Writing Challenge Discussion -- January 2011

[Perpetual Man]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December

I've got (actually had) two pens with lights on them, but they weren't purple! I'm sooo jealous (Perp Jr.) hid them and I still can't find them!

 

[Talysia]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December

Just posted mine, but the idea came for it at an odd time - I was a passenger in a car, and suddenly had to grab my notebook and pen to jot it down. Quite a feat for me, as I can't even read when I'm travelling like that (I get bad headaches.).

There are some great entries already. Something tells me it's going to be another good month.

 

[The Judge]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December

I've just remembered I had a spare story this month, though it was never properly finished, as I ran out of patience. It received the usual blank look of incomprehension from the Judicial Family, and it does rather depend on people knowing the story, and the significance of Aulis.


Bridal Pyre

I am to be married.
Pride should fill me;
Hatred is all I feel,
I know my intended.
Good daughter,
Ever obedient I remain;
No word of regret at Father’s designs.
I cannot escape my fate
At Aulis.

At Aulis
I am not to be married.
No wind for Father’s fleet. Propitiation
Entails sacrifice;
Good will from the gods is needed.
I am the price demanded.
Horror overwhelms me.
Pyres are lit.
I cannot escape.

 

[Star Girl]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December

Just posted mine, got my inspiration from the history books. Maybe not the best I could have written but I like to enter anyways.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December

This thread started in June. How were you not aware of this? Doesn't everyone read through the whole thing each time, like me?

I liked Pragmatism too. Two spare stories! I think I've only had one spare since this started.

Why, so it did! Well, May 31st is the date on that post I've seen a million times before clicking on "view first unread". I must admit I've been lax about catching up on reading all the other 250+ pages every time -- darn holidays anyway. I'll make it a New Year's resolution to do better. That'll make it happen.

I like several of PM's alternates, and Judge's too. I thought I'd have some alternates this month, but couldn't get the other ideas to work.

 

[StormFeather]

Digs - your second story would have been a winner! It's terribly heart wrenching and any parent must have reacted to it.

I liked HJ's and Perps too!

TJ - as always you expand my knowledge of Greek mythology!

Wish I had a pen that was like a lightsaber!

 

[Perpetual Man]

Well we're two days into the new month (year) and already we've got a few posts, and some of them are real crackers - all of them excellent.

Oxman's and Greenkidz really tickled my fancy (not saying they were absolute favourites but they caught my attention)

My aim this month was to hold off posting for a while and really work on my idea(s), but it suddenly occurred to me why it's good to post early - what if someone else uses a similar idea - in this instance Star Girl used one of the same moments of revolution I'd been toying with - but in a much better way than I intended!

So all round excellent start - I actually think I have mine now, just going to polish it.

 

[Mouse]

I have a question I thought about a while ago, but then forgot all about. Do people read this thread first and then the challenge thread, or the other way around?

Because I tend to read this thread first and I had a story sort of... spoiled (?) because I read what it was about here before I read it in the challenge thread.

(I'm not sure if spoiled is the right word. I also can't remember what that story was.)

 

[Glitch]

I've posted my first foray into this challenge.

The inspiration for the characters is from one of my WIP's. Although the conclusion is completely different to the full story containing them.

 

[StormFeather]

I have a question I thought about a while ago, but then forgot all about. Do people read this thread first and then the challenge thread, or the other way around?

I tend to read whichever has had the most recent posts. If it's the challenge, I try to read that first. Not a hard and fast rule, but I'd rather read the stories before reading other's thoughts and feelings as I don't want to be influenced, albeit indirectly, by anyone else.

It doesn't always happen, but I try!

 

[Mouse]

Yeah, I do try to read the challenge thread first but this one usually shows up with the recent posts first. I'm going to make sure I read the other thread first from now on. There you go, that's my 2011 resolution.

 

[Dozmonic]

I didn't even know about it until I saw it mentioned in someone's introduction thread a couple of weeks ago, hence only having entered this and the last one. I glanced the other entries, gave a quick think on what to write for mine and jotted it down each time. It wasn't until a while after I'd entered the December one I realised there was a commentary thread for it all (I don't browse individual forums, I just check updated threads I'm subscribed in on usercp and new posts if not a lot is going on there)

 

[GreenKidx]

I usually read the challenge thread first. Tend to ignore this one until the challenge is closed. Not really sure why.

Its weird I used to pass on the challenge cause I thought it was beyond me. Guess you never know till you give it a spin. Thanks, Perpetual

 

[TheDustyZebra]

If there are new posts in both, I tend to read the stories first and then come here, for the very reason you mentioned, Mouse. Sometimes I miss and do it the wrong way around, but usually not. I know some people don't read any of the stories until after they post theirs, and my friend Robert also doesn't read any of this thread until after he posts his story, so as not to spoil the others ahead of time.

 

[digs]

Digs - your second story would have been a winner! It's terribly heart wrenching and any parent must have reacted to it.

Thanks Stormy! That's awesome to hear.

I actually tend to read this thread first. I'm not sure why - maybe because reading the stories thread involves thought, which involves effort, and I've usually just woken up when I come on here...

I'm definitely not a morning person.

 

[Parson]

Until I actually make a post, I read this thread first. Probably because it comes up in the subscribed threads, and the new challenge doesn't. I've not really felt that it made all that much difference one way or the other, but there has been a time or two when reading comments here had me eager to read the story.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Perhaps. I personally felt it was about time for a new thread. We had been carrying that old monster since the start, and I think it was just getting too heavy to plod on any longer.


Good entries thus far, kind of strange to see a month without the genre restriction, but some nice puns made on the theme.

 

[Ursa major]

Until I actually make a post, I read this thread first. Probably because it comes up in the subscribed threads....

Me too; though in my case, it's also because I try - not always successfully - to avoid reading challenge entries before I've written my own.

 

[paranoid marvin]

I always read the Challenge thread first , as otherwise this thread makes little sense (not that it always does even then of course!)

 

[Perpetual Man]

Deep breath, I've just posted mine for the month, I was going to leave it for a bit and see what other fish bit, but figured I was really happy with what I had, and if I post it now I won't be worrying about what to write for the next few days.

I ended up with three ideas this month (although one was reworked into the final version(. the other was a poem I really liked, but I just could not cut it down to the 75 word limit.

Of course the second I saw Revolution the words "The Wheel of Time turns, and ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. etc." jumped into my head, and could I get those opening few lines out of my mind?