Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Good entries this month. Don't yet have the nail pounded down yet, but I think I can sift through a bit more and go with it soon.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Perpetual Man: Welcome aboard.

 

[J Riff]

They are called Drabbles I think...50 and 100 word story contests that have gone on elsewhere for years.
I'm looking at "Short Shorts', which is Kafka, Chekhov, Tolstoy, De Maupassant et. al. and the shortest come in above a thousand words. So this exercise is very different... more like a synopsis w/ dialogue, or key lines and inference. Or something. We must all be fairly gifted geniuses to keep up this frantic pace.
If these stories were to be compiled, would people want to edit or tweak their own writing...up to 80 or a hundred say, or whatever it took to get it spot on before they published it? Or is the 75-word rule Law- graven in stone by the Gods of literature?

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Sacrilege - Heresy

 

[chrispenycate]

We're going to be throwing red dye over the poor chap... er... lizard?

Oh, madder is red? Never having met it outside literature I'd assumed it was pink, as in the limerick

One morning, while mixing rose madder
While his model was posed on a ladder
The position to Titian
Suggested coition
So he climbed up the ladder and 'ad 'er.

I've got a story written (and planed down to size) but am not entirely – what am I saying? I haven't been entirely happy with any of my submissions; I think I might be able to do better – so, failing my muse getting sloshed and dancing on tables there is something to post, so I'll be contributing to this month too.

 

[Moonbat]

Some brilliant entries so far this month, some very humorous ones. I liked No One's and J Riff's, Karn's had me laughing out loud and so did Tein's. Although I always wonder why people mention John Hurt by name and not by Character name (obviously if the Alien were real it then it wouldn't be Mr Huret but his character, I guess no one remembers his name, only the actor who played him) brilliant entry though Tein, very funny.

I came up with an idea for this month's theme whilst walking to work this morning, I am yet to put it down, but it's got a lot going on and I just hope I can convey all of it in 75 words (or less)

 

[The Judge]

Oh, madder is red? Never having met it outside literature I'd assumed it was pink

Passing over the limerick quickly... p ) although the paint is called Rose Madder, in fact I think it's a lot darker than you'd expected from such a pinky name -- I've just read a description which refers to the pigment base as being "dull violet red... darkening to dull magenta" and an equivalent is called Alizarin Crimson. (Though I've always thought of crimson as being a very rich red on the mauve end of the spectrum, I see at least one dictionary defines it as being on the orange end, and another says it's maroon or brown...)

Back on topic, only 4 days in and we've had a veritable flood of entries! I haven't even got the first sniff of an idea yet.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Perpetual Man: Welcome aboard.

Thanks TEIN.

(I've been around Chrons for a loooong time, now, sometimes lurking, sometimes participating, but never in the writing side of things, which is odd as it was the main reason I came here - but weddings, babies and unfortunately illness and subsequent medications -not just for me but Mrs Perp as well - have kept me away. But starting to feel on top of things again and thought it was about time to start trying to get involved again! 75 words seemed a good place to start)

Reading through the entries though is quite daunting - there are so many good ones, it's going to be impossible to know who to vote for!

Is the quality always this good?

 

[HareBrain]

Is the quality always this good?

Pretty much. Take a look through all the previous months -- there are some real treats in there.

As for me this month, I have two stories to choose from, both under-budget in terms of word-count (and I can't even think how to use the extras) but both with a rather "low-key" feel that means I doubt either one will stand out. I'll let them stew for a few days and then decide.

 

[mad_iguana]

Reading through the other entries, and being slightly intimidated by the overall quality, I now feel bad that I leapt in with such eagerness. Blah, I'll have to do myself more justice in December instead.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Thanks TEIN.

(I've been around Chrons for a loooong time, now, sometimes lurking, sometimes participating, but never in the writing side of things, which is odd as it was the main reason I came here - but weddings, babies and unfortunately illness and subsequent medications -not just for me but Mrs Perp as well - have kept me away. But starting to feel on top of things again and thought it was about time to start trying to get involved again! 75 words seemed a good place to start)

Reading through the entries though is quite daunting - there are so many good ones, it's going to be impossible to know who to vote for!

Is the quality always this good?

Oh I know you've been around for a while. I was welcoming you aboard the good ship 'Fatalist' (with that title, I could make you first officer)

In any case you're up there on the list, floating atop the bubble sort.

Some brilliant entries so far this month, some very humorous ones. I liked No One's and J Riff's, Karn's had me laughing out loud and so did Tein's. Although I always wonder why people mention John Hurt by name and not by Character name (obviously if the Alien were real it then it wouldn't be Mr Huret but his character, I guess no one remembers his name, only the actor who played him) brilliant entry though Tein, very funny.

I came up with an idea for this month's theme whilst walking to work this morning, I am yet to put it down, but it's got a lot going on and I just hope I can convey all of it in 75 words (or less)

I could have looked it up, but JH is the icon - perhaps because he played it so well and let's face it, we didn't get much of a chance to get to know his character, even though, as many have said before, he did put his guts into the role.

 

[Moonbat]

he did put his guts into the role.

GROAN!!!!

A pun Ursa would have been proud of.

 

[alchemist]

I've got two stories, bang on 75 words each, as well, but can't decide on which to use. I'll probably give it a week to see what everyone else posts, than see which of mine stands out best.

 

[Allanon]

Leisha's was very good!

 

[alchemist]

Double post - sorry!

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Oh my, speaking of hard-boiled detectives (weren't we just doing that yesterday?), here comes digs--excellent entry there!

And a very disturbing one from 2ndchance, as well.

Very tough already, and only 4 days into the month! I'm so busy trying to write 1666 words a day that 75 seems insurmountable at the moment. But I'll get there eventually.

 

[Erin99]

I like Leishas story... and she managed to use aphotic, relucent and sempiternity in a 75-word story. Is there anyone didn't have to look at least one of them up? Very nice.

Blimey! Thank you, J Riff and Allanon.

I have to say, there's one person who knew all the words: Sephiroth. Seph has a huuuge vocabulary and rarely doesn't know a word! It amazes me.

But I find it's nice learning new words, especially when a character calls for it.

 

[Mouse]

I'm liking digs's one a lot at the mo.

 

[Parson]

Whereas last month there were so many entries that I did not really get, this month seems rife with contenders. Right now I'm liking Karn, digs, and Harebrain. I still do not understand TEIN or No One.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Parson: Think inside the box. Or chest if you prefer.