DISCUSSION -- January 2015 75 Word Writing Challenge

[Ursa major]

The challenge is up here.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Thank you for taking care of this for me. With my very limited computer skills, I'm afraid I would have made a mess of things.

I trust this theme and genre will be open to all sorts of possibilities.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Ooooooh, @Boneman, @Mouse, tis romancey stuff.... Nice one, Victoria.

 

[Parson]

Are we off to a pre-valentine's challenge? A love story, that does leave one a lot of choices.

 

[Juliana]

Love amongst the trampled New Years streamers... I like it!

 

[jastius]

Wow...good one Victoria!

Ummm gonna have to be very careful with this one.. (Shoehorning family friendly romanticking into seventy five words..) Hmmm.. Thinking's..

 

[Alex The G and T]

Whirlwind romance, to be sure.

 

[Cli-Fi]

The first contest I could possibly do and it's about my least favorite genre?? Booo. I think I'll pass on this one. I'll wait for next months. Because I want to try to to this. Is anybody watching the Affair? I usually hate romance, but this has a great story mixed inside as well!!!

Although, while not specifically romance. I have an idea for an opening for my second novel in a possible series I could include. Maybe... I'll have to see if it will qualify as romance...

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Also, the theme isn't romance - there are many kinds of love...

 

[Perpetual Man]

Well this is a bit different. I think I have the start of an idea, which is good.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Admittedly, it goes well together, but...

 

[Cascade]

OK, quick question from a new member, and probably answered many times before.

I see from the rules that the 300 word challenges are specifically 'SciFi, Fantasy or Speculative fiction.'

There is no such stipulation on the 75 word challenge, but it needs to meet the monthly theme and genre specifications. Does that mean that, notwithstanding this being a SFF Community we are given more latitude on the 75 word challenge, or should I give one of my characters a completely superfluous set of wings just to stay on point?

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

The thing is, Cascade, the winner of the 75 dictates what the theme and genre of the next month. However, that is not true of the 300.

 

[HareBrain]

Does that mean that, notwithstanding this being a SFF Community we are given more latitude on the 75 word challenge, or should I give one of my characters a completely superfluous set of wings just to stay on point?

If the genre is non-sff (for example, hardboiled/noir as last month) then no SFF element is necessary.

(Personally, if the genre is non-SFF I tend to prefer no SFF elements, but that's just me.)

 

[The Judge]

Does that mean that, notwithstanding this being a SFF Community we are given more latitude on the 75 word challenge, or should I give one of my characters a completely superfluous set of wings just to stay on point?

That's right. Since the 300 has a real tangible prize for first place, as opposed to solely the dignified congratulations/grovelling admiration, we thought we needed to stay true to the SFF ethos of the Chrons, hence the requirement there. But for the 75 worders, anything goes** when it comes to a winner choosing the next genre -- we've had some tricky ones ("In the Style of Rudyard Kipling" won't be forgotten in a hurry) and some which are completely open (ie any genre at all allowed), as well as all kinds of SFF permutations (eg paranormal romance, magic realism). So no wings required this month!


** well, not anything... We (ie the mods) do vet the ideas in advance to avoid themes and genres which might be ... um... problematic...

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Ugh...remembering that...


Still, it happens sometimes...

 

[mosaix]

"In the Style of Rudyard Kipling" won't be forgotten in a hurry

Nothing wrong with that one at all.

 

[chrispenycate]

Why, thank you, Mosaix. And I would say that the standard of the stories we got would support your opinion.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

@willwallace - nice entry!

 

[mosaix]

Why, thank you, Mosaix. And I would say that the standard of the stories we got would support your opinion.

Chris, I distinctly remember that morning. I got out of bed, made myself a coffee, turned on my PC and navigated to the new 75 word challenge thread only to have my eager anticipation replaced by absolute dread. But the 75 and 300 worders are supposed to be challenges and that month taught me that nothing is impossible providing you put some thought and effort into it. So thanks!