Writing Challenge Comments, Questions, Answers

[Boneman]

I found it sooo hard - I just posted my thoughts on the other thread about it, and it's because the standard is so good. But I agree that 75 word stories are best - so easy to review them all.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I like the one-vote system - you only have to click once, and that's it done and dusted.

Oh, voting is easy. Deciding which one to vote for is the hard part.

I actually tossed a coin ... and then I dithered some more, and finally told myself that if I didn't abide by the coin toss I would never reach a decision.

 

[mosaix]

Let's stick to the current format of 75 words. We've only tried it once and it seems to have been successful enough to try it in that format at least a few more times.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I am so damn thick! Even though I had read the story before, it's only while going through all of them again just now that HareBrain's entry just clicked for me.

I kept thinking of Mars as in the planet. Doh! *smacks forehead*

I can be very slow, sometimes. (Just ask Cul about my arithmetic.)

 

[Ursa major]

Perhaps when it comes to (the names of) planets, it's your mind that's the wanderer.








(And it happens to all of us: even now, I "make puns" that only I don't see. Luckily, these days just about everyone thinks that they're deliberate.)

 

[Culhwch]

Incidentally, for those who wanted two votes, you can always exercise a second by visiting the Photo Challenge thread...

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

In a spirit of camaraderie between challenges, I have just done so.

I know nothing at all about photography -- except that I have never been able to do it -- so I voted for the most striking image.

 

[Culhwch]

I'd like to see our humble competition reach the heights of this fledgling one, and I thought a little promotion might help. Glad you stopped by and voted! (And it matters not all that you know nothing about photography. I know nothing about painting, but I can still see the beauty in the Creation of Adam by Michelangelo...)

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I would have voted, too, but the photos aren't showing up on my end, for some reason.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I'd like to see our humble competition reach the heights of this fledgling one

Well, we're a books and writing forum, after all, so I think that explains the initial enthusiasm for this competition.

Perhaps those who are ahead in the voting now are beginning to think about next month's theme, should the choice be theirs. It would be nice if we could start a little earlier, so that everyone has plenty of time to write their stories ... on the other other hand, I'm sure it will take some time to think up a great theme.

 

[Parson]

I've voted already. I did find there was one that I liked beyond the others, so that part was not too hard for me. But I do have a question. Is it possible to put the link to the contest in its own closed thread. It would be nice to be able to keep up with the voting (and yes you can do that) without having to search it out from a bunch of other posts. Or is there some search parameter that I could use, but know nothing about.


(The post above is 90 words. How did I ever get a story in 75?!)

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

For those who don't want to search through this thread, Parson, the link is also very near the end of the thread with the stories themselves. Which I should close, before it gets any longer ...

 

[Culhwch]

After casually stating ties are few and far between in the photo challenge thread and therefore likely the same here, I check the leaderboard this morning and find a congested pack at the top...

I'd like to propose that in the case of a tie, both winners choose a theme, and then the competitors pick one or the other to respond to. But I think we should impose a deadline for the new theme to be submitted. We've had instances in the photo challenge where we've been hanging around for a number of days waiting for the new theme. And perhaps in the case of a tie the winners PM their themes to Teresa, so she can set up the thread, just so that we don't have a couple of threads, or the first theme in the first post and the second halfway down the first page...

Just my thoughts.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Yes, I was thinking the 6th of the month as the deadline for the theme. If the winner can't come up with something in that time, you and I put our heads together and figure one out between us.

I think it would ruin the momentum if the challenges were to begin too late.

But as for multiple themes ... I don't know. Particularly if we have three or more stories that tie. If there is a tie, I suggest a (very quick) run-off poll in the contest thread.



However, taking a quick look, I see that a lot of people who wrote stories have not voted yet. Also, we need to encourage people who did not participate to vote. It seems to me, the more people voting, the less chance of a tie.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

You're right. By my count, there are 43 stories, and only 28 recorded votes, so far.

That means at least 15 contributors have yet to vote. Possibly more, considering a couple of the votes might have come from the 'spectators'.

Come one, guys, the bell rings tomorrow. Vote! Vote! Vote!

 

[Culhwch]

I'm one of the ones who haven't voted yet, but I will...

Yes, I was thinking the 6th of the month as the deadline for the theme. If the winner can't come up with something in that time, you and I put our heads together and figure one out between us.

You're more generous than me! Maybe we should stick with the fives and make it the fifth? Also would make it a good amount of time to run a tiebreaker if it comes to that - and that's probably a better idea. And the folks involved in the tiebreaker should have adequate time to come up with a theme, so we can start almost immediately.

 

[Ursa major]

I haven't voted yet either, but there's one I'm leaning towards, so perhaps I should just get on with it.

Then again....

 

[Culhwch]

Is it mine? It's mine, isn't it?

 

[Ursa major]

Okay, the choice for me is between, in order of original posting:

• The Dilemma by Mouse. (I just love the last line: "It’s not even a nice box.")
• Seeking Normality by Leisha. (Poignant and quite chilling.)
• The untitled story by Peter Graham. (And not because it involves a teddy. Again, quite chilling.)

Honourable Mentions go to:

• Ecopoesis by chopper
• The Journeyman by Talysia
• Join Me in Death by Devil's Advocate
• Sympathetic Magic by The Judge
• Foraging Party by TobyTwo (the ending of which could ignite any number of outcomes)
• Tickets Please by Quokka (which would be my 4th place winner)
• Survivor by Riff (which made me laugh out loud)
• And then they rise and start again by Hilarious Joke (which I found beautiful)

In fact, honourable mentions go to just about everyone: but lack of speed-typing skills (and the risk of appearing indecisive) mean that I can only indicate some of the entries.


I find it odd that two of my final three hint at horror, which isn't my favourite genre by quite a way.



Okay. Decision Time.


The Dilemma by Mouse. Quirky, but in a good way.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Please remember, everyone, that you have less than 30 hours to vote.

Since so many people are having so much trouble deciding, I now proclaim by Fiat, that we will have more votes to bestow for the May Challenge, depending on how many stories are entered.

Having said that, I bow to you, Culhwch, on the deadline for announcing a theme and starting the next challenge. May 5th it shall be, although if the winner decides earlier it can start earlier. If we are forced to have a run-off because of a tie, those in the run-off will, one hopes, give adequate thought to the matter during that time.