Writing Challenge Comments, Questions, Answers

[Teresa Edgerton]

Considering the success of the Photo Competition, and based on a conversation in the Critiques section, a particular sort of writing competition has been proposed. I ran it by the rest of the Staff and nobody sent up any red flags, so the question now is whether there would be sufficient interest to make it worth while to establish and run it.

It should be both challenging and fun, and also good practice for the day when it becomes necessary to condense a longer story for a cover letter, synopsis, or pitch, because there would be a 75 word limit, excluding the title, as well as a monthly genre or theme. Members would have a certain period of time to submit their entries, and then any one who wanted to do so would vote on their favorite. The prize would be the breathless admiration of one's peers, plus (as with the photo competition) the privilege of setting the next month's theme.

So, everyone: Would you be interested in such a competition, and do you think you would enter it often enough to help keep it going?

 

[The Judge]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

OK. I'll be the first to sign up. I'd do my best to post an entry every month, inspiration willing. I think the photographers are allowed two photos, aren't they? Would we have the option of posting a second entry if imagination was running away with us? (Not a second version or second half of the first, obviously.)

 

[Culhwch]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

I think one per month is adequate. And I like the idea - I'd certainly have a go.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

Would we have the option of posting a second entry if imagination was running away with us? (Not a second version or second half of the first, obviously.)

I see no reason why not. We could work out details like that before we start. The rules don't have to be exactly like the photo competition. We could also make it bimonthly, if people think every month is too often.

 

[Nik]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

75 word limit on the story ? That's atto-fiction, indeed !

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

It's not as difficult as it sounds, though. Are you in, Nik? If this thread doesn't get enough positive responses, there won't be a competition.

 

[Erin99]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

Since I suggested a challenge like this a while ago in the.......... I think it was the Happy thread (or Frustrations), you can count me in! And I know Sephiroth would enter too, if and when he can.

Things have been a bit hard here because of over-tiredness and shifting between places, but I'll enter when I can. Quite exciting, though! Some of us haven't posted a sample of our writing here, so it would be a scary-but-novel idea.

 

[Lacedaemonian]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

This might stir the fires inside my head. I would be interested, Teresa.

 

[Precise Calibre]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

Yes, sign me up. I'd definitely go for monthly participation as well.

 

[Parson]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

Seventy-five words? Parson's use more than 75 word in their introductions, but it might be fun. I'd be completely out of my league with a bunch of writers, but it couldn't hurt me to give it a go.

Count me in.

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

Sounds like a good idea. I'd like to participate.

 

[GOLLUM]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

Indeed. I'm not particularly skilled at fiction writing but I'll try to contribute something on a periodic basis.

It would appear that this thread has already garnered an encouraging response, so I shall look forward to seeing how this "competition" progresses with some interest....

 

[BookStop]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

I would contribute. I'm pretty sure i could easily stick to only 75 words, as I'm not terribly wordy to begin with

 

[GOLLUM]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

OH.....I meant to ask for clarification. I presume we are talking prose here rather than something in the form of a poem? I noticed a poetry thread recently, so I presume I'm correct in this assumption?

I also assume we're predominantly talking about creative writing here given the type of forum we purport to be but it sounds as if there would also be scope for some non-fiction entries/categories based upon what the theme or Genre is for the given month?

 

[Pyan]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

Erato whispers in my ear, but Thalia and Melpomene have always shunned me - on the other hand, 75 words, and a month to work with?

Count me in.

 

[Talysia]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

I'd like to give it a go. I like the idea of a limited word challenge, and a different them each time should give plenty of inspiration.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

Teresa, your mind reading abilities are improving at an exponential rate.

As for the Prize.

To Die for

 

[mygoditsraining]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

Sure, why not?

 

[Culhwch]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

There seems to be plenty of interest - when do we start?

I'm still in favour of only one entry per person, though. I think that makes it easier to vote on. Either that, or when it comes to voting, vote for individual entries, not individuals.

 

[Ursa major]

re: Q & A Writing Challenge for Chrons Members -- (Was Proposed Competition)

I would very much like to take part in this competition, but on one condition: that people promise not to peek at the pile of innocent victims of my editing soon to be lying slaughtered at my feet simply because they were destined never to be among the chosen, that most select group of words ordained to become part of an entry in the seventy-five word story hosted on this most prestigious forum, the Chronicles.






(Phew! Getting that down to only 75 words was quite a challenge. Perhaps I should just have said something along the lines of "I would like to particiapte, because...." or even "Yes." )