A Dutch Challenge - All the Results

For those who don't remember, in September I launched an unofficial challenge that invited you to write the "somehow perverted" or "Dutch" version of a fellow Vocal creator's work, while giving them the prize:

I loved the idea of championing someone else's work, but, sadly, it didn't seem to resonate much with others... or maybe I didn't promote it enough. September proved busier than expected.

Let's not repeat the same mistake: check out the challenges I'm running now!

Whatever the reason, there were only 5 entries. And, as announced, this means we'll have to settle for a smaller podium.

And now for something sinister...

As I was getting ready for the final selection, I got a 502 error on Diane's story. I thought it was a faulty link and looked for her profile, but it is gone. So are all her comments. No trace of Diane ever existing... on a platform that stores old and forgotten profiles under the name "Test" just to keep their comments floating around, this feels eerie.

The second user I experienced disappearing into nothingness within a few months. (Anybody remember Veva and her romance challenge that never got off the ground?)

I hope Diane and Veva are both doing well and didn't completely quit writing.

Back to us.

Prizes:

1 USD Honorable Mention:

Won by Diane Foster's Welcome To The Garden (currently unavailable), championing Cali Loria's surreal story revolving around a mysterious inheritance...

1 USD Honorable Mention:

Won by none other than our Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred, for his hilarious Lumberjack story nodding to Monty Python.

Championing Call Me Les and her inspiring nature poem:

2 USD Runner-up...

...is a tie.

I kept going back and forth between these two, even changed their place on the podium a couple of times. No joy. They're both a stunning example of having fun with the work of someone you respect and appreciate.

And both really pop up when read side-by-side with their un-Dutch counterpart.

Paul Stewart's truly Paul-ful take on L.C. Schäfer's poignant drabble delivers a unique type of discomfort that is worthy of its own Dutch expression. I may start calling it "Dutch Fable"...

And Novel Allen's "ruthless" parody flips the inspirational tone of Tiffany Gordon's poem on its head, turning it into a humorous trainwreck of a stream of consciousness story.

And the 5 USD Winner is...

Kendall Defoe, who changed the tone, the format, and the target of Jasmine Aguilar's essay on AI. The integration of Paul Simon's song and the spoof of the name made this one impossible to shake...

Read the winners, read the pieces that inspired them, and I hope to see you in the next one!!