Discussion -- October 2011 Challenge

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Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

To be honest, Platty, I did think that the demon in question might have a wonderful time with all the people here.:)

Thanks for the vote - you've made my night!:)

Late edit - thanks for the mention, Hope!
 
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Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

I voted for Harebrain. It just had that nightmare touch, especially the running and getting nowhere that I'm sure most of us have experienced. I haven't had a nightmare for nearly 60 years but as soon as I saw this month's theme it was that experience that came to me straight away.
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

You know, I think what really caused my troubles this month was the fact that I couldn't bring myself to look so directly upon my worst nightmares. The really scary ones just sit out there on the periphery, daring me to think about them and write about them and make them real, and I didn't want to lend them that much credence.

The only thing I can think of that is equivalent to that feeling is one I had when both my kids were babies, and they would fall asleep and I would pick them up to carry them to bed and would literally force myself not to think of the term, "dead weight". It's kind of like not thinking of pink elephants, very difficult to do. But it was just a dark thought, lurking out there on the edges, waiting for someone to give it some heft.

That's what this challenge did to me. So I wrote a silly one, and another thing that came to me in a different sort of dream, and another silly one, and finally the one I posted that came out of a real "bad dream" but was still silly, and I tried really hard not to think of the bad things. Hmm.
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

Thank you for the mentions and big, big thanks to Chris and Flugel for the vote. May your dreams never be anything like what we have written and read this month.
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

The back of your head again Cul. :D
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

Drags out blacklist of those who have submitted without voting (so far) this month:–
Abernovo
AnyaKimlin
Devil's Advocate
Enicinalien
Grizzgreen711
HareBrain
Percival
reiver33
RSliwinski
StormFeather
The Judge
TheTomG
Ursa major

Not applying any pressure, evidently, but if all the abstentions voted for the same piece it would be a shoo-in (rather than the boot in).

And thanks Ashcroft, who voted without hope of reciprocity – perhaps next month?
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

I'm thinking. I like to take my time over these things. But vote I shall, never fear. Well, as long as the broadband doesn't play up again.
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

Having read through all my favourites yet again, I'm still caught between Cul and Mosaix for the vote (both of whom voted for me, so this doesn't at all seem like some kind of mutual backslapping society :eek:). I thought Mosaix's contained just about the most truly nightmarish situation anyone could possible conceive, whereas Cul's was a very original take on the theme, and both were very well done.

Whilst I decide, my second tier were: Aun Doorback, Reiver33, Pyan, Chrispy, Perp, and High Eight.

Also whilst I decide, thanks to Cul, Alchemist, Moonbat and Mosaix for their votes, and to others for the shortlist mentions.

Hmm. Back for another look, methinks.
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

Here's the (possibly precipitate) result of the Ursa jury:



Honourable Mentions:
  • Blessed Enemy... by Pyan
  • Splash Down by Parson
  • The Insertionist by HareBrain
  • Everywhere You Go by High Eight
Runners Up:
  • The Nightmare Merchant by Culhwch
  • Don't Read This by Perpetual Man
  • Five and a half days by alchemist
Winner:
  • Death Is Not An Option by mosaix.
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

You have only a few hours, Karn.
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

Thanks for the mention, Harebrain and thanks for the vote, Ursa. :)
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

Thanks for the mentions Ursa and HB.
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

chrispenycate said:
And thanks Ashcroft, who voted without hope of reciprocity – perhaps next month?
Click to expand...

You're most welcome, Chris! I felt I owed it to the writers to do as little as vote; I thought a lot of the submissions were truly excellent, and I was hard-pressed to come to a final decision.

I ended up voting for Culhwch because his piece really moved me. However, I doubt I'll enter a seventy five word challenge unless a theme appears that particularly appeals to me, because I just don't think I can manage to get an idea down to that length. Frankly, three hundred words was a big challenge.

I actually really like the idea of these word count limited challenges; it's a really novel concept that's surprisingly hard to accommodate. After having tens of thousands of words to play around with in regular writing, trying to trim an idea down to the spec is a challenge by itself!
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

I thought that at first Ashcroft, no way I could get a story down in 75 words. I've done 2 now and am enjoying the challenge of it all. I actually found it easier to do the 75 word than the 300 word story!
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

Few here are more loquacious than myself, and I have done every seventy-five worder since the first (although it's true some of my words are somewhat polysyllabic).

Just think how easy it will be to do the synopsis of your first novel; all those words to play with!
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

Difficult one this month (aren't they always...?)

Short-short list:

Culhwch -- The Nightmare Merchant
HareBrain -- The Insertionist
mike1366 -- ?Untitled/Message Begins
mosaix -- Death Is Not An Option
Mouse -- Living and Loathing
pyan -- Blessed Enemy


Lots of pulling back and forth between them, but in the end I voted for Mouse as there was something terrible in its desolation (terrible in a good way, that is).
 
Re: Discussion October SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE

Thanks for the mention TJ, and I just noticed I got a mention from Mith as well, sorry I didn't see it sooner. :eek:
 
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