DISCUSSION -- OCTOBER 2018 300-word Writing Challenge (#31)

Thanks so much for the encouraging words. It’s done. I’ve tweaked it a bit, but I think it is finished.

Now you have three more days to tweak some more, and also to count the words again and again, backward and forward, and by hand. Don't trust software to do it for you. If you have any that you aren't sure of (hyphenated things, oddly punctuated alien things, made-up words), feel free to inquire of a mod. There's only an hour for editing after it's posted, and we HATE pulling stories for being over the limit.

I woke up today with an idea for this story, myself, so the world may be coming to an end.
 
It is definitely under 300 words. It would be lovely if someone wouldn’t mind having a look at it before I post, if that is ok with the rules.
 
You know what happens when you get back to a story that you know had work to do but didn't think it was that much? You find out about a week later it really is that much. lol. Oh well.

After some tweaking, I will post it. Some parts don't make sense, a change of few words after I realized there were repeats, and some sentences that most likely could be cut without consequence.

It might be a little late but it will be up. I only hope it works. :D
 
Or for certain baked items a cool dry pantry is preferable. My naan used to make stuff and wang it in an old biscuit tin. Great cook.
 
I've got 14 words written so far,
12 of them are the title :(

Is the title

Two boats rowed round fences by weird looking people with no hats.

How wonderful that you'll be joining us over here in the Writing Challenges, elvet! No need to worry about composition skills or anything else -- if you enjoy writing the story and you're pleased with what you produce, that makes you a complete success!

Three things to bear in mind as you write:
  • the image is only there for inspiration, you don't have to explain it. Some voters (OK, just me) do like to see some kind of link between the image and the story, but even that's not required
  • the genre is SF, fantasy or other speculative fiction. Again some of us will want to see an element of not-real-life in the stories, but other voters don't care, so make of that what you will
  • be very careful about word count! If in doubt about a made-up word or one joined by a hyphen, either ask here or PM one of the Challenge mods
And if you want help with grammar, or just another pair of eyes to look over what you've written before you post your story, just put a note in here asking for assistance -- everyone is more than happy to help out.

I'm looking forward to reading your story! Good luck with it!

I too like a connection and if the genre calls for SF then SF should be in there too.

Lets say the picture has a sleek spaceship, blasting away at a planet with it's Splogwand disrupter with carnage and death and a body floating past the widows - the full space battle scene.

The winning story will doubtless be one of a small boy playing with his dog in the garden and his sister playing with her dolls (You can't beat a bit of none PC stereotyping). The tenuous link will be be the dad was the body floating past the window.
 
The winning story will doubtless be one of a small boy playing with his dog in the garden and his sister playing with her dolls (You can't beat a bit of none PC stereotyping). The tenuous link will be be the dad was the body floating past the window.
*tears up my story... starts again*
 
Titles aren't required, elvet, but we do recommend them since they're so useful, if only to give a hint of what the story is about, which helps to prepare the reader's mind -- and since they don't count towards the word limit, it's sometimes a way of getting in an explanation that one can't fit into the entry!

A title can also lift a story a little or give a twist on it, especially if it's a quotation or allusion of some kind. For instance, in my last 75 worder, I wrote about a double agent defecting and the risks he runs, but though nowhere do I mention where he's defecting from, I chose a quotation from The Winter's Tale of "Exit, Pursued by a Bear" which gives the broad hint that it's from Russia.

And I'm happy to look at your story, if you're worried about anything. Just PM me with it.
 
It's the 10th, and we all know what that means!!

The 300 Challenge thread is now open for entries.

Don't forget that the winner gets a prize this month -- a copy of

THE EMPYREUS PROJECT

by our very own loony loopy lagomorph


HareBrain

Here's a review to whet your appetite Review: The Empyreus Proof by Bryan Wigmore


Good luck, everyone!
 
Finally, the 10th! ;) I'm in, and elvet, Harliebunny, Cathbad - nice start to the challenge. Also, elvet, I think from posts you may have written The Escape before you wrote your 75 worder, so I want to say well done on your first-ever challenge entry! I really liked it.

Okay, now to wait out the hour so I cannot tinker anymore, then relax, and enjoy the other entries as they roll in. Good luck, all, with your writing, CC
 
Finally, the 10th! ;) I'm in, and elvet, Harliebunny, Cathbad - nice start to the challenge. Also, elvet, I think from posts you may have written The Escape before you wrote your 75 worder, so I want to say well done on your first-ever challenge entry! I really liked it.

Okay, now to wait out the hour so I cannot tinker anymore, then relax, and enjoy the other entries as they roll in. Good luck, all, with your writing, CC
You are correct. I did write the 300 worder first. I'm glad you liked it. I am a little nervous trying two stories out at once.
Nice start for everyone that has posted. I love seeing how the photo inspired everyone in a different way.
 

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