DISCUSSION THREAD -- October 75 Word Challenge

[Moonbat]

Vote:

Moonbat for a history of the universe in 75 words.

YAY!!!

Thank you Parson. (massive grin)

Also Thanks to Ratsy for the mention

 

[FeedMeTV]

Moonbat, you've made my day. Thanks for the vote !

 

[Lenny]

A few mentions, and two votes (thank you LilMiz and Tal). I think this is my most successful 75-Word Challenge ever!

I thought this was a good method to list your choices, so I'm going to steal it (with a slight change so it looks original) - my shortlist, shorter list, winner:

Kylara
alchemist
StilLearning
johnnyjet
TacticalLoco
Harebrain
Phyrebat
The Spurring Platty
Boneman

I can picture the poor protagonist being "that guy" in the office who does everything to the letter, the first time he's asked (with the nasally voice, who'll stand over your shoulder and tell you exactly what you did wrong with as much detail as he can muster). In which case, I read it not as a sad story, but more as a "serves you right!" story. I'd like to think the scientists sent out the typo-version on purpose, to weed he and his fellows out.

 

[Luiglin]

Ok Top 3 for me are ...

BigJ - for the journey
Juliana - nice alternative
Mosaix - poignant

The vote went to Nixie - made me think of gods and monsters (not the movie I must add)

Edit: and thanks for the mentions so far

 

[chrispenycate]

Well, it's difficult even to make a short list; some even got left off for punctuation. But I'll mention:-

crystal haven's concert

FeedMeTV Canine sentmentality

StilLearning's Obstacle course

johnnyjet Toyscape

springs

clipped wolf sleeping beauty

Scott R. Forshaw


But finally it was Stormcrow's purple haze that did it for me.

 

[High Eight]

Got a bit confused by the clocks going back - I hope I'm not too late!

Nominations: -

Albernovo - Simple but effective
BigJ - I have evenings like that
matle - All about being human in 75 words
Moonbat - I really hope this is how it happens!
Stormcrow - How I'd like to go (if I have to go at all!)

And my vote goes to:

matle

 

[Juliana]

Thanks Luiglin! Thrilled with the top three mention.
And on my first ever challenge!

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Even though it appears that the free food has lured more members to the Harebrain Fan Club, I am going to have to skip this month's meeting -- but only with great reluctance. Can I still peek in if I put HB in second place?

StilLearning -- A Rougher Road Than Expected
*johnnyjet -- Toyscape*
Moonbat -- From the Seas
Highlander -- Games?
nixie -- Building Blocks
stormcrow -- Moon, Sun, Horizon
Harebrain -- Origin of Parish Byelaw 428
crystal haven -- Star Struck
Phyrebrat -- Crematentiary
paranoid marvin -- The Reply
TSP -- Turning Your Back on Childhood
Boneman -- TYPO
TJ -- Sic itur ad astra

 

[hopewrites]

I've read them all through three times and still cant decide!

Heart Felt thanks out to all who have read and enjoyed my little poem, (still wondering how I managed it in only one set, I was planning on two.) overjoyed at my two votes *still dancing* so much thanks for those, as well as the mentions.

 

[Hex]

Of course you can, TDZ. Have a biscuit.

I voted for HB but I also really enjoyed the stories by Boneman, TDZ, mosaix, Stormcrow and Ratsy. I could've voted for any of them. There were many others I admired too.

Thank you so much for the mentions -- I was delighted by them

 

[Abernovo]

Thanks for the nomination, High Eight.

When you put it like that...I'll put my best actor face on for when I don't win.
In reality, when the stories are this good, just getting mentioned is a boost to the ego.

 

[Boneman]

Boneman

I can picture the poor protagonist being "that guy" in the office who does everything to the letter, the first time he's asked (with the nasally voice, who'll stand over your shoulder and tell you exactly what you did wrong with as much detail as he can muster). In which case, I read it not as a sad story, but more as a "serves you right!" story. I'd like to think the scientists sent out the typo-version on purpose, to weed he and his fellows out.

Lenny, you must have worked in the same offices as me... There is always one who does everything to the absolute letter, and usually lectures others about it, but I hadn't though the scientists would do it deliberately (except subliminally, of course!). Wasn't it mentioned in hitch-hikers guide they left behind all the telephone sanitisers and consultants, and then died of an infection picked up from a phone??

Many, many thanks for the vote, quite made the extra hour in bed even better.

And thanks to Hex and TDZ for mentions and 'almost-voted for'.

 

[stormcrow]

YAY!!

...and this one ...Chrispenycate - Thank You very much for your vote! Glad you liked it!!

Big thanks for the mentions/listings to High Eight, TDZ and Hex!

 

[paranoid marvin]

It's looking tight at the top with hours to go.

Judging by previous polls there should be another 5-10 votes still to be cast, so it could still be up for grabs!

 

[EricWard]

October’s Shortlist (with a few repeats from earlier)
Reiver33 - the repetition is beautiful, especially lining up Suribachi in the exact same spot on each line. Much respect to the writer who can go beyond words and use formatting to their advantage
Chrispenycate - I'd kill for your sense of rhythm.
Nixie - Speechless
Stormcrow - I wouldn't complain if my last thoughts were of Hendrix's music
Harebrain - Fantastic twist
Phyrebrat - Seems like you’re channeling Poe for this one, and that’s always a good thing
Robjwhite - Something entirely different that was really touching

Incredibly tough call, but I had to go with Nixie. (Thanks for the vote, KshRox!)

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the shortlistings, johnnyjet and Juliana.

And many, many thanks for the vote, Gary.

 

[Ursa major]

As vote-deadline midnight is also now clock midnight here in Blighty, I thought I'd vote a little earlier this month.

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



Honourable Mentions:

• Twinkle Twinkle by ratsy
• Toyscape by johnnyjet
• Crematentiary by Phyrebrat
• Turning Your Back On Childhood by The Spurring Platty

Runners Up:

• Consternation Draco by chrispenycate
• From the seas by Moonbat
• Origin of Parish Byelaw 428 by HareBrain

Winner:

• And the award for Best Visual Effects goes to... by alchemist

 

[crystal haven]

It’s been very difficult to choose. What a tremendous month – the stories have been so good. Well done to everyone.

My Longlist:

Bowler1 – To the stars
Matle – Onwards
Parson – To the Stars!
Nixie – Building Blocks
Stormcrow – Moon, Sun, Horizon
StormFeather – Soul Searcher
Robjwhite – To the Stars in a Cereal Box
The Spurring Platty – Turning Your Back On Childhood

My Favourites, and *Favourite favourites:

Ratsy – Twinkle Twinkle
*HareBrain – Origin of Parish Byelaw 428
Chrispenycate – Consternation Draco
*Springs – Our Winter Star
Billhafan – Starry Night
*Boneman – Typo

And my vote goes to Springs – Our Winter Star

And thank you to Stormcrow, Abernovo, Parson, Chrispenycate and TheDustyZebra for the mentions/listings.

 

[Robjwhite]

Thank you very much Eric Ward and Crysyal haven for the shortlists and the kind words! It means a lot to even be considered on my first attempt.

 

[The Judge]

Another difficult month for choosing. (And I can't even take points away from pieces for failing to adhere to genre ) Lots of stories only just missing out, but the shortlist stands at:

chrispenycate -- Consternation Draco
HareBrain -- Origin of Parish Byelaw 428
Hex -- Lyra (I'm sure I'm missing something with the title, though)
Moonbat -- From the seas
reiver 33 -- The Flag Flies No More
Stormcrow -- Moon, Sun, Horizon
Stormfeather -- Soul Searcher

After a lot of huffing and puffing, I plumped for reiver simply because I loved the mournful echo of it.

Many thanks to those who were good enough to mention, longlist or shortlist my story -- best showing I've had for a while -- and mega thanks to Scott for the vote!