I am about to send my Custer story in to a fellowship competition. The competition has a word limit, so, when posting my word limit on my piece, should I state the EXACT word count? Or the approximate?
The approximate would be 5000 (which is also the competition's limit--which I have not exceeded) and I'm afraid if I put 5000 they might think I've gone over. I don't want to disqualify myself. In competitions are they likely to be so picky? I know editors aren't (to a limit). Should I put something smart alecky like: "Close to, but not exceeding, 5000 words."?
Cross your fingers for me. If I win I can afford to apply for Boot Camp!
Posted by franc li (Member # 3850) on :
I don't see what's wrong with exact.
Posted by JBSkaggs (Member # 2265) on :
Approximately xxxx words is usually sufficient since there are so many ways to count words.
JB Skaggs
Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
Create a dummy, on-line e-mail account under a made up name and ask them how picky they are.
I just created such an e-mail acccount for a simillar purpose yesterday.
[This message has been edited by Robyn_Hood (edited March 08, 2005).]
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
I really think you should just say approx 5000. It looks unprofessional to put the exact worcount down, from what I've heard.
One thought...if rounding to the nearest 50 rather than the nearest 100 would put you at 4950, you could try that.
Posted by djvdakota (Member # 2002) on :
Christine! You AWE me with your brilliance! I hadn't even THOUGHT to round to 4950!
I think that HAS to be the perfect solution.
Thank you ever so very much!
Posted by djvdakota (Member # 2002) on :
Dang! Editing left me at 5004 words. I had to go for the 'approx. 5000'. Hope those four little words don't screw it for me. Posted by rickfisher (Member # 1214) on :
Do you have any ellipses? Each dot gets counted as a word. If you use the ellipsis character (something I would never ordinarily suggest) you could cut some words out. (Hats off to EricJamesStone for this maneuver).
Posted by ScottMiller (Member # 2410) on :
If you go crusing around, SF/F editors now apparently also regard it as unprofessional to indicate anything like "approximately."
I don't know about the contest editors, but I'd just use the word count function in your WP program, then round it up or down to the nearest hundred.
Posted by franc li (Member # 3850) on :
There aren't 4 adverbs in your story? Or an adjective + noun phrase that could be a different noun?
Posted by djvdakota (Member # 2002) on :
GAH! Franc li, do you KNOW how many times I've been over this thing cutting wherever I could?
It went. I opted to let them count pages and figure whether I was legal. No word count--the rules did not say it HAD to be on the document. They also had a 20 page limit, which was stupid because 5000 words of Courier 12 pt. won't FIT on 20 pages (it takes 23), so I had to use Times New to make it a slim 17. A hell. I hope it doesn't matter. I hope they're not as picky as my paranoid mind is imagining they will be.
Thanks everyone, but the point is moot. It's in the mail.
Create a dummy, on-line e-mail account under a made up name and ask them how picky they are.