COMING IN APRIL -- The 300 Word Writing Challenge

[TheDustyZebra]

You know, I was going to tease Mouse about having an unfair advantage, but the more I think about it I have to say it would probably be a decided disadvantage to have taken the picture that provides the inspiration. I think that knowing what the picture is about might just hinder the creativity juices -- at least, it would for me.

But that's ok. I feel much better if Mouse starts out with a handicap! In fact, if we could handicap some others as well, that wouldn't be a bad thing either.

 

[Mouse]

Something odd familiar about it, you would say?

When someone suggested we use something from the Photo Challenge we were all laughing sinister laughs up our respective sleeves, because we had already chosen a picture from among this month's entries.

We did get Mouse's permission, of course.

I was also evil laughing.

You know, I was going to tease Mouse about having an unfair advantage, but the more I think about it I have to say it would probably be a decided disadvantage to have taken the picture that provides the inspiration. I think that knowing what the picture is about might just hinder the creativity juices -- at least, it would for me.

But that's ok. I feel much better if Mouse starts out with a handicap! In fact, if we could handicap some others as well, that wouldn't be a bad thing either.

I did think the same thing. That it'd be more difficult for the person who'd taken the photo. That photo is linked to my holiday in Prague in my head, so that's what I think about when I see it! Prague, and the slightly dodgy Czech who tried to invite me back to his.

 

[crys]

Wonderful choice of image for the first 300-word challenge, there's just so much in that picture to provide inspiration... I wish there was a ''clappies'' emoticon I could use here!

 

[Ursa major]

Someone suggested? Someone? Bearly believable....

*shakes head*



I must say I find the picture highly appropriate: it helps to explain the need for an increase in the number of words, from a paltry 75 to an astronomical 300.


* Goes off to find some out-of-season winter fuel.... *


And his what...?!!!

 

[alchemist]

Someone suggested? Someone? Bearly believable....

And who provided the theme for which this image was posted in the first place?

Honestly...

I, too have seen this clock in the flesh, as it were. If only I could remember it...

 

[Ursa major]

I've also seen it: I'm looking at the three quite appalling photos of the clock that I took in the mid-1980s**.


(I'll also admit to voting for Mouse's picture in the Photo challenge.)





** - Mid-July 1985, to be exact: I was able to pick up either the World Service or BBC Radio Four on the radio in the hotel and the main news story of the day was the hijacking of TWA Flight 847 to Beirut.

 

[Brev]

This is a great challenge idea - well done all involved in thinking it up.

I had a sneaky look at the photo challenge last month and saw this picture then, hence my mind was already turning. First draft written, flat out, 303 words, now nine days to prune and polish...

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Thank you!

But actually you have all month to prune and polish, unless you have your heart set on being one of the first to post.

 

[Brev]

No, there is no rush, although, while it's unposted I'll fiddle with it, and then fiddle some more, and I should really be doing other things.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Just had a crack at this and it's not quite as easy as I thought.

I had an idea all lined up and started writing. 300 words are a lot more than 75 and I thought there was plenty of room.

Finished and thought there we go, quite happy with this. All I need to do it play around with it some, its well under 300 words, this is easy! I'll be able to add some more detail, then sit back and wait until the competition opens and...

Then did a word count just to see how far under 300 I was... 468

Back to the drawing board then

 

[crys]

Maybe it's just my computer, but the picture seems to have disappeared.

 

[alchemist]

I can see it. Try the March photography competition instead.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I can see it, too. Are you looking for it here in this thread, or in the thread for the Challenge itself: http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/531196-april-2011-three-hundred-word-challenge-read-first.html

 

[crys]

^ ^^ Thanks... yep, it's there now. I was getting a red cross but probably just my computer doing weird stuff. Sorry for being a nuisance!

 

[Gary Compton]

Is it because the photo is hosted on photobucket rather than Chrons.

First time I looked at it it didnt load so I had to refresh the page.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Sorry for being a nuisance!

It's not being a nuisance to ask a question. Particularly when your computer (as computers will) has caused a picture to temporarily disappear.

 

[chrispenycate]

Ecoeuré, des curies d'Oc.

What kind of mouse could run up that monster? A cosmic mouse, but not necessarily a poor one, as it's not mounted on a church…

Enough of such ruminations. My seventy-five word entry progresses at a snail's pace, and that must be finished before I can even start generating ideas for the three-hundreder.

 

[alchemist]

A potential issue here is that the story has to be "inspired" by the picture, which may be akin to the movie soundtracks containing songs "inspired" by the film (songs written long before the film was made). In my researching and brainstorming, I had a number of half-ideas which made sense to me at the time, but if posted as a story, the link to the picture would be very unclear.
It's possible we'll have a number of stories where the relation to the theme may even need to be explained. I suppose the voters will be the ultimate jury on this, but time will tell. FWIW, after my brainstorming, I settled on something obviously related to the theme.

 

[MstrTal]

ACK!

I do not know if I am advantaged or disadvantaged! When 1st I saw the photo upon contemplating entering I though, It suits perfectly my WIP!, however since it so perfectly suits my WIP I researched it heavily. Now it it part and parcel of my WIP research file. I mean I am inspired, I just do not know if I can separate out a 300 challenge from my WIP or not.

 

[Heck Tate]

Just checking out the 300 word challenge thread. I love the idea of a longer challenge, but I really do hate it being based on pictures. I can come up with ideas for stories based on a briefly worded theme, but after staring at the picture for a while, all I've managed to come up with is "weird clock."