Writing Challenge Comments, Questions, Answers

[chrispenycate]

I'm not certain I can write anything that short, but have every intention of trying. And, oh Loopy one, whether it is a description or a story will presumably depend on the theme; if someone chooses "wind" or "yellow", either solution is viable, if "Goldilocks", you're sort of stuck with condensed action.

But I'm definitely in favour of the 'short, short' format, even if I can't do it (especially because I can't, like photos); it exercises a different set of mental muscles. A thousand words would just be more of the same, aerobic rather than sprint. (and nobody says how long the words can be.)

[TheEndIsNigh]

I think the shorter the word length the better.

The six line story thread seemed to get on OK. There'll be less chance of vast transcripts of overly long vernacular descriptions of transcendental interludes if the word length is low.

[Parson]

Originally Posted by TheEndIsNigh

I think the shorter the word length the better.

The six line story thread seemed to get on OK. There'll be less chance of vast transcripts of overly long vernacular descriptions of transcendental interludes if the word length is low.

Say What?

[Boneman]

What?

The first in the competition should be an open entry, on any subject you like, abd then the winner goers on to choose the next.... what makes you think I've got a GREAT idea for a 75 word story, and know nobody will ever choose it as a subject?

[Ursa major]

If it's Bone Idol or his works, you'll be getting another slap, methinks.



I have lots of grate ideas: but no grate in which to burn them.





(I did have an idea, but it's now well over 75 words: I'll have to save it for noted post 5000.)

[Moonbat]

I'm in, or I will be in once said competition has begun. Will there be a starter's gun? I'm waiting! fingers poised mere milimetres above my keybaord. Aaaaand Go!

There once was an ugly duckling, ugly duck king, king of the ducks, ugly as a swan, swanning about as if he were king, he was king, is king, isling, an angel, the angel of islington, is this thing an angel or an angle, the angle of islington, well quite small really, don't be obtuse, be acute, a cutie, as cute as a baby duckling, an egg? Is an egg as cute as a duck?

There that was 75 words, obviously not 75 different words, some words were repeated (like duck), does that matter? That's not my entry by the way, just a quick burst of expression pent up over the Easter period, kind of like writer's tourettes.

anyway as I said, count me in.

[The Judge]

Moonbat, this isn't "Just a Minute"** -- I think repeating things will be fine. (though with only 75 words, whether it's wise is another matter...)

My opinion, for what it's worth, is to keep the word count as low as possible, and for the entries to be stories not simply descriptions. I'd agree that if we were allowed two attempts per month, then voting would be per piece, not per person (which may be one reason not to do it -- you might split your own vote!). I don't know enough about the back-stage stuff to know if that would cause a problem for setting up.

Boneman, the way to get the subject you want for your cracking piece is to win one month.


** for those who don't know it, a radio programme where contestants have to talk for 60 seconds without repetition, deviation or hesitation.

[Boneman]

Boneman, the way to get the subject you want for your cracking piece is to win one month

Can we be serious for a moment?

[Teresa Edgerton]

OK, obviously we have enough interest. And it's early enough in the month, I think we can start today. I'll open the thread and state the theme some time after breakfast (Yes, it is well into the afternoon here, but I keep strange hours. I just woke up. Ergo, breakfast awaits me.)

The whole idea was to make it a real challenge with a very low word count, Leisha, so we'll stick with 75 words at least for the first few months and see how that goes. We might adjust it up a little bit, but I know this is not too hard to do if you consider all the different ways there are to write a story. But with a generous word count it could turn into the kind of writing contest Brian has been vetoing all these years -- where people get intense about the competition and sensitive because they didn't win. This is not just about writing skill, but also about how well you meet the challenge. And it should, to a certain extent, level the playing field so that everyone will be able to compete -- brand new writers, those with a few credits, and those who have been writing for a long time whether published or not. I've seen you tell a story in far fewer words, Leisha, and Sephiroth, too; I know you are up to the challenge with a generous 75! At the same time, anyone who is ever going to send out a novel submission needs to learn how to condense a story into as few words as possible, so this will be good practice.

I see no reason to limit this to prose (because otherwise we'll get into splitting hairs over prose poetry, blank verse, etc.), but I think people should make an attempt to tell a real story with a beginning, middle, and end. I think that should weigh heavily when people decide how to cast their votes.

We'll also go with one entry each to begin with. If it turns out that a lot of people are overflowing with ideas, we could adjust that to two another time. As with the word count, that will depend on whether it lasts long enough for adjustments to be made.

I am going to take it upon myself to choose the theme this time. It will apply equally to SF and Fantasy.

So, let me eat and get back to this.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Oh, and I'm going to go with a definite deadline each month, because I don't want anyone to write something and find out it's too late.

[Culhwch]

Definite deadline is good. One entry is good (I was actually thinking if people are brimming with ideas, we could look at making it fortnightly instead of monthly). And I think it should be a story, as well, not a description.

Look forward to the first challenge!

[Teresa Edgerton]

It has begun:

http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum...irst-post.html

I'll leave this thread open a little longer for discussion. This month is set in stone, but depending on how it goes we can still talk about future changes.

Obviously, it's unlikely that anyone will have something already on hand, and stories will be written (or cut down) especially for the Challenge, so I won't despair if entries don't start appearing very soon.

[Quokka]

Another nice thing about the 75 word limit is there's no excuses for not reading everyones entry before placing your vote.

[Teresa Edgerton]

That's a very good point, Quokka.

[Sephiroth]

I should point out that my own suggestions for an increased word limit were not as generous as Leisha's. I've been toying with the idea of writing some flash fiction for a while, just as a mental exercise. I would suggest 500 words as a theoretical maximum upper limit, but I think that 300-350 words is a good length. Seventy-five words surely qualifies as most parsimonious. I suppose it's something different, again. 'Nanofiction', indeed. Well, it's nice that it's happening at all, and we'll see how it goes. If I can write a six-word story, surely I can write one in 75?

I certainly think it should be for stories, rather than mere vignettes.



I like the theme, Teresa. It should inspire some interesting responses.