Discussion -- 75 Word Challenge -- June

[Appello]

A good way to pop your cherry Appello and a nice post. Welcome.

Thanks!

 

[RcGrant]

Popped my posting cherry on this challenge! Been lurking for a while but when I saw the theme I couldn't resist signing up. Wasn't too painful, surprisingly

I love this forum and the people that post in it - it's a wonderful creative resource. Reading other people's interpretations is great, and I hope someone out there likes mine.

Actually, I just went and read it, and it might have jumped into one of my top entries for this month so far. Love it. I always look forward to unique interpretations of the theme and yours has that. Also the subject matter is pretty dark, so now I'm intrigued about the mind behind the piece.

Welcome to the boards.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Perp – What? French?

HJ – What? More French? Is it French week or something? When someone has done terrible things in a lifetime, or had a reign that is terrible and bloody, perhaps it can weigh heavy not just on the shoulders but on the soul as well. What then can be better, to let go of the past as you reach the final hours, forget about all that you have instigated, on purpose or by chance and listen to the innocent laughter of children as you drift away.

Alchemist – Ahh, classic mythology creeps in, I’m tempted to say a tale of Promethean proportions. Quite clever really, a life bringer in many ways is made sacrifice for his crimes, taking someone else’s guilt upon his innocent shoulders. From that point I could be dragged into deeper and deeper depths...

Appello – Great little tale this one. How to make more money of you are nothing more than a humble beggar? Well being a disfigured or crippled beggar might certainly increase sympathies. The description of what the characters are prepared to go to in order to increase their earnings is as amusing as it is horrific. Wonder how big a tub of absinthe it was?

Kiffinyjean – Although the story itself was an excellent one, I think what I enjoyed most about it were the list of charges as they were read out. I found them all to be clever and amusing, each one brought a smile to my face at the end of a rather long and stressful day. What more praise than that eh?

Stormy - These stories are meant to be works of fiction you know. Not historical fact. Great story, first is elicits our sympathies for these children; then an edge of wariness creeps in when we become aware of what they are capable or; closely followed by the acceptance of the necessity of their extermination; then relief that some have been saved, then the full stomach kick when the destination for the refugees and just what the whole thing says about us. Excellent.

 

[Brev]

Just caught up on the entries, it's encouraging to see some new members joining in and adding to the talent pool.

Welcome all.

 

[ratsy]

Yeah it is good to see new Chron members getting into it. This is only my 3rd entry into any sort of thing like this and I must say I enjoy reading the entries as much as I enjoy writing them.

Again, I am impressed with the amount of varying story lines for what seems like,a tough to be original, concept.

 

[kaal]

The shortest fiction I'd written before this was ~500 words. Tried trimming that down, but it miraculously turned from a story into a collection of words... So... I attempted a new story from scratch... They'll get better...
Certainly impressed by the quality of the other entries.

 

[phileomiomai]

hi guys!

new guy here and I decided to take a shot at this one.

Loving some of the entries!

the one with the dying king is standing out to me right now.

The only real comment I have is any entry that uses the word innocence or a derivation of it loses points in my eyes.

What is your take on this? I have never been a fan of using a word to describe it, and that is what it feels like to me.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Well, I might be biased, having one of those entries that uses the word, but I would say that the challenge is not about describing the theme, but rather writing a story that is inspired by it.

If one is writing a dictionary, it is considered bad form to use the word to define the word.

In any case, welcome to the Chrons and to the writing challenges in particular! I'm sure you'll enjoy it and start wast- ...err... spending lots of time here. We have a new 300-word challenge coming up in July, which is great fun, too.

 

[kaufmannp]

I'm new.
So um, I just noticed this thread, probably should've done a bit more exploring to see the discussion on everyone's entries. And also to thank Perp for going through all of them. Yes, really something I should've done...like, earlier. LOL

Belated thanks for your words Perp! I'm looking forward to further postings (and also a more timely acknowledgement to you for reading them)

Did I mention that I'm new?

 

[stormcrow]

Wo-oo-oh, lots to catch up with here - pages of entries to read and pages of discussion too!! Going to be a busy 'crow over the next couple of evenings: I'm anticipating the usual high standard and looking forward to some fresh thinking!!

Oh yeah, posted now.

 

[ratsy]

hi guys!

new guy here and I decided to take a shot at this one.

Loving some of the entries!

the one with the dying king is standing out to me right now.

The only real comment I have is any entry that uses the word innocence or a derivation of it loses points in my eyes.

What is your take on this? I have never been a fan of using a word to describe it, and that is what it feels like to me.

I personally don't see an issue with using the subject in the story. If the story doesn't call for it and the subject can be implied then all the best to you but in my story in particular, I needed to have that as the last word. (because if I used, Not Guilty, my word count would have been over!!!)

Good story though phileomiomai, seems to be inspired by Legend with Tom Cruise?

 

[TheDustyZebra]

And, of course, "not guilty" and "innocent" are not necessarily the same thing. A theme which I really wanted to write for this month, but I never managed to think of anything that would do it justice ... so to speak.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

shhh, whispers it quietly -
you're not supposed to let us what it's about til the votings done.
*sticks fingers in ears and hums*

 

[phileomiomai]

Egads! he but asked, and I replied!

did I break some un-written rule? Must i submit myself for summary literary execution?

((Honestly I double checked the rules, did I miss something? I am assuming this was in jest?))

 

[Gary Compton]

Egads! he but asked, and I replied!

did I break some un-written rule? Must i submit myself for summary literary execution?

((Honestly I double checked the rules, did I miss something? I am assuming this was in jest?))

Stands in Chrons ceremonial suit, hands together, preying for phileomiomai. Breaking the rules is a terrible thing in a community where there is no law-breaking. (well apart from me posting my dodgy stories in critiques) The mods will be along shortly to carry out the sentence.

 

[Ursa major]

No, phileomiomai, not a jest. The necessary action - not a sentence, I assure you - has been taken. Your post hasn't been deleted, only removed until the voting is over.

The whole point of the challenge is to get over as much information within the word limit. If we were to describe what's happening, with no word limit, in the parallel discussion thread, that would defeat the object. Sorry.

By the way, there are many techniques to increase the information content of a 75-word story, which include alluding to, say, a classical story or a popular** film or TV story.



** - As I myself have found, if the TV show isn't as popular as you think, the allusions will be a waste of words.

 

[phileomiomai]

Understood Mr. Bear, and I can see the truth of it, and I whole heartedly agree.

However, I am still looking for the rule? I read both rule threads, and see nothing about refraining from discussing, in fact having an entire thread dedicated to discussing the challenge seems altogether counter intuitive.

Again, I am not arguing with you or anyone mind you, just typing out my thoughts.

 

[kaal]

Although it logically follows, perhaps an addendum to the rules along the lines of:
"Entrants are not allowed to discuss their entry until the voting is finished (so please don't ask them about it)."
P'raps?

K

 

[hopewrites]

but if we word it like that we cant discuss it at all. and then this thread is pointless...

 

[kaal]

but if we word it like that we cant discuss it at all. and then this thread is pointless...

You can discuss everyone elses, with everyone else... But, yeah, maybe less restrictive would be not to discuss the background or source... I dunno, it's for the mods to decide if an addition is necessary and how it'd be worded.