Writing Challenge Discussion -- FEBRUARY 2011

[Ursa major]

Actually, that's not all -- Ursa, you missed out the township's feral dogs, whose bach is worse than their bite...

I thought the feral, or fierce rolleyes, dogs offenbach, when they can. Can you recall, by the way, seeing the southern belle, Hélène?

 

[HareBrain]

or fierce rolleyes, dogs offenbach

*applause*

 

[paranoid marvin]

Wow , what a terrific start to this month . Some great entries and we're hardly 2 days in. Perhas we should start setting the challenge every week!?

Great topic , and already we've seen an eclectic array of entries ; looking like its going to be even harder than usual to pick one out.

 

[chrispenycate]

There you go. Not enough words (look, I know it says seventy-three, there are two questionable hyphens in there.) And I'm short two lines, not words, which, unless I can find some good ten syllable synonyms, means that's the best I can manage with that idea.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Another two cracking entries, from PM and PC, this is really shaping up to being another superb month, with some really hard decisions to be made toward the end.

And there's still a load of regulars yet to post.

I now know just how clever Brev's piece is, but not my own ingenuity, PC gave me a big hint! I'd like to think I'd have spotted it on my own, but I seriously doubt it...

Really, and now Chris has posted his tale... and it's another scorcher.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Brev – This one has me stumped

Me, too. I feel there must be some popular culture reference in there, and I am clueless.

It wouldn't be the first time.

 

[Ursa major]

With Brev's, you have to consider extreme brevity at the word level.

 

[Gary Compton]

Gary Compton – I felt this one on two levels, and enjoyed it all the more for it. Well written and constructed, it is a theme I’ve seen before, but really enjoyed the way it was presented here.

Bloody hell Mother, I've got some praise. I think I'll quit while I'm ahead

On Brev, am I missing the song bit or is it a song?

As usual totally confused but me age allows me to be!!

 

[alchemist]

On Brev, am I missing the song bit...

Yup
It's cleverly hidden, all over the place...

 

[Gary Compton]

Yup
It's cleverly hidden, all over the place...

Really and which place might that be?

 

[J Riff]

Wow, good one Chris.

I wuz gonna do a pun crock story, joke... about punk rock.. but thought better of it.
Boneman and Ursa..(extended laugh track>here)... Bookstop good one too, but so is everybody... initially I thot Brev's was about a video game, but aha. Well, no spoilers here.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

With Brev's, you have to consider extreme brevity at the word level.

Still haven't a clue.

 

[J Riff]

Gee Digs- Texas blues. The only other guy I ever saw play this one was BB King tho there must have been others, excluding the later Dylan hack at it.
And Harebrain another good one.

 

[digs]

I initially thought Brev's might be an acrostic poem. It's not, but if you look at it that way at first, you might pick up something interesting that'll lead you to solve it.

 

[RoninJedi84]

Finally got mine posted after giving the ones who beat me a once-over. Just went through them again and they're all damn good. But yeah, I haven't gone through every post in this thread, so maybe that's why, but Brev's stumped me, too. Gotta go read it again...

 

[RoninJedi84]

Wow...feel kinda stupid now. My hat's off to you, Brev. Clever as hell.

 

[HareBrain]

I really like Chrispy's. (I hear it read by Rick Wakeman with a theremin backing.) Think big!

Another very poignant and effective entry from Digs. (One wonders what he would do with a theme like "puppies".)

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

LOOK!!!!

I think we need to change the rules about when people can submit a story to the competition.

Before you all start shouting at once give me a chance to explain my reasoning.

OK, so last month's entry was a dismal failure. That's OK, after all none of us expect to get votes the joy is in the taking part. It's something to do in the short time we all have etc. etc. Everybody understands that and you'll get no complaint from me on that score. End topic, what's in the past, is in the past, and that's an end to it.

However, I always look forward (usual caveat) to the start of the month because there will be a new writing challenge topic. something to ponder, get your teeth into: who knows maybe this month etc.

So as soon as i can I search rabidly for the new thread. Desperate to get the old grey cells working and at least have an excuse to shift position on the old chair; to experience the joy and excruciating pain welling up from the piles and bed sores.

So, new topic found, you click on the link and discover the nature of the months challenge. You scroll down the page and there it is; and the topic is :-

The Song.

Fair enough, toughie this month. I'll have to think abou....

Wait a minute...

What's this?????

Someone has already entered. Why it's Mouse....

Oh bloody hell, well thanks a lot Mouse. How am I supposed to better that. Pah... Pah... Wh... S....

So, here's my suggestion.

Previous winners must agree to wait until the first page has been filled (say ten entries) before they post their entry.

If that's going to far, then I think they could at least have the decency not to post the first story.

I wouldn't mind but having read Mouse' entry and feeling thoroughly depressed, I then, in almost a punch drunk stupor, notice and read HB's and Sloweye's.

Well isn't that typical three entries and three crackers.

I mean come on youse guys. Give us mortals a chance to at least come up with an idea before you give us a good kickin'

 

[Mouse]

Heh heh! Sorry! But to be fair, I was so craptactular last month that I should be let off.

Oh, and I saw Brev's 'hidden' thing, but I still don't understand the actual story. So I feel clever and stupid at the same time!

 

[Chel]

TEIN, a suggestion: Don't read any of the posted stories before you have written your own!

That's what I (almost) do. When I get my idea(s) I write up a draft, and then I check if someone has already posted something similar. That's never been the case so far though, so after that check I go on to edit and post my entry.

I'm just a novice at writing and lately haven't even taken the time to write much, and with the risk of reading too much into your post, TEIN, I really think you need to trust your own talent and story enough to want to post it for the enjoyment of the readers, regardless of what (and when!) others post.