DISCUSSION THREAD - AUGUST 2021 75 Word Writing Challenge

[Victoria Silverwolf]

JS Wiig: One never knows how long a search may take until it is well underway.

 

[Karn's Return]

These comments leave me worried that I have completely misunderstood your stories. Here's hoping I'm wrong about that!

No, Parson, you are quite right in "interesting" things going to happen...I do not know if it would be considered an influence to describe anything....

 

[BT Jones]

It certainly wasn't meant as criticism @Parson. I think there's a fine line between clearly underlining the meaning / purpose / punchline of a story, and leaving it open to interpretation. I felt the closing line I originally had was too explicit as to what the story meant and reduced its impact. What I didn't consider was that a reduced impact was better than no impact at all!!!

Reading it back now makes it look as if my 'heroic' character just didn't do a very good job of setting his bomb.

I suspect many of us have come to view yours and Victoria's reviews as a bit of a litmus test as to whether our stories have worked or not, which seems a little bit of an encumbrance in hindsight. You guys put yourselves out there every month, and here I am hiding behind my keyboard with my lips stapled. For me, if I don't understand a story (which is very, very often), I get to shrug, pass no comment, and not vote for it, which is probably a disservice to the writer.

Maybe we should have a separate thread for indecipherable stories, and people that don't understand them can just flag the author so they can respond and explain. It certainly doesn't have to be a negative thing. I'd much rather someone told me they didn't understand my story than to say nothing and have it fly straight over their heads. Maybe that's the exact purpose of the 'improve your stories' thread.

Having said that, it's an awkward question to ask if you're the writer with no votes and no comments: 'hi there, did everyone not get my story, or did everyone just not like it?'

I'm probably thinking too much...

 

[nixie]

I'd say thinking too much.

The challenge is a challenge. Everyone interprets stories differently and we only have one vote, if occasionally we don't get a mention or a vote doesn't mean no one liked or understood it, more likely they didn't want to long a short list.

It's an achievement to write a coherent story in 75 words and if we do think maybe if fell short, that's what the improving our 75 stories thread is for.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

It's a tricky business critiquing the critique and as we know it's frowned upon on this site in general.

If the writer has been tooooooo subtle in their twists and turns that the reader misses them: whose fault is it?

The writer or the reader.

In this respect I'm guilty in both respects.

I often dismiss stories because when voting because I tend to read them, as opposed to absorbing them and in so doing, completely miss the obvious subtleties therein.

Later in the improving our stories thread a writer will ask why no one got the fact, say that the Queen was her father's brother and we all groan for missing the obvious earlier twist. When revealed the story changes from being a something only fit for the back of toilet paper, to a work worthy of a missing Shakespeare play.

I sometimes stand back in amazement that some of our voters actually see and understand all these masterworks. They must spend hours researching the intricate details of such things as the reaction time of a newt's eyeball* , to find some of these mysteries. It makes me wonder if some of them need to get out more.

* 0.5 ms

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

mosaix: Sometimes it's the little things that matter.

 

[paranoid marvin]

The great thing about having two reviewers is that you have a couple of different aspects on your entry. Combine that with shortlistings, votes and then the opportunity to have your entry critiqued by other members, you will get a fair representation as to whether your story got it's message across clearly or not.

There are some great entries written that can only be understood if you have a knowledge of specific outside influences Without that knowledge they just appear to be well written pieces, often with an ending that doesn't seem to make much sense; whilst those 'in the know' will give a knowing smile elevate those entries further up their lists of potential votes and shortlistings.

I wrote a poem about Napoleon and the battle of Waterloo, which I thought was quite clever in the way that it twisted historical facts, but which didn't receive many votes. I was kindly critiqued by a member who reminded me that not everyone is familiar with European history. It's sometimes easy when you are overly familiar with a subject or genre to forget that there are lots of people on the forum who aren't , especially when it isn't science fiction or fantasy related.

 

[Astro Pen]

I've had one completely misinterpreted recently. To the point where it was bass ackwards ! (on one of the other challenges)
I think the thing is that, when we are writing, we pore over the story in fine detail several times, whilst the voters are skimming through maybe 30 stories at once and miss nuances because they are already 'on to the next one'.
Maybe, I at least, need to think, great, but how does it read on a skim through? What key elements are picked up? Is there ambiguity?

 

[Karn's Return]

I think mine is pretty clear; perhaps a weakness of mine and maybe what holds me back in general; I’ve never been one for flowery language-one of the main reasons my opinion of Shakespeare’s work is so low. But perhaps being direct and blunt about things is a little…flat?

 

[nixie]

I think mine is pretty clear; perhaps a weakness of mine and maybe what holds me back in general; I’ve never been one for flowery language-one of the main reasons my opinion of Shakespeare’s work is so low. But perhaps being direct and blunt about things is a little…flat?

SLAP.

 

[Karn's Return]

Being serious and objective about it. I think of myself as a better world builder than anything, and I get a bit frustrated with myself over certain obstacles I’ve not yet found a way to overcome; that said, this scene I posted for the challenge just hints at things…

 

[Luiglin]

Ok, I've written two, a nice one and a not so nice one. Not sure which to jump with... time to get Word to read them out for me.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

nixie: One must take care to determine the truth of matters.

 

[BT Jones]

Ok, I've written two, a nice one and a not so nice one. Not sure which to jump with... time to get Word to read them out for me.

Word can do that? Or were you kidding?

 

[Luiglin]

Word can do that? Or were you kidding?

Both Word on Android and PC can read out documents. The latest android version is more realistic than the desktop version but both are good for picking up places where the sentences don't seem to flow. It's not perfect but better than nothing.

• Word for desktop - although for my version you have to add it on the Quick Access Toolbar in the top left and it's called Speak selected text + you need to highlight the text
• Word for android

 

[Parson]

@JS Wiig .... The Legend of the Legend of Legends .... In the final analysis a person has to search for the knowledge needed. It is not simply given.

@mosaix .... Through Other Eyes… .... Heroes and Legends come in all sort of styles and sizes, and all should be mourned.

@nixie .... Why Children Should Be Seen And Heard .... The insight of the least respected is often the most truth filled.

 

[BT Jones]

Both Word on Android and PC can read out documents. The latest android version is more realistic than the desktop version but both are good for picking up places where the sentences don't seem to flow. It's not perfect but better than nothing.

• Word for desktop - although for my version you have to add it on the Quick Access Toolbar in the top left and it's called Speak selected text + you need to highlight the text
• Word for android

Thanks @Luiglin. Hopefully I don't mistake the sound of my work read aloud with Fitter / Happier by Radiohead.

As for subtitles and lost meanings, everyone makes good points; I guess it's just a coin flip each time as to whether to let the cat out of the bag, or keep an ending more open to interpretation. I will definitely have to be more mindful of the fact that most readers (myself included) could be reviewing 35-50 stories, so won't have time to dig for truffles.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Word can do that? Or were you kidding?

Not only word but there is an addon (I've got it but can't find out how I installed it) that after installing allows you to click on its icon in the menu bar and it will read any text highlighted in any window. Trouble is, as I said, I can't find how I did it. I know I looked up text to speech on the wonderweb and found it and it was free. It does abetter job than the Word version becasue it has a nice lady english voice - I think you can change it that too.

The icon I click on is a little right facing triangle with wavey lines comming out of the pointy bit.

I'll try and find the app again and post a link if I do.

 

[Luiglin]

I went with the nice one. The other one was a bit too sour tasting according to my better half.

 

[Parson]

@Luiglin .... Good old days .... Some days are more legendary than others, and those days may well be remembered the rest of your life.