[@Calle] Okay. Well thanks for the conversation. ^-^

Maybe it's because I do have a good vocabulary, always had one. College level in grade school, is something I vividly remember being told. But nothing is 'too smart' in writing. Usually just means it's pretentious. If my word salad story sounded like gibbering nonsense, then that's my fault I suppose. :P

It's because I missed a word in that sentence, that's the problem with trying to push yourself. It's much easier to point out someone's screw ups, when they're trying to write more artfully than they usually do. That's why I try limiting, and cutting things I don't need at the point where it appears I'm going too fast. Because filler is a really easy way to avoid criticism. Make a single paragraph of ideas into four of them, and you're guaranteed to less likely to get prodded about it. Spread yourself so far and thin, any attack will seem trivial.

In a similar way it's difficult to write in a way that isn't simple. It can be challenging to make an engaging short story, because you have fewer words to do it. So those words actually matter, and you have to think what you need and what you could cut.

(But for trying too hard. It's a mistake I likely won't bother making again, given the general reactions I've received. I still want to read it to a few people to get more perspectives of people I know have the best interests in mind.)

But even though the story was simple. I didn't outright dislike your story at all, hopefully didn't come across that way. It's still always good to write as much as possible in order to improve oneself.

To be honest, I think my story was really the only one that actually really took the prompt on the nose. So I suffered for it. Which was my problem last time...it was a word limit that only two people followed. And neither won. And my biggest flaw, which even I acknowledged was a "rushed" conclusion which was only needed because of a rule, I followed to my determent. So clearly I don't know what people are looking for. :P

I certainly hope I see your prompts again. Maybe you'll have more time to write. (And maybe I'll spend a little less, yet get a better result. XD) I clearly need to work on my time management in the meantime.