Discussion - 300 Word Challenge #11

[TheDustyZebra]

I almost forgot -- I wanted to mention, just in case anyone was interested, Verlin was a real guy, paraplegic, who did indeed paint with a brush in his teeth. He was a friend of my grandparents', and I have two of his paintings. The Challenge picture reminded me of one of them, just because of all the green, and I started thinking about that twisty tree and his twisty, gnarled hands.

Verlin's painting technique was intriguing, because he had to have someone move the canvas for him and he could only reach a small portion at any time -- so he painted from left to right. Instead of doing the background and adding the foreground objects, he just started at one side of the canvas and completed each bit as he went across. When he got to the right side, he was done.

Anyway, that's how I got that story out of that picture.

 

[ratsy]

Like I said when I gave you a vote, this story really tugged at me. Now I can see how you tapped into something great there. Well done, he sounds like quite the person.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

He was -- I didn't really know him, just met him a couple of times. He seemed like an old man when I was a kid, but looking at a picture in the album, I realize he was probably about 35. I think he was in a car accident. But everything I've ever heard about him says he was always upbeat, didn't let it get him down, spent his time cheering other people up. And learned to paint! I can't imagine.

 

[The Judge]

I've just come back to repeat my thanks to everyone, Brian himself not least. My prize has arrived -- Tanith Lee's Night Master -- and I am beside myself with excitement! Thank you so much.


While I'm here, some more stats. The 34 entries for this Challenge was the lowest figure for this calendar year, which is a bit depressing, and we only had 5 new entrants, again the lowest for the year. As far as 2013 is concerned, we had 153 entries overall, and 27 new entrants, 157 voters and 458 votes. I managed to cling onto first place, with springs snapping at my heels on 33, then came Mouse with 23 votes (but in only 2 entries, damn her), 4th place goes to Victoria on 22, joint 5th were mosaix and Perp on 21 apiece, joint 7th alchemist and TDZ on 20, 9th Juliana with 19 and 10th Chris p on 15.

For the 11 Challenges to date, we've had a total of 450 entries by 144 entrants, with 1349 votes from 465 voters. Eight of us have completed all 11 Challenges, Boneman has missed only 1, and another 4 of us have missed only 2, though somewhat depressingly some 65 members have only entered one Challenge, and 26 have only entered twice (though admittedly some of those entered two times this year, so we can be hopeful they will stick around in 2014).

And we have some dramatic changes on the leader board since I last reported on the whole 2011-3 period -- mosaix has leapt up into joint 2nd place with Hex on 60, and Perp has vaulted into 4th place with 59 votes, pushing past alchemist who is now 5th on 57; springs has sprung to 6th on 54, TDZ has galloped up to 7th on 51, Mouse and Teresa have slipped back to joint 8th on 49, and rattling bones at 10th is Boneman on 48.

Lots of thrills and spills await us in 2014 I have no doubt. Congratulations to everyone who took part in 2013.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Enjoy the book. Fab stats. Darn that bridesmaid's dress is getting well worn.

I find I generally do better in the 300 worder and often wonder why. It's not the extra editing time -- I usually post the first version I've finalised, the same as in the 75er. I think it's because my stories tend to be very character-based and I struggle to give a character life and tell a story in 75 words (my mutant entry one month showed this well -- in the improving thread there were words TJ felt were superfluous, and probably were in 75 words, but which felt essential to me in invoking the characters.)

Anyone else have a favourite between them/one they consistently do better in?

 

[Mouse]

Anyone else have a favourite between them/one they consistently do better in?

Don't enter the 75 worder any more. When was the last time I entered it, even? (Stat master?)

So yes, much prefer the 300 worder. Prefer getting ideas from a picture than the themes in the 75er which, (don't hate me), I find a bit daft.

(but in only 2 entries, damn her)

I will try to enter more in 2014! I always think there's more 300 worders to enter than there is.

 

[HareBrain]

I seem to do better with 75 than 300. I don't feel comfortable with 300 words, for some reason. The length never seems enough to do anything really interesting (though other people somehow manage) but is long enough to require an offputting amount of effort.

 

[Ursa major]

I always think there's more 300 worders to enter than there is.

That'll be your subconscious mind telling you to enter the 75-worders.

 

[The Judge]

Don't enter the 75 worder any more.

Oi! Stop dissuading people from entering -- we need more entries, not fewer.

When was the last time I entered it, even? (Stat master?)

Good lord. April 2012! Get your finger out and enter the next one -- pretend the words are pictures!

I will try to enter more in 2014! I always think there's more 300 worders to enter than there is.

The "damn her" referenced the fact you'd got them in only 2 outings!


Re the difference between the 75s and 300s I don't prefer one to the other, or find one easier than the other -- both get left to the last minute nowadays and I'm desperately scratching around for ideas -- but I do think there's a difference in technique that is consequent upon the respective word limits. There's a necessary compression of thought in the 75 worders, which sometimes leads to obscurity; the 300s allow for room to breathe, but bring with them a requirement for proper story/plot development.


HB -- since you are undisputed King of the 75s there's no "seem" about it when it comes to votes, but much as I love your 75s, for me your Prague clock story beats them all. So I think the skill is there for the 300s, but you just don't practice that length enough!

 

[ratsy]

We don't need Mouse stealing all our votes! She can stay away from the 75 worders...

 

[Ursa major]

We don't need Mouse stealing all our votes! She can stay away from the 75 worders...

Excellent point.


* Sets mousetraps around the 75-worder zone. *

 

[chrispenycate]

Don't enter the 75 worder any more. When was the last time I entered it, even? (Stat master?)

You basically stopped with January 2012 having done a continuous sweep up to the previous October, and then did one (which got an impressive six votes) for the following April – your final offering so far.

Or were you waiting for her Honour?

 

[ratsy]

When the "challenge" stops being a challenge then it is no more fun I suppose...It will always be a challenge for some of us!