Discussion 75 Word Challenge -- MARCH

[David Evil Overlord]

Thanks for the mentions, Alchemist and Scott.

 

[alchemist]

Alchemist: The House on the Edge of the Forest- so many questions unanswered for one answer unquestioned. Beautiful village painted in drab and lifeless shades of grey turned to warmth and happiness by the passing of a mysterious stranger. Was it magic that set them free? Or magic that imprisoned them? I want to believe it was the simplicity of the solution that made the women of the village laugh. A wonderful tale hinting that not all who wander with wisdom are old men, that not all strangers who bring suspicious knowledge should be untrusted.

We have found our new Perp Man!

Thanks hope; you make it sound so much better than it is.

 

[mosaix]

Thanks for the short listing, Hopewrites.

 

[hopewrites]

your more than welcome. I have said before I enjoy reading everyone elses more than writing my own. And yes, time permitting, and consciousness willing, I would love to be one of those who tries to fill such exalted sandals*. I am so very sorry I havent been around much for how ever long it is that I have been gone (time warps make it hard to follow the normal flow of things you know?) but the flowers are all done and being packed off tomorrow, so I can finally start concentrating on the box I'm mailing out for my birthday (feeling a little hobbit-y this year) and get back to reading and writing instead of folding and paining in my spare time.

*I always picture Perpetual Man in sandals rather than shoes. dont know why.

 

[Scott R. Forshaw]

Thanks for the shortlisting, hopewrites. Also, well done with the descriptions; I really enjoyed reading through them all.

 

[Culhwch]

A flurry of votes I wasn't really expecting (but are greatly appreciated all the same) since my last post in here. Many thanks to stormcrow, luiglin, Vertigo and Parson!

Thanks also for the mentions, comments and shortlists nixie, choccoweeble, Glen, Olive Skye, slindeman, Perp, johnnyjet, alchemist and Scott R. Forshaw! It's such a fantastic feeling to log into this thread and find so many people talking about your little story.

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the mention, Vertigo.


And Perp: you've been doing stirling work, and it's very much appreciated. But now your growing family needs you more, so all we can do is to wish you as much luck as you need.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Hey,

I'm gone for two minutes and so much happens! Just like to say thank you for the hon mentions and the five votes. That really makes me happy - it's hard to sit back and think 'yeah, that's it, that's the story finished' and I know things can be tweaked but I was so pleased to get 5 votes with what I had.

my picks were; (* for favourites)

Perpetual Man – Inverted
Stormcrow – Das Unheimliche*
MemoryTale – Bob*
Chrispenycate – Again elfin safety
Pyan – Plain Brown Wrapper
Mosaix – The Waiting Room*
Slindeman – The Weeping Wall
Luiglin – The Dancers
Culhwch – Make-Believe Wings
The Judge – Face Value*

And for realism, coldness and a wonderful last line.; The Judge

 

[Vertigo]

Thanks for the vote Scott - and to have my name in the same sentence as Pratchett! You've made my day.

And thanks for the short listing Hopewrites!

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

*I always picture Perpetual Man in sandals rather than shoes. dont know why.

Really? Based off the profile pic he has I see him in hiking boots rather than sandals. I think it's the coat he's featuring that does it.

 

[Parson]

Hey, Hopewrites, what kind of shoes do you see me wearing? No really, I thought that was a fun comment.

-----

I've discovered I have a vote!!! Thanks to littlemizflashythang.

 

[hopewrites]

Hey, Hopewrites, what kind of shoes do you see me wearing? No really, I thought that was a fun comment.

-----

I've discovered I have a vote!!! Thanks to littlemizflashythang.

hush puppies. brown leather hush puppies with immaculate tassels, and lovingly worn soles. oddly, most often without socks.

Really? Based off the profile pic he has I see him in hiking boots rather than sandals. I think it's the coat he's featuring that does it.

maybe thats why I see him in sandals. I was told that even when hiking on the coast I had to wear sandals.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

And I've just discovered I have a vote, too!

Thanks, mosaix!

And thanks for the mention as well, Scott!

 

[slindeman]

Thanks for the mention, Phyrebrat.

 

[stormcrow]

Alchemist, Phyrebrat - thanks for the mentions!

Sorry I didn't post my own shortlist when voting (I was having connectivity issues), so....

Alchemist - something very dark going on here - nice twist!
Aun Doorback - I got a whiff of disinfectant, N2O and rubber: a nightmarish tale.
springs1971 - lovely. That'll teach 'em for underestimating the magic of the thorn!
crystal haven - I don't know Shipton's cave, but this gave me a shudder as reminded me of something I saw as a child (Wookey Hole).
Tisiphone - witch woods?
Tactical Loco - I love how this one is such a different take on the subject: now can we have a steampunk sequel, please?
Scott R Forshaw - if only...!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Scott and stormcrow - many thanks for the shortlistings! Gosh its close at the top - again!

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

I was told that even when hiking on the coast I had to wear sandals.

That is a flat-out lie. No self-respecting coastal local would ever wear sandals, and it's actually downright dangerous if you're in the forest. You need something with better traction than sandals.


Or maybe I'm just prejudiced because I can't stand the sight of feet. They disgust me.

 

[Moonbat]

First, thanks to Perp for the review and shortlisting, hope everything goes well over the next month. Second thanks also to Alchemist for the mention.
Third, here is my list. It is long (as always) and there were quite a few that were great but didn't make it onto the list as the quality was so very high this month.

In the end it came down to three stories (all with votes already) but I plumped for my winner purely for the unwritten emotion therein.
My shortlist, my top 3 and my vote


Bowler1 – Luck of the Iorish
Hex – Security
Abernovo – foreshadow
Warren Paul – the observers
Crystal haven – like mother like son
Teresa Edgerton – Mrs Johnson
Bob S Snr – Wooden hearts
David Evil Overlord – Fluffy Bunny
Alchemist – the house on the edge ofthe forest
hoopy frood – and I will try to fixyou
hopewrites – what food has to say
aaron stone – forsooth, foretold
alcubierrewarp - demon's revenge
tisiphone – the tree nymph
Pyan – brown paper bag
harebrain – late home
phyrebrat – legoboy
highlander – different lives
Parson – that shalt not steal
culhwch – make believe wings
ursa major – lifting one's spirits


Well done all who entered, you have now made it into the annuls of 75 word competition history. We have had (by my count) 24 months of this now, with 232 entrants entering 1183 stories garnering 1113 votes (not including this month's votes - roughly 51 as I write this)

Here is to another great year of stories ahead of us.

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the mention, Moonbat.

 

[Warren_Paul]

Thanks for the short-listing mention, Moonbat.