Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

The grandchildren are adorable, Parson!

Judge, I hate to break it to you, but we don't have horrible heat here where I live. Our little town catches a lot of breezes that the other towns and cities around here don't, we only have two or three weeks of heat during the summer (and not consecutively) and they only feel bad because we aren't used to them. We have a lovely climate here most of the time. Our evening breeze came in a couple of hours early today, and right now it's in the low sixties on our front porch (a quick conversion tells me it's 17 degrees Celsius)*

I usually don't get the hidden things in the stories unless someone gives me a clue. Well, sometimes it's more like someone hits me over the head with a clue, after the manner of a sledgehammer.

In my story there was almost a hidden thing in one of the lines, that is, I discovered it was almost there and I only had to add one little word, but even though I could make it work, I never quite liked the sound of it. Ultimately, I changed the line until it isn't even almost there. I like to think I chose art over mystery. That's what I tell myself. Yup. That was it.



*Although any time we have to go to one of the nearest towns to do something for a few hours during those weeks, the heat nearly destroys us. Even so, it's not what people in some parts of California would call hot.

 

[Parson]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

TJ & TE thanks for the kind words about the grandkids. And the red shoes were great. Reminded me of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

I'm jealous that you have a little granddaughter. Not that I would trade either of my grandsons, but it would be nice if they had a cousin. (I, too, like the red shoes.)

 

[chrispenycate]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Well, having a grand niece and two grand nephews I feel I'm doing all right for someone who never sent his genes as a hostage to the future.

I wonder if anyone else was mad enough to do this (if it works).

 

[The Judge]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

I was indeed planning to do exactly that, Chris! And I see my hunch was right -- we've had more new particpants this month than ever before (well, excepting April when we were all new). Hmm. What does this say about the drop-out rate?

Only just over a day to go now, people. Get those stories in.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

I was able to open it. It's very interesting to have a list to compare the different months, who contributed, who sat out, who is new, who hasn't missed a Challenge.

But why do Interference and Hoopy Frood have no months listed after their names, when I know they have been contributors ... and I assume would not have been on the list otherwise, anyway?

 

[chrispenycate]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Well, Hilarious is generally last minute.

There are a couple of errors in it, too; J Riff is marked for August, by some slip of the mouse (I had specifically marked that he/she had not yet submitted (hmm, adequate term with the new, hard sell, introduction threads) and vector7 should have been ticked in May.

Hoopy did everything but May, Lenny did May and June and interference just did April. Moonbat and Karn did them all.

Which leaves Leisha and Seph, Culhwch and Peter Graham, as wild cards. and, I suppose, onebigpotato, who only missed April.

But why do Interference and Hoopy Frood have no months listed after their names, when I know they have been contributors ... and I assume would not have been on the list otherwise, anyway?

Because my copy/paste skills are not up to the speed I try to get things done. I think this is correct, but there might be further oversights.

 

[The Judge]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

...(hmm, adequate term with the new, hard sell, introduction threads)

Oi. What d'ya mean, hard sell? I'll have you know that my bespoke hand-crafted Welcomes are no more than gentle suggestions, the softest of hints, mere zephyrs of air wafting the possibility that newcomers might like to participate in a Great Cultural Event.

And you've got to admit some of them are working!

Hmmm. Perhaps I ought to think about sending PMs to everyone...

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

with the new, hard sell, introduction threads) and vector7 should have been ticked in May.

Hard sell? Hard sell? (Trying desperately to look indignant.)

A few gentle hints maybe. Just the casual mention every now and again. Only the occasional application of a little friendly badg— er, I mean persuasion*.



*One of my favorite books, Persuasion. Why don't we have a Jane Austen thread?



Edit -- I see The Judge slipped in ahead of me. She does indignation better than I do. Maybe it was all that practice in court. I would have loved to hear her protesting the innocence of her clients (or the perfidy of those in opposition to them). And I bet she was a demon on witnesses for the other side: hollowed them to mere husks, crumbled them to dust, then opened the doors to the courtroom and allowed the resulting drafts to sweep them away.

 

[Ursa major]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

If hard sell meant having to submit a 75-word story as part of the registration process, what happens now isn't a hard sell.









(What a loss to diplomacy. )

 

[chrispenycate]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Edit -- I see The Judge slipped in ahead of me.

Just as she did on the most recent welcoming thread.

I wasn't complaining about the technique; I sort of pioneered it, after all, with the mild problem that nobody understands my welcoming posts (Come on. Who said "or any of your other posts, either"? Own up, or I'll keep you all in late.). Just sort of commenting on your "genteel and civilised persuasion", and taking notes for the inquisition…

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

If hard sell meant having to submit a 75-word story as part of the registration process ...

What a brilliant idea!

Of course first we would have to sell it to Brian, and he's a bit slippery and elusive these days.

 

[The Judge]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Badgering of witnesses my forte... Actually, I was awful at it. Could never get them to say what I wanted them to say.

As for Persuasion, her best as far as I'm concerned. Just recently we've been to Lyme (and stood on the Cobb and saw the dreadful steps -- distinctly shudder-making) and Bath, so I had to go back and re-read it all over again. We live not fair from Chawton and I keep telling myself we ought to visit, though I have done the obligatory stand outside the house in Winchester where she died and viewed her grave in the Cathedral.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

Ursa: If hard sell meant having to submit a 75-word story as part of the registration process,

I suspect Brian would be against.

It would cut the membership down to - well on present form 40-50.

I certainly would have moved on at the time of joining had it been a requirement

Oh...

OK then, if your trying to discourage the reprobates and weirdos I suppose it will work.

 

[Ursa major]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

I suspect he would be against.OK then, if your trying to discourage the reprobates and weirdos I suppose it will work.

Perhaps; perhaps not.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

I had forgotten you posted about visiting the Cobb. Must have been envy that blotted it from my memory.

And here we are chattering about Jane Austen when the Challenge has only a little more than a day to run. I think it may be a little late for sending PMs. Perhaps it's time to send threatening emails ... I mean helpful reminders, to those of our regulars who haven't contributed yet.



(Actually, I'm a little worried about Leish and Seph, who have been quiet for so long. I hope that both are well.)

 

[chrispenycate]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

I suspect Brian would be against.

It would cut the membership down to - well on present form 40-50.

I certainly would have moved on at the time of joining had it been a requirement

Oh...

OK then, if your trying to discourage the reprobates and weirdos I suppose it will work.

No, You're right; if we eliminated the reprobates and weirdos we would indeed be down to about forty members, and unfortunately, they wouldn't necessarily be the ones submitting for the challenge.

Not that I've noticed you being that backward in coming forward with seventy-five wordses.

 

[The Judge]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

OK then, if your trying to discourage the reprobates and weirdos I suppose it will work.

Hmmm. Well, re-reading Chris's list and thinking about some of the regulars, I'm by no means sure of that...

Yes, I was thinking I hadn't noticed either Leisha or Sephiroth around for a little while. Cul also seems conspicuous by his absence over the last few days -- he wasn't standing for election was he?

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

It would explain his familiarity with polling

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- August & September

I think Cul has been reading more than posting, since I have seen his name at the bottom of the index page in the last day or two. Possibly he's just been by to jot down the names for the poll so that he doesn't have to do it all at the last minute.

In the intervals, one hopes, of working on his story.