DISCUSSION THREAD -- August 75 Word Challenge

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the mention, DEO.

 

[Grimbear]

Voted for Chrispy - extremely clever!

Very hard to choose this time. I read them all twice. Perp, Springs, Stormcrow, Hex, Starbeast, Phyrebrat and EricWard all made the shortlist.

Brilliant!

 

[Phyrebrat]

To quote Eddie Izzard, I'm quite ‘thinly read’ (when it comes to fantasy and fairytales), so I am not sure I understood some of the stories (thank heavens for PM, whose comments often point me in the right direction). Even so, I’ve really enjoyed reading this month’s entries and despite the theme, it has been a nice reprieve from the harrowing stuff of the 300 word challenge that has just finished.

My stories of specialness were:

Luiglin – What we do for love. For the bait n switch… take us down one road only to pull the rug out from under us with a shocking last line that made me bust my belly laughing! I think you’ve created a new genre…Trantasy?

Ratsy – Out of the Dark. The falling flowers speak volume. I like that the last line of your tale can inform the reader’s perception in either way…assault or bitter-sweet reflection.

Bowler1 – Three Wishes. When I was a kid we had a Ladybird book of The Elves and the Shoemaker. It was about a comet that crashed into… no, wait, wrong Shoemaker… anyway, I used to love it; those Ladybird books also had great illustrations (the prints of which now cost a bomb online). Fergus was an amalgamation of those elves and a leprechaun to my mind so this entry made me feel nostalgic and sad (being 40, those days of Ladybird books seem very far away). Anyway, the idea of an elf/leprechaun on a beach is a nicely incongruous image in my mind’s eye and shows him making more concessions to his love for this spoilt and capricious mermaid. But to be honest, I wasn’t sure if she was a spoilt *****. I just think she was a bit heavy handed with her solution I like the way they both have three lines each, and there is a nice duality to the tale.

Hex – Shoe-erly Not – I read this one out to my sister when I was visiting my folks in Bournemouth the other week. I liked the pace and the end line is just wonderful. I don’t know why but I imagined Victoria Wood and Julie Walters performing this!

TDZ – Love is a Many-splintered Thing. The whole of this entry is just so tidy and gave me a nice sense of more than just the words. I know we all know about the archetypal mirror so we can extrapolate our own back stories, but I love the way this one has been anthropomorphised (sp?). It’s the first time I ever thought the mirror may be one of the good guys instead of some evil tool.

Devil’s Advocate – Rapunzel seemed to be a rather influential muse this month and this was my favourite I think. Was Wilhem your name for him, or is that accepted canon? I liked its suggestion of Prussian heritage which is what I always think of about fairtytales. The dialogue is so snappy, “I think you should leave now.” was so authentic and her dismissive tugs are hilarious. Although I probably shouldn’t laugh at the poor man. She’s feisty. I think I can imagine the real reason why she was imprisoned.

PM – Fairy Farewell. For three last lines that are heartbreaking. What can I add to what has already been said on here, PM? Even though you’ve not strictly referenced them, I saw barrows and enchanted earthworks, as well as the groves you mentioned. What a sad and evocative entry. How miserable (not to say envious) you’ve made me!

TeresaE – Briar Rose. Going back to those Ladybird books I mentioned when talking about Bowler1’s entry: Another was Beauty and the Beast. The thorns in that story jumped out at me in this one. How coldly real and sad this story is, but how perfectly representative of the way life can be. And in addition to the main thrust of the sorry, we get the torturous snippet of info that the fairy had beef with the prince, too. That is something I can take and run with. I vote Hollywood asks you to write a screenplay for this!

Moonbat – Don’t cry for me Salix Babylonica. This is the third story that left me feeling sad and depressed (but in a good way, if that is possible). It makes me think of Glastonbury Tor and although the characters identities are beautifully nebulous, they’re so true to their names. Is this why willows weep and ashes…er…ash?

We say that it is hard to make a decision every month so I won’t repeat myself again. I did undertake last month, however, to start making a more brutal shortlist than usual and would like to echo Chrispenycate’s comment about discounting stories for the most minor infractions. When the genre was posted I groaned inside despite the promise of Barbados, however as it turns out, I have really enjoyed reading (and participating) in this month’s challenge.



My Final Four were PM, Moonbat, Teresa and Hex.



My Vote is for Teresa’s Briar Rose.




Thank you to Eric and to Alchemist for the votes! That was really wonderful to see and read Eric’s reasons. Also the feedback and special mentions from Grimbear, Phoenixthewriter, Starbeast (it’s great to have my efforts labelled ‘original’ and ‘work’ !!), TDZ and Hex (Glad you liked the title).

And just before I waffle off; PM, you’re a ledge! I remember when I first joined here, I though protocol was that we all posted comments on the stories each month. Luckily I realised my mistake, but even if I had not, there is no chance I would have been able to do it. Your dedication is inspiring. Thank you for your review of my entry!

Good luck everyone.

pH

 

[Abernovo]

This one's a toughie to decide. I've already been reasonably brutal, casting out any that I thought didn't conform to genre or my interpretation of unrequited love. Still way too many to choose from!

My LONG list had Bowler, stormcrow, TDZ, Flugel Meister, mosaix, TacticalLoco, Devil's Advocate, Perp, Teresa E, High Eight, Parson and EricWard.

In the shortlist (not included above) are StilLearning, DEO, chrispy, HareBrain and The Judge.
How am I supposed to vote for one when the quality's this blinking high?

 

[MemoryTale]

Here's my shortlist:

Springs - I've had cats. 'Nuff said I think.

Ratsy - An ominous, yet beutiful little piece.

Kylara - Powerful, very powerful. I really wanted to vote for this, but I just don't see it as unrequited love. Sorry

Hex - I always wondered that about the Cinderally tale as well!

Starbeast - I didn't re-read this, because the damn mental image is still in my head, damn you!

...

Two damns in one sentence, such poor writing.

Nixie - A lovely story, making poetry of the mundane.

Harebrain - Bwahahahahaha

Phyrebat - Trust the council to get in the wy of true love.

The Judge - A nice twist on an old tale

In the end it came down to Phyrebat and The Judge. I still have a headache from what happened last time I voted for The Judge, so the vote goes to Phyrebat!

 

[nixie]

Thanks for the mention MT

 

[ratsy]

Thanks a lot for the mentions and shortlists, they do mean a lot. Thanks memorytale, phyrebrat and starbeast!

I hope to do my own list and vote today

 

[Abernovo]

After further deliberations, I voted for The Judge.

Thanks of my own for mentions from Kylara, Broamalia, chrispy and Hope. Considering the entries, even a mention is enough to make my day.

 

[Kylara]

Thanks MT for the listing...I am so glad you liked it! It's a shame the unrequited didn't come through enough for you - goes off and picks cut pieces from the floor before realising cant put them in...I can try and explain after voting the unrequited bit

 

[Parson]

DEO -- thanks for the short listing. The Lady may hand you a sword some day.

 

[C. A. Mitchell]

Very tough decision to pick a winner - never looked at the Challenge board before and had no idea the quality would be so high! I'm looking forward to September now

 

[ratsy]

Wow, i had a tough time on this one

Mentions

DEO - The Ugly Duckling
Paranoid Marvin - Goodnight sweet prince
Memorytale - Fairytale vs Reality
Glen - Alone in the Gingerbread House
Kiffnyjean - The Personals
Harebrain - The Maiden in the Middle

Shortlist
Hex - Shoe-erly not
Perpetual Man - Fairy Farewell
Teresa Edgerton - Brian Rose
The Judge - Straw Shows how the Wind Blows

And the Vote goes to Teresa! The story really interested me and made me want to read more. I felt like i needed the backstory and I could almost smell and feel the thorny Briar patch. Well done

 

[Hex]

Yey! Thank you for the mentions Phoenixthewriter, TDZ, DEO, Grimbear, Phyre, MemoryTale and ratsy. It's wonderful to be listed in (and by) such illustrious company.

Look at Perp go! Zoooom!

 

[Aun Doorback]

Hello everyone - My vote this month goes to HareBrain. Close runners ups go to Hopewrites and Tisiphone.

 

[Spellblade]

First of all, thanks guys for the short lists and mentions! It was my 1st participation and hopefully not my last! I'll cast my vote at C.Mitchell's story!

 

[StilLearning]

Short list:

The Woodcutters Arms – stormcrow

You Can't Always Get What You Want... -- Abernovo

Death by Chocolate – hopewrites

HER SIDE OF THE STORY -- High Eight

The neon princess – Spellblade

Mr Imperfect and the Morning After – Grimbear

A Sea Voyeur's Tale – johnnyjet

When the trees are sobbing faintly. -- Phyrebrat

La Barbe bleue – Culhwch

I was bowled over by any number oft his months crop, but after a few days cooling off these are the ones that stuck with me. My vote goes to Culhwch: The fear and desperation is all the more palpable for being so understated.

Thanks for the mentions Abernovo, hopewrites, thedustyzebra and Broamalia. Andthanks to Glen for the vote!

 

[Lilmizflashythang]

I voted.
My shortlist is:
DEO
Teresa
Mosaix.
My Vote went to
Hopewrites' Death by Chocolate...is there any better way to go.

 

[hopewrites]

Thanks Much Lil Miz *sends a box of dwarven cookies*
and thanks as well to The Dusty Zebra David, Evil Overlord Aun Doorback and Still Learning for the mentions.

 

[Culhwch]

My vote goes to Culhwch: The fear and desperation is all the more palpable for being so understated.

Thanks for the vote, StillLearning - very much appreciated, and I'm glad that you liked it! Thanks also to High Eight for the short listing!

 

[Parson]

I've voted. There were, as usual, a lot of stories that I am sure that I did not understand, so much Fantasy makes my head spin.

Short List

Hex --- Shoe-erly not (I always identify with a klutz.)
Crystal Haven ---- Swan Song (A good month for swans and the like, but this was the best of those stories.)
Perpetual Man --- Fairy Farewell (A story with real pathos. A cracking good story.)
Teresa Edgerton --- Briar Rose (A perfect combo of getting a story and a genre to match.)
The Judge --- Straw Shows How the Wind Blows (A clever twist. I once got paid for acting as the King in this story.)


*** My vote goes to T.E. for her perfect story.