Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[Mag the Mighty]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Some great stories so far - I liked Vertigo's in particular. I've posted my effort - possibly a bit too similar to what others have already done, but it was the thing that came immediately to mind and I found I just had to write it...

 

[Vertigo]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I like yours Mag very moody - I notice we both picked up on the Samhain thing even if our spellings are different .

 

[R M Tobias]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Old man by SynofMan is my pick of a good bunch so far.

Mag's and Vertigo's in their as well.

 

[Parson]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Well I've posted something for this month. If I hadn't rushed to get it done now, it simply wouldn't have happened.

Hope it doesn't upset anyone (Parson?). I know it is not historically accurate but just a little fun!

I don't offend easily, and I doubt anyone else here would be offended at that kind of mis-history either.

Perhaps the wackiest bit was the juxtaposition of all Hallows and Christ Mass. The dates for the celebrations were set centuries apart. It is sure that our celebration of Christmas on the 25th of December owes its date almost completely to competing pagan festivals on the solstice. The only ability to date Jesus' birth biblically would mitigate against a December date. It is somewhat doubtful that shepherds would be spending the night out in the fields near Bethlehem in late December.

Your story is quite good, one of my favorites at this point. I haven't even a sniff of what I will do with this theme. The whole Halloween business being in my mind completely overblown with no redeeming qualities like boxing day.

 

[Precise Calibre]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I'm a fan of celebrating family in the time of harvest and having fun pretending to be something else for a day a lot more than I condone the mindless flocking of shoppers to gorge themselves on "deals".

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

All those giggling little children coming to my door dressed up like princesses and pirates and ghosts ... it works for me.

 

[Mouse]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Not a fan of Halloween myself. I hate having to buy in sweets especially, then I hate having to get up every five seconds to answer the door and let the freezing cold air in, plus it's going to be even worse this year as it's really going to upset the pup!

Grumpy? Yes.

I'm liking nixie's too! And a couple others... Well, they're all good as usual!

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

...

Perhaps the wackiest bit was the juxtaposition of all Hallows and Christ Mass. The dates for the celebrations were set centuries apart. It is sure that our celebration of Christmas on the 25th of December owes its date almost completely to competing pagan festivals on the solstice. The only ability to date Jesus' birth biblically would mitigate against a December date. It is somewhat doubtful that shepherds would be spending the night out in the fields near Bethlehem in late December.

...

And wasn't there some mention of lambs as opposed to sheep?

Spring comes early in the holy land it seems.

Not a fan of Halloween myself. I hate having to buy in sweets especially, then I hate having to get up every five seconds to answer the door and let the freezing cold air in, plus it's going to be even worse this year as it's really going to upset the pup!

Grumpy? Yes.

Get some humbugs in as treats. The pup will supply the Bark

Plus you'll have plenty left over for when the carrol singers come calling on Nov 1st.

 

[Ursa major]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Not a fan of Halloween myself. I hate having to buy in sweets especially, then I hate having to get up every five seconds to answer the door and let the freezing cold air in, plus it's going to be even worse this year as it's really going to upset the pup!

You should put up a sign: "Beware of the Mouse!"



EDIT: I really liked Bookstop's entry.

 

[HareBrain]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Flooding in now, and some really good ones. Teresa's brain being full of mud doesn't seem to have held her back much. I also like Mag's, the mysterious stranger's, Bookstops's and Procrastinator's, but they've all got something.

Already got enough for a shortlist, and it's only the 4th!

One thing, though: none so far have really been SF; they've all been fantasy. I don't know if the SF writers are having more trouble with the theme?

 

[Vertigo]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I don't offend easily, and I doubt anyone else here would be offended at that kind of mis-history either.

Perhaps the wackiest bit was the juxtaposition of all Hallows and Christ Mass. The dates for the celebrations were set centuries apart. It is sure that our celebration of Christmas on the 25th of December owes its date almost completely to competing pagan festivals on the solstice. The only ability to date Jesus' birth biblically would mitigate against a December date. It is somewhat doubtful that shepherds would be spending the night out in the fields near Bethlehem in late December.

Your story is quite good, one of my favorites at this point. I haven't even a sniff of what I will do with this theme. The whole Halloween business being in my mind completely overblown with no redeeming qualities like boxing day.

I didn't really think anyone would take offense but I was a little worried, never can be too sure! And yes, as I said, I wasn't being too strict historically. In fact I believe that All Hallows (All Saints) was originally celebrated in May (overlaying a Roman festival) and the Eastern churches still celebrate it on the first Sunday after Pentecost (Whitsun) which also places it firmly in the Spring. Also there wasn't really any fixed pagan festival around that date; the Samhain Celtic one I mention seems to have been a bit variable depending on the lunar cycle and the equinox. still I thought it would be a bit of fun!

Flooding in now, and some really good ones. Teresa's brain being full of mud doesn't seem to have held her back much. I also like Mag's, the mysterious stranger's, Bookstops's and Procrastinator's, but they've all got something.

Already got enough for a shortlist, and it's only the 4th!

One thing, though: none so far have really been SF; they've all been fantasy. I don't know if the SF writers are having more trouble with the theme?

I suspect that the theme and the season naturally lend themselves more to the fantasy writer, so I expect everyone will be switching to that. No doubt some SF wrtiers will take that as a challenge though!

 

[HareBrain]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

There's nothing to say the theme itself has anything to do with Halloween, and Sephiroth's story wasn't (though that was fantasy too).

It'll be interesting to see the less "obvious" SF interpretations.

 

[chrispenycate]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I've got two projects simmering, one SF and the other fantasy, but they're neither of them cooked yet.

Obviously I wouldn't stoop to choosing the SF one as attracting all those potential readers…

*Gathers the tattered rags of his dignity around himself*

And no kittens or Chronites (yet).

There is already some serious competition; dangerous, as I haven't yet learnt what 'serious' means.

 

[Parson]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

And wasn't there some mention of lambs as opposed to sheep?

Spring comes early in the holy land it seems.

ποίμνην = Flock

Which may or may not involve lambs. Certainly it's use is singularly not useful in determining the time of the year.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Flooding in now, and some really good ones. Teresa's brain being full of mud doesn't seem to have held her back much. I also like Mag's, the mysterious stranger's, Bookstops's and Procrastinator's, but they've all got something.

I spent all day shoveling out that mud.

And yes, we are off to a very good start.

As for the SF/Fantasy imbalance, it may indeed be the theme that is responsible, but I have noticed that other months the entries leaned rather heavily toward SF considering that there are more people working on fantasy novels on these forums. If Fantasy predominates this month, maybe next month's theme will bring out more SF.

 

[Vertigo]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Well I'm impressed with Mosaix's sneaky little SF twist. Yay for SF!

 

[No One]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Agreed that we're seeing a lot of very good entries already (Mosaix - very nice ).

But for the fact that I've already got my story jotted down, I'd be interested in tackling the theme with a Sci-Fi slant. Even if it does suggest itself to a more fantastical theme, trick or treating in a far flung future must offer plenty of options?

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

You have three weeks to think of an idea, Karn. Plenty of time to come up with an idea.

Or so I'm telling myself. I've been so sick the last few days, right now the creative part of my mind feels like it is full of mud.

I haven't felt well myself lately, and I know I have time to think up an idea, TE, but you have to remember that lately I haven't had ample opportunity to be online, so by the time I have any ideas, I may not have opportunity to get through.

 

[Mouse]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I wrote mine down on a post-it note on my lunchbreak at work today. Just need to type it up! Don't reckon I'll get any other ideas.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Ugh. I'm just stuck with Hoopy's theme. It would figure that she'd come up with something to stump me. Perhaps the only person on this site who actually could.



I'm thinking on something, but Morcalia isn't giving anything up, I'm afraid. I suppose I could reach back further in time to see if Tooninoot will allow a bit of its residents into the spotlight again, but I'm not holding my breath. That would hurt.