DISCUSSION THREAD -- October 2021 -- 300 Word Writing Challenge #43

[nixie]

Yes the rule is if you review the entries, you review them all.

 

[Marvin]

Review one, review them all. Is why I have only really posted in the discussion threads with my results and thoughts on those choices. Which is something everyone who lists their votes and faves should do in my opinion.

Premature discussion of the stories before voting closes allows others to inadvertently explain someone else’s story, take the earlier post about The Judges story about a boat name. I have yet to read the stories, so now when I come to that one, I will be looking out for that.
The problem with no discussion before voting closes, is that as soon as voting is over, the whole event feels finished?

All I know is, for most of us it’s a major victory just to get an entry in. And the amount of entries recently seems nice and healthy. Which is why I better get my finger out and start reading through this 11000 words.
Keep it up folks.

 

[Dan Jones]

Interesting that so many people derived climate-change stories from this month's image. Whereas, to my slight surprise, I was the only entry to have seen the very obvious image of an international sausage-eating competition in the reeds. Ah, well, it takes all sorts.

Anyway! The notable nonagon of narratives that made up my top nine for this month are as follows:

@BT Jones - bleak but sumptuous worldbuilding and shot through with a slice of dry wit.
@AnRoinnUltra - Just terrific. All the things that Sir Reginald likes: surreal geometry, bizarre fauna, and a punchline that's like a kick to the runticles.
@Cat's Cradle - IMO simply one of the greatest entries ever submitted to one of these challenges. So much is packed into such a short space, and it demands re-reading, which challenge entries rarely, if ever, do. I looked for things that might be improved upon, and found there none. Perfection.
@Phyrebrat - a beautiful vignette of the memories encapsulated in the deceased themselves. Traditions and collective memories wend their way through the stream of human consciousness before, during and after our lives. And I do hope the bowler hat was blue.
@mosaix - the cynicism of this depiction of stuffy bureaucrats doing stuffy bureaucratic things is shot through with a wicked dry wit, and a (literally) killer last line.
@sule - powerful imagery and descriptions paint a picture of an uncertain future.
@therapist - about time we had some more horror entries, and this one's exceedingly creepy, and a warning against the better angels of our nature, who might not always be as they appear.
@Venusian Broon - a fine and witty dive into a multiverse of possibilities, which turns the tables on not just the characters but the reader. And waterway to end!
@The Judge - An evocative and haunting piece of visual poetry on the banks of the Stygian passage to the great undiscovered country. But we do not have to make that journey until the time is right, and we should not spend our own time in search of lost time. The ferryman can wait, and wait he will. We should not.

I had to eat several sausages before deciding on my top three, but I am sufficiently encased to have decided that AnRoinnUltra, Cat's Cradle and The Judge shall receive my votes.

Maybe this is the answer. I've never met Phyrebrat, but have been told he's impeccably stylish.

Hmm.

It's much harder for me to express why I voted for 'The Travels of Sir Reginald Rigmarole, Part 94!' by @Dan Jones . It goes against what I usually look for in stories.
I didn't really know what I was reading, yet I loved it. The intention of this story was to be funny, and it succeeded in making me laugh. It's hard for a 300 story to elicit such a response.
Every sentence brimmed with the enjoyable and absurd comical voice. It was persistent, well executed, the author committed to it 100%, and it landed perfectly with me.

Well you've gone and done it now, @therapist, because now I've got an audience they're going to keep coming! But thank you; a good laugh is the best feedback I could hope for

Also...

I didn't really know what I was reading,

...this resonated with me, because I didn't really know what I was writing.

Re: reviews, I had a short-lived attempt at doing the reviews but I couldn't keep it up - it's a serious commitment to do it for every challenge, and it was too much for me. A shame as I enjoyed it. Now I tend to restrict my reviews to my favourite nine or ten stories from each challenge, as I've done above, as I can manage that. Plus I get to do it after the challenge has closed, which means I can circumvent the rule about not having to review all the entries (ain't no prison can hold me!).

I'd to see more talk during the discussion threads. Personally I don't mind what anybody says about my entries, be it good, bad, or bamboozled, and would welcome the comments. But I understand I'm relatively thick-skinned, and others aren't and may not want comments and criticisms coming in. And I know @Phyrebrat and I are buddies, but I'd love to be able to discuss entries such as his, which are clearly open to interpretation, and deserve a good going-over. Ditto for entries like CC's, whose entry this month was... well, I'd better not repeat myself or his head won't fit through his front door.

 

[BT Jones]

Ooh, thank you @Mouse for the stealth vote. I thought I'd missed out this month, so I am delighted to be on the scoreboard.

Nice to see some lively discussion about reviews and when to comment in threads and the like. I certainly second one of the comments: that I just don't have the time I used to have to peruse the various threads and forums. I also definitely feel very guilty at not reading the WIP people post (outside of the challenges) as I think the feedback here is wonderfully useful.

Life seems to be so much busier this year than last, and I'm not quite sure why. Maybe with each passing day I put that much more pressure on myself to finish my current WIP and try and make something of it, which is why it gets 90% of my spare time. Not sure if there are any others out there in the same boat.

But I will definitely say that the chrons is a safe, encouraging, and enjoyable space to converse and dabble in creative endeavors with a relatively broad spectrum of people across the world. I suspect there are many other forums out there that are not so conducive to mental well being.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Thanks so much, @Dan Jones, for the kind words on my story - it truly means a lot to me.
Also, I am having tee shirts quoting your review made up now, and I'll be distributing these to friends and family during the next several Holiday seasons. Thanks again.

Your post made me laugh throughout, and thanks for that. Favorite lines (and yes, I am reviewing a post rather than a story):

...to my slight surprise, I was the only entry to have seen the very obvious image of an international sausage-eating competition in the reeds.

~~~

I didn't really know what I was reading, yet I loved it.

Also...
...this resonated with me, because I didn't really know what I was writing.

So funny.
~~~

I will try to be better about including a few thoughts on the stories I shortlist, in the future - I agree with the folks above who wish there was more back and forth about the stories we write and post.
It's a tough time for so many people now, and it's not always easy to do much more than write something and post it in a Challenge. Also, I find it easier to take my own thoughts, and express them to others (via stories), than to take another's thoughts, and give my ideas on them - in other words, I do not think I am very good at giving reviews. But I always love when a story of mine is mentioned in some detail (I am a fan of the reviews), and will try to pay that forward, and back, myself, with some comments when I shortlist.
Okay - great stories this Challenge, and I will try to vote in the next few days. Again, thanks Dan - ironic that I will not be able to wear any of these tee shirts of mine, because my head is so big! CC

 

[Wayne Mack]

For those who are interested in discussing individual stories, perhaps that could be done after the voting is completed. I do feel, however, that it could be a little awkward to have any sort of negative discussion if it was not initiated by the author.

 

[Betok_Haney]

I am new to all of this, but I find that I don't want to read any of the posts, or discussions, until mine is posted. Then, after I post, I read the entries and discussions as they happen. I want to be as unencumbered by influence as much as possible so the story comes only from me.

However, I do want other's feedback on what I have written - especially constructive criticism. I learned a lot just from the one story I posted on the Improving your 100 word story forum. Folks don't seem to be blatantly "negative" on Chrons, but aren't afraid to tell you what did or did not work for them. The comments in the "did not work" category is especially important to me, and helps me learn the most.

I agree with the idea of posting why we shortlist and vote on a story, and I will work to do more of that. I can see it would be impossible to list out what did not work for all of others that did not resonate with us, without the author asking a specific question. I am fine with it being in the discussion thread, but it makes most sense to me to have the separate "Improving" thread to handle that discussion, as it is now.

 

[Provincial]

I don’t think I read The Land of Lost Content properly last time. It’s beautiful. It is probably one for the weary, but by Heaven it’s moving. Well done, @The Judge.

 

[paranoid marvin]

For those who are interested in discussing individual stories, perhaps that could be done after the voting is completed. I do feel, however, that it could be a little awkward to have any sort of negative discussion if it was not initiated by the author.

I agree. If I were to comment on a someone's entry and say (for example) 'I thought it was great, but I don't think it hit the theme/genre' I think it would be unfair for the author not to be able to respond with their reasoning. The thing is though, that when the competition ends, the votes have been cast and the congratulations given, we are pretty much into the next month's Challenge. I'm not sure how many people would hang around a thread that has - to all intents - served it's purpose.

It's funny really, as I rarely comment on entries before voting, but in this month's Challenge I thought that sule made a very effective use of 'show don't tell' in the final paragraph of the story and so I commented on it. Normally I leave that until announcing my votes/shortlist. But is there really any difference between commenting on an entry before or after the time for entries closes?

I do find informative the reasonings and explanations that some people give about their own work (once voting has ended). There are a number of occasions were I thought I understood an entry, but then when the explanation has been given I realise that I had misunderstood it; and true understanding lead to greater appreciation.

 

[Astro Pen]

It feels awful when there are huge long-lists with only you apparently (and always) missing. Two posters in particular do that a lot. It feels personal.
If I list at all I keep it short to avoid a "The three I left off were total rubbish" vibe.

 

[Rafellin]

I never read the reviews. I read all the entries only after voting starts. I give a top three because that's how I select the stories: I note four slots, and adjust where each tale goes as another tale engages my attention. After all of the stories are read, the three top slots are the vote winners, and the fourth gets an honourable mention. Occasionally there are more than one honourable mention. Sometimes there are none.

Personally, I'm of the view that anything that could influence a reader's interpretation of a story in any way should be banned until voting is completed, but I defer to the accepted way of doing things on SFFC. I'm not here to admin or argue - I just come to tell stories occasionally.

 

[chrispenycate]

Short list, that? Ah well, I've managed a choice. List: Abernovo, Ashleyne, bedyakqx, Cat's Cradle, Deke, Provincial, Rafellin, The Judge and Ursa major. Votes went to bedvac, Cat's Cradle and Provincial.

Oh, and as to minor rules, Kipling tells us "there are nine and sixty wats of constructing tribal lays, and every single one of them is right". As long as we're all working tothe same rulebook, the minor 'might have been better if's are basically irrelevant, but essential.

And thanks, Pyan, for the vote - I wasn't expecting it.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Thank you for the vote, chrispenycate! It's greatly appreciated. And I totally agree with:

Oh, and as to minor rules, Kipling tells us "there are nine and sixty wats of constructing tribal lays, and every single one of them is right". As long as we're all working tothe same rulebook, the minor 'might have been better if's are basically irrelevant, but essential.

We go through phases in life, and I'd say just do what you are capable of doing, re: the Challenges, at any given time. I think for many of us Challenge veterans (I've been doing these coming on 8 years), our participation ebbs and flows over time. It's not always easy - over years - to be seen and heard, other than through posting a story and voting. But it's nice to see someone's thoughts on an entry, so as I mentioned I will try and give my perspective on my shortlisted stories more, in the future. Thanks again for the vote, chrispenycate, CC

 

[Betok_Haney]

This challenge was difficult for me. I stared at that photo for days, waiting for an idea to come to me. I am in awe of the great ideas that folks came up with - such amazing stories, characters, settings, concepts. I simply love the creative mind and what it can do.

My votes went to:

@Dan Jones, The Travels Of Sir Reginald Rigmarole, Part 94! - every line was a fantastic surprise! When I finished, I thought, "What did I just read?" and loved it. It reminded me of Baron Von Munchausen, deeply creative and colorful.

@paranoid marvin, Human Error - wonderful development of characters and setting, and I just loved the surprise ending which made me laugh out loud. A lovely fairy tale.

@Daysman - Shortcut - I loved the idea developed in this story about immortality, and how annoying it could be. I felt the narrator's tension and frustration. The story was so well paced, funny, and steeped in character!

 

[Phyrebrat]

It’s important to remember that when anyone crits or betas your work, they’re actively looking for potential problems. What that will include is their lack of knowledge of your overview, as well as your stylistic nuance. Also genre!! I get some inapplicable comments on my weird fiction because the reader doesn’t understand the expectations of weird fic.

I suppose if your style causes attention to be brought to itself, it may require a bit of examination. Writing foibles are fine IMO - just don’t break the reader’s play/story world.

 

[johnnyjet]

A lot of fine tales. Finally, after much deliberation, my Short List and *** Favorites ***:

*** Bindlestiff - Victoria Silverwolf ***
What in the Boggins! – Ashleyne
The Righteous Path Is a Two-Way Lane - Cat's Cradle
*** Johari's Window – Phyrebrat ***
Upon a Sweet Whisper : A Tale of Thistle and Rose - Bren G
*** "Even the weariest river..." – sule ***
The Other Bank – chrispenycate
The Land of Lost Content - The Judge

 

[Phyrebrat]

It’s important to remember that when anyone crits or betas your work, they’re actively looking for potential problems. What that will include is their lack of knowledge of your overview, as well as your stylistic nuance. Also genre!! I get some inapplicable comments on my weird fiction because the reader doesn’t understand the expectations of weird fic.

I suppose if your style causes attention to be brought to itself, it may require a bit of examination. Writing foibles are fine IMO - just don’t break the reader’s play/story world.

Sorry this is mis-posted. I meant to put it in the helpful/unhelpful advice thread. Could a mod kindly relocate please? @The Judge

 

[paranoid marvin]

Thanks for the vote Betok_Haney, you've brightened up my day.

 

[Astro Pen]

Votes to
@The Judge When chrons is a century old and and an anthology is made of the very best stories this gem will be in there.
@bedyak Subversion is over by the time we notice
@Ashleyne Boggin Bonkers, Okay it took two reads to find the handle but I got there.

Honourable mentions
@paranoid marvin For introducing me to the simple delights of spider poetry
@chrispenycate A trap need only be a a little smarter than it's intended victim
@therapist A good, almost classic, story. Just missed the canal theme (unless I failed to spot something)

 

[paranoid marvin]

Thanks Astro Pen.