Writing Challenge Discussion -- January 2011

[Allanon]

As The World Falls Down it's called

 

[GreenKidx]

Well, I'm definitely still partial to Oxman's tale. I love the epic feel in just 75 words. But we definitely have a wonderful wide variety.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Oi, TDZ! There's some of us here what take exception to that quote! And that kind of story! (And lab rats aren't smarter than us. They just have even sharper teeth. )

Oops, forgot about some of my audience. Any resemblance to august personages on this site is purely coincidental and nothing personal.

Now, to be fair, I just said rats aren't stupid....

 

[nixie]

I thought I did already.

Ahem.... SLAP...I do need to keep in practice,although next time I'll feed you too Wally.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Boy oh boy.

Not entirely sure if I deserved that or not...*Shrugs*

 

[Parson]

Well, with a lot of trepidation I've posted my 75 word semi-precious jewel. This was a very hard topic for me. But in the end I had two complete stories. I hope I picked the better one.

I can't help but be astounded by the multiplicity of ways people find to deal with each theme. Revolution being no exception at all.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

And here J Riff swooped in with a nice twist on an old comedic act.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Another three stonkers from J Riff to Parson, with Chris in the middle, wonderful ideas all. I had to snigger at the end of J Riff's, while Chris' just made me think - crop rotation and rather clever interpretation of the word revolution, but added to an actual revolution, very very clever (but then it is Chris). And Parson's - it might just be me but there are so many ways it could be interpreted.

It's really becoming incredible just how much depth people can squeeze into 75 words!

 

[Parson]

Thanks PM! It was a struggle. My other potential entry had the thought of the "Industrial Revolution." So, there's still more out there.

 

[digs]

As The World Falls Down it's called

Another brilliant song, and the scene it accompanies is awesome too...but then, I just love everything about Labyrinth.

 

[Oxman]

Well, another month and as others have mentioned, no let up in quality. So many good entries again. This month my current favourites are Hoopy's, Teresa's and Chel's. Though it could all change as I'd expect the later entries to continue with the high standard.

Well, I'm definitely still partial to Oxman's tale. I love the epic feel in just 75 words. But we definitely have a wonderful wide variety.

Thank you very much! I'm flattered, though once I posted this I, like Karn has stated, felt it was more of a "standard" entry than anything outstanding.

This month was the first time that I came up with an alternative entry and I can see why I haven't done so before! The more I look at the unposted story, the more I'm convinced I have posted the wrong one! Also, when coming up with original ideas, I kept getting sidetracked by the theme and omitting any fantasy or SF elements.

 

[Mouse]

There doesn't have to be any SFF elements, it's open genre.

As for me, I think I might be sitting this month out. I'm not sure I fully understand what the word 'revolution' even means.

 

[Ursa major]

I'm sure you'll get round to writing a story this month, Mouse.

 

[Mouse]

Well I've one written, one I wrote at 2 in the morning. But I'm not sure if it's 'revolution' enough. I'm waiting for some sort of inspiration. Otherwise it'll be that one or nothing!

 

[The Judge]

Too subtle, Ursa.

 

[Oxman]

There doesn't have to be any SFF elements, it's open genre

Ah yes, that great big yellow "Stories can be any genre" in the first post. Should have spotted that really. Mind you, it does feel a little blasphemous to not stick to what drew me to the site in the first place!

 

[Hilarious Joke]

I have a technical question!

Does a number in words, such as forty-five, count as two words or one? My story has a few of these, and I operate under a compulsion to use every word I'm permitted.

 

[J Riff]

Get a Round. Round... get .... a ....round......
I don't get it.
Mouse, I think Revolution was a song by the Beatles, about how everything's gonna be alright.






....... round ..... a-round... *t-HA! Very witty, ohhh I have to go lay downn....

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Numbers, compound words with hyphens (so long as random words aren't being joined that way to sneak in extra words) count as one word.

As I've said before, anything that reasonably goes together between two spaces -- except for punctuation, which doesn't count at all -- is considered a single word. Most months, people will probably be writing science fiction or fantasy, and that could mean some odd strings of letters, numbers, and other symbols, so we're inclined to be open-minded ... until and unless someone abuses that latitude.

Even then, we'd still count numbers as a single word.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Paranoid Marvin out in front so far.

(Although I would argue that the writing challenge is supposed to be a work of fiction, not prophecy.)


I liked GreenKidx too, for the excellent characterisation of the hero.