DISCUSSION THREAD -- August 75 Word Challenge

[stormcrow]

Many many thanks for the listings to Kylara, TDZ, Grimbear, StilLearning, Perp Man, JohnnyJet- so glad you liked it!

My vote this month goes to Phyrebrat - seems so very real!!

Must also mention my shortlisters:

Springs, Ratsy, StilLearning, r_j_dando, Kylara, Starbeast (hilarious - my mother's maiden name was Hogg!!), Flugel Meister, Mosaix, Teresa, Tisiphone.

But really, could list endlessly!

 

[Kylara]

Thanks for the listing stormcrow

I seem to be doing much better than before this month - dragons are the way forward!

 

[ratsy]

Thanks for the mentions Stormcrow and Johnnyjet

 

[r_j_dando]

Thank you, Stormcrow and Johnnyjet for the short-listings!

 

[HareBrain]

Many superb entries this month, and a fantastic variety. Choosing was very difficult, even when I had to ditch one of my favourite stories because I didn't think it fitted the theme. Here's my not-very-shortlist:

Springs
Ratsy
Grimbear
TDZ
MemoryTale
Starbeast
JohnnyJet
Crystal Haven
Teresa
The Judge

In the end it came down to an agonising choice between Crystal Haven and The Judge. The Judge's entry probably won on cleverness and craft -- I can't see how it could be bettered -- but Swan Song was so haunting (even though I didn't know the story until I looked it up afterwards) I couldn't not vote for it.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Thank you everyone who mentioned or shortlisted my story, and a very big thank you to Culhwch, mosaix, paranoid marvin, Parson, Phyrebrat, and ratsy for the votes.

And speaking of voting, I guess I better get around to doing that myself pretty soon, because there are only a few hours left ...

 

[The Judge]

Thanks for the shortlistings EricWard, nixie, TDZ, Chris, ratsy, Parson, Perp, johnnyjet, HB and MemoryTale (as if I give people headaches, MT!) and megathanks for the votes Abernovo and TacticalLoco.


Just a short shortlist this month:

crystal haven -- Swan song? -- hauntingly poetic and wistful
Culhwch -- La barbe bleue -- a twist on unrequited love
Teresa -- Briar Rose -- the fairy having two grudges to pay off is a masterstroke
TDZ -- Love is a Many-splintered Thing -- which gets the prize for the best title of the month
ratsy -- Out of the Dark -- a great last line


I loved all of these stories and had a real tussle over which to choose. After a long think, and excluding my absolute favourite as being not really unrequited love, I've gone with ratsy's tale for the sadness implicit from the first line.

 

[alchemist]

No shortlisting for me this month. Phyrebrat's fantastic story grabbed my vote and didn't let go.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

My short list and shorter list:

Culhwch
booksforlunch
StilLearning
mosaix
crystal haven
Perpetual Man
James Coote
Parson
The Judge

I was within an inch of voting for Parson and the X-caliber weapon which stayed with me from the moment I read it, but in the end I went with crystal haven and her sad interpretation of one of my favorite fairy tales.

 

[James Coote]

I made someone's shortlist thanks

I enjoyed reading this month's entries more than I expected, considering I wasn't initially enamoured by the subject

I voted for Paranoid Marvin's poisonous poem, but I also really liked Boneman's flowering love

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Thanks Abernovo, Ratsy, and Lilmizflashythang for the mentions/shortlistings.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

I seem to be doing much better than before this month - dragons are the way forward!

Funny, I seem to do much better when I write zombies.

And thank you, Phoenix, for the vote!

P.S. Apologies for the double post - I tried to edit the one above to add the quote from Kylara, and the software didn't let me do it.

 

[Ursa major]

As per usual, I'm not quite pixie late, but almost.

The entries are listed in date-of-posting order within each category:



Honourable Mentions:

• A Matter of Class by springs
• The Ugly Duckling by David Evil Overlord
• Fairytale vs Reality by MemoryTale
• The Maiden of the Midden by HareBrain

Runners Up:

• Shoe-erly Not by Hex
• Mr Imperfect and the Morning After by Grimbear
• Night & Day by nixie

Winner:

• Good Night, Sweet Prince by paranoid marvin

 

[TheDustyZebra]

TDZ -- Love is a Many-splintered Thing -- which gets the prize for the best title of the month.

A prize? Yay! And that's the one I go for every month, too!

Thanks for the mentions, DEO, Phyrebrat, Abernovo, Perp, HB and TJ!

 

[Starbeast]

Plenty of thanks though. To TDz, Chris and Starbeast for the shortlistings

Excellent writing. I had to look up the "Sidhe". It was then, when your tale was clear to me.

Starbeast – smuttier than your average fairy tale.

A rated "R" version of the Three Little Pigs. I feel like Quintin Tarantino.

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

Thanks for the listing Grimbear. It was really hard for me to choose, so many good ones. You also made my short list.

Starbeast (it’s great to have my efforts labelled ‘original’ and ‘work’ !!)

You're welcome Phyrebrat. You definately deserve a mention.

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.

Yes MemoryTale, writing can be an ugly thing.

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

You're very welcomed Ratsy. Nice work.

Many thanks for the mentions, short listings, positive comments and for the two additional votes since last I looked, to I think, Stormfeather and Starbeast.

It was tough for me to choose only one tale, and you've got my vote.

First of all, thanks to Perpetual Man for the nice commentary and thanks for the short-listing by Kylara, High Eight, Starbeast, and StilLearning.

You're welcome Johnnyjet. And thank you for listing me as well.

Must also mention my shortlisters:

Springs, Ratsy, StilLearning, r_j_dando, Kylara, Starbeast (hilarious - my mother's maiden name was Hogg!!), Flugel Meister, Mosaix, Teresa, Tisiphone.

Thanks for the short listing Stormcrow. I'm also happy that you have a sense of humor.

Many superb entries this month, and a fantastic variety. Choosing was very difficult, even when I had to ditch one of my favourite stories because I didn't think it fitted the theme. shortlist: (includes) Starbeast

Thanks for the mention HareBrain, you made my short list too.

I almost had to choose a story from a hat filled with names. I dislike being so critical to so many great stories. My LONG list included over 90% of the entries.

 

[Ursa major]

Congratulations to Perpetual Man!

 

[Culhwch]

Congrats, Perp!

And thanks for the listings, TJ and TE!

 

[Starbeast]

Congratulations Perpetual Man​

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Congratulations, Perp!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I don't know why my vote for crystal haven didn't show up ... whether it was a temporary glitch with the software or (more likely) I didn't hit the submit button after I clicked on the name. I was in a hurry, so I probably did neglect to hit submit.

So my apologies, crystal. You had my vote, even if it wasn't official.