Writer Unboxed: about the craft and business of genre fiction
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Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketThanks 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!

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

    1. on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:19 am chris eldinNo Gravatar

      Premature E-queriation-Number 6!

      Thanks!
      Chris

    2. on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:27 am Writing NagNo Gravatar

      #7 of course, PYTHONG.

    3. on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:37 am theamcginnisNo Gravatar

      dreamacidal

    4. on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:38 am RhondaNo Gravatar

      7. Pythong: subtle yet nasty!

    5. on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:46 am KelliNo Gravatar

      #1 Appause!

    6. on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:49 am WendyNo Gravatar

      #7 Pythong. Eeew!

    7. on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:55 am HollyNo Gravatar

      #5 Philanthrantasy !!

    8. on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:05 am pattiNo Gravatar

      #9!

    9. on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:06 am KathleenNo Gravatar

      #7 Pythong…Brilliant!

    10. on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:10 am JeneNo Gravatar

      Oh dear, it must be pythong. So glad fall is here…

    11. on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:11 am ValNo Gravatar

      #7 pythong—men wearing pythongs, a result of too many wedgies growing up

    12. on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:17 am PaulNo Gravatar

      #7! The word paints a thousand pictures and each one is equally disturbing. :)

    13. on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:17 am Augusta LeeNo Gravatar

      # 6!!

    14. on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:18 am EricNo Gravatar

      #7 Pythong…I feel dirty just uttering the word, could it be any more descriptive yet keep a PG rating?

    15. on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:19 am DeborahNo Gravatar

      Pythong, hands down!

    16. on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:28 am joshNo Gravatar

      #7 4 eva. although the definition should be changed to read “a constrictive thong usually worn by a man”

    17. on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:41 am NatashaNo Gravatar

      #7!

    18. on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:43 am RonNo Gravatar

      #7, Pythong…without a doubt.

    19. on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:48 am MattNo Gravatar

      #7 Pythong.

    20. on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:49 am KaraNo Gravatar

      Pythong! Ewww!

    21. on 19 Sep 2007 at 11:58 am HeatherNo Gravatar

      Dreamacidal

    22. on 19 Sep 2007 at 12:08 pm VanessaNo Gravatar

      #7 Pythong–where can a get a man that wears one of those?

    23. on 19 Sep 2007 at 12:23 pm Li'l RhodieNo Gravatar

      #7 Pythong… Oh yeah!

    24. on 19 Sep 2007 at 12:37 pm AndreaNo Gravatar

      #8. I’ve known too may schizofriendics!

    25. on 19 Sep 2007 at 12:41 pm SzélsőFaNo Gravatar

      I vote for # 6.

    26. on 19 Sep 2007 at 1:14 pm DianeNo Gravatar

      #10. Vocal point. There are way too many of these in our narcississtic world!

    27. on 19 Sep 2007 at 1:14 pm LarramieNo Gravatar

      #9: Tangified — there’s something about “glowing” anywhere, let alone the dark.

    28. on 19 Sep 2007 at 1:31 pm JadaNo Gravatar

      I totally vote for #8!!! Schizofriendic!!! I seriously think I’ve known some of those!!! I LOVE it!!! hehehe

    29. on 19 Sep 2007 at 1:33 pm picachuNo Gravatar

      #10.

    30. on 19 Sep 2007 at 1:50 pm LynetteNo Gravatar

      #8!! That’s awesome!!!

    31. on 19 Sep 2007 at 1:55 pm CyndiaNo Gravatar

      It’s got to be the pythong!

    32. on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:03 pm kathyNo Gravatar

      #8

    33. on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:10 pm LoisNo Gravatar

      #8

    34. on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:19 pm cynipidNo Gravatar

      #7 Pythong – I’ve seen one of those and it was not a pretty site

    35. on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:21 pm Beverly KennellyNo Gravatar

      I vote for #7. Cool !!!!!!!!!!!!!

    36. on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:50 pm Writer MamaNo Gravatar

      #10: Vocal Point

      Good one!

    37. on 19 Sep 2007 at 2:51 pm Cathy JNo Gravatar

      I think #7 is great and would certainly add any pics of it to my files.

    38. on 19 Sep 2007 at 3:30 pm Ray RhameyNo Gravatar

      #1 Appause

    39. on 19 Sep 2007 at 3:47 pm BernitaNo Gravatar

      #6.

    40. on 19 Sep 2007 at 3:57 pm Carol WebbNo Gravatar

      Pythong has my vote. The word even sounds like it might be venomous.

    41. on 19 Sep 2007 at 3:57 pm JohnNo Gravatar

      #10 :)

    42. on 19 Sep 2007 at 3:57 pm LauraNo Gravatar

      Vocal point… I’m sitting next to one right now… *sigh*

    43. on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:00 pm MauraNo Gravatar

      Without a doubt, my pick is #3
      Dreamacidal

      I wonder how many thousands of times it has happened to our youth (and adults too!)

    44. on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:15 pm SusanNo Gravatar

      #8 Sad but there are people out there like that LOLOL

    45. on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:21 pm VanessaNo Gravatar

      #8 That is the perfect word to describe it!!

    46. on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:25 pm teresaNo Gravatar

      Schizofriendic — I know so many

    47. on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:29 pm MikeNo Gravatar

      #8

    48. on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:30 pm RoniNo Gravatar

      # 5 Philanthrantasy — terrific!

    49. on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:36 pm FranciscoNo Gravatar

      #10 – Great word!

    50. on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:44 pm MichelleNo Gravatar

      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.

    51. on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:53 pm Laura LancasterNo Gravatar

      #10 for sure! Who hasn’t ended up beside one of those at a dinner party? Annoying!

    52. on 19 Sep 2007 at 4:58 pm MichelleVanNo Gravatar

      Writing nag #7 please

    53. on 19 Sep 2007 at 5:08 pm LindaNo Gravatar

      #3, Dreamicidal

    54. on 19 Sep 2007 at 5:38 pm Anti-WifeNo Gravatar

      #6

    55. on 19 Sep 2007 at 6:04 pm TannerNo Gravatar

      Number 10. It’s funny!

    56. on 19 Sep 2007 at 6:07 pm MonaNo Gravatar

      #3 dreamacidal

    57. on 19 Sep 2007 at 6:11 pm CathNo Gravatar

      #8! Does anyone ever recognize themselves as being the
      schizofriendic one???

    58. on 19 Sep 2007 at 6:53 pm LisaNo Gravatar

      #9 Tangified

    59. on 19 Sep 2007 at 7:29 pm CarolNo Gravatar

      Dreamacidal… unfortunately a common experience

    60. on 19 Sep 2007 at 7:49 pm whitedoveNo Gravatar

      vocal point

    61. on 19 Sep 2007 at 7:58 pm AuntcheleNo Gravatar

      Vocal Point.

    62. on 19 Sep 2007 at 8:05 pm karenNo Gravatar

      Pythong!

    63. on 19 Sep 2007 at 8:30 pm KintaNo Gravatar

      #7 – Pythong! It brings up all sorts mental images of Borat and his “swimsuit” – i think it must be a “pythong”.

    64. on 19 Sep 2007 at 9:18 pm KimNo Gravatar

      #7 pythong

    65. on 19 Sep 2007 at 9:42 pm LeahNo Gravatar

      PYTHON!!!!! the visual could scar me for life.

    66. on 19 Sep 2007 at 9:51 pm LeahNo Gravatar

      Holy typo, I mean pythong #7

    67. on 19 Sep 2007 at 10:31 pm weavesNo Gravatar

      No. 7: PYTHONG
      I don’t want to know the vision they must have seen to come up with this one.

    68. on 20 Sep 2007 at 12:06 am Cheryl CritchleyNo Gravatar

      #7 Pythong!

    69. on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:19 am HenriNo Gravatar

      #8 is the best yet.

    70. on 20 Sep 2007 at 3:40 am NancyNo Gravatar

      #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!”

    71. on 20 Sep 2007 at 4:27 am LindaNo Gravatar

      #3
      Dreamacidal–it’s perfect!

    72. on 20 Sep 2007 at 7:42 am WillNo Gravatar

      #8 For Sure!

    73. on 20 Sep 2007 at 8:23 am emewNo Gravatar

      #10 — The cure for vocal point: a tablespoon of peanut butter!

    74. on 20 Sep 2007 at 8:25 am TammyNo Gravatar

      #10 – Vocal Point

    75. on 20 Sep 2007 at 8:47 am MarieNo Gravatar

      #8 – Schizofriendic … known a few. Bless their hearts…

    76. on 20 Sep 2007 at 9:06 am roy r reynoldsNo Gravatar

      #8 schizofriendic…sometimes i feel i am.

    77. on 20 Sep 2007 at 9:24 am DaleNo Gravatar

      #8 – I’ve got friends like that

    78. on 20 Sep 2007 at 10:16 am lyndaNo Gravatar

      I say #3-dreamacidal

    79. on 20 Sep 2007 at 11:02 am Brandy F.No Gravatar

      #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!

    80. on 20 Sep 2007 at 11:23 am ElizabethNo Gravatar

      I vote for Schizofriendic-I’ve known a few people like that :)

    81. on 20 Sep 2007 at 11:35 am JJ KinneNo Gravatar

      #3 Dreamacidal

    82. on 20 Sep 2007 at 11:43 am ElysabethNo Gravatar

      #6 – although I’ve not done this, yet – lol – E :)

    83. on 20 Sep 2007 at 11:49 am LauriNo Gravatar

      #7

    84. on 20 Sep 2007 at 12:21 pm Josephine DamianNo Gravatar

      #6! #6! #6!

      *shake my booty*

    85. on 20 Sep 2007 at 12:53 pm JulieNo Gravatar

      #8!

    86. on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:02 pm Tricia GrissomNo Gravatar

      Fretiting gets my vote. I will always be thinking this word now as I edit.

    87. on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:11 pm Jo C.No Gravatar

      #7 pythong – makes me chuckle everytime I think about it – wouldn’t it make a good cartoon?

    88. on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:12 pm MaggieNo Gravatar

      #7 gets my vote!

    89. on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:16 pm Catherine SedaNo Gravatar

      python. it’s not just a runner-up, or a bum deal. Although it is, isn’t it? Python gets my vote.

    90. on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:31 pm AbbottNo Gravatar

      No. 6 of course, but they’re all great

    91. on 20 Sep 2007 at 1:54 pm GrammyNo Gravatar

      Schizofriendic! But it’s hard to narrow it down to just one, as I have a couple favorites.

    92. on 20 Sep 2007 at 3:19 pm CourtneyNo Gravatar

      I loved pythong!

    93. on 20 Sep 2007 at 3:41 pm StefNo Gravatar

      #8

    94. on 20 Sep 2007 at 4:07 pm JenniferNo Gravatar

      #3 dreamacidal

    95. on 20 Sep 2007 at 7:02 pm CassieNo Gravatar

      #8!!!!!!
      I read that and have been speading it around work like wild fire, there are so many schizofriendics out there!!!!!!

    96. on 20 Sep 2007 at 7:38 pm ThelmaNo Gravatar

      Loved pythong

    97. on 20 Sep 2007 at 8:28 pm LeaNo Gravatar

      Schizofriendic!

    98. on 20 Sep 2007 at 8:35 pm PamelaNo Gravatar

      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!

    99. on 20 Sep 2007 at 9:01 pm KateNo Gravatar

      #6–Premature e-queriation!! Go #6, go!

    100. on 20 Sep 2007 at 9:17 pm ConnieNo Gravatar

      Schizofriendic! Oh how I wish I could have been pre-warned!! Love it!!

    101. on 20 Sep 2007 at 10:35 pm KaitlinNo Gravatar

      Dreamacidal

    102. on 20 Sep 2007 at 11:07 pm JulietNo Gravatar

      Pythong – definitely a close relation of Borat’s mankini!

    103. on 21 Sep 2007 at 9:05 am JessicaNo Gravatar

      I vote for #8!

    104. on 21 Sep 2007 at 10:01 am RichNo Gravatar

      #8 a great new word
      Rich

    105. on 21 Sep 2007 at 10:20 am TomNo Gravatar

      #3

    106. on 21 Sep 2007 at 11:23 am mandyNo Gravatar

      #8 – unfortunately I understand the meaning of this word!

    107. on 21 Sep 2007 at 12:04 pm Mary Jo C.No Gravatar

      Tangified! I laughed out loud the first time I read it!

    108. on 21 Sep 2007 at 1:11 pm MaryNo Gravatar

      #8 Definitely! :)

    109. on 21 Sep 2007 at 1:12 pm KrystalNo Gravatar

      schizofriendic! #8

    110. on 22 Sep 2007 at 6:30 am DonnaNo Gravatar

      Pythong. Makes me syck just consyderyng…..

    111. on 22 Sep 2007 at 10:11 am RobinNo Gravatar

      #6. Love it.

    112. on 22 Sep 2007 at 2:37 pm BettyNo Gravatar

      I vote for Andrea’s word, # 8 – schizofriendic

    113. on 22 Sep 2007 at 2:39 pm BettyNo Gravatar

      I vote for #8 schizofriendic

    114. on 22 Sep 2007 at 3:28 pm Mike O'KennellyNo Gravatar

      When angry one could say” A pythong upon you and your children” Number 7 of course

    115. on 23 Sep 2007 at 8:54 am TexasRed77No Gravatar

      #3 – Dreamacidal

    116. on 23 Sep 2007 at 9:51 am KooNo Gravatar

      #7 Pythong!!!

    117. on 23 Sep 2007 at 5:09 pm AnnNo Gravatar

      Dreamacidal

    118. on 24 Sep 2007 at 12:55 pm Therese WalshNo Gravatar

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