Discussion -- August 2011 Challenge

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

Yikes, PM, you've been busy there!

That last one could have been a contender, for sure, although I haven't bothered to count the words to see how much it might have lost in the paring.

But I still like your contest one best. It's odd, because I was thinking about concentration camps the day before you posted that one -- I'm not sure where I was going with it, as I never got to writing anything down or attaching it to the theme. And then there was yours, right after!

Alchemist, that's truly horrific, and terrifyingly true -- a very good alternate!

Bob, yours is also terrifyingly true, in a whole different way!
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

Goodness, PM! I had trouble getting one story! I have to confess that, good as your submitted piece was, I excluded it from my short list because I felt it was horrific but not horror as I defined it. Any of those would have caught my attention, though, and that last one would definitely have made my short list (and pruning to get to 75 would be easy, I think).

And good stories, alchemist and Bob!
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

Thanks TJ.

Have to say that the last one came from Perp Jr. He sometimes says, "I used to be in mummy's tummy..." and it sort of went from there
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

Thanks for the kind mention Ursa and congratulations Hex for your horrific story (does that sound quite right?)
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

Congrats Hex!

I had many many ideas but unfortunately I just didn't have time to write and edit any of them down on paper. I still wonder if my second to the last minute attempt and last minute revisions translated since I wrote it on the site. I also wrote it on my new android tablet which is still a novel experience!
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

I always thought of tablets as for consuming as opposed to creating, interesting. I can't use those glass touch keyboards, at least not for anything significant (yep even my phone has to have a slide out "real" keyboard), did you use that, or did you hook up a keyboard to it in order to write?
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

Mouse said:
Parson, porn?! Did you click the right link?! You had me all worried! Should be all ok, I saw the link on http://www.britishfantasysociety.org/ website.

Perp, your last one is super creepy. Brr!
Click to expand...

Remember I said "near porn." Esquire is not porn but it is certainly a "gentleman's magazine" and if you look at the ads on the side of the page including the one for Esquire the woman there is definitely playing a sex object. The ads are a hint about the audience they expect their magazine to draw.

I would be embarrassed to admit I entered an Esquire contest for fear of being branded with a sexist tag.

Perp I agree the last one was super creepy, and an undoubted contender.
 
Last edited:
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

Using that logic, would it be fair to suggest that beefed-up, angry-looking guys are 'near porn'?
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

Parson said:
For a Parson the real danger would be winning such a contest and explaining what one is doing on a nearly porn web site.

Perpetual Man: You are right that was the most horrible story of all that we read, because it not only reflected the near infinite reality of humans to descend into the pit degradation, but it spoke undeniable truth of the demonstrable despicable demonic nether regions that humans have reached in so called "modern times."
Click to expand...

Parson: First Off. I think you could be forgiven for your knowledge and even entry to such a competition. After all you are supposed to be worldly wise and in winning your 'message' might gain wide acclaim. If just one reader could be 'affected' then it's win, win.

I was unimpressed with Mr. Hemingway's effort. It was an Ad. not a story. Yes, there was a story behind the advert, but nothing defined. It required the reader to fill in too much detail. The potential for jumping to wrong conclusions is obvious. I.E. The story was sadly lacking a 'middle'

As for the 78 word example entry. I was even less impressed. IMHO a rip off of Mr Jones' green grass if ever there was one.

It's a shame they only allow North American entries. I think any one of the contibutors to this site could give them a run for their money given the standard they've set.

So, I expect our American members to enter and walk away with the prise. There can be only ten?
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

Oskari said:
would it be fair to suggest that beefed-up, angry-looking guys are 'near porn'?
Click to expand...

Surely it depends on the context. Beefed-up guys with adverts for sex toys beside them? Probably. I'd feel a bit weird about Esquire too. 78 words. Pah!

Are beefed-up, angry-looking guys supposed to be attractive now? Alas, for the days of Will Ladislaw who was wildly alluring composing poetry beside a stream (or maybe that was Rufus Sewell, but anyway). Or Sir Percy Blakeney.

Perp I thought your last one was almost too horrible to read, which I'm afraid I found was true of lots of the more horrible horror entries (there's a reason I don't tend to read horror). I liked that you took something mildly disturbing that kids say to fond laughter and turned it into something grotesque and pathetic.

I found your other too distressing -- a bit like slack's -- since it referenced such terrible things. I think I may need a thicker skin here. I studied the Holocaust at university and read a lot of the literature around it. I have no idea what made me so tough at that age (maybe everyone is), but I can't comprehend what happened in any way that makes sense. The explanations of group think and people becoming desensitised seem so weak and inadequate when you see what was done.

TJ: what was your definition of 'horror'? I've been wondering.
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

Hmm. Don't know that I had a definition that would stand up to the rigours of Chrons debate, but one of the things I was looking for was the equivalent of a horror movie like The Wicker Man, I think.** So, a feeling of something underneath the surface, of an appearance of normality which is subverted to produce the horror from the mundane -- such as Ursa's carpet or PM's final alternative story with the back to the womb thing. Or just the feeling of suspense, of being drawn ineluctably to a horrific conclusion with otherworldy/supernatural elements like The Spurring Platty's.


** Not that I actually watch horror movies, as I have a very low tension/suspense threshold, which may explain why I'm out of step with everyone else :eek:
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

I think a lot of us are rather tense: we'll soon be told what the subject and genre for September's challenge will be.
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

er yes. You will. And I've thought of it. I absolutely have.
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

TEiN, I agree with everything you've just said. Especially our North American members here being able to kick that 78worder's backside!
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

TheTomG said:
I always thought of tablets as for consuming as opposed to creating, interesting. I can't use those glass touch keyboards, at least not for anything significant (yep even my phone has to have a slide out "real" keyboard), did you use that, or did you hook up a keyboard to it in order to write?
Click to expand...

Sadly the only external keyboard I have is a Microsoft one and it doesn't register. :(
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

Oh well, since others have done it, I may as well follow suit...

My other story (though still a draft did get, eventually, within the allowable word limit) was: -


Private Pleasure


A phone rings…

“Hello”

“Yes, dinner’s ready”

“30 minutes. See you then my love”

Hanging up the phone she locks the basement door, turning into the kitchen, to wash her hands watching the water change bright red to clear. She reduces the oven temperature so dinner doesn’t burn.

“Hmm, 30 minutes, just enough time to watch it back!”

Taking the DVD she moves to the lounge, inserts the disc, sits back and, smiling, presses play…


I would appreciate your thoughts?!
 
Re: Discussion AUGUST 75 Word Writing Challenge

LittleMissy said:
Hanging up the phone she locks the basement door, turning into the kitchen, to wash her hands watching the water change bright red to clear.
Click to expand...
This sentence needs revising. The way it's written suggests four actions done simultaneously.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Thread starter Similar threads Forum Replies Date
elvet August / September 100 Word Anonymous Challenge 2024 Discussion Workshop 38
The Judge DISCUSSION THREAD -- August 2024 -- 75 Word Writing Challenge Writing Challenges 161
elvet August / September 100 Word Anonymous Challenge 2023 Discussion Workshop 64
therapist DISCUSSION THREAD -- AUGUST 2023 -- 75 Word Writing Challenge Writing Challenges 155
elvet August / September 100 Word Anonymous Challenge 2022 Discussion Workshop 60

Similar threads


Back
Top