Writer Unboxed

FINALISTS, FINALISTS! And Your Turn to Vote.

September 19th, 2007 by Therese Walsh

Thanks to everyone who participated in Writer Unboxed’s CONTEST, CONTEST!

Kath and I enjoyed this word-creation contest even more than our Alphasmart contest, if that’s possible. Each of the over 200 words submitted had a unique bent, but we had to choose just ten finalists. Our process? We alphabetized all the entries, sans reference to their owners, so there was no potential for bias. Then we eliminated any words found in the online urban dictionaries or that were being used gratuitously on the ‘net, and gave props to entries that were 100% unique and 101% inspired.

(We’ll post the complete list sometime soon and acknowledge honorable mentions.)

Now we need everyone’s help to help decide who gets the big prize.

At stake: a set of fabulous market guides:

Writer’s Market Deluxe Edition 2008, which comes with a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to WritersMarket.com

Guide to Literary Agents 2008

Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market 2008

Poet’s Market 2008

Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market 2008

(Insert drumroll here.)

THE FINALISTS ARE…

1. Appause (noun): the awkward moment in a poetry reading when the audience doesn’t know whether they should clap or not

2. Curbudgeon (noun): a cranky shopper who cuts you off in the checkout line

3. Dreamacidal (Adjective): pertaining to dreamacide, or the killing of a dream by another, esp. a parent, teacher, mentor, colleague or critic
“The newest member of our writing group is particularly dreamacidal in his critiques.”

4. Fretiting: worrying about your edits

5. Philanthrantasy (n.): the hope, usually unrealistic, that some anonymous rich person will donate a lot of money to you

6. Premature e-queriation: sending an e-query before your manuscript is ready

7. Pythong: a really tight thong usually worn by a man

8. Schizofriendic: the person you make friends with before you realize they are annoying/insane, and by that time, it’s too late…you can’t get rid of them
“When Sally showed up at my house at 3 a.m. wanting me to bake a cake with her, I realized that she just might be Schizofriendic.”

9. Tangified: overuse of self-tanner
“After being asked repeatedly if she glowed in the dark, Molly realized being tangified wasn’t as great as she had originally believed.”

10. Vocal point (noun): a person who seeks to become the center of attention through excessive talking

And now for the VOTING RULES: Vote now, but DON’T vote often - only one vote per person and/or URL. Voting ends Sunday at midnight, EST.

Thanks to all who submitted unique creations and used their personal blog horns to help spread word of the contest for us. We had tons of fun (fon?).

Write on, all!

Posted in Contest |

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118 Responses to “FINALISTS, FINALISTS! And Your Turn to Vote.”

on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:19 am chris eldin

Premature E-queriation-Number 6!

Thanks!
Chris
on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:27 am Writing Nag

#7 of course, PYTHONG.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:37 am theamcginnis

dreamacidal
on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:38 am Rhonda

7. Pythong: subtle yet nasty!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:46 am Kelli

#1 Appause!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:49 am Wendy

#7 Pythong. Eeew!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:55 am Holly

#5 Philanthrantasy !!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:05 am patti

#9!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:06 am Kathleen

#7 Pythong…Brilliant!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:10 am Jene

Oh dear, it must be pythong. So glad fall is here…
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:11 am Val

#7 pythong—men wearing pythongs, a result of too many wedgies growing up
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:17 am Paul

#7! The word paints a thousand pictures and each one is equally disturbing.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:17 am Augusta Lee

# 6!!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:18 am Eric

#7 Pythong…I feel dirty just uttering the word, could it be any more descriptive yet keep a PG rating?
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:19 am Deborah

Pythong, hands down!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:28 am josh

#7 4 eva. although the definition should be changed to read “a constrictive thong usually worn by a man”
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:41 am Natasha

#7!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:43 am Ron

#7, Pythong…without a doubt.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:48 am Matt

#7 Pythong.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:49 am Kara

Pythong! Ewww!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:58 am Heather

Dreamacidal
on 19 Sep 2007 at 12:08 pm Vanessa

#7 Pythong–where can a get a man that wears one of those?
on 19 Sep 2007 at 12:23 pm Li'l Rhodie

#7 Pythong… Oh yeah!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 12:37 pm Andrea

#8. I’ve known too may schizofriendics!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 12:41 pm SzélsőFa

I vote for # 6.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 1:14 pm Diane

#10. Vocal point. There are way too many of these in our narcississtic world!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 1:14 pm Larramie

#9: Tangified — there’s something about “glowing” anywhere, let alone the dark.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 1:31 pm Jada

I totally vote for #8!!! Schizofriendic!!! I seriously think I’ve known some of those!!! I LOVE it!!! hehehe
on 19 Sep 2007 at 1:33 pm picachu

#10.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 1:50 pm Lynette

#8!! That’s awesome!!!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 1:55 pm Cyndia

It’s got to be the pythong!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:03 pm kathy

#8
on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:10 pm Lois

#8
on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:19 pm cynipid

#7 Pythong - I’ve seen one of those and it was not a pretty site
on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:21 pm Beverly Kennelly

I vote for #7. Cool !!!!!!!!!!!!!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:50 pm Writer Mama

#10: Vocal Point

Good one!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:51 pm Cathy J

I think #7 is great and would certainly add any pics of it to my files.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 3:30 pm Ray Rhamey

#1 Appause
on 19 Sep 2007 at 3:47 pm Bernita

#6.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 3:57 pm Carol Webb

Pythong has my vote. The word even sounds like it might be venomous.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 3:57 pm John

#10
on 19 Sep 2007 at 3:57 pm Laura

Vocal point… I’m sitting next to one right now… *sigh*
on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:00 pm Maura

Without a doubt, my pick is #3
Dreamacidal

I wonder how many thousands of times it has happened to our youth (and adults too!)
on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:15 pm Susan

#8 Sad but there are people out there like that LOLOL
on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:21 pm Vanessa

#8 That is the perfect word to describe it!!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:25 pm teresa

Schizofriendic — I know so many
on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:29 pm Mike

#8
on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:30 pm Roni

# 5 Philanthrantasy — terrific!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:36 pm Francisco

#10 - Great word!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:44 pm Michelle

Do I have to pick just one? Tough choice, ladies.

I like dreamacidal, appause, or philanthrantasy, but if I have to pick just one, it’s dreamacidal.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:53 pm Laura Lancaster

#10 for sure! Who hasn’t ended up beside one of those at a dinner party? Annoying!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:58 pm MichelleVan

Writing nag #7 please
on 19 Sep 2007 at 5:08 pm Linda

#3, Dreamicidal
on 19 Sep 2007 at 5:38 pm Anti-Wife

#6
on 19 Sep 2007 at 6:04 pm Tanner

Number 10. It’s funny!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 6:07 pm Mona

#3 dreamacidal
on 19 Sep 2007 at 6:11 pm Cath

#8! Does anyone ever recognize themselves as being the
schizofriendic one???
on 19 Sep 2007 at 6:53 pm Lisa

#9 Tangified
on 19 Sep 2007 at 7:29 pm Carol

Dreamacidal… unfortunately a common experience
on 19 Sep 2007 at 7:49 pm whitedove

vocal point
on 19 Sep 2007 at 7:58 pm Auntchele

Vocal Point.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 8:05 pm karen

Pythong!
on 19 Sep 2007 at 8:30 pm Kinta

#7 - Pythong! It brings up all sorts mental images of Borat and his “swimsuit” - i think it must be a “pythong”.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 9:18 pm Kim

#7 pythong
on 19 Sep 2007 at 9:42 pm Leah

PYTHON!!!!! the visual could scar me for life.
on 19 Sep 2007 at 9:51 pm Leah

Holy typo, I mean pythong #7
on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:31 pm weaves

No. 7: PYTHONG
I don’t want to know the vision they must have seen to come up with this one.
on 20 Sep 2007 at 12:06 am Cheryl Critchley

#7 Pythong!
on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:19 am Henri

#8 is the best yet.
on 20 Sep 2007 at 3:40 am Nancy

#10 Vocal point-I seem to know lots of folks that need that T-shirt that says “Help, I’m talking and I can’t shut up!”
on 20 Sep 2007 at 4:27 am Linda

#3
Dreamacidal–it’s perfect!
on 20 Sep 2007 at 7:42 am Will

#8 For Sure!
on 20 Sep 2007 at 8:23 am emew

#10 — The cure for vocal point: a tablespoon of peanut butter!
on 20 Sep 2007 at 8:25 am Tammy

#10 - Vocal Point
on 20 Sep 2007 at 8:47 am Marie

#8 - Schizofriendic … known a few. Bless their hearts…
on 20 Sep 2007 at 9:06 am roy r reynolds

#8 schizofriendic…sometimes i feel i am.
on 20 Sep 2007 at 9:24 am Dale

#8 - I’ve got friends like that
on 20 Sep 2007 at 10:16 am lynda

I say #3-dreamacidal
on 20 Sep 2007 at 11:02 am Brandy F.

#8 most def!!! Who hasn’t known at least one person who fits this description, I mean come on!!! lol I think we have a winner!
on 20 Sep 2007 at 11:23 am Elizabeth

I vote for Schizofriendic-I’ve known a few people like that
on 20 Sep 2007 at 11:35 am JJ Kinne

#3 Dreamacidal
on 20 Sep 2007 at 11:43 am Elysabeth

#6 - although I’ve not done this, yet - lol - E
on 20 Sep 2007 at 11:49 am Lauri

#7
on 20 Sep 2007 at 12:21 pm Josephine Damian

#6! #6! #6!

*shake my booty*
on 20 Sep 2007 at 12:53 pm Julie

#8!
on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:02 pm Tricia Grissom

Fretiting gets my vote. I will always be thinking this word now as I edit.
on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:11 pm Jo C.

#7 pythong - makes me chuckle everytime I think about it - wouldn’t it make a good cartoon?
on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:12 pm Maggie

#7 gets my vote!
on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:16 pm Catherine Seda

python. it’s not just a runner-up, or a bum deal. Although it is, isn’t it? Python gets my vote.
on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:31 pm Abbott

No. 6 of course, but they’re all great
on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:54 pm Grammy

Schizofriendic! But it’s hard to narrow it down to just one, as I have a couple favorites.
on 20 Sep 2007 at 3:19 pm Courtney

I loved pythong!
on 20 Sep 2007 at 3:41 pm Stef

#8
on 20 Sep 2007 at 4:07 pm Jennifer

#3 dreamacidal
on 20 Sep 2007 at 7:02 pm Cassie

#8!!!!!!
I read that and have been speading it around work like wild fire, there are so many schizofriendics out there!!!!!!
on 20 Sep 2007 at 7:38 pm Thelma

Loved pythong
on 20 Sep 2007 at 8:28 pm Lea

Schizofriendic!
on 20 Sep 2007 at 8:35 pm Pamela

Pythong! The constrictive comment above was great.

My schizofriendic neighbor modeled his pythong at the block party–we didn’t know he was so tangified!
on 20 Sep 2007 at 9:01 pm Kate

#6–Premature e-queriation!! Go #6, go!
on 20 Sep 2007 at 9:17 pm Connie

Schizofriendic! Oh how I wish I could have been pre-warned!! Love it!!
on 20 Sep 2007 at 10:35 pm Kaitlin

Dreamacidal
on 20 Sep 2007 at 11:07 pm Juliet

Pythong - definitely a close relation of Borat’s mankini!
on 21 Sep 2007 at 9:05 am Jessica

I vote for #8!
on 21 Sep 2007 at 10:01 am Rich

#8 a great new word
Rich
on 21 Sep 2007 at 10:20 am Tom

#3
on 21 Sep 2007 at 11:23 am mandy

#8 - unfortunately I understand the meaning of this word!
on 21 Sep 2007 at 12:04 pm Mary Jo C.

Tangified! I laughed out loud the first time I read it!
on 21 Sep 2007 at 1:11 pm Mary

#8 Definitely!
on 21 Sep 2007 at 1:12 pm Krystal

schizofriendic! #8
on 22 Sep 2007 at 6:30 am Donna

Pythong. Makes me syck just consyderyng…..
on 22 Sep 2007 at 10:11 am Robin

#6. Love it.
on 22 Sep 2007 at 2:37 pm Betty

I vote for Andrea’s word, # 8 - schizofriendic
on 22 Sep 2007 at 2:39 pm Betty

I vote for #8 schizofriendic
on 22 Sep 2007 at 3:28 pm Mike O'Kennelly

When angry one could say” A pythong upon you and your children” Number 7 of course
on 23 Sep 2007 at 8:54 am TexasRed77

#3 - Dreamacidal
on 23 Sep 2007 at 9:51 am Koo

#7 Pythong!!!
on 23 Sep 2007 at 5:09 pm Ann

Dreamacidal
on 24 Sep 2007 at 12:55 pm Therese Walsh

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED as of midnight (EST) on Sunday the 23rd. Thanks for all who played and voted. Stay tuned for results!