Tuesday 31 May 2011

Conundrums

Bloggie friends! Please help me!

If you were to read: “send us a story of no more than 2000 words” would you think they want a story of anything from 1 word to 2000 words?

Or do they want 2000 words exactly?

It’s just I think I have a story but the final word count is 912 so maybe it’s too short and won’t qualify.

My brain’s trying to work this conundrum out and can’t seem to get a straight answer! LOL!

What do you think?

Charlie says: I think it is snack time.


I love long weekends just gone! Yay, more please!

55 comments:

Alasandra, The Cats and Dogs said...

We thinks 912 words is the purrfect length.

Brian's Home Blog said...

I think you are safe to submit it, anything below 2,001 words is A-O-K! But Charlie is right too, it IS snack time!!!

Mr Puddy said...

For my mom, she think it means " 2000 words are Maximum "
Have a great day Charlie !
xoxo

Robyn said...

I say anything under 2,000 words is perfectly fine! :)

(Charlie, I agree. It's always snack time, isn't it?)

m.q said...

i think the story must be less than 2000 words. hehehe


hi Charlie!!!

Guinevere said...

I think you're fine! I'd go ahead and submit it.

Shawn said...

Charlie,
Wees tink you need Snack time followed by Nap time...now that is our type of weekend!

Chloe, Cecil and Winston

dArtagnan Rumblepurr/Diego Hamlet Moonfur said...

Charlie, as always... you have the right idea!!

iasa said...

That sounds like 1-2000 words to me. I'd send the story right along!

Katnip Lounge said...

hmmmm. Most folks tend to ramble on and on with florid prose so I think they just want to prevent long rambling tales and possibly run on sentences, too.

heh heh.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I think they mean a maximum of 2000 - you'll be fine with 912.
And I'll take more long weekends!

Tucker The Crestie said...

I think it's within the range that they asked for, so go for it! And good luck!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I'd say if it is complete at 900 words, then send it in. Because "no more than 2000 words" means it can be less than 2000 but not more than. So 900 sounds like a good number. Go for it!

Unknown said...

I think "up to" is fine. I think what you have is fine. However, because I'm not the judge...

Unknown said...

I think "up to" is fine. I think what you have is fine. However, because I'm not the judge...

Travis Erwin said...

Send t. I don't think it means right at 200 but no more. A complete story is a complete story whether it be 6 words or 6,000.

Esme said...

I say it is up to 2,000 words-I would get as close to the mark as possible.

LTM said...

I think no more than 2K means "up to"--in other words, I think your story should be FINE. And good luck!!! <3 ((hugs)) and scratches to Charlie!

Manzanita said...

I would think any number of words up to 2000. Yours would fit into that. Good for you having ready ms ready to go.
Manzanita@Wannabuyaduck <a

martine said...

A story is as long as it is ... if you have said all you want to say then send it as it is, it'll be all wrong if you try and pad it out just to make it 'long enough'
much love
martine

Jessica Bell said...

Anywhere from 1 - 2000, yes :o) LOL 912, is fine. Submit it!

Brigid O'Connor said...

I would normally write close to the higher word count they mention.

the writing pad said...

Hi Old Kitty
I would say it can be anything up to 2000 words (although 1 word might not do it, unless it was a very, very good word!) I'd definitely take the 'up to' literally ... but then again I once wrote down 1 to 20 in a Brownies quiz, when Brown Owl said 'write down 1 to 20.' Then I realised everyone else had written all the other numbers in between, on separate lines, ready to put the answers against them .. so I mightn't be the best person to answer this :-)
Good luck with the sub anyway!!
All best, Karla

MorningAJ said...

I'd say it's a 2000 maximum and 912 would be fine. Good luck.

The Monkeys said...

I think they must mean a story with less than 2000 words would qualify...I hope I'm right!

Fuzzy Tales said...

I would interpret that as meaning a maximum of 2000 words, as you have. 1 to 2000. Are you able to email someone and confirm?

Yes, please, more long weekends. In fact, why can't we have a 4-day work week for 5-day pay?

Susan Fields said...

I would think "up to 2000 words" means anything shorter would be fine. Good luck with your submission!

Hannah and Lucy said...

We think they would want anything within the range 1-2000 - but there again what do we know - we're cats!!
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

SASS....Sammy Andy Shelly Sierra said...

We agree with handsome Charlie.....our mama says it should mean any amount of words as long as there aren't more than 200o words, so please submit your 912 words.

We send y'all much love.

Lexi said...

Not 2,000 words exactly - this would drive entrants mad. And they could easily have specified 1,500 - 2,000 had they wanted to.

Why not send it in anyway - what have you got to lose?

Good luck if you do!

Tiffany said...

I would say that your story of 912 words meets the criteria. I hate it when editors mandate a certain number of words. Sometimes it simply isn't necessary to draw out a story just to meet their silly quota!

http://moonwillowinvitesu2sit4aspell.blogspot.com/

notesfromnadir said...

I'd say 912 is right in the middle.

Looks like Charlie's having the nap before the snack! :)

Whirlochre said...

They want close to 2000 words, I expect.

Anything below 1500 and you fall foul of being considered skimpy and anything below 1000 and maybe you're looking at another competition.

That's what I reckon.

Southpaw said...

Between 1 and 2000. ;) I say send it in!

Rene said...

I would think they mean a story between 1 and 2000 words, so your 912 word submission should be perfect!

wildcatwoods said...

I would take this as anything less than 2000 words to be fine. Let's eat, Charlie - what's on the menu?

Cats of wildcat woods

Margo Benson said...

I think your word count is fine. If they wanted nearer 2000 they should say between x and 2000.

Wonderful pic of Charlie :-)

Summer Ross said...

Honestly as a slush reader I would say they want something at least over 500 words if they did not put a minimum word count on their list.

Hart Johnson said...

I think you're fine. It would be daring to send a drabble or something, but you can do a solid story at the length you've got. Good luck with it!

laughingwolf said...

to me it reads: up to 2k words

if you can tell your tale in less, it should qualify!

Marg said...

I think your 912 words sounds perfect. In my opinion, I think the same thing. It can be anything up to 2000 words. So go ahead and get it entered. Let us know how you do in it.

Talli Roland said...

I'd say anything up to 2000 words is okay.

Hope you and Charlie had a great long weekend!

fairyhedgehog said...

My guess is that they might prefer a slightly longer story, say 1500 words but if they don't say a lower limit then maybe not.

Why not submit it anyway? Have you got anything to lose?

Anonymous said...

I asked a published author this question and she suggested sending a story 50 words shy of the max count (i.e. 1950) :O)

Golden Eagle said...

If it says "no more than 2000 words" I would think 912 would be okay; it's under the limit, and they don't mention any minimum.

Good luck!

Ellie Garratt said...

As long as it says 'no more than 2000 words', you can send any length under that. If the story only needs 912 words, then you send it as it is!

Tracy said...

Kitty,
when I read that I think it is anywhere up to 2,000 words so my take is don't worry about how many words, but the quality of those 2,000 words...
It looks like Charlie gave you sound advice :)

Theresa Milstein said...

That would be unfair to hold you to exactly 2000 words. I think it's telling you up to 2000 words. So don't even think of submitting 2001!

Good luck with your submission.

Theresa Milstein said...

I forgot to mentioned how beautiful the reposed Charlie looks! But I'm questioning his muse role if he's constantly blocking your keyboard!

Patsy said...

I'd assume it was anything up to 2,000 words. If it's a comp, that's probably the case. If it's a magazine then have a look to see if their other stories are of varying lengths, or if they're all pretty close to 2,000.

KarenMcG said...

It looks to me like Charlie might have already had his snack! But go for it, Charlie.

And Old Kitty, I'd say your 912 word article/story ought to fit the bill just fine.

"No more than 2,000 words" to me means, as you suggested, anywhere from 1 up to (and including) 2,000 words.

Do they have a website or a magazine where they show other articles/stories that have been submitted in the past so you can get a feel for the length of the others?

Melinda Szymanik said...

send it in!! 'No more than' means anything less than 2000 is fine. And a few words over won't worry them either. 5000 words or more would probably do their heads in tho and make them grumpy.

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

I think you are just fine!! It means that 2000 words is the LONGEST it should be!
xoxoxo

Ann Dziemianowicz said...

Yes you should definitely submit! :)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I think 912 words is just perfect as long as you feel you've told the story the way that makes you you happy!