Discussion -- 300 Word Challenge #3

[paranoid marvin]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

'Free will' would always be 2 words for me , but best to check with a mod.

I tend to add up words from each paragraph, and put it in a word counter ( there's some great ones on t'internet). If the two match (and it's a maximum of 299) then I'll submit.

In fact thinking about it, could the mods perhaps nominate a spell-checker/word-counter (preferably a free one off the internet) that we can all use and would be the final word on what was and wasn't acceptabve?

 

[Phoenixthewriter]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

I was scared to throw up the 300 word piece I had simply because of the fact it was perfectly exactly at the limit. I counted it 5 times, and had word count check it of course, to a reliable and comfortable 300.

Unfortunately I had to keep it at that. I needed words to bring out the emotion and felt rewording it would do the piece an injustice. Going forward though, there's not a chance I'll kill myself with such a close call. 295 will be my limit.

 

[The Judge]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

In fact thinking about it, could the mods perhaps nominate a spell-checker/word-counter (preferably a free one off the internet) that we can all use and would be the final word on what was and wasn't acceptabve?

Final word is us!

Seriously, no word-counter will do it right because it will count two joined words as one -- viz chocolateholiday -- whereas we will come along and count them as two. The joining might be completely accidental because of a typing error, but it won't be picked up by the machine. Never rely on a computer count.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

Thanks TJ and Chris.

Before I checked in here again I was busy searching for a dictionary - a physical one to give me peace of mind, but you managed that thanks. Just remembered the Kindle has one as well and that said the same.

So 299 words it is and hopefully will remain after I have counted it again. And again. And again.

 

[Highlander]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

Re word counts, I have found that Word counts short dashes as an actual word and ignores long dashes. Delete them (or change them to long dashes) to check if your count decreases. Ellipses ( ... 0 or a single asterisk count as an extra word in Word (3 asterisks count as 3 words!)

And as for freewill, I would say it depends on the sentence - as an adjective, "a freewill offering," it would be one word but "of your own free will would be two words.

Good luck in finding the "extra" words.

 

[Mith]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

Well after a busy last week or so I can finally attempt to write a 300 word story. Have an idea for it, now to work out how to word it best lol

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

Just get stuff down, Mith. Mine didn't turn out the way my foundation sketches for it were, but it was what I managed to get out and I am pleasantly surprised with it.


There's a few I'll have to go over, still not sure which ones I like best yet.

 

[Parson]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

It appears that everyone here needs to use Word Perfect as their word processor. The count I get is always spot on. I have never feared to rely on it. But my own count, that's a whole other ball game. I keep getting different counts, so it's machine counting for me and WP.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

It appears that everyone here needs to use Word Perfect as their word processor. The count I get is always spot on. I have never feared to rely on it. But my own count, that's a whole other ball game. I keep getting different counts, so it's machine counting for me and WP.

I'm not one to use Word Perfect.

I use Microsoft Works myself. A lot simpler than how Word has gotten and it still has the one feature I like in my writing, something that Word Pad doesn't seem to have. I hate how Microsoft Office has gotten.

 

[Mith]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

I'm using MS Works now and I don't like it, guess I'm too used to MS Office.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

I'm using an outdated version of Works-Works 9. I suppose I don't know how I'd like a new version, but I find this to be the easiest to use without there being a lot of headaches. And yeah, everyone insists on using Word, but it's just distracting, all the extra tabs and buttons and flashy colors. Not to mention that one has to pay for a full version. My old Works disk came with an old XP laptop I had and it wasn't a trial.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

I use NeoOffice or OpenOffice (same thing, Mac vs. PC), which is as useful to me as Word with the added bonus of being free; however, for word counting, it's a nightmare indeed. It counts quotation marks as extra words, somehow.

Oh, and I want to see about trademarking "blah blah blah" now that it's getting so popular.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

I tried OpenOffice but it didn't work right for me for some reason. And one can actually open .wps documents in Word and vice versa.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

I never got into WordPerfect. I once had to lead a migration for a company's whole setup from WP to Office. Arrgh! I grew to loathe WP long before it was done.

 

[Hex]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

Oh, and I want to see about trademarking "blah blah blah" now that it's getting so popular.

I adapted it and only used two 'blah's -- would that have avoided your licensing regulations?

Edited to say: oops. I see I put the third 'blah' back in. Thank goodness I sneaked that in before you got the trademaking sorted.

 

[Abernovo]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

I use NeoOffice or OpenOffice (same thing, Mac vs. PC), which is as useful to me as Word with the added bonus of being free; however, for word counting, it's a nightmare indeed. It counts quotation marks as extra words, somehow.

I had the same problem with OpenOffice, but I returned the quotation marks to 'Default' [Tools-AutoCorrect Options-Localised Options] and it no longer counts them as words. They look uglier, but it gives an accurate word count. I still hand count everything though, as I don't trust word counters, just as I don't trust spellcheckers (I'm awful for transposing letters as I'm typing, but if the letters form a legitimate word, said spellchecker doesn't pick up on it, even if it doesn't make contextual sense).

Just for reference, how much were you thinking of charging for licenced usage of Blahs?

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

Just for reference, how much were you thinking of charging for licenced usage of Blahs?

50 euros, I'm guessing?

 

[Perpetual Man]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

Very interesting. Following last nights little chat about word counting, I counted the words by hand again and got 299 (allowing for splitting Free will), MS Word still gives it as 304 (308 with the title), then I tried a couple of online word counters, None of them matched up ranging from 282 -312. Who would have thought there could have been such a difference.

Think I'll count again by hand and trust my head.

 

[HareBrain]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

I count by MS Word, then by hand, then make sure I can reconcile the two (by adding hyphens, removing ellipses etc) especially if it's close to 300.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Re: Discussion thread -- Three Hundred Word Writing Challenge #3

Really quick question, on a different subject; are you allowed to use what you've put into the challenges elsewhere - there's a competition where if i expanded mine I could use it; but is that allowed, or is there a time limit? Thanks Springs