The Officially Unofficial Dishonourable Mention Challenge!

Before we go any further, I wanted to extend my sincere apologies for completely dropping the ball with the challenge I ran a few months ago:

Over the next week or so, I am going to endeavour to catch up and read all the wonderful pieces that people shared that I have not got to yet. Again, sorry. I messed up. Things happened offline and it just got buried in my mind cave. Will be rectifying it soon.

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Borne of frustration for a lack of "Dishonourable Mentions" on the Weekly Leaderboard, at the time of publishing, I decided to push ahead and do the legwork myself. Perhaps Vocal will join the bandwagon once I get it rolling down the hill of unstoppable insanity.

When I conceived the idea of an Officially Unofficial Dishonourable Mention Challenge, it was merely in name alone. In the comments section of one of my pieces, between myself and the rabble-rousing Canadian Donna Fox. Stephen A. Roddewigg, my official unofficial partner-in-crime and banter-combatant, it seems, also had a hand in it. To be clear. I want it on record, who was involved in this mayhem. I will happily die on my hill in battle defending it, but I believe it only fair that my fellow conspirators face the heat too.

Given the way my mind works, I came up with the idea, so need to see it through. As a little sidenote - Sonia, don't worry, Jiggerypokery will make its way into a poem I pen sometime very soon.

A ridiculous name alone does not maketh a ridiculous challenge. Before I get down to the nitty-gritty (don't you just love that phrase? I do, so very much), I best explain why I am so hellbent on there being such a deprecating and seemingly negative thing as a Dishonourable Mention in the first place.

Why I Want a Dishonourable Mention Section on the Weekly Leaderboard

But Paul, you arsehole, the Weekly Leaderboard is designed to be a positive and community-building exercise. A way for us all to feel great about our collective creative output on the platform. You are often banging on about how we should be appreciative of anyone that puts pen to paper, fingers to keys and bares their soul and heart openly exposed under a microscope. The idea of a Dishonourable Mention sounds very against that concept of a flourishing positive community of creators.

If that's how you feel, I fear you may be lost on the idea. But, as I've consistenly proven, I both adore and need the praise and adoration of my readers and also will just do whatever I want wherher I get 2 likes or 22. So... I shall proceed.

My reason for wanting a Dishonourable Mention is completely self-deprecating because I have thicker skin, at least on the surface, than I may seem to and a knee-jerk reaction to appearing in the Honourable Mention part of the Leaderboard a number of times. I am not really complaining, but I also, feel, it's a bit... silly?

The more I thought on it, though. The more I thought Dishonourable Mention might be a good thing.

It doesn't sound positive. I get that. But, as writers, we need to develop fireproof skin. A Dishonourable Mention section may help us to grow as writers. That's my official line.

Honestly, though, if only Stephen A. Roddewigg and myself ever made it to the list, I'd be happy.

But that is up to you!

What Would Warrant a Dishonourable Mention?

Now, here's where things got decidedly juicy, saucy and sticky. I believe. In my head, I really had no idea what a dishonourable mention should be. I always felt it would be funny to be awarded it, because it's juxtaposed against the honourable mention thing. I'd wear the badge proudly. Every award is an award, really, isn't it?

So, as this is all off the cuff, I had come up with justifiable reasons for people being given such a coveted award.

• A piece that truly grossed you out
• A piece that truly scared you until you were a puddle of nerves and tears
• A piece that aggravated you, justifiably or not, to the point that you wanted to post a 1,000-word, 20-point retort.
• A piece by Paul Stewart that didn't really follow in the spirit of the official challenge it was entered into.
• A piece by Stephen A. Roddewigg that didn't really follow in the spirit of the official challenge it was entered into.
• A piece that made you cry.
• A piece that messed with your head worse than a Christopher Nolan or David Lynch film.

Really, this is quite a poorly conceived idea, that I thought would be a bit of fun. The chance to poke fun at one another. All in the spirit of cultivating a community of fireproof-skinned writers.

I love a bit of subversion and irreverence, as much as deep and meaningful, cleverly worded poems and intricately pieced together narratives. You'd know that if you'd read anything I've ever written.

I am also incredibly arrogant and constantly feel the need to bash the absolute crap out of my ego, by reminding myself that I am a flawed human being like everyone else that has gone before me and will go after me.

So, that is what this challenge is borne of. Frustration, too much ego and a willingness to poke fun at myself.

If you're still in...let's get down to the actual details of the half-baked challenge.

What Do I Want?

That is such a loaded question. In general, like everyone else, I suspect, I'd want to be an award-winning, bestselling author and poet. Respected and derided in almost the same breath. But, for this challenge... I'd like the following:

1. To make this clearer after the initial publishing. I am keeping it to one Dishonourable Mention nomination per person. So you can either choose one of your own or, if you are feeling braver/more cordial/whatever, you can choose someone else's piece. Use the criteria outlined in the section above to make your decision, or base it on your own thoughts and feelings as to what would qualify as a Dishonourable Mention. I am being deliberately free and easy with the rules and guidelines, because. You can, if you choose, to just pick something by Paul Stewart (that's me, incase you weren't aware) or Stephen A. Roddewigg. But, come on, don't take such an easy route. We are both completely dishonourable.
2. I want you to explain your reasons, without being outrightly mean, why. The funnier the better. The more indepth the better. But, really, I'd be happy if anyone entered anything for this. Remember, it's not necessary a Dishonourable Mention because it's a bad poem, or story.
3. The entries should be published in the Writers community, which will mean you need to write a bit of blurb to meet the word count. But, as we are all writers here, that won't be a problem will it?
4. Make sure you title it My Dishonourable Mention, followed by the Title of the piece and its author's name. Example Title - "My Dishonourable Mention - Paint Me! by Paul Stewart"
5. Include the subtitle "Entry for Paul Stewart's Officially Unofficial Dishonourable Mention Challenge. I would also appreciate a link back to this challenge in your piece, either at the start or the beginning.
6. You then need to share the link to the published work in the comments section below, for your entry to be counted.
7. There are no real prizes, cos I'm the kind of writer who puts together Dishonourable Mention challenges. However, I shall select standout Dishonourable Mentions as "winners" and showcase them in a follow-up article, once the deadline has passed. The number of Dishonourable Mentions selected will depend on how many entries I get. I will also award a couple as Honourable Dishonourable Mentions because I honestly don't know when to quit.
8. To give everyone enough time to take part in the fun, and because I have NaNoWriMo consuming some of my free time, the deadline for entries will be set at December 1st 2024.

After I initially published this, I hoped people would get behind it, and I was very pleased to see that none of you disappointed me. I am always grateful and appreciative of the way people just run with my barmy ideas and hope this brings us all a bit of lighthearted fun.

Best of luck, or whatever seems like an appropriate way to sign off this mess.

The Entries

Stephen A. Roddewigg - My Dishonorable Mention—It’s the First of the Month by Yours Truly

John Cox - My Dishonourable Mention, Old Roger, The Soap Dodger by Paul Stewart

Sarah Parker - My Dishonourable Mention—The English Professor by Sarah Parker

Donna Fox (HKB) - A Rabbie For Paul by Donna Fox (HKB)

Mike Singleton 🌟 Mikeydred - My Dishonourable Mention - Another Raven By Mike Singleton 🌟 Mikeydred