Discussion - December 2011 - 75 Word Challenge

[Ursa major]

Absolutely corsets. We should have more of them.

But even one corset is a waste of a word, isn't it?


We'd be far better tightening our belts, word-use-wise.

 

[odangutan]

But even one corset is a waste of a word, isn't it?

Of corset is...

 

[AnyaKimlin]

Of corset is...

depends who's wearing it

 

[The Spurring Platty]

depends who's wearing it

Now that's going a little below the belt.

 

[Abernovo]

As I've recently been chopping down trees, wearing a plaid shirt, no less, I suspect I should stay out of discussions about women clothing.

 

[Ursa major]

We'll suspend out disbelief... er... bro....

 

[Jo Zebedee]

As I've recently been chopping down trees, wearing a plaid shirt, no less, I suspect I should stay out of discussions about women clothing.

Oh, i don't know; lumberjacks, corsets, I see a 75 worder in that, somewhere.

I just wouldn't neccessarily post it.

 

[chrispenycate]

Can you actually cut down trees in tight corsets? I mean, no difficulty lacing the corset onto the tree, but I'd have thought the axe would bounce off the whalebone stays.

And it isn't the 'no less' about the plaid shirt that worries us; it's the 'no more?'
Boots tend to be de rigeur, and if your using a swedish chain saw, various protective items.

http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/874201-post13.html

 

[AnyaKimlin]

As I've recently been chopping down trees, wearing a plaid shirt, no less, I suspect I should stay out of discussions about women clothing.

just the shirt ? Gather it's warmer where you are

I have a policeman character that likes to play dress up as a Victorian Prostitute lol I don't have any female character's that wear them.

 

[High Eight]

It made me laugh, High Eight -- the end surprised me.

I just had to get my hero into a steampunk story. After all, he fits (kind of).

 

[Starbeast]

I just had to get my hero into a steampunk story. After all, he fits (kind of).

I like doing that too, including adding fictional hero characters. I thought a steampunk adventure with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson would be a slick idea.

 

[Gary Compton]

Can you actually cut down trees in tight corsets?

Who mentioned cutting down trees. It's my speciality at the moment. Corsets? I'll have to try that

 

[nixie]

Nice to see you Gary hope your soon recovered.

Right that is my pathetic attempt up.

 

[hopewrites]

Awwwwwe. Nixie I liked it. very sweet negation to the sinister image i was imagining the child to have gone through.

 

[Forgotten Realms]

@Nixie: I liked yours very much. Somehow...it was very touching.

 

[Hex]

I like doing that too, including adding fictional hero characters. I thought a steampunk adventure with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson would be a slick idea.

I loved Brunel being in the story. I thought Holmes was a good idea too. I don't know what it is about steampunk but I was really keen to get Moriarty into mine. Sadly the whole 75 words thing prevented that.

I'd like to apologise now (after alchemist's noble apology a couple of pages back) for unwittingly sparking the corsetry discussion. Although I must say that the image of Abernovo in a plaid shirt chopping down a tree will stay with me for a while, especially since I think Abernovo is a bear.

And while I'm here. TSP -- I loved your story. Thoroughly wicked.

 

[Ursa major]

I'd like to apologise now (after alchemist's noble apology a couple of pages back) for unwittingly sparking the corsetry discussion.

You're being very unfair to yourself. The corsetry "discussion" was wittingly sparked off; by me. (And my paw prints are on the alchemist affair as well.)

 

[Hex]

You're being very unfair to yourself. The corsetry discussion was wittingly sparked off; by me. (And my paw prints are on the alchemist affair as well.)

It's good of you to take the blame. I will be able to sleep again at night.

 

[Ursa major]

Blame?



<--- Looks innocent.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Starbeast – The use of the name ‘Rathbone’ and the word ‘Egad’ were enough to make me come out of this one with a smiling face. The story itself backed it up really well, with a merging of classic characters, a mystery. Murder and resolution all within 75 words – and a giant toy soldier. Wow.

Karn – Poor old Father Christmas seems to be getting a bit of beating this year, his reputation is certainly under attack, but the stories are so good that how can you not like the assassination of childish things. Or indeed the children themselves in this one. There is a certain logical expediency in what Santa is suggesting to do with the canon, and a better incentive for kids to behave. You don’t just get a black mark if you are naughty, all that is left IS a black mark.

Forgotten Realms – There is a sense of sadness in this story, and a feeling that reminded me of pastoral England in years gone by. I do not even know why, perhaps it was just me. But the image of this little ballet dancer slowly melting away with each stroke of the clock was a strong one.

Springs1971 – A beautifully sweet story that carries the reader along with the buoyancy of the waters upon which it is set. There is almost a lulling peacefulness to it, only slightly offset by the grim image of the city in the background, but the tale leads us back to the good feelings with the simplicity of a gift that is perfect and brings happiness more than anything else could.

Stormcrow – This is one of those stories that seemed wrong, until you realise just how right it is. A steampunk take on gaming that is spot on. It catches the everyday game playing feel, but with playstations and Xboxes thrown out for a marvellous steam driven contraption instead. Not that I’m a game player, but I’d probably play something like that!

Phoenixthewriter – A literal change in perspective with this clever little story – unless I’m completely reading it wrong. But this seems to be the story of a windup toy told from the point of view of said toy. I really liked the way that life only happened as it was wound up. Then drained away as it wound down.

High Eight – Another tale with a difference, in this instance giving us an alternative view, where the life of a great engineer continues due his genius and the mechanisms of his era. It gives a wonderful bit of description at the start, allowing a genuine feeling of the machine, almost ominous, and then we learn who the interviewee is and it turns it into a sense of wonder. Unless it’s a factual piece...

Abernovo – What a wonderful little piece. The idea of someone having a friend literally made for their daughter is both beautiful and terrifying - what kind of world would it be where friends are constructed rather than made? But there was more than just the story, the throwaway comment about nano clockwork was stupendous. And the afterthought for me at least, is what would happen to the clockwork girl as her companion grew up and left her playthings behind?

Hopewrites – There were elements of Toy Story in this tale, but only in a good way. Here though the toys come to life because of what they are, I presume, clockwork. Entertainment for themselves in the absence of children, but it is the last two lines that really complete this story in such as strong way – the soldiers playing ska just gives it a depth that grounds it, and the almost sinister last line... wonderful stuff.

Tisiphone – I loved the imagery in this piece, again feeling that there was something sinister about it. The chimneys smelling of burning flesh was such an evocative image that I can almost see it; and the feeling that the dash to save teddy has an ominous subtext, the kind of thing a child would risk not understanding the consequences. Very emotive and unsettling.

Nixie – Yet another good, emotive piece, here though there is that feeling of a lost soul, that is made worse by the little boys age. You really get the feeling that there is something so very wrong, but do not know what and the revelation that it is a missing toy just seems so spot on that it melts the heart.

TSP – I wondered where on earth this one was going when I started to read it. But the pay off was certainly worth the wait. A little bit of sinister voodoo, perhaps. There is the feeling that the younger sibling had very little of her own, so perhaps the toy was really special; and I guess the way in which she uses it hints at a bit of sibling rivalry. As has been said before, it is amazing at what can be squeezed into 75 words, and the way they can be interpreted in so many different ways.