Discussion -- 300 Word Challenge #8

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks so much Perp! Wonderful review really made my day

It's what I'm here for (Well sort of)

 

[Boneman]

It's a bit late for this quarter, perhaps, but a reminder for late entries and for the next challenge -- check your word count by hand. We've just had to pull a very good story which went over word count -- the computer count would have made it 300 but finger power, actually checking the words themselves, made it 302.

Phew!! (Rushes to check it isn't mine that's gone - all those hyphenated words...) Sorry for whomever has gone - it's hard enough coming up with an entry, so losing it because you've got an extra finger on either hand is really tough. Do hope you can re-use it next time. Or the time after that.

 

[Abernovo]

It's always scary when that message goes up. I did the same thing, Boneman: went straight to check I hadn't miscounted, even though I was sure it was under - Word Count for estimate, plus 3x counting by hand (each count must tally).

Commiserations for whomever it was. Maybe it will morph into something you could submit somewhere. I hope so.

 

[Bowler1]

So did I, phew... I'm still in.

I may not get any votes, but I'd like to be in with the running.

In real life, that's more gray hair now.
Online, I'm yellow and bald, so no harm done.

 

[The Judge]

We always send a PM before coming on here to tell everyone -- I'm not actually callous enough to allow the person who has miscounted to find out by public announcement. (But I do like to see the rest of you scurry... )


And I join the rushing-in-before-the-deadline-brigade. We now need another one for the magic 42. Who has yet to post who plans to post?

 

[chrispenycate]

And I join the rushing-in-before-the-deadline-brigade. We now need another one for the magic 42. Who has yet to post who plans to post?

Glancing down my list and picking out "usually reliables":- Cul, HareBrain, Moonbat, Mosaix and Paranoid Marvin. Plenty of others that might, of course.

But the three hundred word challenge hasn't always achieved fourty-two enties; indeed, in seven previous examples it has been below thrice, not quite half the time.

And, while I'm still logged on, thank you Perp and the starbeast for your commentaries. I had meant to do it entirely in verse, a true ballad, never having done a poem that long, but as it extended it started approaching the ryme of the ancient mariner in borability; as static as a painted ship, upon a painted ocean. I'd used too simple a base structure. But trying to enhance that I discovered I'd spent too much time generating the old stuff, and it kept oozing back. So I went for a more prosaic, hybrid approach.

 

[Starbeast]

Thank you for the lovely review, Starbeast.

You're very welcomed Crystal haven.

Thanks Starbeast, It's nice to read your comments pH

You're welcome Phyrebrat. And thanks, I like to hear feedback on my stories too.

Thank you SB, even when I've managed to use the wrong word you've found something positive

You're welcome Nixie. Even the best authors make mistakes, and what you wrote overshadows a wrong word.

Hi Starbeast, thanks for the review!

You're welcome Summer013. Nice to meet you.

Cheer for the excellent reviews, Starbeast and Perp. It's always good to know somebody read it

Heh heh, you're welcome Alchemist.


M. Tullius - Fantastic beings who help shape the world of humans, are now lost, but their leader becomes inspired and has an idea. Interesting and unique story you have written.

Hex - A mermaid has bargained with a sea witch for legs, but with the price of losing her voice. An excellent tale, that should be made into an animated feature.

Kylara - Strangers arrive in tall ships and make the world into a darker place to live. Great drama, sad, and yet fun to read. I like the title you chose very much.

Boneman - An old ship wreck becomes empowered by the blood of sacrifice, causing the galleon to become a living, frightening, flying vessel, then eerily vanishes. Spooky and delightfully creepy.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

We've made it to 42, and maybe we'll pick up one or two more, since there remains almost an hour and a half.

I've just glanced through the other entries for the first time, to make sure that mine was not too similar to any of them before posting. There are some wonderfully imaginative and creative stories here -- rather intimidating actually.

And it's going to be hard to choose when it comes time to vote.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

And it's going to be hard to choose when it comes time to vote.

And when is it not?

 

[The Judge]

I thought the same -- and the diversity is incredible, too. I'm not looking forward to having to draw up a short list.

 

[Boneman]

I thought the same -- and the diversity is incredible, too. I'm not looking forward to having to draw up a short list.

So you'd second Juliana's idea of ten votes...? I didn't put her up to it, honest...

 

[Lenny]

Personally, I feel that if we have one vote for 75 word entries, then we should at least have four votes for 300 word entries (though I swear this one vote thing for 75 word challenges is new).

 

[Ursa major]

It's about as new as the competition**, Lenny. (We've had a few special occasions when three votes were allowed in the 75-worders.)







** - The thread in which that post resides contained a poll: apparently those wanting only one vote won over those craving two.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

The thread in which that post resides contained a poll: apparently those wanting only one vote won over those craving two.

Though some who went for one vote recanted ... I am remembering one of them in particular.

 

[Lenny]

Well *I* never voted for it!

I guess I must have voted in the 300 word challenge before now, because I'm sure I've participated in a three-vote vote.

Either way, I still say we should four times as many votes because we're voting on four times as many words.

 

[Ursa major]

I guess I must have voted in the 300 word challenge before now, because I'm sure I've participated in a three-vote vote.

There have been a limited number of three-vote 75-word challenges. For special occasions only, though.

Either way, I still say we should four times as many votes because we're voting on four times as many words.

Think of the consequences, though: just imagine what elections would be like if the number of words spoken affected how many votes one could give to a candidate.

(On the other hand, if we only get the one vote, we should demand 75-word election statements. )

 

[The Spurring Platty]

It's a bit late for this quarter, perhaps, but a reminder for late entries and for the next challenge -- check your word count by hand. We've just had to pull a very good story which went over word count -- the computer count would have made it 300 but finger power, actually checking the words themselves, made it 302.

I was almost certain this was going to be me.
After cutting and pasting my story, I found numerous places where the text editor decided that a compound word was more appropriate than the more traditional separation of nouns and verbs. I was afraid I had missed a few of them.

 

[Ursa major]

The Challenge is now closed for entries and the voting is open. To cast your votes, use the link below.

Please vote for your top three choices; note that all three votes must be cast at the same time to count.
​

 

[Culhwch]

Gah! The first time I've ever missed a deadline! And I even had a story ready, just wanted to let it sit and give it a final re-read before I posted, and then it completely slipped my mind this morning...

 

[Ursa major]

That's a shame, Cul.

Having a deadline in what must be the middle of your morning can't have helped matters.