Discussion -- September 2011 Challenge

[Moonbat]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

What are you saying Moonbat, that I posted so soon because I had a spare from last month??!!!!111!

Not at all Harebrain, you often post early. It does look like you took your finger off shift during all your exclamation marks though

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

My first thought was that this reminds me of the story that brought me to this site originally! I was searching for a short story about astronauts who went crazy after seeing the back of the billboard that the stars were printed on -- turned out to be Asimov, as I found out most quickly in the Book Search section, and I was thus hooked on the Chrons.

I don't think Asimov could have done it in 75 words.

 

[Chel]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

I for once had a very sudden burst of inspiration and have written a draft, but I'll sleep on it before I polish. Who knows if I get more ideas!

 

[Perpetual Man]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Just finished my second draft, not sure whether I'll go with it, but it's something a little different.

More importantly: I will be doing my regular comments this month, and will try to get up to date with the first entries tomorrow, but am off on holiday for the week so there might not be any for a while. (Even though I'll probably look in from time to time)

 

[Star Girl]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Great theme, I just have to think of a story now. It seems I'm still in a horror mood from last month. I can only think of horror stories for this theme.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

What are you saying Moonbat, that I posted so soon because I had a spare from last month??!!!!111!

*makes puppet of Moonbat*

Last month's theme certainly seems to have made it's mark on this month's challenge.

I liked your entry (that two months on the trot and that's a worry in itself).

With this innocent looking (tell telling) riposte to poor old Moonbat, I think sense a deeper explanation.

Just how many of these puppets have you made?

Not at all Harebrain, you often post early. It does look like you took your finger off shift during all your exclamation marks though

It's subliminal messaging Moonbat, what he's actually doing is subtly saying

vote me first - vote me first - vote me first

 

[Moonbat]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

ah, good point TEIN, I thought maybe it was subliminal but he was trying to ensure we get 111 entries this month

 

[HareBrain]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Just how many of these puppets have you made?



It's subliminal messaging Moonbat, what he's actually doing is subtly saying

vote me first - vote me first - vote me first

Although voting for me would ensure puppets remain unused, I wouldn't want that to sway anyone's decision.

 

[MstrTal]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

How did you know I am taking a theatre class this term and that we just had a design presentation wensday night?

 

[Perpetual Man]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

HareBrain – I scan read this one the first time and thought that it did not make sense, on second read I was really impressed. I can see why there have been references to it escaping from last month. But strangely I cannot stop myself praising it, how truly wonderful it is, how well constructed how just so perfect. It’s almost as though someone else is controlling my hands as I type.

southron sword – There is something fatalistically funny in this one. Seeing a pious man of war manipulated by an alien for simply entertaining purposes is downright scary, but the way it is told, gives it a lightness with serious overtones.

The Spurring Platty – Having just read Fallen Dragon by Peter Hamilton, I could not help but feel as though this was a missing moment, something that might have been seen, but wasn’t. It’s a wonderful little piece of storytelling, that not only hits the nail on the head for this month’s challenge, but also managed to cleverly mix fantasy and SF. Two genres for the price of one. A tip of the hat is needed.

Chel – Oh what a writer has to put up with eh? Not only does he have to come up with fresh ideas, get them written down on the page as perfectly as possible, populate them with well rounded characters, but sometimes those characters are so well rounded they get a life of their own and tell you where you are going wrong. It’s true. It does happen. Just look at poor old Chel here... Made me chuckle and seemed plausible.

Sid Hawkins – Not only was this one rather clever, amusing it was also slightly frightening as well. The whole universe as we know it is wrong, it’s controlled by... something. A really great idea that was well presented, and written. It really did all come together like clockwork.

Varangian – And if I’m not mistaken a first-timer. I found this to be simple, but very clever, as it is what is not said that is important. Two Detectives closing in on a near derelict house. Why? What is going on? They are armed and concerned enough to use their firearms, but we do not know why, or what happens, and that is the beauty of the story, we don’t need to know. Only to remember that we never know what goes on behind the curtains of every house that we see.

 

[The Spurring Platty]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Thanks Perp!

 

[Chel]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Chel Made me chuckle and seemed plausible.

Mission accomplished!

Thanks for the feedback, as always Perp. I hope you know how much we all appreciate it!

 

[Perpetual Man]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

My pleasure Chel and Platty.

For myself I've managed to end up with two, desperate not to get overloaded like last month so will have to choose one of them, but am vacillating from one to the other, so badly I haven't got a clue.

 

[alchemist]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

For myself I've managed to end up with two, desperate not to get overloaded like last month so will have to choose one of them, but am vacillating from one to the other, so badly I haven't got a clue.

Hey, me too!

Some excellent stories so far - maybe three for the list. I'm quite chuffed I got Spurring Platty's reference to the Clarke.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

I wondered if it was a reference and I could feel a tickle in my mind somewhere, but if it is and not just my brain working, I don't seem to be able to latch onto it. Yet.

 

[The Judge]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Yes, I was quite chuffed, too, alchemist -- a nice touch to the story. PM -- if racking your brains doesn't get you anywhere... http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/776.html

 

[Hex]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Yes, I was quite chuffed, too, alchemist -- a nice touch to the story. PM -- if racking your brains doesn't get you anywhere... http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/776.html

Oh, that's very cool. It makes a great story even better.

I love these stories -- all my ideas were completely different, and none of them were as good as these.

 

[Scott R. Forshaw]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

I've been away for quite some time, and I have to say, I haven't half missed this place. I had begun to become frustrated with my writing, so I decided to take a few months away, to clear my head and generate some new ideas.
I'm currently working on a new manuscript, which at the moment is going very well, (touches wood, and keeps fingers firmly crossed.) but I still found that I needed a break from normality. So I figured, where else would be better to go, than here.
So back I came, and my first port of call was directly to the 75 word challenge. It's been a while, I must admit, and some of the posts are nothing short of brilliant, but I thought I'd give it a whirl anyway.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is that I hope I manage to hold my own against the other wonderful stories that have been posted. And more importantly, I hope that people enjoy it.
God, it feels good to be back!

 

[alchemist]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Posting earlier in the month makes things much more simple. 20 days to sit back and relax now.

 

[TheTomG]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

I wanted to post early because I like to write and post without reading what others have written, so I can remain uninfluenced - the flipside is impatience to read all those grat stories! Solution: post early , spend rest of things month reading!