Writing challenges on this site.

[nixie]

I've had to pull one of my entries.

Oh and we are unbribable unless its a £100, 000, 000 in used notes stuffed in a plain envelope

 

[The Judge]

So we've upped our rates again, have we, nixie? That is going to be one very big envelope...

 

[Luiglin]

And on that: It always puzzles me when the challenge goes up and by the end of the first day there are 4 or 5 entries. I think; 'Really? Is that the best you can make it?' because we're advised to sit on our first drafts of our novels and shorts for a few weeks at least, before going back to edit them with a fresh set of eyes. It seems like a knee jerk reaction. But then, that is just my perception - other people may just enjoy the process of writing a 75 word entry and then submitting it immediately.
pH

I enjoy the intensity of writing a 75 in a short time; for me it's half the fun. Hence I'm normally one of the those who post early. Could I sit on an entry and think more? Quite possibly but then I'd start to over think it and for me that's not what a 75 should be. It's all about that initial stream of conscious. Where I have sat on an idea the end result has often been a poor imitation of my original work when read at a later date.

Now the 300 is different. I still write it early but the enforced delay in posting allows tweaks to be made.

Then again, my record in these challenges is pretty abysmal, so by all means ignore the above.

Edit: as a thought to under pressure writing. The 3k word competition I won earlier this year was done in around three days including editing (unforced as I only noticed the competition just before the closing date). So it can sometimes work.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Then again, my record in these challenges is pretty abysmal, so by all means ignore the above.

Me too!

pH

 

[TheDustyZebra]

And on that: It always puzzles me when the challenge goes up and by the end of the first day there are 4 or 5 entries. I think; 'Really? Is that the best you can make it?' because we're advised to sit on our first drafts of our novels and shorts for a few weeks at least, before going back to edit them with a fresh set of eyes. It seems like a knee jerk reaction. But then, that is just my perception - other people may just enjoy the process of writing a 75 word entry and then submitting it immediately.

I think the exact same thing -- but then I realize that I DO the exact same thing at the other end of the Challenges.

 

[Judderman]

It was October. I had submitted a 300 word story of such magnificence that images of publishers knocking on my door were blossoming into fruition in my dreams. Glory was surely mine. One week later it happened. I received a message from an admin. My story was pulled for being over count due to words connected with dots and counted as one. I held up my fist and shook it at the sky. Curse you ellipsis!

Curses, my above prose is 76 words! (


Seriously overall the reasoning makes sense that if people could edit their long submissions and resubmit it could encourage some laziness in the submissions and count checking.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

It always puzzles me when the challenge goes up and by the end of the first day there are 4 or 5 entries. I think; 'Really? Is that the best you can make it?'

As one of those who usually posts on the first day, I would say...huh? There are obviously many ways for people to approach these challenges, and the path any person chooses for their own writing is the choice that is best for them. I would think many of us consider the 75 worder as almost a flash fiction challenge, and feel reaction is the best path to this type of story telling; I have no pretensions of creating art, but I will say it's very possible to create a 75-word story that meets the majority of the challenge goals in just an hour or so (most of the time taken up by word-culling). I won't say I always do it successfully, but does anyone always succeed in these challenges? I do not feel comfortable saying how any other person should approach this sort of task; to be honest, sometimes someone such as Ashleyne or Victoria will post - within the opening hours of the challenge - a story that thrills me. Now that's a successful challenge effort, in my book.

 

[Shyrka]

And on that: It always puzzles me when the challenge goes up and by the end of the first day there are 4 or 5 entries. I think; 'Really? Is that the best you can make it?' because we're advised to sit on our first drafts of our novels and shorts for a few weeks at least, before going back to edit them with a fresh set of eyes. It seems like a knee jerk reaction. But then, that is just my perception - other people may just enjoy the process of writing a 75 word entry and then submitting it immediately.
pH

It doesn't seem to matter how long I sit on mine - no matter what I do, I inevitably stare at the initial product for days/hours/weeks/whatever, unable to think of anything to change or add. When I'm exhausted and tired of the sight of its mocking, unchanging face, I submit it, only for it to turn around (after about an hour, naturally) and whisper the secrets it has cruelly held from me.

I'm sure that's not strictly true, but it certainly feels that way! Also, I tend to try to get the 75s done and dusted when I'm busy on other things like the 300 or secret story gubbins - there's only so much space in my head.

 

[Cory Swanson]

I haven't mastered the 75 by any means. I always seem to do much better on the anon 100 or the 300. Maybe they're more open ended? I seem to get caught up trying to fit a genre. My strength seems to be the surreal.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I think the exact same thing -- but then I realize that I DO the exact same thing at the other end of the Challenges.

I've won as often with a quick post as one I've laboured over. Editing can sometimes kill the energy.

 

[Luiglin]

I've won as often with a quick post as one I've laboured over. Editing can sometimes kill the energy.

Same here.

I've lost as often with a quick post as one I've laboured over. Editing can sometimes kill the energy

 

[Cathbad]

Had to read these twice to make sure it wasn't a double-post!

 

[Judderman]

Maybe consider a speed story contest. 24 hours to submit. That will cut down the unfair advantage of all the extra work some of the later submitters put in

 

[Ursa major]

Maybe consider a speed story contest. 24 hours to submit.

Most of my entries -- including the 300-worders -- are written well within 24 hours of the deadline. (I've been known -- until this moment, just by me -- to be constructing the poll in parallel with working my story out.... )

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Most of my entries -- including the 300-worders -- are written well within 24 hours of the deadline. (I've been known -- until this moment, just by me -- to be constructing the poll in parallel with working my story out.... )

Me too -- it's almost always safe to assume I had no idea whatsoever until the day I wrote it, which is generally the day it's due.

 

[ratsy]

One day I'll get TDZ to write a novel by telling her its due at midnight..

 

[Phyrebrat]

Yeah TDZ... write a novel, innit!

pH

 

[Judderman]

Most of my entries -- including the 300-worders -- are written well within 24 hours of the deadline. (I've been known -- until this moment, just by me -- to be constructing the poll in parallel with working my story out.... )

Excellent, with a 24 hour time limit you could keep the same method!

 

[Phyrebrat]

I just decided to join the club and try a speed-entry.

I feel sick now

pH