DISCUSSION THREAD -- December 2012 75-word Writing Challenge

[Phyrebrat]

Well, I liked my own idea (if I may say so myself), but once again, the execution is probably sub-par. As seems to be a recurring theme with my entries, I probably should have scrapped one of the sentences altogether and plumped up some of the others. Oh well

Are you kidding me? Your entries are always great... isn't there a tradition around here to rap (wrap??) the knuckles of anyone committing self deprecation?

Consider your knuckles gift-rapped

pH

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Thank you, Scott, Parson, and David!

If I were you I might think about making a whole lot bigger tale of it and submit it to some Christian publishers. Christian Fantasy has a fair number of readers and lots of the stuff I've seen doesn't hold a candle to yours.

Parson, that is an amazing compliment coming from you. However, to write for Christian publishers would require a degree of conviction I don't, at this time, possess. I've been trying to sort things out for a long time, and while that's the case, my writing is going to reflect it.

 

[Starbeast]

Thank you, Starbeast.

You're welcome David Evil Overlord.

I'm trying to find a Christmassy version of my avatar.

How about hanging an ornament where the smile face is.



DthenB - I suppose Thomas was probably warned enough times that his Xmas would be canceled if he continued being a bad little boy. Nicely executed, and so was Thomas. Heh heh.

Chrispenycate - Exquisitely delectable, like a holiday meal. You certainly have a flare with words.

Teresa Edgerton - Angelic vampire hunters, very cool. I agree with David Evil Overlord, I like your style of Angels better than some over-the-top warriors.

James Coote - Miniature vampires, excellent idea. I used to see those little guys when I have too much turkey.

Victoria Silverwolf - Whoa, that was a surprise ending. Happy Birthday indeed. Yikes!

 

[Perpetual Man]

TSP – and another classic Christmas song gets referenced delivering another excellent punchline. That being said what I felt was exceptional about the story was the vampire drawing understandable comparisons between itself and the jolly Father Christmas. It was scary how well it all fit and there was some nice subtle humour too concerning the mirror.

Hope – A Christmas song, but one that I always felt was a bit slow, and here I can see why. The new words are fitting, giving an aching melancholy to a world destroyed, wiped out in a flood of vampires, leaving only bones and the dead when Santa comes calling. Here is does not matter whether is is Christmas or not. Simply the end.

MB – I think that the title says it all really. A nice alternative take on the theme, and in many ways these vampires are more horrific, because they are humans who take delight in bleeding their fellows dry, if not through blood then through money, the two inexorably linked, and with a terrible glee they down Christmas and make it their own.

DEO – Another different look at the challenge, this time a very SF feel to the story. There are some beautiful lines here, on top of the story that is probably more terrifying than most so far. Someone who twists the image of Father Christmas for their own ends, extending their life at the expense of others is bad enough, to taint St. Nicholas takes it to the next level.

Interversus – I get the feeling that this must have been as much fun to write as it was to read, interspersing humour with some great ideas. Vampires getting drunk on the blood of others because of the alcohol in the system is good enough, but having the vampires policed by their own, with punishments to boot is excellent idea, even if the rank and file find it crackers.

 

[The Spurring Platty]

Thanks Perp!!

 

[hopewrites]

Thanks Perp, I must admit, carols haven't been the same for me since.

 

[hopewrites]

Sorry for the double post, but mosiax, that's hilarious!! I'll be smiling all day for that one.

 

[ratsy]

Mosaix, is it fair to say that one should never ask a Vampire to Branch out?

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Mosaix! Reminds me of Buffy -- the excellent, classic movie, not the series. "Dude, you're floating!"

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Thank you, Perp. I wasn't sure my SF take on vampires would work...

 

[Parson]

Thank you, Scott, Parson, and David!



Parson, that is an amazing compliment coming from you. However, to write for Christian publishers would require a degree of conviction I don't, at this time, possess. I've been trying to sort things out for a long time, and while that's the case, my writing is going to reflect it.

I think you misunderstand. I was talking about christian fiction. Some years ago there was a best selling series about the "war" between good and evil which was only loosely based on biblical reality. I wouldn't think that you would have to make definite faith statements to write Christian fiction. (Of course I've been wrong before)

Mosaix that was a stick of an an ending.

V. Silverwolf Oooo, I didn't see that coming.

 

[Perpetual Man]

DthenB – Although this is basically a straight story with a humorous twist, the thing I liked most about it was the fact that here the vampires were not the hunters, rather they were used by the people they fed on. Called to carry out the bidding. The fact that it is for something as simple as not eating vegetables made it all the sweeter.

Chris – If I have this one right we have a brilliant different take on the old bloodsuckers, here it is the tree itself that is the vampire, busily attacking all the decorations on the tree, a perpetual battled that comes around once a year. It fits so nicely that the fairies wish that comes true in the end, is it the true magic, or just happenstance?

Teresa – Nice to see her active on Chrons again – The idea behind this is huge, certainly who has been said elsewhere could be the basis of something larger. The undead have always been a tricky lot, almost unstoppable, with few things that really stop them. The idea that Angels hunt them a lot more easily than mere mortals is simply brilliant, the fact they do it with distatste just adds the perfect fullstop.

James – What is there not to like about this one. The idea that vampires lurk in stockings to stop the kids peeking before Christmas is genius in it’s own right, a perfectly spooky precursor to Christmas, but it is made even better with the final line. Is she a vampire, or just another creature of extended life? Excellent.

Victoria Silverwolf – Well... a daring and well executed idea that sees a two thousand year old man feeding off the dead, at Christmas no less. It is a simple tale, but one that is loaded with a central idea that dominates the almost gentle telling of the story. Nice use of the Hebrew form of a lot more familiar name....

 

[Hex]

That's just wonderful, HareBrain. It made me shiver.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

I'm late to this, so for most of the earlier entries I'll just say that I am quite impressed at how all of you took what would seem to be a very limited theme and created such a variety of moods.

It's tough to pick any favorites, but I have to make special mention of Harebrain's "The Small Hours," which manages to pack so much -- mood, setting, characterization, theme -- into so few words. Brilliantly done.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Thank you, Parson, I will keep it in mind then, and see if it grows into something bigger in my mind. Since yesterday, it has shown signs of wanting to expand, but I'll have to see what happens.

Thanks, Perp, for the review.

And HareBrain, I love your story.

 

[Starbeast]

Mosaix - What a darling girl, mistaking a vampire for old Saint Nick, very sweet.

HareBrain - Ah, the devil doth tempt. Nicely done.

 

[HareBrain]

Thanks for those lovely comments -- after the feeling of doom that settled on me when I saw the quality of the early entries, it was a relief just to get an idea. The variety and inventiveness continues to amaze, and I'm sure there's lots more to come.

Teresa, it's great to see you back with an entry, especially one so after my own taste.

 

[Bowler1]

We're at the competition midpoint where there is a lull in postings. All impatient writers like me, have long since posted and the polishers are still honing their masterworks for closer to the competition end.

 

[Parson]

Bowler1 --- Ha!Ha! I know where I rank on that list, and its not in the "polisher" group. I rather fit in the group of people who follow the Columbus method of story writing. -------- "Find a key (idea) and land on it."

 

[ratsy]

Considering I seem to find myself on the first page every month I would be the impatient type. And I have even been able to write a couple or three of each theme before choosing one to post.