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

Astro Pen said:
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)
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Thank you Astro Pen!
 
chrispenycate said:
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.
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Thank you for the vote, @chrispenycate. You must have been feeling very generous! :)
 
If people are going to comment on other persons’ stories in this particular thread, I do think they should keep it to (a) enthusing madly about the stuff they liked, and (b) admitting to the stuff they didn’t understand or ‘get’. The first would be wonderfully cheering for the author, and the second would be both helpful and non-negative, since it is an admission of the reader’s failure…?
 
Provincial said:
If people are going to comment on other persons’ stories in this particular thread, I do think they should keep it to (a) enthusing madly about the stuff they liked, and (b) admitting to the stuff they didn’t understand or ‘get’. The first would be wonderfully cheering for the author, and the second would be both helpful and non-negative, since it is an admission of the reader’s failure…?
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If someone didn't get what I wrote, which happens more often than not, I'd see that as a failure on my part rather than the reader. Unless your are writing for a specific audience - ie hard core sci-fi - then you should be aiming for you work to be understandable by all. Obviously, not necessarily liked, unless you are really good or lucky, but at least understandable.

Edit: I'm with you on wanting to know if readers understood my entries though. Although, for me, I generally take it as a given that they don't. My wife is my test bed and she normally gives me the 'I don't get it look' more often than not :ROFLMAO: .
 
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I used to enter the challenges to improve my writing chops, especially when I realised I knew nuthin' about nuthin'. As I wrote more stories outside of the Chrons challenges I stopped entering for the sake of improvement, as I came to the conclusion that they were of limited value in that respect (at least, once one reaches a certain level). So I started writing stories that were principally designed to entertain myself, and I started writing comedy (at least, only in the 300), because I don't write it anywhere else. So the Challenges became a kind of outlet for me, where I'd write stuff I wouldn't elsewhere. When I write Sir Reggie, I give myself three criteria: I have to make myself laugh - properly laugh, not half-smile in mild amusement - at least three times. Ideally five. Second: never pull a punch; I try to include as many outrageous gags and surreal occurrences as physically possible into 300 words. My favourite gags are probably ones that no-one else has even spotted (like the one about Sir Reginald boasting of arm-wrestling for Lucy Cavendish College, or the "All Your Base Are Belong To Us" meme in Ukranian). Third: hit certain story beats in each episode (escaping a baddie who reappears at the end; getting engaged; speaking in a different language; catastrophic physical harm). And I can honestly say that I've thoroughly enjoyed writing them. And that's a damn good thing, because I sure ain't writing them to win!

As a side note, technically most of my Sir Reggie stories break the rules because to get the most out of them you have to use an external medium (Google Translate). But seeing as I'm such a stickler for the rules most of the time, I don't think anyone would hold that against me, would they? Would they? :inlove:

Ok, change of topic. @Victoria Silverwolf what drives you to do the reviews each time? I think @Phyrebrat mentioned that @Perpetual Man was the first one to do it, but your ones have been part of the furniture now for yonks.

I do like having a lively discussion about the 300, but it's difficult to do it fully without imparting comments that could easily be taken as negative by the author. Everything is subjective. I wonder if the reviews by Victoria and Parson could perhaps act as a starting point to make comments about the stories? I don't think we should shy away from this; the amount of good faith on this site is cheeringly high, and any feedback is good feedback as far as I'm concerned (unless it descends into, you know, "your story is complete gash," sort of thing, which is unlikely).

If, for example, I made a comment about an entry that differed from Victoria's or Parson's interpretation of a story, would that be taken as a slight against their own review? I would hope not, because of the Good Faith argument. I don't think it matters if, as an entrant, we don't get instant gratification or validation from entering a story, and if we get questions, or criticisms, or "I didn't get it", well that's part of being a writer, even in a modest challenge taking place in a small corner of the internet like this.
 
Luiglin said:
If someone didn't get what I wrote, which happens more often than not, I'd see that as a failure on my part rather than the reader. Unless your are writing for a specific audience - ie hard core sci-fi - then you should be aiming for you work to be understandable by all. Obviously, not necessarily liked, unless you are really good or lucky, but at least understandable.

Edit: I'm with you on wanting to know if readers understood my entries though. Although, for me, I generally take it as a given that they don't. My wife is my test bed and she normally gives me the 'I don't get it look' more often than not :ROFLMAO: .
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Some stories stand or fall based on whether you understand their meaning/references. For others they are the icing on the cake. I don't think that it's necessarily a failure, more a choice made by the author whether to appeal to the mainstream or a niche audience.

Ideally you enter a well written, interesting story which appeals to the majority, but which has the potential to earn the author brownie points from those who can deduce the references or 'easter eggs'. I think that The Judge's entry this month is a good example of that.
 
paranoid marvin said:
Some stories stand or fall based on whether you understand their meaning/references. For others they are the icing on the cake. I don't think that it's necessarily a failure, more a choice made by the author whether to appeal to the mainstream or a niche audience.
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The one I wrote around the old chestnut of the man who was smuggling bicycles through customs (stolen shuttles in the story) fell flat on its face because although I thought everyone knew that story, they didn't.
 
Astro Pen said:
The one I wrote around the old chestnut of the man who was smuggling bicycles through customs (stolen shuttles in the story) fell flat on its face because although I thought everyone knew that story, they didn't.
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This is part of the reason why I stopped writing any Dark Lord tales for the 75/300. They relied on the readers having previous knowledge of the characters in order to 'get' the situation. The other part being no one found them funny.

Part of the ethos for the 75/300 should be that the tales are standalone. I've slipped back recently with this months 300 and last months 75 - work and other stuff has left me little time to write... for most of 2021. If I can't get back to that style I may just give up.

That's not knocking those who do, like @Dan Jones Sir Reggie, who always raises a much needed chuckle :)
 
Top three and vote winners for me;
  • @BT Jones - We're on a canal to nowhere
    I found BT did a nice job of show but no tell for a world gone to pieces
  • @Dan Jones - A rum old business, eh what?
    It's a Sir Reggie - one of these days I may try an write a cross over event with a certain noir inspired villain who shall remain nameless... mainly due to having no name
  • @G.T. - Working from home, it's the only answer
    I enjoyed the tale but the last line made me smile as I heard the words in my head
 
Luiglin said:
@Dan Jones - A rum old business, eh what?
It's a Sir Reggie - one of these days I may try an write a cross over event with a certain noir inspired villain who shall remain nameless... mainly due to having no name
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Do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it you madman.
 
I don’t tend to come into the Discussion thread once voting has started, so it was only a couple of days ago when a stray comment led me here that I’d discovered there had been such a palaver over how these threads are used. Since I helped write the Rules, I thought it might help if I clarified some issues and put my (considerable) weight behind some other points, so I sat myself down to write The Definitive Tome On Challenge Discussion Threads. However, real life intervened and the Tome currently remains in a state of limbo (uncomfortably close to Purgatory as if happens).

What I think I'll do, though, when it finally gets itself written is post it in a separate thread. Further discussion around the issue and about my comments and suggestions can then take place there -- in that way it won't continue to overwhelm this thread and detract from the stories which should be having their moment of glory, plus it will make it easier for it to be linked to as and when the topic arises again in the future.


Meanwhile, although I'll do my usual specific and personalised thanks-list as and when I come to set out my shortlist and vote, I can't end without giving a general Thank You to all those who've been kind (or daft) enough to vote for and/or comment on my story so far.
 
I greatly enjoyed reading through the stories. I thought it was an exceptional Challenge, with many vote-worthy entries. Thank you, Harebrain, for a photo that inspired such work.

I’m giving a few thoughts on each of my top stories. I fear I’m rubbish at reviews, and I hope I am not too far wrong in my thinking on any of these entries. I’m posting on the last day of voting to minimize the risk that my thoughts could sway any voter. These are simply my reactions to my favorite stories from this Challenge.
I voted yesterday, so I won’t today be changing the vote tallies.
Here are my top stories (and it’s painful to leave so many others I enjoyed off my already long list):

@Victoria Silverwolf - Bindlestiff - the wonderful opening details of the hoboes’ life on the rail is so viscerally clear you almost feel you are sitting in the boxcar with them, and that you’d hum along to ‘You Are My Sunshine’, if you were. The story has an SF Golden Age feel that I loved, and the characters all were just right. You feel the MCs’ genuine sense of loss and fellowship by the conclusion.

@Dan Jones - The Travels Of Sir Reginald Rigmarole, Part 94! - The immediacy of the first words of this story, and the piece’s freewheeling, impossibly fast-paced goofiness are hilarious, and somehow disquieting.
It is worth the time to translate the several foreign passages; I found them compelling, yet disturbing. Also, I am obsessed with the sentence that begins thusly:
No sooner had I tasted the savoury meat of freedom than I experienced the first pangs of a bout of constipation so violent I had no option but to visit Colonoscopy Jones...
Oh, I’m trying to review in the same spirit that DJ wrote, but it’s impossible. A truly hilarious story… I laughed all the way through.

@Ashleyne - What in the Boggins! I think I found this story the most alien and disturbing in the Challenge. I’m not sure I understood everything, but there was an ominous and threatening undertone that I found fascinating. Ashleyne wrote some terrific lines, ex:

Striking was their darkness, enough to say they shone against the light.

It was such an unusual story, and I love unusual done well.

@Phyrebrat - Johari's Window - A poignant, moving story from pH. I cannot write like this - really lovely writing.

@Betok_Haney - Wanderlust - Maggie, the MC in the story, is a riot! And so adventurous. There is such an appealing, light-hearted feel to this story and I was rooting for Maggie from her first line.
Wanderlust is funny, charming and very well written. I wish we could learn more of what destiny awaits Maggie.

@Starbeast - Drinks for the Thirsty, Graves for the Dead - This story made me very happy - it’s a fun, sweet pastiche of many of the most iconic SF&F stories and characters (and prog rock groups) of the last hundred-plus years; I adore it all. Questing for all of the references makes for an extremely fun read, and the last line has made me LOL the three-four times I’ve read the story.

sule - "Even the weariest river..." This is for me one of the several most complete stories. The world-building is terrific, and I was immersed in this world from the opening line; the opening paragraph is about perfect. It’s a beautifully and subtly written tale. Such a sense of melancholy and loss; I like stories about such things.
For me, "Even the weariest river..." has the best closing line in the Challenge. It’s so deftly written, so tragic, and the perfect ending for this moving story.

The Judge - The Land of Lost Content - Another beautifully written, and moving entry. I do love an air of melancholy. There’s a timelessness to the mists the MC travels through while reliving and reevaluating her life’s experiences. I think hers is a journey we all will have to take, and I hope we have the wisdom to learn from such a trip, and move forward with hope should we be given the chance.
That’s a super-clever name for a boat in such a story, TJ.

Abernovo - Continuing the Traditions - A story set in space, and told with such good spirit and positivity. I smiled throughout Abernovo’s entry - I liked the people, I liked the setting, and I loved that this is a slice-of-life tale with no universe-changing threats, no destruction, no sad destinies. It’s simply that joyous moment when a family learns that their future will be changing, and more happiness will be coming their way. These are good, hardworking folks inhabiting a story well-told.

I voted for Dan Jones, sule and The Judge. These ones shone the brightest for me... but there were so many excellent entries this Challenge, well done all.

Thanks so much Wayne Mack, Peter V, Dan Jones, chrispenycate and Ashleyne for the votes. (And thanks again Dan Jones for the very kind words on my entry... I've applied ice and the head-swelling has gone down considerably.;))

Okay - still plenty of time to vote. See you all in the 'congratulations' phase of the Challenge, CC
 
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