DISCUSSION -- July 2014 300-word Writing Challenge (#14)

[Starbeast]

Whew. I'm done. My idea came to me a couple of days ago. I'll check out everyone's tales when I can. I haven't looked yet, and I'm super curious to see what everyone else came up with for the photo.

 

[The Judge]

I imagine anyone who drops in here will also read the 75 Word Discussion thread, but in case not, here's a link to a post I made there about discussing the stories, which applies equally to the 300 Challenge.

And to start off, I was thinking about Juliana's story, and her use in it of a few Portuguese words which I really liked since, for me, it added a rustic feel to the narrator's voice, though heaven knows why, since it's a language spoken in the large cities the younger girl is running away to! Oddly, I don't think I'd have got the same impression from many other European languages -- Spanish, perhaps, or something like Basque or Provencal (if I recognised them) -- and any non-European I'd be unable to interpret so it would have been meaningless. Am I the only one with this linguistic discrimination?! (Aline I found odd, though, as the only time I've come across it as a name is in the Ellis Peter's Brother Cadfael books, so to me it's very English!)

 

[Mouse]

Alright then. The title of mine is from something. A virtual cream tea to anybody who gets it.

 

[The Judge]

Ah, it was so ... um... odd, that I assumed it was a quote from a song lyric or something of the kind, but I'm hopeless at them, so no cream tea for me.


I got farntfar's though! And I recognised the reference in alc's, so does that warrant a virtual garibaldi biscuit?

 

[HoopyFrood]

Mouse -- It's the end of the world as we know it

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Of course it is.

Well, I'll give the feedback I gave privately then. I love Alc's story, with a passion. If he wrote the novel I'd read it. (Well, I do owe him four... )

Am I allowed to say, then, that I didn't expect my character to be bi, but it seemed to suit them and that I think it's the sort of thing we shy away from in case we're seen as doing it to be outre or pc and not because people just are these things.

 

[Mouse]

Can I say that the last couple of paras of alc's confused the b'Jesus outta me until I realised the narrator wasn't a dude?

For Hoops:

 

[Ashleyne]

I’ve been wanting to explain the reasons for writing my story, but I didn’t want to come across as being self-indulgent.

I ran away from home for two months at the age of fifteen. Shortly after returning home, I was taking a bath, when somebody burst through the locked door and attempted to forcibly drown me. Luckily, my dad rescued me.

Recently, I was triggered into re-experiencing this event and it made me moody for a week or so. This moody re-experiencing had a big impact on the writing of my story.

 

[Remedy]

Well I'll add some early comments about Phyrebrat's entry, which I really enjoyed: I found that a second read brought out a really nice handful of subtle gems missed in a first read. I like it when a short story keeps giving!

I hadn't taken that your character was bi, springs. I thought that their "loving well," was a different love for each other, and especially Tom, born out of their companionship through horrific ordeals... I don't want to goad you into the mod-wrath territory though

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I probably left it open to interpretation, to be fair, Remedy. Shall say no more.

 

[Juliana]

TJ, glad you liked the use of Portuguese; it just felt right, somehow. As for the name, its actually quite common in Brazil, though no idea about Portugal. Pronounced Ah-lee-neh.

(Love the Cadfael books, by the way!)

 

[alchemist]

Ah, it was so ... um... odd, that I assumed it was a quote from a song lyric or something of the kind, but I'm hopeless at them, so no cream tea for me.


I got farntfar's though! And I recognised the reference in alc's, so does that warrant a virtual garibaldi biscuit?

Oo-er, now I'm anxious I was trying a couple of things in the story, but references may be to themes and certain historical periods rather than anything more specific (although it did remind me of a TV programme I barely watched!). But we'll talk about that at the end!

And thanks to springs for the nice words, and I'm glad to see Ashleyne using a horrible experience for inspiration, and hence beating it!

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I didn't expect my character to be bi, but it seemed to suit them

I know that feeling -- my last 300 did that, for some reason. The couple who came to look at the house with the portal-statue just wanted to be Michael and Henry. So they were.

Yours kind of turned me in circles as I worked out the relationships, going back and forth to read it again as I figured it out in bits.

Can I say that the last couple of paras of alc's confused the b'Jesus outta me until I realised the narrator wasn't a dude?

Yes, I had that problem, too! Same as with springs', I had to go back and look it over with the new knowledge.

Alright then. The title of mine is from something. A virtual cream tea to anybody who gets it.

I got it, I got it, I want some of that stuff!

Recently, I was triggered into re-experiencing this event and it made me moody for a week or so. This moody re-experiencing had a big impact on the writing of my story.

Ashleyne, how awful for you! But as alc says, it's good that you can beat it.

TJ, glad you liked the use of Portuguese; it just felt right, somehow.

I loved the Portuguese, too. It really gave a nice voice to the piece.


As for my 300, well, it's about ... wait. I have no idea, because I haven't written it yet. Can anyone explain what mine is about? Quickly?

Oh, and while I'm here, has anyone noticed what mosaix is doing?

 

[ratsy]

TDZ, your story involves a goat, surfboard and a robust Cabernet Savignon...doesn't it?

 

[TheDustyZebra]

It does now!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I read Gone Girl and could not get into it until I read the end and knew who did what. Once I knew where it was going I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Dusty, a Davey Tennant cameo is also required. You know it is.

Ashleyne, what Alc said so well. And a virtual hug.

 

[Mouse]

I got it, I got it, I want some of that stuff!

You can have one with the cream and jam on the wrong way around.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Oh, thank you! Being an ignorant American, I wouldn't know the difference. And I love carnations.

Ok, so my story is about a goat, a surfboard, a robust bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, and David Tennant. It's getting better and better! I can't wait to see what I write.

 

[The Judge]

And I recognised the reference in alc's, so does that warrant a virtual garibaldi biscuit?

Oo-er, now I'm anxious I was trying a couple of things in the story, but references may be to themes and certain historical periods rather than anything more specific

Now I'm anxious...

I was thinking of the Jeff Bridges film. I know the story isn't the same, but I saw it as a kind of twisted** homage.


** twisted as in back to front/upside down, not in a Psycho sense. Though...

 

[alchemist]

I was thinking of the appalling TV series (although everyone else seemed to like it) with Robert Hayes, as I was writing it.

But Psycho sense... I'm happy with that