Discussion 75 Word Challenge -- MARCH

[Perpetual Man]

I still get a funny feeling when I see an old post from Oxman and I got it again, just then, when I saw his missing X's after June last year.

I didn't really look at the list in to much detail, but got my funny feeling when I read your post, Mosaix, a real kick in the stomach.

 

[alchemist]

Ah finally, another Pennywise admirer!

Lemme guess, my avatar gave it away?

(also a Roland Deschain admirer, too, Grizz )

I always thought it was Ronald McDonald.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

I always thought it was Ronald McDonald.

That's it! Ronald McDonald is the reason people fear clowns!

 

[alchemist]

Yup, he makes them feel fat and bloated. Their pockets are also mysteriously lighter.

 

[chrispenycate]

That's pretty impressive, chris. How much time did it take?

And, if I ever need some graphs and charts...

Rather more than it should have done; I had each year separately, but with the votes, and there was no way I was going to be able to upload that (I had to remove the month headings from the top of a lot of pages as it was, to get it small enough) Then there were people who'd only submitted in the first year who had to be inserted alphabetically into the list; finally, apart from the names themselves, there was very little I could do in cut and paste. So I'm not that amazed a few Xs went astray.

The July and January stripes were there so I could find where I was without counting, but I thought they actually made it easier to follow, so I left them.

 

[Christopher Lee]

If this works as it's supposed to (crosses fingers) it should give an overview of the first (nearly) two years.

230 writers, 1170 stories, that makes lots of words, and much time spent writing. And voting.

Real nice Chris. Looks like you put a lot of time in this!

 

[Warren_Paul]

That's it! Ronald McDonald is the reason people fear clowns!

One of the latest episodes of Supernatural doesn't help either. I think it was the one before last. About a clown fun park, and killer clowns chasing Sam.

 

[TacticalLoco]

Prep, your review is awesome as always. Awesome, because you always make it sound like I know what I'm doing.

 

[Starbeast]

That's it! Ronald McDonald is the reason people fear clowns!

Yup, he makes them feel fat and bloated. Their pockets are also mysteriously lighter.

LOL ! That's funny. Ronald McDonald, making people scared, fat & bloated. You guys are cracking me up.

Oh man, heh heh hee, anyway...

I'm currently trying to narrow down my choice for the winner, there's a lot of good ones. Entries have been halted for a while (I noticed), hopefully more will be posted.

 

[MemoryTale]

Well by the sound of it, it's going to be fun reading through all these when voting opens. Not so fun picking a winner though.

 

[TacticalLoco]

Rather more than it should have done; I had each year separately, but with the votes, and there was no way I was going to be able to upload that (I had to remove the month headings from the top of a lot of pages as it was, to get it small enough) Then there were people who'd only submitted in the first year who had to be inserted alphabetically into the list; finally, apart from the names themselves, there was very little I could do in cut and paste. So I'm not that amazed a few Xs went astray.

The July and January stripes were there so I could find where I was without counting, but I thought they actually made it easier to follow, so I left them.

This is truly a cool thing thing you have done. And you can tell the effort is greatly appreciated by everyone here.
For me, it was like a history of the monthly challenges. All you regulars with hugely impressive X after X after X records!
That made me regret my missing Xs from last summer.

Very nice job!

 

[chrispenycate]

Have cleared up Challah Rajni, chopper and ctg, Memory Tale, Mith and mithril, and I'm sure there will be others. Xs out of line or missing. When I'm pretty well convinced I've got it right (and I'll be wrong again, of course), and the March results are in, making it two full years, I'll post the corrected chart up.

I'm currently trying to narrow down my choice for the winner, there's a lot of good ones. Entries have been halted for a while (I noticed), hopefully more will be posted.

Yes, it does seem there are two groups; those who post as fast as possible, to avoid anyone else getting their particular interpretation in first, or because they're afraid they'll chicken out if they don't do it straight away, or perhaps to show off how fast inspiration strikes, and the other group, the perfectionists who agonise over each word till the last possible second, blocking the server at 23:59". I wouldn't go as far as to say that deadline training is part of what you get from this exercise, but it is interesting.

 

[HareBrain]

Then there are those who used to post early all the time, but have now mined out the easy seams and are having to excavate deeper into the bowels of the month, searching for a new mother lode.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I'm in the first camp, definitely. In my case, i think it's that I don't want to overwork it. I'll generally have edited it down from near 200 words anyway, and then I'll muck around with it for another hour or two, but
after that, I worry it'll start to lose it's freshness.
Every month I say, I'll sit on it a bit longer, but never do.
The only month I posted because i thought someone else might come up with the same idea was the gravestone month.

 

[crystal haven]

I only seem to get one idea, so if it pops into my head, I post that story. So the decision of when to post is entirely to do with having something to post, or not. I am really envious of those who can think of several story ideas at once.

 

[mosaix]

I only seem to get one idea, so if it pops into my head, I post that story. So the decision of when to post is entirely to do with having something to post, or not. I am really envious of those who can think of several story ideas at once.

Me too. Only twice in the two years have I had the luxury of two ideas and on both those occasions it was because I wasn't entirely happy with the first one and delayed posting and another one 'popped in'.

 

[Abernovo]

Once I have something down, I'll tweak it, but I try not to leave it too long before I post. I have a bad habit of worrying the words until I ruin what I already have.

I think I'm going to have a go at holding off, though. One day.

 

[nixie]

I'm in the group who if left it too long I'd chicken out.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

This is the only month I regretted not sitting on it a little longer as a title idea that would make a huge difference to the story came to me, but it may not have worked like I hope it will.

I just get an idea and write to that specific prompt.

 

[Moonbat]

In the first few comps I entered quite early, but then I got annoyed when I felt my entry could be better, so I started delaying until as late as possible. Then I delayed too long and I forgot to post before the deadline, so now I don't leave it as long.