DISCUSSION THREAD -- December 2012 75-word Writing Challenge

[Teresa Edgerton]

Thanks, HareBrain!

I am a polisher, though it may not seem that way. I polish, and obsess, and polish, and obsess. But since I manage my own schedule I can make more time to do that and still post some of my stories relatively early.

Which is not to say that I don't do all that obsessing and polishing when I should be doing something else. I generally post my stories when I begin to feel guilty about all the time I've spent on them. Otherwise, I could obsess over them forever, such being my nature.

 

[Interversus]

Thanks for the great review Perp. I did enjoy writing this one.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks for the great review Perp. I did enjoy writing this one.

My pleasure, as always.

Just thought I'd use this opportunity to say I'm having a few computer issues, which may upset my posting regime. Comments will resume asap

 

[Bowler1]

"Find a key (idea) and land on it."

Landing? It can sometimes be like playing darts drunk. I can see the bulls eye but for some reason the barman is shouting about being blind in one eye - 'stop shouting man, can't you see I'm trying to play darts.'

I need to learn the art of polishing Teresa shows, comma placement (one has gone astray this month which I'd now like to fix) and the such like. But like my dart skills, I can't wait to throw it out there and see what happens - 'opps...it's only a scratch, don't worry.'

 

[Parson]

Bowler1 -- Remind me never to play darts with you in a pub!! As for your stories, I think they are better than you are letting yourself believe.

 

[stormcrow]

Bowler1 - I agree with Parson about your stories!

Also, agree on the 'landing' theory. That said, in reality I tend to throw all my darts at once, which can get messy!


These challenges never fail to draw out some incredible ideas; this month already a belter and still ages to go. By the way, would you all stop raising the proverbial bar, please!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Pot, kettle, stormcrow.

 

[stormcrow]

Ouch!

Thanks springs!

 

[David Evil Overlord]

My pleasure, as always.

Just thought I'd use this opportunity to say I'm having a few computer issues, which may upset my posting regime. Comments will resume asap

Drop a few hints to Mrs Perp that you need a new computer for Christmas...


(Aaaaarrgh! Went to put a joke in that comment, and realised it's a great story idea. But I've already posted mine, so I'll just write it and post it after the competition. Unless I should save it for next year's Christmas vampire challenge.)

 

[Ursa major]

Did the joke involve children sitting on Santa's lap? Or, perhaps, a lapptop...?

 

[Bowler1]

Welcome, VALIS13 - straight into the fray with your first post, good for you. It was a spooky entry, so I say you've made a great start on Chrons.

Anyone up for a game of darts?

 

[ratsy]

Bowler, I am in. Although with Darts I seem to need beer, and it's only 8:53 AM where I am so.... I am in.

VALIS13, good entry...I have heard of a Blood Orange but never quite like that.

Also it reminds me of my mom always putting oranges in our stockings as a child and we never understood it because we had a box of them in the fridge. But now I kind of miss it. I didn't have a screaming brother in the basement though, that was usually me

 

[Perpetual Man]

Mosaix – I think the thing I enjoyed more than anything about this one was the image that it called to mind, it played out like a mini-animation in my head, such strong imagery. A little girl telling a vampire off because she mistook him for the big man – but the effect it had on the surprised vampire was better yet. Incredibly enjoyable.

HB – Another top notch entity that says more than should be possible for 75 words. It is one of those that you can fill in the back-story in virtually any way you desire and it works. A man of god and the undead tempter. It seems as though the vampire really wants the elderly vicar to join him, to me it speaks of a friendship as well as a rivalry, the desire to prove that the chance to escape death means more than faith. The simple resistance is perfect.

Glen – A nice different look at a Christmas tradition and the ramifications of being turned. What was once an innocent peck underneath the mistletoe becomes something altogether more grisly, as it becomes a place of death. There is something intrinsically evil in the bodies lying there, a callousness that speaks of the lost humanity, and a disconnection from the vampire as he thinks about moving the mistletoe, not out of a sense propriety but just so he can continue to feed.

VALIS13 – A reminder of a time when Christmas was simpler, when presents were a reflection on behaviour and greatly appreciated rather than an across the board deluge. An orange for the good a piece of coal for the bad. The fact this is a blood orange is a nice turn, but it is the question of what Simon was up to that got him locked in the basement and the piece of coal.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Also it reminds me of my mom always putting oranges in our stockings as a child and we never understood it because we had a box of them in the fridge. But now I kind of miss it. I didn't have a screaming brother in the basement though, that was usually me

It's because it fills out the toe of the stocking nicely.

 

[Bowler1]

Bowler, I am in. Although with Darts I seem to need beer, and it's only 8:53 AM where I am so.... I am in.

Easy, we'll use a Chrons time portal and it's all cool. But if you miss, you can't go back and re-take the shot, there has to be some ground rules.

 

[stormcrow]

TDZ - You know Father Christmas' secrets? How do you do that?

Bowler1 - Issit too later to join? I can drink bee-err and threwn darterrs!

 

[TheDustyZebra]

TDZ - You know Father Christmas' secrets? How do you do that?

I'll never tell!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I always got tangerines in my stocking, but my husband always got an orange. Perhaps these are the things that most people look back at with nostalgia, whether they meant very much at the time or not.

 

[Luiglin]

I always got tangerines in my stocking, but my husband always got an orange. Perhaps these are the things that most people look back at with nostalgia, whether they meant very much at the time or not.

Mine was a sugar mouse or pig ... don't see them around anymore.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

We have a confectionery shop down the road that does them, which has reminded me... ho ho ho and all that. The one time Santa forgot them is still talked about by the kids. Cheers, Luighlin.