DISCUSSION -- JULY 2017 300-word Writing Challenge (#26)

[Ursa major]

Can we hope it doesn't involve stately pleasure domes

So that means we can have:

“Insane Ado," bid Koo Black-Arne.
“A stake’s a pleasure—“ “Done!” decreed
Were-Alf, the secret river fan,
Threw taverns (‘Measure less for Man’),
Downed two: a sinless spree.

[...]

His lashing guys, he’ll float on air!”
Weaver circled, drowned his mice.
And closer ice, with all he’d read,
For aeons, Honeydew half-read,
And ranked them, Ilk of Para’s dice.​

 

[Stable]

You still have about 240 words left to use Ursa, don't stop now!

 

[Ursa major]

You still have about 240 words left to use Ursa, don't stop now!

I didn't stop.

The bit in the middle -- well the whole thing -- can be found in this Critiques thread...



...and (setting aside that it would be ineligible due to its existing presence on the Chrons) it's over 300 words long and there is, of course, no way it could be edited down....


Oh, and as TJ pointed out at the time:

No character development though. Or much plot...

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I didn't stop.

The bit in the middle -- well the whole thing -- can be found in this Critiques thread...

I don't recall seeing that at the time. Probably just as well.

 

[Ursa major]

Now for something rather more important:

The Challenge is open for entries!​

 

[Stable]

That was a fun read Ursa, thanks! I feel mentally cross-eyed, but in a good way.

Also, story posted. I can relax now!

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks.

I now noticed that I said the following later in that thread:

I had originally only intended to play with the first ten lines (so that they came within the 75-word limit).

What was I thinking? Entering something like that in the first ever 75-word challenge?!

But those were weird times. For example, my actual entry in that challenge was introduced with the line,

As we're all plunging in early, I might as well join in.

Plunging in early?! (My entry was posted on the 7th, and the challenge was only opened on the 5th.)

I must have been ill or something.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

That's a really nice start to the challenge, Stable...an intriguing and well-written story, with a taste of mystery. Well done!

 

[Stable]

Thanks CC!

 

[Cat's Cradle]

I've realized that - when one has no ideas yet for a story - it is hazardous to read the terrific tales that have already been posted. Still have three weeks though...that's a lot of time, right?
Love the inspiration photo!

 

[Luiglin]

OK, my Dr Suess effort went from nice and jaunty to... well... not nice and jaunty.

 

[Heijan Xavier]

I'm channeling my inner @chrispenycate for this one. Double barrel sonnetoids coming up!

 

[Ursa major]

I've realized that - when one has no ideas yet for a story - it is hazardous to read the terrific tales that have already been posted.

This why I do my best not to get involved in the word count checking duties.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

I tell you - being mildly OCD is another reason to not get involved with word counts. It's tragic how many times I recount.

 

[Luiglin]

I tell you - being mildly OCD is another reason to not get involved with word counts. It's tragic how many times I recount.

Do you get another voice in your head saying other numbers to put you off? I do.

If the count matches in Word and Google Docs that's good enough for me

 

[Ashleyne]

If the count matches in Word and Google Docs that's good enough for me

I'm the same. I used to count through 5 or 6 times, but nowadays I put my faith in an online word counter.

 

[Ursa major]

It's tragic how many times I recount.

Tell me about it:

1. using Word's wordcount;
2. using Word's grammar checker's wordcount;
3. counting individual lines while moving backwards through the text (printed on a paper copy), then adding them to give paragraph counts and then the total (the last only after stage 4 below);
4. counting (and marking, on a paper copy) groups of five and ten words moving forward through the text...

...and repeating even after only removing a word (or replacing one, or adding one in one place and removing another from somewhere else).


Luckily, I've got quite fast at doing all this, which is just as well: I find it hard not to tinker with the text... even after posting (which means copying the text back into Word and going through the counting process all over again...).


At this point, posting very late in the challenge helps: it provides a set time beyond which I can't fiddle with the text (a great boon for someone whose attempts at editing would not be stopped by the software after a set period, which means that I could easily disqualify myself by editing beyond the normal 1-hour editing window).

 

[HoopyFrood]

I actually take part in the 73 word challenge every month; no amount of counting and using word counter programs would convince me that my story is exactly 75 words long! And 74 is too close for comfort, too.

 

[Ursa major]

Whatever we mods tell other people (when asked), I treat all my hyphens as if they were spaces.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Yes, I did just like everything! It's somehow comforting to know it's not just me, *sigh*.

Ursa, I feel your pain. I'm so happy when I get to the point where I reach the same total counting the text backward as I do forward (to whomever might be having similar word count problems, counting from end to beginning is a nice tip; it's amazing how different those blocks of words look when you count them in reverse).

And Hoopy, wow! I enter the 298 word challenge every three months! With 298, my word count would have to be off by not one...not two...but by three words for my story to be disqualified. I can live with that. (I've entered a few stories at 300 words, and it was quite nerve-racking.)

This probably sounds worse than it is, for me. But now, and in the future, I'll wish folks good luck with the writing, and the counting.

ps - Luiglin - yes, there are voices!