Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[reiver33]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Burnished, perhaps?

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Well I'm going to try for dull and silvery then in next month's challenge - He said ducking to avoid the slap that must surely follow.

Didn't duck fast enough.


Slap!!!





But regarding the stories, whether dark or light: It's just impossible to predict in advance what sort of story people will vote for, because I think in the end it is always the story itself that wins them over.

And also, we have a different pool of voters every month.

 

[HoopyFrood]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

As for Hoopy's, I'm not at all sure I understand it. I shall have to ponder it some more.

Nowt symbolic or anything like that. Just...erm...people never learning?

 

[J Riff]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

The fabulous 46- who can choose from such an array of magniloquence?

2 neww SS books here- Short Shorts- Ed. by I. Howe and Sudden Fiction - Ed. by Shapard and Thomas. Can't resist almost any book of short stories. Gotta have em', can't leave them behind in the thrifty shop.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Very strong entry by Cul.

Thanks for that Cul.

Now I have to start a list of which you are one of three at the latest count.

More work more time in the "chair"

 

[Culhwch]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Glad you liked it, TEIN! Though I am terribly sorry to cause you more work...

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Decent one by you, Cul. I'm afraid it's not strong enough to sway me, but I'm sure you'll be getting a vote here and there.

 

[Ursa major]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

But it seems that the sins chosen as deadly are all sins of intent, not action; I wonder why that is? It is more dangerous to grow wrathful at someone than strike them down, to feel desire for someone than to indulge that desire, even forcefully, to do nothing rather than do something wrong.

As someone )) has already pointed out (in an entirely non-original way, I admit), the point of the deadly sins is that they are deadly to those doing them.

Take Wrath. You may find yourself very angry. If you hit the person making you angry, they may be injured and you may be punished. Imagine, though, that you resist the temptation to take physical action and "merely" let the wrath percolate into the way you view the world and the people around you. In a real way, although your anger may dissipate, the Wrath remains.


Can I mention Lust? I think a lot of the women who find themselves oppressed just for being women are suffering from a similar side effect of Lust.

Look into the hearts of those doing, or in ultimate charge of, the oppression. They** see lots of woman to whom they are physically attracted; they accept that they may - even if only under the most extreme provocation*** - act inappropriately on that attraction. And instead of treating their own sin, they see it as innate, not just to them, but to all men. And because it isn't a sin which they should conquer, but is instead innate, it cannot be controlled. What can be controlled is the availability to express the innate behaviour: so all possible temptations are removed: women are, to some greater or lesser extent, hidden away. Far easier than dealing with the original () sin.




** - They may tell themselves that while they are above all this, others are not. Pride in action, I think.

*** - Pride again.

 

[Culhwch]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Decent one by you, Cul. I'm afraid it's not strong enough to sway me, but I'm sure you'll be getting a vote here and there.

That's fair enough. I resign myself to not getting your vote any time I submit late - you have form for picking a winner early and sticking with it. (Not to mention letting every subsequent entrant know about it!)

I wonder how many others do similar. I'd be interested to know how the votes fall in comparison to when the stories were posted. The Judge was doing a bit of statistical analysis recently, she might like to have a look at that...

 

[Mag the Mighty]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

So, basically, I am hating Pyett. Which might be in line with what Mag intended.

It seems like a reasonable reaction from what little we see of him. I do think he's a man who's so blinded by his sense of "rightness" (and of the evil of his enemies) that he isn't fully aware of the ramifications of his own side's actions, even if he does characterise them as "evils". I think if we saw the story from the other side, then he might look like the outright villain of the piece.

My own take on the piece is that if you are going to write something that is obviously controversial/offensive, then it's worth being really clear about what you're saying (in your head and try to get it on the page

This is true, but then again I think being confronted with the full implications of your own work and being encouraged to think more deeply is a good thing, and helps you develop as a writer. Although I'm sorry for any offence caused.

Speaking of people being attracted to dark stories, I was very impressed with the sense of bleakness and pointlessness in HoopyFrood's work. The final image sticks with me. And then I read Culhwch's piece, which was very clever I thought, so I am now torn...

 

[The Judge]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I can't imagine you caused any offence with your story, Mag, so don't worry. No one could believe that simply because your protagonist turns out to be an apologist for rape that you are also, nor that you are trying to push such a view. I wouldn't even say your piece was controversial as such. We all have different takes on stories, as can be seen from the views already expressed on yours, and it's always interesting to discuss them.

Thinking about the work one produces (and in advance of posting!) is always a good idea, but when it comes to it, this is a fun challenge, and it's only 75 words.

 

[digs]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

My own take on the piece is that if you are going to write something that is obviously controversial/offensive, then it's worth being really clear about what you're saying (in your head and try to get it on the page)

It's interesting you say that, because I come at it from a totally different perspective (I'm not picking an argument or saying you're wrong - just differences in writing/reading style I guess). I think that controversial pieces (assuming they're controversial to provoke thought and not just to draw attention) can be immensely valuable if left open to interpretation; then, rather than highlighting just one issue, it can generate as many dialogues as there are readings of it. Death of the author and all that! Having said that, I do agree (I think) that the author should be clear in their own head, or at least have a rough idea where they're coming from: imagine asking an author/artist why they created their incredibly controversial, offensive, thought-provoking piece and being met with a shrug and an 'I dunno.' I know I just mentioned death of the author but I can't help feel that would somehow detract from the experience.

Back to the stories! There's been a late deluge of really good ones. It's funny how, as other people have mentioned, they all seem to share really dark elements - while being really different from one another.

 

[Boneman]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I wonder how many others do similar. I'd be interested to know how the votes fall in comparison to when the stories were posted. The Judge was doing a bit of statistical analysis recently, she might like to have a look at that...

I read them as they're posted (okay, some times I don't read for a few days, so there's a few to catch up on) to get the flavour, and then read them all again when voting opens to compile my short list. Then the hard work starts... Don't think I've ever chosen a story in a 'first' read-through, and as I said ages ago, I don't look for any hidden meanings or intellectual cleverness - it's just for my enjoyment.

 

[Mouse]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

My method is the same as Boneman's. I read as they're posted. Then when it comes to voting I have a quick read through of them all, then re-read properly again the ones I really like.

I think it was only the first month when I voted for Leisha, that I picked my winner quite early and stuck with it.

 

[digs]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I'm pretty much the same. I do a few casual read throughs and there'll be some that leap out at me, but I won't make any decisions until I consciously decide to do a more judgey read. I don't particularly like the idea of picking out an early favourite and treating new posts as 'challengers', although maybe that happens subconsciously.

 

[Vertigo]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Yes.

And I think that Vertigo meant that he was tempted to leave out the apostrophe, but resisted the temptation and left it in. Because that is what he did.

You got it in one Teresa, I was just teasing your "apostrophe obsession" but maybe it and it's were a bad one to choose since they are so often used incorrectly, people might have just thought I was confused . (and if I wasn't then I probably am now )

I read them as they're posted (okay, some times I don't read for a few days, so there's a few to catch up on) to get the flavour, and then read them all again when voting opens to compile my short list. Then the hard work starts... Don't think I've ever chosen a story in a 'first' read-through, and as I said ages ago, I don't look for any hidden meanings or intellectual cleverness - it's just for my enjoyment.

I'm the same. I feel the need to go back and read them all together otherwise there is a tendency to focus on the most recent entries. Have you ever noticed that when ever they have these "Best/funniest/most thrilling 100 films as voted by you" type of programs the top slots are generally taken by relatively recent films.

 

[nixie]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Now added Cul to my short list. I think this month's challenge has been the best yet... Can't I just vote for everyone

 

[Ursa major]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Yes, nixie, but vote for one at a time and start with mine....

 

[Parson]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I too was most impressed by Cul. I think he has a career as a ethicist, possibly even a theologian. "Man invented sin." A defensible position filled with nuance and punch.

For once I am anxious for the "Stories we didn't post" time to come around. Her Honor gave me an idea after I'd posted mine, and now wish like fire I could have made the switch. When I finished putting fingertips to key tops the story seemed to write itself.

(Why does it sound so much better to say "I put pen to paper?")

Mag:

You may think I was offended by your story. I was not. It brought up an interesting ethical question that I enjoyed thinking about. I have not formulated a short list yet, but yours has an excellent chance of being on it.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

That's fair enough. I resign myself to not getting your vote any time I submit late - you have form for picking a winner early and sticking with it. (Not to mention letting every subsequent entrant know about it!)

That's not necessarily the case, Cul. I will often have a favorite out early, to be sure, but there's any possibility that anything I choose early on will be trumped.


It just hasn't happened this month is all.