Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[Chel]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

After a good night's sleep, I wrestled my story into proper shape.

I thought I was so clever, when I wrote the first draft by hand... I numbered the lines 1-11 and wrote seven words on each line and five on the last.
...or so I thought. When I wrote it on the computer, it was 68 words.

After the wrestling match, though, the story is in much better shape and hopefully conveys the image I have in my mind.

Since there's been some discussion about SFF stories possibly not always coming across as very SFF, I decided to focus on making sure mine was very, very Fantasy. My entry is about as much Fantasy as I can cram into 75 words (exactly).

 

[Mouse]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Chel, your title is so close to what I'd called mine! Luckily, I'd given mine two titles and was going to post it with two titles, but I can drop one.

 

[Chel]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I could, and should, have taken more time to think about the title, but I was so eager to get my story posted!

Patience has never been one of my strong points.

 

[StormFeather]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I have two ideas, both of which have evolved from deepest fantasy through to the the stars and back, neither of which wants to settle and be told properly. This is driving me nuts!!!

And the amount and quality of the stories already posted is pretty impressive - increasing the pressure!

 

[Mouse]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I was going to post mine last night, but I'm puzzling over some of the punctuation... Once that's sorted, I'll post. I'm pretty sure it's fantasy.

 

[Deathfrommassive]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Parson your story litterly gave me a chill up my spine. Reminds me of a Michael W Smith song that for the life of me I can't remember the name of.

 

[Moonbat]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I'm loving the entries so far. I have one that I wrote on the train home last night, but as soon as I left the station another idea came to me. I am yet to write the second effort, but I'm going to have a hard choice choosing between them!

I must admit that I prefered No One's effort before it was explained. I honestly thought it was an evil cake! And we all know cakes are evil! Well most of them. Ok that's generalisation, and cakism, I should be ashamed of myself. But if it smells like a cake and tastes like a cake, then it probably isn't duck pate.

 

[HareBrain]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I must admit that I prefered No One's effort before it was explained.

I think I'm the same (though I still like it). Letting the reader interpret the story is usually a good thing, as long as they have enough material to make an interpretation.

From a purist point of view, I think if a story needs to be explained, then it doesn't work. But it's a grey area -- if two readers are discussing a story and getting it hopelessly wrong, should the writer step in and correct them? (Though I'm not sure that's actually happened yet.)

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I don't think that's happened yet, HB, and personally, I don't think the writer should step in and explain unless a conspiracy's worth of readers can't understand it.

 

[Culhwch]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I think there should be a moratorium on explaining stories until the voting is done, personally. If a story is too clever that no one gets it until it's revealed, the writer is probably being too cute. It's a seventy-five word challenge, not a seventy-five word plus accompanying explanatory discourse in another thread challenge. But that's just my two cents...

 

[mosaix]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I think there should be a moratorium on explaining stories until the voting is done, personally. If a story is too clever that no one gets it until it's revealed, the writer is probably being too cute. It's a seventy-five word challenge, not a seventy-five word plus accompanying explanatory discourse in another thread challenge. But that's just my two cents...

I agree. I think I've said before that I think the first priority for an author should be that a story is understood by its target audience.

 

[Sephiroth]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I agree, Cul. I don't think it's ever the job of the author to explain his/her story, and especially during the challenge, where we could end up with this thread full of entrants competing for attention for their misunderstood clever ideas.

Last month, I was happy to talk about my title's meaning before the challenge was over (mainly because it was in another language, and I was asked about it), and since I hinted at literary references, I didn't mind confirming or denying if someone got those... but I was conscious that I didn't want to say anything about the meaning of the text itself. In hindsight, perhaps the entire discussion would have been better left until the end, however.

 

[HareBrain]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I don't think it's ever the job of the author to explain his/her story

Except for Ursa, where it's practically a full-time role.

and especially during the challenge, where we could end up with this thread full of entrants competing for attention for their misunderstood clever ideas.

Yes, in fact I made a specific decision not even to hint at the multitude of literary and mythical references, word-plays, anagrams, acronyms and numerological correspondences in my piece.

 

[Sephiroth]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Oh, I got them all, I just don't want to spoil it for anyone else.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Oh I don't know.

I was thinking of adding a map of the town. A glossary of items. Family trees and a CV listing all previous occupations and addresses with a brief summary of his credit rating both in the natural and supernatural worlds on all planets of the galaxy.

Obviously the the characters desert island disk choices would be listed in full.

 

[Vertigo]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Of course you did!

I tend to agree. I did give a little explanation of my title last month, but only cos I felt I hadn't given adequate clues in the text. And this I see as being my problem not the readers. It seems to me that if the story is too obscure and requires explanation from the author then it has effectively gone up from 75 words.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[No One]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Thanks Karn - I'll take "cute"

To be honest, it was just the story I wanted to write. I really didn't think it would stand up particularly well to the high standards we're seeing, but I think most, if not all of us, aren't too fussed about being competitive.

Thanks to Precise Calibre too!

And a big fat D'OH! with regard to Moonbat and Harebrain's points - although I suppose whenever a story looks innocent it will always arouse suspicion.

Point taken from Cul and the rest - although to be fair I haven't fully explained everything about the story (it's still got a couple of little tricks up its sleeve, which I have no intention of explaining, even after voting). But hey-ho.

 

[Parson]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Parson your story litterly gave me a chill up my spine. Reminds me of a Michael W Smith song that for the life of me I can't remember the name of.

Thanks! High praise indeed! Michael W. Smith is a top flight Christian musician.

In all honesty I listen to much more Country Music than Contemporary Christian Music. --- Although we sing a fair amount of it in our worship services.

 

[Allanon]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

Well... Mine's in, I hope you like it!

 

[Parson]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- September and October

I don't have time to say the words.

Nice work!