Welcome to Writers Talkback. If you are a new user, your account will have to be approved manually to prevent spam. Please bear with us in the meantime
Lily remarked on the drop in entries for ONE WORD CHALLENGE. I think we have all noticed this.
I think there have been about 41. Ive entered about 35. [I mention this as a cv - credentials, if you like - for posting this]
When it first began - A brilliant idea from JAY - it was a new thing and there was a novelty value. Perhaps new members just see it as a permanently pinned thread and never get round to thinking about it.
It really is a good exercise which helps to cut out wordiness, it forces the writer to imparted pictures/stories by implying them with a few words, a phrase, and/or with dialogue.
It concentrates the mind on the mechanics of prose.
It forces you to cut cut cut. What one writes is sometimes a revelation and gives ideas for other, bigger stories.
I really recommend this exercise for those Newbies [and Oldies!] who havent tried it.
SO COME ON! GET WRITING FOR THE CHALLENGE!
Comments
Not a regular participant, due to demands of that 'other' world which provides means of paying for life's needs, does not diminish enjoyment of the challenge. That's the reading of everyone else's interpretation, opinion of judges plus mentally writing an entry even when opportunity fails to allow posting in that month.
Fact that each month provides different judges, therefore inconsistent preferences, ensures equal chance of everyone gaining selection.
Many of us are entering comps which involve sending our work out into the great blue yonder, never to be heard of again, so this sort of peer-group judging is great. When someone takes the time to make a comment on your work, even if you aren't going to win, it's worth its weight in gold.
The Challenge is not just a little local competition, but a really useful exercise for all of us.
Jay's original idea has to be applauded and is unquestionably an excellent writerly (dreadful word) exercise. You don't have to win. Merely getting a comment, as I did this month, suggesting the judge practically fell off her chair laughing (in the right way of course :)), is a huge turn on in itself.
I don't know how many Challenges I've entered - but certainly a good few. As someone who has always struggled with fiction writing and had basically written it off (excuse the pun), I discovered that writing flash fiction is something I not only can do, but thoroughly enjoy attempting.
I've taken on board what IG said about picking a good word (gulp!) and will bear this in mind when the time comes.
Meantime - especially for those of you who haven't tried the Challenge yet - give it a go because, like me, you may be in for a very pleasant surprise! :)
Quite often, it seems, sticky threads tend to have the opposite effect to what is intended and are skipped over to get to the "real" content. Waddya reckon?
I like the fact it's a 'sticky' too so I don't have to trawl around looking for it...
I enjoyed reading the entries and wished there had been more
I would like to say thankyou to Bill for his comment :D
What I put in was an odd entry but it made me laugh and I hope
others did too.
I will improve with time,but Im still going to enter again
Sorry but I am.Looking forward to the next one
Please dont change it from a sticky I will never find it.
Good to hear it, francis. Flash fiction is one of the best ways to hone your writing to a finer art.
Quite often, it seems, sticky threads tend to have the opposite effect to what is intended and are skipped over to get to the "real" content. Waddya reckon? [/quote]
Please leave it sticky, Webbo. I have enough trouble finding my way downstairs in the morning let alone threads I have mislaid.
I'm guilty too. I would like to enter it every month but if the suggested word doesn't inspire me in the first few days, I give up very easily, and actually I inherited our Big Family Problem: we give up too easily.
Must try harder.
I think that as with all things it will go in waves, sometimes lots of people will do it, sometimes just a few. I don't think we should feel guilty one way or the other - it's something we can take part in if we want to, and sometimes it's nice to have a reminder that it's there, but to be honest, I always know it's there, I choose not to go in.
When I'm feeling good then I really enjoy doing it.
And yes time runs away with me and suddenly there's only a few hours left and my writing brain doesn't work that quick.
It realy helps me to think about putting words together.
Its a treat to read the wonderful entries, how it should be done.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mask
This thread seemed to inspire more contributions to the July challenge... don't let August slip away...
Hopefully other TB's understand that sometimes our non-writing lives can take priority, as does a work in progress if you have limited time.
I understand about sticky. They become invisible so I see Webbo's point. However it is the best method for a recurring competition like this. Maybe without the STICKY label and possibly COMPETITION label instead.
Right I'm off to see if I can put something together before the deadline.
Oooh I loikes a good coconut bashing I does.
yes, as is Carol's thread about vibrating devices.
Oh so true, majority of "us" suffer that continual struggle.
Hence therapy of escaping to this haven being so refreshing.
However Carol,
I'm sure Talkbackers would not complain if you took a rest from scouring so many sources and posting links, just a couple of days each month, to share a piece of actual writing. That one item you posted from your past provided a most enlightening read.
Beauty of the One Word Challenge is everyone having equal chance of recognition.
Personally, I do not consider it a competition but more a chance to share ideas. Making mistakes is much 'safer' in company of fellow enthusiasts.
I can't really understand the point of having a separate competition for 'shy' or new members. Shy writers would still be posting their work for everyone to see and new members aren't necessarily new writers.
Let's face it - as soon as we start submitting our writing - whether it's for a short story competition or pitching an article to a magazine editor - we all know we're going head to head with other writers who are probably more experienced and/or talented. But if we want to be published writers, we have to do it, don't we?
With the OWC Ive always enjoyed pitting myself against some formidable talkback talent. Im very aware that my efforts often arent as good as other entries, but that has never deterred me. Winning is a huge buzz, but Im more interested in the challenge of crafting a story in just 200 words. And or course - to (hopefully) entertain my fellow tbers.
[quote=Jan]Beauty of the One Word Challenge is everyone having equal chance of recognition.
Personally, I do not consider it a competition but more a chance to share ideas. Making mistakes is much 'safer' in company of fellow enthusiasts.[/quote]
Exactly! :)