂
Thank you, Ann and for all your support and participation. We learned we could Rodeo, and we’ll all be back on the circuit again.
What a fantastic post! Everything to hand at a single click! Debut Anthology Vol.1 now on my Kindle, more than a must read, an education too! Congratulation to ‘Best of Show’ D. Wallace Peach; Diana it’s been good to get to know you. And to all here thanks for creating a great place to be and set our words free. All the best for 2018. Eric (the E in EDC).
Thanks, Eric. This has been a great ride all around – writing, reading, and meeting other talented writers. Happy New Year!
Woohoo! Thank you, Eric! Keep setting those words free!
Congratulations to our all round winner D Wallace Peach! Diana is a well deserving winner 😊
The Rodeo was was a fun contest to enter and i look forward ti the next!
Thank you all the organisers and judges for your time and your words of encouragement.
And a huge thank you to Charli ! 😊
Thanks, Ritu. I’m also eager for the next one. Until then, have a wonderful, creative new year. 🙂
You too!!!!
Thanks, Ritu! So many wonderful writers gathered and I’m already looking forward to the next. But first — to finish our collection because it’s going to be an amazing read with all the entries!
Indeed it Will!!!
An admirable, challenging, successful endeavor into the world of contest writing. You sustained throughout!
Thank you for joining us, Susan and for serving as a judge!
A fabulous finale to a rocking rodeo. Sarah, you had a hard job. But I totally agree that Diana’s winning story was wonderful.
Thanks, Charli for all the hard work you put into organising this. And to all the other judges too.
The rodeo roped me into the Ranch. And I’ll be flashing here until the next one arrives in October. I’m hooked…
Thanks, Juliet. I’m totally roped in too, and thankful for the opportunity to join in, read, and write. 🙂
I’m so happy, I’m doing a dance in my boots to have roped you into flash fiction, Juliet! You write beautiful art.
😄Thank you, Charli. I surprise myself with these weekly flashes. I really didn’t know they were in me. So I will join your dance by doing a wee jig over here in my stripey slippers.
Reblogged this on M J Mallon Author and commented:
Congratulations to Diana Peach for being awarded All Around Best of Show in the #FFRodeo at Charli Mill’s Carrot Ranch Literary Community.
Thanks for sharing, Marje, and for the congrats. I couldn’t be more delighted. Happy Writing!
You’re welcome Diana. Happy writing to you too 🙂
Thank you for sharing Marje!
How absolutely wonderful! Diana is a fantastic writer and her win is well deserved. Congratulations to everyone who won a round and to all the runner ups and participants too. Looking forward to next year’s challenge, Charli.
Thanks for the congrats, Robbie. I was just tickled when Charli let me know. Happy New Year. <3
Thank you for your participation and judging, Robbie! I’m looking forward to next year, too!
Congratulations to Diana. Your “Galatea” was truly a superb work of transformation and survival…and stunning beauty!
So happy and grateful to have wandered onto the Ranch…cool, clear water, encouragement and fresh inspiration are what this community’s all about!
<3 <3 <3
(Oh dear! I have apparently misconstrued the song “Cool Water.” No illusions here—but meaning an oasis!!)
Thanks so much, Liz. The whole rodeo was a blast… fun writing and great stories galore. Happy Writing. 🙂
Thank you, Liz! I’m so happy to have you along as a Rough Writer, too. And I love the song, Cool Water…I wonder if Patrick Stewart sings it? 😀
I’ll bet he would if you asked him to! 😀
Thanks so much, Charli, for the fantastic competition. I’m grateful for all the hard work you and the rodeo leaders put into pulling this together, and thanks to the judges for the difficult choices – a task I don’t envy. I’ve said it before and will say it again, that this entire thing was loads of fun, and the best-of-show win is a thrill. I’m looking forward to next year already. Happy New Year and Happy Writing to all rodeo writers!
Thank you, Diana! Your story makes a beautiful Best of Show, and all the writing together is going to make a beautiful collection. Happy Writing!
Congratulations to all the winners – and entrants – and to Sarah for choosing an excellent creme de la crème. and of course Charli for putting it all together.
Thanks, Anne! It turned out to be a fine Rodeo. And thank you for judging!
Congratulations, Diana on your well-deserved win. I was awestruck at some of these fabulous entries.
I actually had a go at this Rodeo myself and stretched myself more than I thought possible. The judges must have had such a hard job choosing the winners due to the high standard of the entries.
Thanks to you all for your support and encouragement. 🙂
Thanks, Judy. I’m so glad you gave it a try. I felt like all of these prompts were a stretch, and great fun regardless of the outcome. Charli and her team of organizers and judges did a wonderful job making it successful for everyone. Can’t wait to see your entries next year. 🙂
Yes, Charli and the judges did a superb job. I would like to have another go next year for sure, as it was such a fun challenge 🙂
It was difficult to judge and yet I think it was also good for writers to get to experience the judging process because you learn much from the perspective. And all the writing was marvelous. We are going to have a fine collection.
Yes, it was a fabulous learning experience for so many of us, Charli. Thank you and your team for organising it all. I look forward to the next one! 🙂
Congratulations Diana. As you know we thought you were worthy of Winning the Scars competition and are thrilled that you have been selected as All Round Best of Show. Congratulations to all that entered. As a judge I know it was challenging with many great entries. Sarah I don’t envy you having to pick between the best of each competition to come up with an all round best of show but I love your choice. Charli thanks for the concept. It has been a lot of fun. Now hanging up my spurs until next October but practice will continue.
Thank you, Irene. I’m totally thrilled, of course. It was a wonderful prompt that led the way. <3
Keep those spurs handy, Irene! Thanks for your leadership. It has been fun and I look forward to next October!
It has been fun and am looking forward to the next one. Already thinking of the direction I will go this time.
Reblogged this on Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) and commented:
Congratulations Diana on All Round Best of Show with your wonderful story Galatea.
Thanks, Irene!
Congrats all round. So thrilled for my writing friends judging and writing! 🙂
Thanks, Debbie! It’s thrilling to watch the Rodeo unfold!
I’m looking forward to jumping in again in the spring after my writing winter break coming up in a few weeks! 🙂
Thrilled for you Diana, a worthy win indeed for Best of Show with an extraordinary, beautifully written flash. Huge congratulations and to all the winners of all eight contests. I didn’t envy your task Sarah, thank you for taking it on! And Charli, thank you again so much for giving me the honour to lead a contest along side such a fantastic group of talented and wonderful writers fellow judges. Truly delighted to have done my bit. Will be chomping at that bit for the next one 😉 Here’s to a great 2018, riding and writing like the wind! <3
Thank you, Sherri. It certainly made my week! And I’m looking forward to next year. Happy Writing!
As it should have…congratulations again Diana. And the very same to you…Happy Writing sounds like a great plan! xxx
Thank you so much for your leadership, Sherri! You are natural in the saddle and I look forward to next Rodeo!
Couldn’t have done it without a certain Buckaroo at the reins!! And me too Charli…can’t wait! 🙂 <3
Thanks, Sarah! You did a wonderful job riding solo and picking the Best of Show. Thanks to all who wrote, read and bled ink into stories at Carrot Ranch. Until next Rodeo, keep your hats on and write off into the sunset!