DISCUSSION -- June 2015 75-word Writing Challenge

[Xenosia]

Ratsy, I just noticed you joined Chrons on my birthday. ^^ Thanks for the warm welcoming as well. It's very comforting to know you all are such a fantastic group of individuals.

I'd also like to thank you, Victoria, for that wonderful review. Many thanks all around really.

@Paul-S There's no need to feel awkward. There are all kinds of peeps here like the entries to these challenges. Many of which don't mind you tagging along in a previous/current conversation. I surly don't mind it. Welcome to Chrons and the monthly challenges as well.

 

[Parson]

As to the variety of posts that can win the 75 (and other) challenges, there seems to be no rhyme or reason. If the things that Victoria mentioned are present, we've had all manner of stories and poems win the challenge. There have been a few times when one has seemingly out-shown the competition but even then there has never been a winner with anything approaching 50% of the vote. You'd have to talk to one of our statisticians, Chris being the foremost but I don't think that there's even been a winner with 25% of the vote. My point? Well, as there are a lot of different characters here, there are also a lot of people to whom different stories resonate. (I've been in the 75 from the beginning.)

 

[Vaz]

Variety is the spice of life

 

[marmalade]

I must have left the portal into chrons open or something . People just keep popping up!

Veteran chroners, is there some kind of newcomers-to-the-challenges record being broken this month?

 

[Xenosia]

I've been around a few months after finally appealing to Karn to allow me entrance to Chrons. It's quite a story, but one for another time.

Anyway, I've tried two other challenges before this one. I must say that my entry here is probably my best one thus far.

 

[ratsy]

Ratsy, I just noticed you joined Chrons on my birthday.

You are almost 7 years old then...*kidding of course*

Glad to see new people enter, and continue to enter. It is a good sign

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I am a bit curious to know if certain flavors or styles of writing tend to win these challenges. Based on the ones I have read, the winning entries seem to be quite varied, but I'd be interested to know what the peanut gallery thinks.

Well, you can always take a look at the 75-word Challenge Honor Roll thread to see all the previous winners, and decide for yourself!

 

[chrispenycate]

Xenosia -- A dazzling display of verbal fireworks.

Phyrebrat -- A powerful image of a strange and terrifying miracle.

__________________________________________________________________________

Paul_S: All kinds of entries have won. Stories and poems, funny or serious. Some factors which are important in determining which one to vote for:

1. Technical quality: Avoid typographical errors, poor use of grammar and punctuation (unless it is deliberate and an important part of the entry, of course), and so on.

2. Appropriateness: The entry should fit both the theme and the genre.

3. Writing skill: The entry should be vivid, emotionally powerful, clear without being overly obvious, and a pleasure to read.

4. Originality: The writer should exercise imagination and come up with something new.

5. The entry should be a complete story, not just a description or the excuse for a joke.
Not obvious within seventy-five words or fewer (although most of you are 'and less).

 

[Xenosia]

A story doesn't need to have any set rhyme or reason for when happenings go on. While it's true my entry was, and seemingly to many (most likely) only a description, it does in fact have a story. Though, seeing it is up to the ones who read it.

Still, everyone has their own opinion. That is why I'd like to express my own here momentarily. The challenges shouldn't need to be so serious, in my opinion. They are there for individuals to test their mettle and enjoy themselves. Not only that, but to be inspired by the creativity and desire held by those of similar aspirations. One's own opinion of whether or not something is following the guidelines/rules is a subjective evaluation of a entry, as nobody can ever clearly see or view every possible of what the creator/author was possibly getting at.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Oh, absolutely -- and that's why we don't remove stories on the basis of any of those guidelines. Each voter is free to determine whether a story follows the guidelines that they feel are important. Some of us are more strict than others about whether something is a complete story or a snippet, or whether punctuation, spelling and grammar matter, and how well a story may adhere to theme and genre, in our own voting.

But the challenge is not to win, the challenge is to enter. Everyone who enters has met the challenge, and not everyone is completely serious about it.

 

[Xenosia]

Thus why I enjoy posting my own entries and reading others. These challenges are not there for the purpose to win, but so much more. Something I feel is rather unique and I respect that.

 

[Paul_S]

As to the variety of posts that can win the 75 (and other) challenges, there seems to be no rhyme or reason. If the things that Victoria mentioned are present, we've had all manner of stories and poems win the challenge. There have been a few times when one has seemingly out-shown the competition but even then there has never been a winner with anything approaching 50% of the vote. You'd have to talk to one of our statisticians, Chris being the foremost but I don't think that there's even been a winner with 25% of the vote. My point? Well, as there are a lot of different characters here, there are also a lot of people to whom different stories resonate. (I've been in the 75 from the beginning.)

I did notice that in the polls. I want to say most winners were even under 10%. Apparently readers are an eclectic bunch, who'd have guessed? (As a related aside, most of my job involves statistics - I'm a risk analyst. Wasn't expecting that there'd be many stat folks around here!)

But the challenge is not to win, the challenge is to enter. Everyone who enters has met the challenge, and not everyone is completely serious about it.

Great point. Though admittedly, I'm the sort who'll probably take it seriously, at least at first. =)

 

[chrispenycate]

I must have left the portal into chrons open or something . People just keep popping up!

Veteran chroners, is there some kind of newcomers-to-the-challenges record being broken this month?

Until now there are only four newcomers this month. The record is 17 in August 2010, but that's explicable as it was very close to the beginning (apart from the first challenge, obviously, which had 43 newcomers, as it was starting from scratch). But even last month had eight, best since September 2012.

I did notice that in the polls. I want to say most winners were even under 10%. Apparently readers are an eclectic bunch, who'd have guessed? (As a related aside, most of my job involves statistics - I'm a risk analyst. Wasn't expecting that there'd be many stat folks around here!)

It is unfortunate I can't attach the enormous soggy spreadsheet with the history of the challenges - should you so desire, PM me an eMail address and I will transfer it to you.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Great point. Though admittedly, I'm the sort who'll probably take it seriously, at least at first. =)

We'll cure you of that in no time. Well, maybe not with the Challenges, but just hanging around here in general.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Culhwch -- A grim tale of schemes and counterschemes.

 

[Luiglin]

But the challenge is not to win, the challenge is to enter. Everyone who enters has met the challenge, and not everyone is completely serious about it.

I feel a virtual finger pointing in my direction

The aim of the game is fun and to challenge yourself. A mention is nice, a vote nicer, a win? Well never got that far as my entries are never serious enough to tickle everyones proverbial fancy... where is the 'fancy' anyway?

So make something up, write it out and post away.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Without being the competitive one in the corner - they are also a competition. I try to hone whatever I enter as professionally as I can. Although often I just have fun with the theme. In terms of percentage wins I'm not sure about the 75er but the 300 has had winners with over 50 per cent of the vote, I think - @Hex's The Dream Factory springs to mind.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Phyre – A long awaited fulfilment of prophecy, hope for peace and better times, but can this really be the answer when born in armour and blood.

Cul – Never trust the words and promises of greedy power hungry wizards, everything they do is for one end – their own.

 

[marmalade]

@Jo Zebedee I just took a look at the entry you mentioned, and I can see why it did so well, that is one cracker of a story! Nicely done Hex.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

HareBrain -- An ironic tale of poor decisions and their consequences.