Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[Mouse]

And you are definitely on the naughty list, for that. When Santa gives out presents to everyone else in this thread, you'll be very lucky if you get yours.

What I get for being honest!

I don't know as many words (but I'm learning!) or have read as many books (plenty of time to catch up) as most other people here, so that means I don't know as much stuff.

I especially feel like a bit of a divvy when people start commenting how fantastic a story is, and I'm sitting here scratching my head because I've got no idea what a story is about. (And I always said I wouldn't vote for a story I didn't understand, but I voted for No One last month, so I guess understanding isn't that important after all!)

(Just a hint, one of them plays dumb and squeaks.)

I'll have you know that I am The Mouse That Roars. Sometimes.

I choose the story I like the most - don't care who wrote it...

Same.

I've usually found it easier to pick a winner than to work out who to mention as "runners up". I say stick with one vote each (or at least, since "none of us are getting older", give it another thousand years). Re-visiting anything in this weather** is likely to be a problem anyway.

** topical for those not tropical.

Same.

 

[No One]

I'll hit the much-hammered nail and say agreed - I don't think any of us here play favourites (it's not the eurovision song contest after all). As TJ said above, it's the opposite with me and I worry about seeming biased, though I don't let that influence me either. If I likes it I likes it!

That's not to say subtle, though shifting, patterns won't emerge in the voting, because we're all sure to be drawn to certain styles, as PM said. I for one appreciate something classical as well as have a soft spot for horror, hence the likes of Teresa, TJ, Sephiroth and Hoopy have made my shortlist every time I think (because they're good at what they do), while the likes of Mouse, Harebrain, Reiver33 and others feature frequently on my shortlists. But as with everyone else, if I read and interpret a story that strikes me as my favourite for the month, then that's where my vote will go, irrespective of the poster.

If there is any truth to the difficulty of newbies getting votes, could it be because some (not all) initiallly adhere very closely to the theme to be sure that they qualify? I think a lot of us want to see a creative interpretation of the theme, especially as the months roll on. Just a thought.

As to how long it takes me to write a story, I fall well within the average it seems. I'll usually have an idea within the first week and run with it, with maybe 30 minutes to an hour for writing, editing, and obsessively word-counting (my own word-count doodah just loves trying to trick me, even when there's no apparent reason to do so!). The exception was this month, which was the first time it's taken more than a week for something to pop into my head.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

For what it's worth, RMT, I got 4 votes last time (very gratifying, thank y'all) and I'm in a similar boat to you. One member, one vote, means you get some skewed results at times. An excellent story, one which might be 20 members' second favourite, may get no votes at all.

Indeed, you last month was a great example of seniority not having any bearing on my voting decision, Alchemist, as yours was the one I had voted for.

 

[nixie]

As an old timer who has had entered most of the challenges (think I missed first two or three) I'd say length of time does not mean votes. I've never managed to get one. I read the stories then pick a favourite.

 

[chrispenycate]

The delay between seeing the theme and an idea popping to the surface is very variable; and even then, like number seventy-three busses, there are normally two or three turn up at practically the same time. Not necessarily a bad thing, that; not all of them accept being pared down (although the one that went over two thousand was exceptional)

What hasn't happened yet is that one of the themes meshes with one of the twenty or so trial pieces I wrote, trying to work out how to write something that short and remain me. Wouldn't that be something; theme goes up at two minutes past midnight, first post in at three? But I'd probably write a new one, anyway.

 

[mosaix]

As an old timer who has had entered most of the challenges (think I missed first two or three) I'd say length of time does not mean votes. I've never managed to get one.

According to Chris's chart you got 2 in June, Nixe.

 

[Ursa major]

Not necessarily.

According to Chris's chart, the sum for me is:

2+1+1+1 = 4;
​

so either the total is incorrect or one of the month's counts is wrong by one.

(I'd come down on the side of the latter, but I'm trying to avoid a slap, so I'll leave it to others to discover which is correct.)

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Not sure I understand how choosing between fifth and sixth places on a voting list is any easier than choosing between first and second.

I've usually found it easier to pick a winner than to work out who to mention as "runners up". I say stick with one vote each (or at least, since "none of us are getting older", give it another thousand years). Re-visiting anything in this weather** is likely to be a problem anyway.

** topical for those not tropical.

Well we had a rare astronomical omen this morning. Surely it must foretell of some doom or other.

The delay between seeing the theme and an idea popping to the surface is very variable; and even then, like number seventy-three busses, there are normally two or three turn up at practically the same time. Not necessarily a bad thing, that; not all of them accept being pared down (although the one that went over two thousand was exceptional)

What hasn't happened yet is that one of the themes meshes with one of the twenty or so trial pieces I wrote, trying to work out how to write something that short and remain me. Wouldn't that be something; theme goes up at two minutes past midnight, first post in at three? But I'd probably write a new one, anyway.

Er...

http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/foru...lenge-read-first-post-vote-2.html#post1396556

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Sorry for the double post but there was a time interval:

Just read Hoopy's

Excellent! Definitely a winner for me. (so far)

 

[J Riff]

Interesting entry from Lenny at first thot it was a glitch , but now ... well I still don't know! Daring n' different....woop Tereser just removed it!
Nixie holding on to th' lead... I can actually see that poor little kid...
Yeeeeeargh! a close second!

 

[Chel]

I'll just pop my head in and comment about voting for newbies/oldies, and an insight to what can make or break earning my vote.

I'll honestly admit that I am reluctant to vote for someone with a very low post count. My reason is that I have no idea if said person will ever come back even to check who won - and I'm not aware of a backup plan if the winner does not post a new theme for the next month.

Then again, I've not yet had to make my final choice between someone with 5 posts under the belt or someone with 3500... so even if I mean what I just said, it hasn't yet affected what stories I've voted for.

What does affect my choice very much is grammatical errors - missing punctuation, missing spaces, missing capital letters.... those tiny things that make the difference between a draft and a finished product.

 

[Culhwch]

What does affect my choice very much is grammatical errors - missing punctuation, missing spaces, missing capital letters.... those tiny things that make the difference between a draft and a finished product.

I totally agree on this point. Hate doing it to a good story, but that's the first thing that gets a contender knocked out of the running...

 

[Lenny]

Er... the comment was meant for the story. Thanks for your concern Teresa, but you're stepping all over my artistic...ness!

So can I ask for:

@monkeyfunk "you're" not "your", learn to english

to be put back in at the end of my entry, please? Particularly as I spent the time changing the font... put it in quotes if you must, just don't be sabotaging me at such an important point in the competition! No, really - I take this incredibly seriously.

If it confuses people, I'll be happy to explain it once voting is over.

EDIT: Thanks, Cul.

 

[Culhwch]

Sorry about that, Lenny. I've put it back in. Let me know if it's as you'd have it - I noticed some white fullstops in there, I assume this was to come afterwards?

 

[Lenny]

There are some white fullstops? News to me. Otherwise, that's good, thanks.

 

[J Riff]

Well, it fooled me. I really thought a ..something, a chatroom comment had gotten in there somehow. The font added to the illusion.
Brilliantly confusing, Lenny.

 

[mosaix]

What does affect my choice very much is grammatical errors - missing punctuation, missing spaces, missing capital letters.... those tiny things that make the difference between a draft and a finished product.

Same for me. There's just something in my brain that makes these things leap out at me before I've even read the story and then it's just too late.

 

[Parson]

Deathfrommassive:

Unexpected and an unexpectedly revolting image. But good story.

 

[Deathfrommassive]

Thank you, I think.

Hindsight being 20/20 if I had changed "Priest" to "Priestess" it would have added a whole new level of depth to the story.

PS. Somehow my ' ." ' got dropped off the end of the post

 

[The Judge]

oof. Not quite in the Cul class of leaving things till the last minute, but nerve-wracking enough when as at yesterday morning I still had nothing. In the end I had two pieces, and I was happy with neither, but since the classical one (no, not Ovid this time) didn't pass the Other Half test, and no way could I scramble a third in time, I had to post this one. Faute de mieux. (I should have put that as the title, perhaps.)

Well, we've managed to get to the magic 40, and one or two to come, I think. Considering everyone must be more than usually busy at this time of year, not too bad at all. It will be interesting to see if we can get as many votes with Christmas interfering.