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What did you botch?

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AllyW View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AllyW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Sep 2021 at 3:23pm

The typos! Yikes! I even put a double exclamation mark someplace like I was texting a friend! It took me three reads to see it Pinch

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NilesPerry Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Sep 2021 at 3:54pm
Originally posted by Maximum Dynamite Maximum Dynamite wrote:

I had a wife that "tousled" her husband's hair when she was only meant to be gently rubbing her fingers through it affectionately.

I think “tousled” is a better choice than “rub” or “rubbing.” The latter conjures up all the wrong images for me. Personally, I’d have said the wife was “running her fingers affectionately” through her husband’s hair. You want to be careful about word choices… I was beta reading one piece where the writer stated a school bus pulled up and screeched to a halt. I immediately wondered just how fast that bus driver was going, and how many kids on board were in danger because they were speeding. Kind of ruined the moment for me…
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote NilesPerry Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Sep 2021 at 4:00pm
Originally posted by AllyW AllyW wrote:

The typos! Yikes! I even put a double exclamation mark someplace like I was texting a friend! It took me three reads to see it
Pinch

Two characters on the roof of a tall building… “They stood peeing over the edge.” (I left the “r” out of peering.) And I submitted it that way. A sad day for proofreading…
LOL


Edited by NilesPerry - 14 Sep 2021 at 4:01pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote swilki Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Sep 2021 at 4:46pm
Originally posted by NilesPerry NilesPerry wrote:

Originally posted by AllyW AllyW wrote:

The typos! Yikes! I even put a double exclamation mark someplace like I was texting a friend! It took me three reads to see it
Pinch

Two characters on the roof of a tall building… “They stood peeing over the edge.” (I left the “r” out of peering.) And I submitted it that way. A sad day for proofreading…
LOL
LOL
At least it's memorable!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TeeHi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Sep 2021 at 8:24pm
Originally posted by MidwestToImpress MidwestToImpress wrote:

Got wayyyyy too lazy on day one after angst-ing about my prompt (Ghost Story / A Paint Shop / High Heels... just felt boring and blah)

Then the real problem: I usually write in Google Docs for later sharing and beta''ing purposes but export to Microsoft Word to submit. Did my export like 10 minutes before entry and realized that microsoft counted my "------" line breaks as words, putting me 6 words over and forcing me to rush cut some words out. 

Hopefully I picked the right words to delete, didn't have a lot of time to consider Confused

Too late now, but I believe the rules say they take the lower word count after putting it in both Micr. Word and Google Docs, so as long as one of them doesn't go over, you're good. Just for future reference...

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mrsnetpro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Sep 2021 at 8:53pm
I didn't want to deal with judges who make assumptions so I botched it and didn't submit.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Suave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Sep 2021 at 8:57pm
Originally posted by Mrsnetpro Mrsnetpro wrote:

I didn't want to deal with judges who make assumptions so I botched it and didn't submit.

Haha, someone who is always ahead of the curve!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GaleGirl Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Sep 2021 at 9:02pm
Originally posted by Maximum Dynamite Maximum Dynamite wrote:

Realized I used a word wrong in my story. I'd meant to go back and revisit, but ran out of time and forgot. 

I had a wife that "tousled" her husband's hair when she was only meant to be gently rubbing her fingers through it affectionately. I just couldn't think of a more concise way to say it. Felt like an idiot after I submitted and realized I just could have said "stroked." Ugh. Oh well!

My favorite college composition teacher created a maxim he called his first law of literacy. His name was Lawrence. What was Lawrence's first law of literacy? "When in doubt, cop out." He was a brilliant man--not like he was a no-nothing or something. I follow his law to this day and it has prevented me from making that mistake in these contests. Fortunately, I made many others. Like mentioning testicles in my last story. Too outre, per one judge. (Was that the right word?) Wink


Edited by GaleGirl - 14 Sep 2021 at 9:04pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mrsnetpro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Sep 2021 at 9:37pm
Originally posted by Suave Suave wrote:

Originally posted by Mrsnetpro Mrsnetpro wrote:

I didn't want to deal with judges who make assumptions so I botched it and didn't submit.

Haha, someone who is always ahead of the curve!
I did a poor job with my response Cry. First round feedback included assumptions/preconceived notions that I got dinged for and for this round I liked my story enough that I didn't want to deal with hearing that a cardroom is only in a casino. There are cardrooms in houses, country clubs or anywhere someone wants to pitch a tent and with those prompts maybe it will lead somewhere.

I have one last screenplay round to get through Smile

 


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote deedodd81 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Sep 2021 at 10:04pm
Originally posted by theinquisitor theinquisitor wrote:

Originally posted by Sparker Sparker wrote:

Adulting. 

Oh, let's not go there. 'Can open, worms everywhere'.
This makes me so happy.
MFC 2019 C2:Clear Broth, Clear Mind
FFC 2020 C1:The Grey Sea
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