BINGO: blackout

[ysabetwordsmith]

I have reached blackout on my 8-13-13 card for the origfic_bingo  fest.  That link goes to my card, along with links to the five row bingo posts made on the source community.  I customarily call bingo one row or column at a time, whichever I complete first.

Comments

[aldersprig]

Woo-hoo! *cheers*

(Still working on getting to a single blackout on anything)

(Hey: is there a microfic bingo?)

[anke]

Tangent: How you do define "microfic"?

Try this...

[ysabetwordsmith]

There are many terms and parameters for short-short fiction, including:
drabble (100 words)
flash fiction
microfic
palm-sized (Chinese)
postcard fiction
smoke long (Chinese)
sudden fiction

Most of those don't have specific sizes or parameters. Common thresholds include under 300, 500, or 1000 words. A page is typically about 250 words.

Some people in crowdfunding use "microfic" to describe a short bit of writing that may stand alone at least somewhat, but can be expanded if people donate. It's usually around 100-300 words.

Re: Try this...

[anke]

Thank you, but I'd still like to know how aldersprig defines it.

FWIW, I use "microfic" for bits shorter than a drabble, and "flashfic" for anything longer than a drabble, just to sort them somehow.

Re: Try this...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Thank you, but I'd still like to know how aldersprig defines it. <<

Sorry. Definition requests activate a standard feature on the Bard-O-Matic. I don't think I could turn that off if I taped a cover over the selection button.

>> FWIW, I use "microfic" for bits shorter than a drabble, and "flashfic" for anything longer than a drabble, just to sort them somehow. <<

That could be useful.

Re: Try this...

[aldersprig]

I use microfic for 50-~250-300 words, and flash fic for 300-1000 words.

I use "drabble" mostly to mean things that aren't a stand-alone story.

Re: Try this...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Those are interesting parameters.

I have seen "drabble" become more flexible than just 100 words exactly. I haven't seen it used as often for fiction that is incomplete; for that I've seen "ficlet" more often.

*ponder* An interesting linguistic note is that -le marks small repeated actions or items (i.e. spark --> sparkle) while -et is a diminutive (i.e. star --> starlet).

Re: Try this...

[aldersprig]

I'm not sure how I got that definition. I suppose 'vignette' is more appropriate.

I had not known it was 100-words; I'd first encountered it as a community for short fic.

Ficlet is an interesting one.

Re: Try this...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I'm not sure how I got that definition. I suppose 'vignette' is more
appropriate. <<

Yeah, vignette is for a fragment of something. It's often left to stand alone, but it really acts like a part of a larger work. Vignettes are great in fanfic or shared worlds where there is a massive canon that readers already know, so you can just write this one bit you want to explore. Outside of that background context, it's hard to make them work well. But they are good for crowdfunding, where you want to make a tidbit worth reading on its own, yet leave room for expansion.

Re: Try this...

[aldersprig]

I've definitely found that. If I so an opening scene, it often intrigues people enough that they want more; if I'm writing in a canon like Addergoole, a suggestion of a scene can be enough to whet the appetite.

It is really bothering me, this mis-use of mine of the word drabble. :-/

I'm still okay with my use of Microfic though.

Re: Try this...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I've definitely found that. If I so an opening scene, it often intrigues people enough that they want more; if I'm writing in a canon like Addergoole, a suggestion of a scene can be enough to whet the appetite. <<

Yes, that makes sense.

>> It is really bothering me, this mis-use of mine of the word drabble. :-/ <<

I think that where we learn a word can influence how we use it.

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Woo-hoo! *cheers* <<

Much appreciated.

>> (Still working on getting to a single blackout on anything) <<

I think this is my second one.

>> (Hey: is there a microfic bingo?) <<

I have not seen a thematic community for that. However, I did build an achievement for it in this community. Look on the "Bingo and Achievement Options" post for the "Diamonds and Dynamite" achievement. Its fiction category features work under 500 words. Based on what I've seen of your writing, that should be right up your alley.

Re: Thank you!

[aldersprig]

oh, neat, thanks!