TheMeerkat's recent activity

  1. Comment on Tildes Monthly Writing Prompts! (April 2025) in ~creative

    TheMeerkat
    Link
    We're two weeks in! 💖

    We're two weeks in! 💖

    3 votes

  2. Comment on Creative short story writing contest—prize for winner! (2025-03-07) in ~creative

  3. Comment on Tildes Monthly Writing Prompts! (April 2025) in ~creative

    TheMeerkat
    Link Parent
    You could focus on some combination of “rain” and “renewal”. 😺

    You could focus on some combination of “rain” and “renewal”. 😺

    1 vote

  4. Comment on Tildes Monthly Writing Prompts! (April 2025) in ~creative

    TheMeerkat
    Link
    Hell yeah! Thanks for giving this another try. And amazing prompt. As always, I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with!

    Hell yeah! Thanks for giving this another try. And amazing prompt.

    As always, I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with!

    6 votes

  5. Comment on Creative short story writing contest—prize for winner! (2025-03-07) in ~creative

    TheMeerkat
    Link Parent
    That'd be great! Because I'm a loser (and also hate plurality voting), I'll set up a simple Condorcet poll afterwards, if that's alright. You will learn to fear me. I like that idea. :)

    I was already thinking of having an informal contest element by having a poll rather than a single judge.

    That'd be great!

    Because I'm a loser (and also hate plurality voting), I'll set up a simple Condorcet poll afterwards, if that's alright.

    also free up the host(s) to participate in the contest if they want.

    You will learn to fear me.

    I'm thinking of offering two options: a more traditional prompt like the ones used for the contests so far, and just a couple keywords.

    I like that idea. :)

  6. Comment on Creative short story writing contest—prize for winner! (2025-03-07) in ~creative

    TheMeerkat
    Link Parent
    Of course! I was going to try again, but I'd love to see your take on the prompts! What say I donate the same prize for your thread and we try again less formally?

    Of course! I was going to try again, but I'd love to see your take on the prompts! What say I donate the same prize for your thread and we try again less formally?

    1 vote

  7. Comment on Creative short story writing contest—prize for winner! (2025-03-07) in ~creative

    TheMeerkat
    Link Parent
    Of course! I'd love to read it!

    Of course! I'd love to read it!

    2 votes

  8. Comment on Creative short story writing contest—prize for winner! (2025-03-07) in ~creative

    TheMeerkat
    Link Parent
    See, that flattery will get you everywhere. Now I'm inspired to try it again in April (especially thanks to @Grzmot). I may try one more time and hope it takes off slightly more. :)

    one week feels way too short and also your prompts are leagues better.

    See, that flattery will get you everywhere. Now I'm inspired to try it again in April (especially thanks to @Grzmot). I may try one more time and hope it takes off slightly more. :)

    4 votes

  9. Comment on Creative short story writing contest—prize for winner! (2025-03-07) in ~creative

  10. Comment on Creative short story writing contest—prize for winner! (2025-03-07) in ~creative

    TheMeerkat
    Link Parent
    You win by default! I will offer more detailed feedback later, but you can DM me to let me know which provider you prefer the gift code for. With a submission progression of 6 → 4 → 1, this will...

    You win by default! I will offer more detailed feedback later, but you can DM me to let me know which provider you prefer the gift code for.

    With a submission progression of 6 → 4 → 1, this will be the last creative writing contest. Thanks to everyone to participated in any of them!

    3 votes

  11. Comment on FOSS infrastructure is under attack by AI companies in ~tech

    TheMeerkat
    Link Parent
    They're not, and they do. The typical Western companies you would think of first are handling their scraping… well, as ethically as your personal viewpoints on AI allow. See this screenshot from...

    It's not clear to me whether OpenAI and Anthropic are actually behind this massive surge. Both of them claim to respect robots.txt.

    They're not, and they do. The typical Western companies you would think of first are handling their scraping… well, as ethically as your personal viewpoints on AI allow.

    See this screenshot from the article: https://thelibre.news/content/images/2025/03/image-30a208ec17842ce4.png

    2 votes

  12. Comment on Creative short story writing contest—prize for winner! (2025-03-07) in ~creative

    TheMeerkat
    Link
    We’re roughly halfway through!

    We’re roughly halfway through!

    1 vote

  13. Comment on Anyone interested in trying out Kagi? (trial giveaway: round #2) in ~tech

  14. Comment on Anyone interested in trying out Kagi? (trial giveaway: round #2) in ~tech

    TheMeerkat
    Link
    I'd be quite interested, if anyone is willing. 😸

    I'd be quite interested, if anyone is willing. 😸

    1 vote

  15. Comment on Creative short story writing contest—prize for winner! (2025-03-07) in ~creative

    TheMeerkat
    Link Parent
    Thanks for elaborating! That makes sense, and I appreciate the clarification.

    Thanks for elaborating! That makes sense, and I appreciate the clarification.

    2 votes

  16. Comment on Creative short story writing contest—prize for winner! (2025-03-07) in ~creative

    TheMeerkat
    Link Parent
    Will do, and I believe in you! I look forward to your entry this time around. 😸

    Will do, and I believe in you! I look forward to your entry this time around. 😸

    2 votes

  17. Comment on Creative short story writing contest—prize for winner! (2025-03-07) in ~creative

    TheMeerkat
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    Edited 2025-03-09 for clarity and future referenceability. Thanks so much for the feedback! First, more generally: coming up with prompts that work well for these competitions is actually a bit...

    Edited 2025-03-09 for clarity and future referenceability.

    Thanks so much for the feedback!

    First, more generally: coming up with prompts that work well for these competitions is actually a bit harder than one might expect. I place specific constraints on myself when creating them—I want prompts that inspire writing and affect the core of a story, but never dictate its genre, characters, or setting.

    The distinction between my approach and more traditional writing prompts becomes clear when you search “writing prompts” online:

    Think of an alternative vampire that survives on something other than blood. Write a story or scene based on this character.

    Imagine you’re an astronaut who discovers something unbelievable on Mars.

    Your aunt passes away, leaving you $500,000 in her will under the condition that you resume care for her hundred-year-old home.

    Most traditional prompts impose significant constraints on the finished product. You’re unlikely to get entries ranging from a heartfelt children’s book about differences to a psychological horror-comedy about the workplace when asking someone to write about inheriting money from a dead aunt.

    As a result of keeping my prompts as low-constraint creative sparks, they might occasionally feel similar if these contests continue long enough. I’m comfortable with that reality—there are countless stories you could write from just one prompt, and entries would remain distinct even if I recycled prompts (though I promise we’re nowhere near that point!).

    More specifically in reply to your comment (which I recognize was largely tongue-in-cheek—I’m clarifying this more for the record than anything): I don’t actually see these two prompts as meaningfully similar. They explore different narrative structures and themes:

    This month’s prompt:

    • Requires active, intentional use of a flaw to solve a problem
    • Repurposes a negative trait or habit
    • Demands a challenge/solution structure with immediate stakes
    • Explores the value of context and the subjectivity of “flaws”

    The previous prompt you mentioned:

    • Involves passive discovery of an impact already made
    • Highlights something perceived as mundane
    • Creates a revelatory structure with past-tense stakes
    • Explores the value of intersection and serendipity

    I’d also argue that neither prompt necessarily ties to “self-worth” themes. Of wheat and zombies from the earlier prompt you mentioned is a great example that takes the concept in a different, darker direction.

    While this month’s prompt might lend itself to redemptive narratives, it could equally inspire darker explorations where the “flaw” remains problematic or worsens. Consider Matt’s character arc in that one Black Mirror Christmas episode and his underlying motivation—you could adapt most of that same disturbing story for this prompt, and it would be anything but redemptive or tied to positive growth.

    In short: both prompts provide neutral foundations that can be taken in any tonal direction the author chooses, and they create distinctly different storytelling frameworks.

    5 votes

  18. Comment on Creative short story writing contest—prize for winner! (2025-03-07) in ~creative

  19. Creative short story writing contest—prize for winner! (2025-03-07)

    ~creative Text 552 words
    Welcome to the third installment of Tildes’s monthly creative writing contest! The February entries showcased some truly spectacular storytelling—my heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated...

    Welcome to the third installment of Tildes’s monthly creative writing contest! The February entries showcased some truly spectacular storytelling—my heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated or left feedback. Now let’s see what March brings!

    Hm? What’s that? The title’s wrong? I’m posting this on the 8th, not the 7th? No, no; that must just be your imagination. I would never miss a deadline like that. No, the light isn’t growing dimmer over time, why do you ask?

    Your goal: Write a creative short story based on the prompt provided and post it in this thread.
    Deadline: 2025-03-22T23:59:59-04:00. I’m giving you an extra day on the usual deadline because I’m a kind and generous host, and definitely not for any other reason whatsoever. (Note the timezone shift—daylight savings and all that.)
    Prize: Your choice of a $20 gift code for either Proton or Tuta! As always, if anyone wants to suggest or donate future prizes, my DMs are open.

    Your prompt: A character must solve a problem using their worst flaw, trait, or habit—something others have always criticized them for.

    The Rules:

    1. Creative Writing Only: Fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, fanfiction—all welcome! Just make sure it’s, you know, creative. If you’re venturing into fanfiction territory, remember I might not know your favorite obscure anime from 2013. Also, submissions should be in English, unless you believe that Google Translate can only improve your work.

    2. Length (Soft Rule): Try to aim for the “short story” sweet spot of 1,000–7,500 words. Too short and you’re writing flash fiction; too long and you’re writing a novella. Both are wonderful forms! Just not what we’re doing here. One submission per person, please.

    3. Judging: Winners will be chosen through the highly scientific process of “whatever I think is best.” Comment votes are nice for ego-stroking but won’t influence the final decision. Trust me, my literary judgment is completely arbitrary absolutely impeccable.

    4. Originality: Your story should be freshly created for this contest. No recycling that brilliant piece you wrote in college that’s been sitting in a drawer for years. Though if it’s that good, maybe you should publish it anyway?

    5. Formatting: Use collapsible formatting if posting directly in the comments. This keeps the thread tidy and prevents the inevitable scroll-a-thon when reading multiple entries. Feel free to host your story elsewhere and link to it here as well.

    6. Licensing: Include a clear license declaration with your submission. Whether you’re going with “All Rights Reserved,” a Creative Commons option, or perhaps even the JWCL (which is not a shameless plug and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise), I’d like to know how/if I can compile these for the community later.

    7. Feedback: This isn’t actually a rule, but more of a desperate plea: please, please leave feedback on other entries! Writers thrive on knowing their work has been read, whether the response is effusive praise or thoughtful critique. Even a simple “I enjoyed this because…” can make someone’s day.

    Oh, and if you find yourself with spare time between writing masterpieces, you can always peruse my own writing. I promise it’s at least as entertaining as these posts are.

    Happy writing, everyone! I’m genuinely excited to see what you come up with this time around.

    25 votes

  20. Comment on Creative short story writing contest—prize for winner! (2025-02-07) in ~creative