Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

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re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

mosaix said:
Okay, with some more judicious filtering, along the lines of show-don't-tell, my vote goes to Vertigo - all seven sins and not one of them mentioned by name.

And whoever voted for me - many thanks.
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Weeeeee! thank you Mosaix along with one other I have my first two votes ever (well it is only my second challenge :p). Made my day!

Just as tough as last month! Here's my shortlist:

Mosaix - Monthly editorial...
Digs - Excerpt...
HB - magister
mgir - Auld Mahoun's lament
Boneman - the homecoming
TEIN - the lesson
nixie - what is given
Teresa - every sin but one
chopper - dragons of amber
Procrastinator - Pride the original and best
j-wo - eigth
Williamlk - Fatty pants
Mouse - For your sins
Mag the Mighty - Flesh and Blood
Ventanamist - Sermon to the children of the true church

I wanted to put loads of others in but then it wouldn't be much of a short list!

Then it got really tough and it came down to
HareBrain - One or two turned the whole thing on it's head but yours did it best!
Boneman - I loved this one, such a novel take on the theme
Mag The Mighty - I thought your story was great but even more impressive was that it could stir so much moral discussion of the issues it raised.

Then it was really, really tough.
In the end Mag the Mighty took it for me. It told a story, raised moral issues and painted a vivid picture all in 75 words! Great!
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Thank you for my mentions too!

Ok, I'm gonna have to narrow my list down. So... does it fit the theme, is it SFF, is it a complete story...

*goes back to look at list*
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I think I'm going to have to try harder for next time...
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Mouse said:
So... does it fit the theme, is it SFF, is it a complete story...
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I actually thought there were a lot of stories this time that just didn't quite fall into the SFF genre. Hated rejecting them for that especially as some were really good.
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

It's difficult isn't it! There's one on my list that I'm not sure if it is SFF, but I really like it...
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Teresa Edgerton said:
But by a stringent application of the genre rule, and by asking myself if there was a storytelling element (no matter how small) rather than ... a meditation on the subject or a description
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Mouse said:
Ok, I'm gonna have to narrow my list down. So... does it fit the theme, is it SFF, is it a complete story...
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I use these criteria too. It does narrow the field down a bit. And also, without rules, there is only Chaos. Horrible, squeaky, piping Chaos, the kind that I can hear even now scratching with its horrible wormy fingernails at my french windows. Or should that be French Windows? Or French windows? Dear God, the rules, what are they? I've lost them! It's broken in! Oh, heavens, its face! Why does its face have nipples ...?
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Gah! I'm the worst judge ever - nothing but bouncing back and forth! From now on I'm going to generate some kind of statistics and have my shortlist entries duke it out in a grand battle royale!

Anyhoo - my shortlist (in no particular order and minus the finalists):

TE - Every Sin but One
J-Wo - Eighth
TEIN - The Lesson
Stormfeather - Temptation
Talysia - Envying the Stars Their Light
Ursa - Researching the Roots of Evil
Hoopy - End
Mouse - For Your Sins
TDZ - Being Fine Today...
(with an Honourable Mention to DFM, for Sloth :D)

Lots of usual suspects, with a final six to choose from:

Culhwch - Sins
Sephiroth - Omnia Vanitas
TJ - Statuesque
Digs - An Excerpt...
Reiver33 - The Oppenheimer Insight
Vertigo - Last Ruin Cafe

I'm tempted to penalise people for long titles, but I won't ;)

Otherwise TJ wouldn't have got my vote, which I'm off to do now...(although these classical references won't work on me forever!).
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Vertigo said:
I actually thought there were a lot of stories this time that just didn't quite fall into the SFF genre. Hated rejecting them for that especially as some were really good.
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Ah , religion : where one man's fiction is another man's fact.
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Boneman said:
I reckon it's heading for a five-way tie, at this rate!! Just shows how good the writing is...:D
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If we ended up with a five-way tie (if the voting stopped now, it would only be 3), I would definitely be agitating for more votes per voter!
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Teresa, as we've discussed before more votes won't necessarily mean less ties, and could in fact mean more of them. One thing is clear: Every vote counts.
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I still don't believe it, though, Parson. With a larger pool of votes, it seems to me that the chances of two or more stories getting the exact same number would be less. Statistically, it may be that the chances would be greater, but it seems illogical to me. Not that logical thinking is one of my strong points ...

Of course it's too soon to make predictions for this month. One of those stories that are tied now could suddenly surge ahead in the last minute voting (Sephiroth did that for the win), not to mention all of those second place stories that are only behind the leaders by one vote. Mathematically, even a story with no votes at this minute could still win.
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Ah, this month has been the toughest so far. Getting my initial list of 33 down to any kind of a 'short' list - I've really struggled!!

Currently on my not-so-short list:

Karn
Mosaix
Boneman
TEIN
Teresa
Chopper
The Procrastinator
The Judge
J-Wo
Mouse
Mag the Mighty
Hoopy

(With an honorable mention to Death From Massive!)

I'm going to have to sleep on it as trying to cut any of these from list is very, very hard. And for many not on the list, I've had to be so ruthless and you only missed out by a gnats whisker! Although not sure if that makes it better or worse?!
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Vertigo said:
I actually thought there were a lot of stories this time that just didn't quite fall into the SFF genre. Hated rejecting them for that especially as some were really good.
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Just realised that I said 'deviate from the theme' earlier when in fact I meant just this - deviating from the genre. I found this month the hardest to add those little touches that would solidly place my story in the realm of SFF...
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Teresa Edgerton said:
If we ended up with a five-way tie (if the voting stopped now, it would only be 3), I would definitely be agitating for more votes per voter!
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I'm tending to agree with Teresa.

When this idea was first thought up (All praise Teresa) did we seriously think that we would be voting on 3000 entries.

The way things are going we're going to need a shortlisting panel similar to the Booker. In fact, since they're not too busy, lets give them a ring.

I've mentioned it before perhaps one vote for every ten entries or some such ratio, assuming Poll Daddy can cope with multiple choice.

What dithers me is why we always get more entries than votes.

Is there a way to sticky a link to the poll site in the 'new posts' item?

Isn't today the last day for posting???
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Thanks to No One for the mention ... and thanks to someone for the vote, too!

I'm still working on even my short list!
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

TheEndIsNigh said:
Isn't today the last day for posting???
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Yes. As I write this there are only about 23 hours left. For those who have yet to decide, it may be 23 hours of agony.

When I thought up the Challenge, I never thought I would be responsible for so much suffering.

(Of course, as a rule, Goblin Princesses do not find these thoughts particularly distressing. In fact, we ... oops, almost late for my daily visit to the castle torture chambers! I'll see you all later.)
 
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