I've had a lot of great challenge suggestions lately, and I'll get to as many of them as I can in the coming months.  This time, though, the challenge comes courtesy of Brynn, and it's to write a story that begins and ends with the same event.

Remember that you only have 28 days to complete this one, so get writing

Please read on for the complete rules. Failure to follow the rules will lead to disqualification, whether you read the rules or not.

We have a huge list of successes this month and you all should be proud! Many congratulations, FWO! Keep sending them out there! Let the world know who they're dealing with

(1,298,376.43 inches to World Domination *maniacal chuckles*)

Introducing our first Featured Member of the new decade, TheCaveman! Tracked down by Kukana, who reports that she found our resident Cro-Magnon using fire to char the ends of sticks so he could write stories on the walls of his cave.

Let's hear what other pre-historical mysteries she managed to unearth...

So here are the results of the final challenge of last year, and it was a close result between the top half dozen stories.  The final results, though, were as follows:

1st Place: I'LL BE DEAD FOR CHRISTMAS... by lenamilo
A dark comedy i storyteller fashion narrated by a comedian relating the death of his mother and visitations from her ghost. There is some mild language which I checked with a moderator, so just be aware. Oh, and see if you can catch my little homage to Moms Mabley added in there.
It's about 2.8 K words and should go in the light fantasy section afterwards. Enjoy.

2nd Place: A Very Special Child by Brynn
For the December challenge, I picked the rather serious topic of adultery and poked a little fun at it.
Barely 1,300 words. Light Fantasy after the challenge, please.

3rd Place: Starry Death by pmmg
Just a quickie for the contest. (460 words)

Members Choice: A Plea for Human Decency by Master Mudget
Kyle tries to keep a leash on his temper while attending his first anger-management class. But there is hope, perhaps the other attendants are the kind of people who can hear Kyle's story with sympathy and understanding.
1628 words.  Light Fantasy after the challenge.

Congratulations to everyone who entered, and especially the winners.

All righty, I think it is time to open up nominations for January's Featured Member. It's always fun to find out more about our fellow FWO members, so think about someone on FWO who makes you go "hmmmm...". Nominations will be taken for one week and end on midnight, the 22nd (see server clock). You may nominate any member you like save for those on the linked list, but you may not nominate more than one. To nominate, please send our (almost ready to take the exam on this) MoM coordinator, Erika, a PM with the word NOMINATION in the subject line, and make your nomination.

Attention all!

Below is the new and revised Terms of Service, to replace the existing TOS as of this posting. Please read and ask if you have questions.

These New TOS will be placed in appropraite places on the site just as soon as we get to them all.

Happy New Year, and new decade (except for anyone who insists on waiting till next year for that ).  Everyone's looking back over at the year at this time, so why should we be different?  Your challenge is to write a story based on any two of the challenges set in 2009, including the "for fun" challenges set in March and November.

The past challenges can be found on the News page.  Go to the bottom of the page and select month and year, and the News items for that month will come up.  Read through all the challenges and pick the two you want to write about.  Please state in your description which months you're using, otherwise the judges won't be able to give you an appropriate score.

Please read on for the complete rules. Failure to follow the rules will lead to disqualification, whether you read the rules or not. 

A fresh way to start 2010 is by getting your stories published Congratulations to all who made it!!

** UPDATE: TRANSCRIPT ADDED **

Cue the fanfare, clash the cymbols! Introducing our final Featured Member for the memorable year of 2009, interviewed *live and in person* by Bryce V. Giroux, skalds-and-shadows!

(Yes, Whackamatt, that means you have to hand over the MoM crown, thanks for taking such good care of it during your extended tenure). 

Please follow the link below to watch the very first filmed Featured Member interview. For those unable to view the recording, we now have a transcription of the interview (but really, do your best to find a way to watch -- it's *awesome*!)

Out of a number of topics discussed recently, I've chosen perhaps the most intriguing.  Your challenge this month is to write EITHER a comic story about a subject with no humour in in OR a serious story about a comic subject.  Either approach will be equally valid.

No extra marks from the judges, but extra kudos, if you can also include some reference to Christmas, Hannukah, Diwali, the Solstice or any other seasonal holiday.  This is NOT, however, a requirement of the challenge.

Please read on for the complete rules. Failure to follow the rules will lead to disqualification, whether you read the rules or not.  PLEASE NOTE REVAMPED RULES.