Writing Challenge Discussion -- January 2011

[TheEndIsNigh]

J-WO: Now Look 'ere!

The writing challenge, voting/elimination system, is hard enough to sort out as it is. We don't need any "In at the death" entries to completely throw all the good work and effort we all put in every month.

Thanks to you, I now have to re-appraise and re-tabulate all the facts and figures and rank all the stories again. Now, given the short time we all have left, I ask you. Is it fair?

Well! Thanks a bunch.

If it's any consolation - To you that is - Your little tale has joined the the exclusive club that is: my short list. The membership of which has now swollen, almost exponentially by 25%, to the grand total of four.

 

[The Judge]

Only 51, I think -- in August. Which also, incidentally, had the highest number of new entrants at 16 -- so far we've got 13 this month.

As to JWO's, a very good entry, but at some point someone is going to have to explain the title to me.


EDIT: other regulars who are missing: The Procrastinator *;Sephiroth **; RSliwinski *; mygoditsraining **; Lenny (missed odd months before); Devil's Advocate **; Deathfrommassive; Bookstop (has missed in the past); and chopper and crystal haven were regulars but have missed the last 3 months

* = also missed last month

** = missed last two months

 

[alchemist]

As to JWO's, a very good entry, but at some point someone is going to have to explain the title to me.

Well, it's pretty similar to mine, so I think it'll come to you, one way or the other.

 

[Mouse]

I feel like doing some sort of insane laugh. I have just got alchemist and J-WO's titles!

Genius, me.

 

[chrispenycate]

I feel like doing some sort of insane laugh. I have just got alchemist and J-WO's titles!

Genius, me.

And mine?

 

[Mouse]

Agricultural... revolution?! No.

Clever rodent!

(Oops, didn't mean to put it there.)

 

[No One]

EDIT: other regulars who are missing: The Procrastinator *;Sephiroth **; RSliwinski *; mygoditsraining **; Lenny (missed odd months before); Devil's Advocate **; Deathfrommassive; Bookstop (has missed in the past); and chopper and crystal haven were regulars but have missed the last 3 months

And Leisha.

 

[The Judge]

And Leisha.

Oops, yes. I think she slipped my trawl of the list as she's only entered once in the last 4 months. Not that I'm keeping tabs on people, you understand...

 

[Ursa major]

The membership of which has now swollen, almost exponentially by 25%, to the grand total of four.

Strictly speaking, as you add each member, the percentage change gets smaller. When one adds one to three to get four, the percentage change is 33.33% (recurring - to keep to this month's theme).

Adding a fifth member (which sounds unlikely, but seeing who has yet to enter, not an impossibility) would give a 25% increase.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Strictly speaking, as you add each member, the percentage change gets smaller. When one adds one to three to get four, the percentage change is 33.33% (recurring - to keep to this month's theme).

Adding a fifth member (which sounds unlikely, but seeing who has yet to enter, not an impossibility) would give a 25% increase.

Aww, you beat me to it!

 

[J-WO]

Wow, glad you liked my tale, peoples! Apologies to 'Nigh for mucking up his system (maybe you could stick me in a Con-Lib-type coalition with one of the other four?).

Earlier on in this thread, Teresa observed that (back then) there hadn't been all that much revolutionary violence of the guillotine and tumbril variety. This put me in mind of Robespierre's famous quote (At least I think it was him) and the rest of the story rolled out as quick as an aristocrat's head.


ALCHEMIST- So sorry! I've only just read your story (and a gud'un it be, too) and I've noticed I've gone and totally ripped off your title! And I thought I was being sooo original...

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

... and the rest of the story rolled out as quick as an aristocrat's head.

Um, thanks for that image. I wanted the tumbrils and the gleaming blade; this is a little more than I asked for.

So whether the correct number for August is 51 or 52, we have at least matched it, and could be heading for a record month.

There are, however, less than two days for ... you know ... certain people to post their stories. I'll just point out that in November I wrote a story with a severed* bone — in my arm. Those who are sound of wind and limb ought to be able to do as much.

*Can't seem to erase that image from my mind.

 

[Perpetual Man]

If I'm not too mistaken AphroditeMSC's post takes it to 51 stories (allowing for the initial rules post), so when Cul and Mouse post (not if) we'll set a new record this month.

It looks from her little note that AphroditeMSC is slightly concerned about her tale, but I'd like to agree with her that domestic violence is something that should not be taken lightly, but in the context of her story there is nothing I found offensive.

It was perhaps harsh and brutal, but no less than some of the others that have appeared here, and the subject matter itself hardly lends itself to being light.

The story itself has immediately joined my not-so-short-list, I thought it was well done an interesting take of revolution, catching two different meanings of the word.

An excellent entry.

(Crikey, I'm going to need a few quiet hours to really go through all of these once it's time to start voting...)

 

[Culhwch]

Those who are sound of wind...

I'm just going to leave this here because it amuses me so...

Is that a threat I see there, PM? Well, I've still got a day and a half. Plenty of time. Plenty of time, but no ideas.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I'm just going to leave this here because it amuses me so...

It is a perfectly good phrase. As Yogi Berra would say, "You could look it up."

 

[Culhwch]

If he wasn't too busy stealing pic-a-nic baskets?

So you didn't mean sound of mind? Because I'm definitely not that, though I may be sound of wind...

 

[Ursa major]

I think Teresa's suggesting that for certain talented folk who haven't yet posted, the challenge should be a breeze.

(Some of these folk may even have multiple candidates for their entry, but may have to rip all but one of them up.)

 

[Mouse]

Clever rodent!

That couldn't possibly have been the right answer, could it?!

If I'm not too mistaken AphroditeMSC's post takes it to 51 stories (allowing for the initial rules post), so when Cul and Mouse post (not if) we'll set a new record this month.

Definitely 'if' for me. Almost posted yesterday but wussed out.

It looks from her little note that AphroditeMSC is slightly concerned about her tale, but I'd like to agree with her that domestic violence is something that should not be taken lightly, but in the context of her story there is nothing I found offensive.

I read this before reading the other thread (dipstick me!) but I'm not entirely sure I would've got that the story was about domestic violence if not for the note.

Anywho, can't post now, dog is eating my laptop.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

So you didn't mean sound of mind? Because I'm definitely not that,

I believe you only have to be sound of mind if you are writing a will.

You can be as crazy as you like and still write a story for us. Broken limbs, a broken mind, these will not excuse you. Broken fingers ... perhaps ... though that seems like a desperate measure to avoid writing a tiny little 75 word story.

And I think that Yogi Berra (unlike his almost-namesake) might have stolen bases, might have stolen home, but that he ever stole a picnic basket is a base aspersion.

Anywho, can't post now, dog is eating my laptop.

That excuse doesn't even get you a pass on homework anymore.

 

[Ursa major]

Anywho, can't post now, dog is eating my laptop.

Are you sure he's not trying to post your entry to the Challenge?