DISCUSSION -- The 75 word Challenge, April 2011

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It is heartening! I fully expected a real drop in participation with this genre and theme, so to have so many entries is very encouraging, whatever the reason they've come in so quickly.
 
there are still members who like exploring the darker sides of this theme- not that there's anything wrong with that. My first story didn't have a positive note like the one I've decided to enter, but allthough the first might be a bit better in quality, I kept true to my conversation with the Judge in the March Discussion thread, and opted for a little more of a positive vibe.
 
Good, cornelius! One for the bright side! I look forward to reading your darker, alternative story when voting's finished, though.
 
Aww, thanks Mouse. :)

My attention is torn between the two competitions this month, I'm loving the 300 word entries, but as usual the 75 word entries have so much scope from one to the next. Still liking Harebrain's, but so many great entries.
 
Phew, caught up. I did not think I was going to manage for a while, being busy for all sorts of reasons, keeping me away from what I really wanted to be doing... (Damn those pesky computer problems)

The fact that people were posting so quickly too did not help.

Anyhoo:


MstrTal – Another tragic tale, but well conceived and presented. There is a real impact in the final line, that really enhanced the story, even through in some ways it was telegraphed. It was especially emotive that it was someone who had lived a full life.

Precise Calibre – I liked the fact that this was very much a bitter-sweet romance, where love triumphed. Caught up with a paranormal being and leaving all that you know alive to be with the one you love and what they promise is a genuine romantic notion.

Culhwch – Something definitely paranormal in this one, the fact that it was posted so early in the month perhaps? That being said I thought this extension to a popular fairy tale was dramatic and perfect, twisting the twist as it were. Never judge a book by a cover: he may look like a beast but he’s really a prince, but as a prince he’s a monster.

Slack – Another different take on the theme, just adding to the diversity that the challenge inspires. I liked the feel of a love being lost to an invasive bit of entertainment technology. The way people seem to completely immerse themselves in modern technology, this tale might be a frightening look at the none to distant future.

Cornelius – Another nice bit of misdirection, and a twist on a classic fairytale conceit. The princess choosing her captor over the dashing prince. True love or Stockholm syndrome???

Crys – Hmm I’m not sure about this one in the best possible way. When taking into account the title, why is there a feel of unease at the final line. Is there an unhappy ending in store for our hero? “Welcome, I’ve been expecting you” said the spider to the fly...

chris – When I first read these I did not check the names, which was quite a bit of fun as you went in with no preconceptions based on writer. This one threw me completely, until I checked the writer, if nothing else it is fantastically constructed, but it is more than that as well, a fantastic little piece.

Moonbat – Ahh, sad and beautiful at the same time, this one touching, the title a perfect fir to the story, evoking the right amount of emotion, a ghost unable to move on because she was missing ehr shoe. Brilliant.

Nixie – This one reminded me of the ‘flavour’ or an urban myth, something that might just have an edge of truth to it. You could almost imagine a group of old sailors sitting around a table telling the same story. With more words of course. Another excellent entry

Heoru – Another great take on the theme, a good first(?) entry. Someone risking the depths of hell to rescue their love, and a happy ending. A solid attempt.

Parson – Ping! A nice little romantic missive, which manages to play on different interpretations and perceptions. To some that which is a lifelong relationship is seen as something else by others, different cultures. And some nice pings...

Chel – Quite the disturbing one this, and if nothing else it made me think. I’m not sure if my interpretation of it is what Chel intended, but that is the wonder of these tales, they are open to different interpretations. Did the protagonist know the woman was a hag, did the live together for so long she became one or was it all an illusion? Top notch.

TEIN – Yet another one I really liked, a sad moment with a few beautiful words, twist in death. I liked the idea of finding out after the end, that soul mates could enter heaven together... how frustrating!! Especially as the character did his best to ensure his partners happiness, never expecting the cost to himself...

RJ84 – A great sadness in this one, of not being able to let go and holding on to the dead love. Enough people have this problem without the deceased putting in an appearance as well. Could well be used as a basis for something longer, could easily be a very strong and perhaps haunting character piece.

J-Riff – Love the title, and the humour. A nice attempt to do something a little different with just speech as well, it made me smirk twice, so it’s doing its job. Unless it was not meant to make you chuckle in which case my sense of humour is in trouble.

Phew, don't know whether I'm going to try and do this for the 300 worder too, but I can at least wander over and have a look now - and try and get mine up.
 
Thank you for the comments.

To be honest I am not all that happy with it myself. I should of waited to submit it until I had a chance to re-read it and then do some revision but it was my first time entering and well I couldn't help myself. I consider it a learning experience. :)
 
Howdy,
I have often wondered why people are still trying to interpret the Bible thousands of years after it was written, then I signed on to the SFF Chronicles, now I know.
Bob S.
 
Bob S. Sr said:
Howdy,
I have often wondered why people are still trying to interpret the Bible thousands of years after it was written, then I signed on to the SFF Chronicles, now I know.
Bob S.
Click to expand...

Too clever by half! Great line!!:D:D

Perpetual Man:

Thanks for the favorable review. But I'm not sure what you mean by "great pings?"
 
Perp: Thanks for the comments.

I for one am looking forward to your 300 word reviews. :)
 
Out of these 75 word entries this will be my 1st time voting and while I am not exactly sure how this are set up they are all truly wonderful pieces. That said one in particular jumped out at me and out of all of them it is the one I keep thinking about at the oddest moments.

That was Nixie's.
 
The voting is all very straightforward, MstrTal -- well, the mechanics of it, not the choosing who to vote for part! Cul sets up a poll in a separate thread and you just have to hit the correct button -- I'm a techno-idiot and even I can manage it. The only things to remember are: you only get one vote, and you can't vote for yourself.

And there's still 10 days to go before voting, and -- I hope -- plenty of good stories yet to come.
 
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