Writing Challenge Discussion — MARCH 2011

[alchemist]

I liked it too. I looked him up, and as I suspected, the cause of death was historically accurate too. Neat.

 

[Parson]

The Judge's had a real sense of coldness to it that just made me shiver. A good story on her part, but a bad story because the whole Witch Trials are very hard for me to deal with at every level.

 

[onebigpotato]

I think you mean bad subject matter rather than bad story. I love reading stories/watching movies about subject matter that makes me feel uncomfortable. It let's me reflect on why I feel that way. If I only read stories about how awesome solitary large "starchy, tuberous crops" are, things would get pretty boring, no?

P.S I don't mind the subject matter, just commenting on above

How do the chrons work on internet phones, well?

 

[alchemist]

Depends on your phone. Works fine on mine (which couldn't be described as a smartphone) , but long threads are slooooowwwww, and I can only do short replies. Copying, pasting, complex quoting are out of the question on my phone.

 

[Culhwch]

Work well on my 'smart' phone - there's no mobile web view, it's just the standard forum, so a lot depends I guess on your display size and processing power.

I don't like doing long replies, either, or complex quoting. But I have done some moderating on the go, so evil doers beware!

 

[The Judge]

Thank you, nixie and alchemist. I've had real problems writing a story this month for one reason and another, but I happened to go to a Record Office last week undertaking some family history research, and they had a small exhibition on some poor women who had been tried as witches, and that sparked the idea.

Sorry the story made you uncomfortable, Parson. Actually, I can understand some Parsonical ambivalence, since if a person genuinely believed that witches existed and that their continued existence threatened good, God-fearing people, then that person would of course want to do everything possible to find and destroy them. And that's the reasoning behind every witch hunt ever since. But torture was illegal even in those days, the trials were farcical, the so-called witch-finder and his henchmen were paid by the result, and well-paid at that, and with few exceptions the victims were lowly born women who had no power or protection so were safe to accuse -- one would think the Devil might have chosen a few married aristocrats to do his bidding. So in this particular case I don't think Hopkins deserves any sympathy.

 

[Ursa major]

So an alternative title might have been: Scandal, and Hopkins Deceased.









* And now the theme tune has invaded my head. *

 

[StormFeather]

So an alternative title might have been: Scandal, and Hopkins Deceased.




* And now the theme tune has invaded my head. *

Thanks for sharing Ursa!

Nice one Judge - and I totally agree with your views on Hopkins.

This is going to be another, very tough month.

 

[Aun Doorback]

Can I also add my praise for the Judge's entry. Read well and fitted superbly within the word limit. The 17thC was not a good period of time for reasoned thought, although there were a few within the church that did stand up against Hopkins. Thanks Judge for an intelligent and well crafted story.

 

[cornelius]

Another couple of fine entries have been added since I last checked. Voting starts tonight, but I think I'll take my time to think this over. After all, a vote is such a precious thing.

The thing with this theme, a lot of of entries come down to some form of death. Now, each has his or her own approach, and the writing itself is of high quality. You have to look hard to find two "similar" stories. So, even though the subject (in my opinion) gets toppled towards the same side, I still think there is a lot of diversity through writing and wit.

Still, I hope the next topic will be a lit less macabre, especially now spring has finally kicked in (for me, anyway).

 

[The Judge]

Ursa, that may well be your wittiest (witchiest?) pun ever!

Thanks, Storm and Aun Doorback. (And Welcome to the Chrons and the Challenge, Aun -- it's very nice to meet you.)

I agree, Cornelius -- most of the stories are a bit, well, morbid this month. Let's urge whoever wins to give us something a little more cheerful as a subject for April!

 

[cornelius]

I agree, Cornelius -- most of the stories are a bit, well, morbid this month. Let's urge whoever wins to give us something a little more cheerful as a subject for April!

With an entry like that, it might well be you. Enjoyed (re-)reading it. Consider yourself shortlisted

 

[The Judge]

Thank you!

 

[Parson]

Sorry the story made you uncomfortable, Parson. Actually, I can understand some Parsonical ambivalence, since if a person genuinely believed that witches existed and that their continued existence threatened good, God-fearing people, then that person would of course want to do everything possible to find and destroy them. And that's the reasoning behind every witch hunt ever since. But torture was illegal even in those days, the trials were farcical, the so-called witch-finder and his henchmen were paid by the result, and well-paid at that, and with few exceptions the victims were lowly born women who had no power or protection so were safe to accuse -- one would think the Devil might have chosen a few married aristocrats to do his bidding. So in this particular case I don't think Hopkins deserves any sympathy.

I think you misunderstand my uncomfortableness. I am very uncomfortable with what the church did to the said women on what amounted to absolutely no evidence whatever. If anyone could be condemned on the grounds of the case it would be the two young women who were accusing the other women of being witches. I know that the Christians/church has been guilty of awful stuff from time to time and that's what makes me uncomfortable. I also agree that Hopkins doesn't deserve any extra sympathy for the way he died.

On the matter of "witches" (in the sense of those who worship Satan) I most certainly believe they do exist. As to punishment by death; I would never agree that this was what should be done. People who worship Satan are like the rest of us, they stand in need of God's grace and forgiveness.

 

[The Judge]

Ah, sorry for misunderstanding, Parson.

 

[Bob Senior]

Howdy,
Thanks PM for getting my little story. As the title suggests----NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED
Bob S. Sr

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I just want to remind everyone that the time the contest ends is 11:59 GMT, not Daylight Time. Which means that as I write this, those who have not yet contributed their stories have almost three-and-a-half hours left. If you're not sure, check your local time against GMT. The difference will be at the bottom of the index page here.

We would be up to fifty stories now, if not for the three stories that went over on their word count. (And very good stories they were, too. I hope they'll be posted in the discussion thread next month, so that those who haven't seen them can read them.) If you haven't written your story yet, be sure to count your words carefully. Beware of the mistakes your word processor might make. (Sometimes it giveth, and sometimes it taketh away, so be sure the word count is yours.) Be careful with your hyphenated words, and make sure that if you're counting them as one they're really counted that way in common usage. When in doubt, count them as two!

 

[Brev]

I just want to remind everyone that the time the contest ends is 11:59 GMT, not Daylight Time. Which means that as I write this, those who have not yet contributed their stories have almost three-and-a-half hours left. If you're not sure, check your local time against GMT. The difference will be at the bottom of the index page here.

It also means there will soon be decisions to be made...

 

[crys]

Sorry, I'm a couple of days late with this... but 'thank you' to nixie and Perpetual Man for the positive vibes.

 

[mosaix]

Well it's getting close to have to start thinking about a short list. Well, shorter than the one I've got now.