Discussion -- 75 Word Challenge -- APRIL

[Scott R. Forshaw]

First off, I'd like to thank everyone who's voted for me, put me on their short lists, or mentioned me. I'm truly amazed that my story has been so well received, and I'm blown away! Thank you.

Now to the nitty-gritty...
To say this was tough is the greatest understatement of all time. I thought I had an idea as to who would receive my vote, but then the powers that be go and throw me a curve ball and offer us all three votes. What are you trying to do? Drive me to insanity? … Well, I think it may have worked!

Here's my (not so) short list:

Springs – This made me laugh, although I'm quite worried that I did.

DEO – This also raised a giggle.

Southron Sword –You've got to love a good Zombie tale.

Warren Paul – Zombies AND humour, what else would anyone need?

StormFeather – Very moving.

Grizzgreen – A great take on the apocalypse – prolonged agony.

Anthus – The one post wonder. A great tale never-the-less.

Aun Doorback – 'burn rubber' made me chuckle.

HareBrain - <shudder>

Ursamajor – Very clever story. A great take on current affairs.

Phyrebrat– I enjoyed the imagery.

Nixie– The effects of radiation, such a wonderful thing if you want to look like Swamp Thing.

Slindeman– A very believable scenario.

Cul– A very worrying tale.



And...<drumroll> ...my votes go to:

Springs

WarrenPaul

Aun Doorback

These were stories which stayed with me throughout the entire competition, and continued to keep me thoroughly entertained. Well done, guys and gals, and to everyone else who participated in this record breaking event.

 

[Vertigo]

That was incredibly difficult! But here's my short list and votes

Anthus - Second Chance
Aun Doorback - Soul Mate
Crystal Haven - Treasure
Glitch - Power to Intervene
HareBrain - Horsemen
Hex - The Promises
High Eight - By Proxy
Juelz4sure - Hope
Mosaix - There's None So Blind
Parson - Memories and Melodies
Scott R Forshaw - The Last Ride
Slindeman - The Good Samaritan of Pt'komo
StilLearning - Hope
Teresa Edgerton - The Covenant
The Judge - Genesis 9:13
The Spurring Platty - Strolling Down Hunger Avenue
Tisiphone - Hope in Death

Thanks for those who have mentioned mine and mega thanks to Phoenix for the vote

 

[HareBrain]

Alphabetical order, Vertigo? Someone's been using a spreadsheet, methinks. I'm curious as to how many columns you've used, and what went in them

I've got two of my votes ready to go, but there's a big scrap for third. (Or I might be delaying because I don't want to knock myself out of joint third place.)

Thanks very much to Allmywires, Aber, DEO, Grizzgreen and Aun for the votes, and to everyone who's mentioned me so far.

 

[Vertigo]

Hehe well spotted HB! Yes I use a spreadsheet, all a bit geeky, though I would guess I'm not alone on it. The categories I have are also weighted and they are:

Overall - highest weighting (equal with Review)
Relevance - high weighting
Plot - medium weighting (a bit difficult to do in 75 words but if you do it get marks!)
Emotion - low weighting
Twist - low weighting
Humour - low weighting
Writing - high rating
Review - highest rating (equal with Overall) - only used on re-reading my shortlist

I should say that the emotion, twist and humour categories could be considered a bit questionable but I do try and apply them sensibly. So, for example, if a story has no humour in it and humour would be inappropriate then you get marks for not putting it in. The same goes for twist and emotion. Essentially the base score for them is 5 and if there is humour/emotion/twist and it is good you get more, if it's bad you get less.

As I say a bit geeky but it means I can keep up with things as they go along and makes it much easier at the end! Sad isn't it.

ps. I also put in the post number which makes reviewing my shortlist a lot easier!

pps. I had to add a lot of new rows this month!

 

[HareBrain]

And that's why the geeks will inherit the earth as prophesied, and the rest of us lazy bums won't.

 

[Gary Compton]

Hehe well spotted HB! Yes I use a spreadsheet, all a bit geeky, though I would guess I'm not alone on it. The categories I have are also weighted and they are:

Overall - highest weighting (equal with Review)
Relevance - high weighting
Plot - medium weighting (a bit difficult to do in 75 words but if you do it get marks!)
Emotion - low weighting
Twist - low weighting
Humour - low weighting
Writing - high rating
Review - highest rating (equal with Overall) - only used on re-reading my shortlist

I should say that the emotion, twist and humour categories could be considered a bit questionable but I do try and apply them sensibly. So, for example, if a story has no humour in it and humour would be inappropriate then you get marks for not putting it in. The same goes for twist and emotion. Essentially the base score for them is 5 and if there is humour/emotion/twist and it is good you get more, if it's bad you get less.

As I say a bit geeky but it means I can keep up with things as they go along and makes it much easier at the end! Sad isn't it.

ps. I also put in the post number which makes reviewing my shortlist a lot easier!

pps. I had to add a lot of new rows this month!

Bloody Hell Vertigo. What do you use when you take the wife shopping.

 

[Arkose]

I would need a catagarory for my daily moods. Did I feel sad that day so I naturally rated humor stories higher. I guess if you can make a single seating for 70+ stories than its all mute.

 

[Christopher Lee]

First, I must thank kindly, Phoenixthewriter, for allowing me the honor of being amongst those who can wiggle their back-side while chanting "I received a vote!" so loudly the neighbors hear you.

Secondly, my short list:

HareBrain - Horsemen
Perpetual Man - The True Promise of A Post Apocalyptic World
TheDustyZebra - The Feeling's Mutual
Warren Paul - That darn Zombie Novel
Springs1971 - APRIL FOOL!
Scott R. Forshaw - The Last Ride
Phoenixthewriter - Pure White: A Sister’s Promise

Those were my favorites, although, there were plenty more that deserved recognition.

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the mention, Scott R. Forshaw.

 

[crystal haven]

Thank you, johnnyjet, TheDustyZebra, Stormcrow, and Vertigo, for including my story on your short/longer lists.

I’m still trying to decide on my votes as it is so hard with so many wonderful stories. I will be voting soon, I hope.

 

[Vertigo]

Bloody Hell Vertigo. What do you use when you take the wife shopping.

Confirmed bachelor me - and I just go out and come back with a load of chocolate and beer forgetting to buy everything I should have bought

To be fair I only do stuff like this if it makes my life easier. Without the spreadsheet I'm not sure I could trust my decision to be unbiased. By that I mean unfair bias given to the stories I have read most recently. Particularly in a month like this with so many entries.

 

[Ursa major]

I'm sure Vertigo only uses a spreadsheet for those tasks in which he doesn't already excel....

 

[Parson]

If you've read any of Vertigo's posts you would already know that here is a man who must excel at pretty much everything. --- I mean a program to calculate the time distortion at a fraction of the speed of light???!!! --- We social science majors have our mouths open with the drool running out. And as if that weren't enough a mountain climber with vertigo?! This is one self disciplined dude! (except it seems as to his purchases of beer and chocolate.)

Anyway....


Big Thanks to Dusty Zebra and Vertigo for the short listings.

 

[Phoenixthewriter]

I greatly appreciate the mentions guys. Thanks Johnny, Abernovo, Moonbat, and Grizz for making my day.

Also a big thanks to Boneman for the vote! I snagged one this month. Now I can sleep easy lol.

Edit:

I usually try a shortlist and offer up my votes, but I'm at work and don't have the time to do all the extra time sensitive work that requires. I'll try to get on later today and do you all justice.

 

[Mouse]

Just voted. Took me ages cos I couldn't see the names on the list! Anyways, my votes went to StormFeather, Boneman and Aun.

 

[Boneman]

Many Thanks Mouse!!! Made my day; you are a woman of impeccable taste... (as well as great legs...)

 

[Mouse]

Ha ha! Well thanks.

 

[Alex The G and T]

Thanks so much for the mention, Dusty Zebra, Bold face, no less.

And I see that Boneman has quietly voted, without comment, and cast one for me.

I'm amazed and delighted. Thanks!

Alex, I want you to know that you ruined a perfectly good story idea of mine by writing it first -- oh, mine wasn't seeds, but it was close enough that I didn't bother writing it after you posted yours!

Chuckle. Great minds....
You may feel better knowing that the Fates have avenged you, promptly.

I'm having the same problem on the 300 word challenge. };-}


***
I'll probably vote tonight. I have a shortlist from a couple of days ago, and I want to run through the whole lot again to see how different a second shortlist comes in.

 

[stormcrow]

Ursa - "spreadsheets", "excel"? LOL!

Some pun-ishment due, surely?

 

[Highlander]

First of all Thanks Bowler1 for the very short list mention. Much appreciated.

Now for my votes - several beers and a coffee later I got it down to these:-

Honourable Mentions go to:-
Lilmizflasythang
Alchemist
Perpetual Motion
Grizzgreen711
Paranoid Marvin
Nixie
TDZ

Very Short List:-
Vertigo
The Procrastinator
Digs
The Judge

And the Votes go to:-
Mouse
Hex
HareBrain