Challenge - How Distinctive Is Your Writing?

[Jenny_Jackson]

Interesting. Gauchecritic only got 5 correct, but he was the only one who go me correct, I believe.

And the analysis - I'm not British? Ummm... I believe I was born in Belfast and have been back there many times.

 

[minsue]

Interesting. Gauchecritic only got 5 correct, but he was the only one who go me correct, I believe.

And the analysis - I'm not British? Ummm... I believe I was born in Belfast and have been back there many times.

The terminology you used wasn't British. Matski immediately caught it, too, when reading it.

 

[impressive]

An interesting exercise that proves what? That our styles aren't as distinctive as we thought they were? That subject matter is more of a give-away than writing style? Or proves nothing at all but entertained us for a few days?

Og

Regardless of what (if anything) it proves, I'd like to thank min for her organization.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I often write short pieces? Many of my stories are several Lit pages long. Then there are the fifty-word exercises. My competition entries have been shorter recently because of RL pressure on writing time. I don't think I have a favourite length but I CAN write to a precisely defined number of words after 40 years' practice.

Og

Oh I didn't mean you DON'T write longer things, Og... I know you do. But you are much more practiced, I think, than many, in writing shorter pieces.

 

[minsue]

Regardless of what (if anything) it proves, I'd like to thank min for her organization.

You're quite welcome, but there's no need to thank me. I didn't do all that much and what I did do, I did for my own amusement.

Og, I don't think it proves anything at all. That wasn't the intent. It got people writing and reading and that's good nuff for me.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

The terminology you used wasn't British. Matski immediately caught it, too, when reading it.

Yes, that's right. The terms I used were Irish street slang from my childhood. Belfast is in Northern Ireland. That's part of Britain.

 

[champagne1982]

Well, I guessed gauche and neo correctly because neo has a distinctive voice in his prose and his poems. A strong note of underlying emotion, always.

Gauche, because of the work on Snippetsville. He has a style that is almost inimmitable in his voice.

My other correct guesses were based on use of dialogue and the amount of sex that showed up (or didn't).

My wrong guesses show that you can't always base your decisions on whose short piece is whose by reading longer works by an author.

Thanks so much for a fun challenge.

Thanks to minsue for being more than goose feathers, it was lots of hard work and I admire you for making such a successful effort.

 

[minsue]

Yes, that's right. The terms I used were Irish street slang from my childhood. Belfast is in Northern Ireland. That's part of Britain.

I meant specifically "ticket agent" which I'm being told is "bus conductor" in any part of Britian, not that I have any idea what any of you people say Irish, English, Welsh, or Scottish. It's all fucked up to me and I take no responsibility for accuracy.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Well, it was a whole lot of fun. I ran out of time to finish my prognostications for the A and B groups. I was quite suprised that I did get as many right as I did. And even more suprised that so many people guessed my story correctly...

 

[damppanties]

Well, it was a whole lot of fun. I ran out of time to finish my prognostications for the A and B groups. I was quite suprised that I did get as many right as I did. And even more suprised that so many people guessed my story correctly...

Next time, no horses.

 

[oggbashan]

Next time, no horses.

So that's it!

I forgot to include the sheep.

No wonder so few guessed me.

Og

 

[Guest]

Well, I guessed gauche and neo correctly because neo has a distinctive voice in his prose and his poems. A strong note of underlying emotion, always.

I wasn't surprised that you picked my snippet out. I'd surprised if you didn't

HowEVAR, I was surprised Trombonous' dice rolled right on. How lucky was that, eh? He got his own too.

 

[damppanties]

So that's it!

I forgot to include the sheep.

No wonder so few guessed me.

Og

I was looking for a few garderobes or something...

 

[oggbashan]

I was looking for a few garderobes or something...

The toilets on commuter trains smell like garderobes. Until recently they used to discharge straight on to the track, and passengers were asked NOT to flush the toilet while the train was in a station.

The more modern trains have sealed toilets that are pumped out overnight. They still smell.

Og

 

[damppanties]

Until recently they used to discharge straight on to the track, and passengers were asked NOT to flush the toilet while the train was in a station.

That's how the trains in India are now.

 

[CharleyH]

Too little, too late

My sincere apologies for having not been able to read and guess more. My strategy is to read a recent story and scan a few older ones by the same author, (which takes a significant amount of time) and then attempt to 'guess' an author on the basis of what I have discovered through reading (note taking) and cross referencing with the entries. Unfortunately for me (even though I did try to acquire more time and happily - thanks Min! - received it) I had work deadlines due today. While I am happy to report that I made my deadlines (and so get paid - lol), I am sorry that I was unable to participate in a greater way as I have done so in the past. Perhaps, the next round?

Cheers to all authors who participated and to all those who spent time guessing and a special thanks to Min for her time to post to questions and moderate the challenge.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

That's how the trains in India are now.

And here I was going to comment Og meant "recently" in Og-years.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

My sincere apologies for having not been able to read and guess more.

Well, if you had to have only one correct guess, I'm glad it was mine.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Next time, no horses.

You might be on to something there...

 

[Selena_Kitt]

You might be on to something there...

Ya think?

 

[CharleyH]

Well, if you had to have only one correct guess, I'm glad it was mine.

Well - I know you "inside" and "out" .

Honestly? When I read the first line of Champagne's snippet "The bus smelled like dirty socks drying out on a heat register." It immediately reminded me of a story Vella once sent to me, not to mention her sly little humour. (Anyhow, that one line made me think of Vella throughout the snippet). I had read a bunch of Champagne's poetry and had attempted to pick out key 'turns of phrases' which obviously failed (should have read her stories - lol). Neon and Penny? I thought I knew. Neon often goes for less dialogue, so I discounted his story right off the top and went for something more eloquently descriptive.

However, I am most disturbed by my not guessing, Penny. Although to her? I suppose it only means I must read more of her stories.

Kisses to you all!

 

[Trombonus]

I wasn't surprised that you picked my snippet out. I'd surprised if you didn't

HowEVAR, I was surprised Trombonous' dice rolled right on. How lucky was that, eh? He got his own too.

Lady Luck smiled upon us my friend.

 

[Liar]

Number Of Correct Guesses By Writer
4 Liar

Number Of Correct Guesses By Guesser
11 Liar

So, I read better than I write. Or something.

Ok, gotta go see who I managed to guess right. probably not the ones i think.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

So, I read better than I write. Or something.

Ok, gotta go see who I managed to guess right. probably not the ones i think.

You and Charley were the only two that I guessed correctly who also guessed me.

 

[Trombonus]

Angelic Minx ~ I wanted to say that I was intrigued by your guess for me. Honestly if I had to guess which one was mine, and didn't know which one I had written, I'd probably have picked that one too. If that made sense at all.

I wanted to drop so many little hints. I'm surprised at how I was able to keep from spilling the beans. I don't typically do patience, so that was a challenge in and of itself.

I was surprised at who I was linked to most in my group. People voted for me 4 times for both Neonurotic's and Jushorny's stories. Pretty good company if you ask me.