Discussion - January 2012 - 75 Word Challenge

[HareBrain]

Thanks Phyrebrat for the vote, and others for the shortlist mentions. TDZ, you have no cause to regret my choice of theme and genre, going by the story you pulled out (which reminded me of the ending of Blazing Saddles; was that its inspiration?)

Anyway, I had my shortlist and vote all sorted the afternoon before the challenge ended, and then the Judge had to come along and complicate things.

Here's my shortlist (and there were more than usual that didn't quite make this) and shorter list:

Springs1971
Abernovo
Reiver33
AnyaKimlin
Aun Doorback
Stormcrow
Moonbat
Chrispy
TheTomG
TDZ
The Judge

In the end, despite strong and nail-chewing competition from TJ's entry, I stuck with my initial choice and voted for Stormcrow's: there was something just so mesmerising and exciting about it.

 

[johnnyjet]

Wow! Being a newbie (is that a real word?), I was very surprised and grateful for the short listing and good comments from AnyaKimlin, Perpetual Man, and TheDusty Zebra. Thank you so much.

There were many cool, bizarre & interesting stories here and it was a tough decision, but I was finally able to narrow it down to my top 5:

1. Lessons My Granny Taught Me -- Teresa Edgerton
2. Thoughts of a Simpler Time -- Joe the Timelord
3. Wild Things -- TheDustyZebra
4. Bonanza -- Ursa major
5. Fair Fight, Now -- HoopyFrood

And Teresa got my winning vote.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Thanks TDZ and HB for the shortlist; I think it turned out to be a good theme, good fun. I did groan at first and whoever wins take note, two hard months just past...

 

[TheDustyZebra]

TDZ, you have no cause to regret my choice of theme and genre, going by the story you pulled out (which reminded me of the ending of Blazing Saddles; was that its inspiration?)

Ha! No, as it turns out, it was really quite cool for a theme and genre, HB. But I nearly always groan initially and add the previous winner to my list of people not to vote for again -- and then promptly ignore it, of course!

Actually, though I have seen Blazing Saddles more than once, I have to admit I can't remember it -- I have a horrible memory, especially for movies. I didn't have any particular overt inspiration, it just came from the air -- but I did think later of the ending to Men In Black, with the lockers, and I've seen that a couple of times recently, so it was probably that.

Thanks for the mentions, HB and johnnyjet!

 

[stormcrow]

Starbeast & Aun Doorback - thanks for the mentions: glad you enjoyed it!

HareBrain - Thanks for your vote : entirely unexpected, & made my week because it works!

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the shortlisting, johnnyjet.

 

[Perpetual Man]

A quick look to see what's going on and I'm delighted to find I've got a second vote!

So many, many thanks to juelz4sure for that.

I've got to read through them again and grab a shortlist...

 

[TheTomG]

Ta HB for the shortlisting! I got to say "ta!"

 

[mosaix]

Thanks for the vote, TDZ and Bob! Much appreciated.

 

[Abernovo]

Thanks for the shortlisting, HareBrain.

I just noticed stormcrow's vote (I don't often go back to the poll page), so:

Thank you, stormcrow

 

[Perpetual Man]

The making of shortlists is becoming harder and harder, but this is what I ended up with:

Springs
Grizzgreen711
Anya
Aun
Cul
mouse
Starbeast
hope
alchemist
Spurring Platty
Brev
Teresa
David B
TheTomG
TDZ
Juelz4sure
Joe the Timelord
TJ

The ones in bold are the shorter short list, and I will think a while longer before before deciding on which one gets my vote.

One of these days I'm just going to vote straight away and get it over and done with.

 

[Mouse]

Ta HB for the shortlisting! I got to say "ta!"

Yay!

Thanks for my couple'a mentions. I voted for TDZ.

 

[chrispenycate]

Well, taken off the top end of the spreadsheet and reordered as posted, I get Springs, Culhwch, hopewrites, RSliwinski, Teresa, The TomG, the Dusty Z and her honnour the Judge, but my vote went (by so very little) to Hex.

I'll mention Grizzgreen's, which got marked down for grammar and punctuation; I know it's not really fair, but getting my fingers twitching for my red pen noticeably damps my reading enthusiasm. (Don't even ask about Boneman's)


Thank you to TheTomG, Springs, Harebrain and the Parson for the mentions (see, Reverend, if people understand my stories all is already lost).

Um, Phyrebrat; we don't do explanations:-

Hey PM,

Thank you for your thoughts and the clarity and objectivity that your words bring (something sadly lacking in my offerings! ).

The perplexity is unintentional but not surprising; I really did struggle with this month's theme and genre because - I must admit - I am no fan of Western (although, the 'weird' hooked me) however I think it is important to practice things outside of ones comfort zone so I was thinking Hey, count me in!

I aim for nebulousness ('nebulosity'??) but when that is at the expense of a clear narrative or concept it is obviously a fail, which I think it is in this case. However, there's the value added element to these challenges in that I learn from them.

Unfortunately my idea was not clear; Cowboy is de-horsed by some small green therapod dinosaurs (the 'chickens') which are nibbling him. Then he feels the impact tremor of an approaching dinosaur - a T-Rex in my mind.

I had been reading about the incredibly preserved Kathy Wankel T-Rex fossil in Montana and that gave me the what lies beneath part. Bit of a crowbar, but...

Lesson learned. And thank you so much again for your write up. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this for us.

pH

Until the voting is finished; it is effectively giving potential voters more than seventy five words to judge by (needs fierce, finger-wagging smiley, but hasn't got one).

 

[paranoid marvin]

Yay, a vote! Thankyou Hopewrites!

 

[Boneman]

I'll mention Grizzgreen's, which got marked down for grammar and punctuation; I know it's not really fair, but getting my fingers twitching for my red pen noticeably damps my reading enthusiasm. (Don't even ask about Boneman's)

Bigger boys made me do it, Chris!!

 

[Hex]

Thank you very much, Chris. Yippi-aye-yay!

 

[Christopher Lee]

I'll mention Grizzgreen's, which got marked down for grammar and punctuation; I know it's not really fair, but getting my fingers twitching for my red pen noticeably damps my reading enthusiasm. (Don't even ask about Boneman's)

Gahhh, not fair at all! Just kidding. I completely understand the mark downs for the grammar and punctuation. If there's one thing still lagging behind in my writing it is those two. I'm still working on it, but thank you for mentioning me anways. That was very nice of you.

And I know you were being polite, hehe, I appreciate it.

 

[Boneman]

I'll mention Grizzgreen's, which got marked down for grammar and punctuation; I know it's not really fair, but getting my fingers twitching for my red pen noticeably damps my reading enthusiasm. (Don't even ask about Boneman's)

On second read, shouldn't that be 'dampens'?

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Ty for the shortlist Chrispy; I knew avoidance of all punctuation could only be a good thing

 

[Starbeast]

Wow, thanks for the mentions, Hex, TDZ, HighEight, Starbeast and hopewrites.

Good American Indian legend tale.

Starbeast & Aun Doorback - thanks for the mentions: glad you enjoyed it!

It was learning that there is a Death Penalty in Oz, made it enjoyable.

The making of shortlists is becoming harder and harder

Thanks for adding me to the shorter short list.