DISCUSSION THREAD -- December 2012 75-word Writing Challenge

[TheTomG]

And on a selfish note, thank you for the vote Reiver33!

 

[Stephen4444]

Just noticed, I got a vote! Thank you very much Stephen4444.
Chuffed, I am!

No; thank-you. After reading your 75, I got a chuckle... that wouldn't go away.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Thanks for the kind words Perp. I did struggle this month, and was close to not entering at all when I saw the quality of other entries.

Hex gets my vote, very chilling!

Really enjoyed Perp and Scott R.Forshaw's entries too.

 

[Hex]

Thanks for the mentions, Tactical and Bowler.

And (woooo!) thank you for the vote, PM!

 

[Parson]

Tom G, thank you kindly for the vote and the sentiment. I always write better when it is something that I truly believe. And I believe that no one is beyond reach.

 

[Interversus]

My shortlisted three were Moonbat, Still learning and ScottForshaw, but I agreed with the current majority in the end, and thought Reiver33's story was the best. Well done to all though.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks for the mention PM

 

[Starbeast]

Argh....I'm so sick, I'm having trouble concentrating. Rereading the stories is giving me a headache. I'll be back when I can focus better.

 

[hopewrites]

Get feeling well. *sadface* being sick is no fun. On my second day of antibiotics myself. Planing on voting tomorrow though. All my guests will be gone by then *even sadder face*

 

[BigJ]

Have to pop in here and say thanks to southron sword for my first vote in a 75 word challenge (snagged a handful in the last 300 worder, but I'm marking that as a separate milestone).

No proper shortlist, but as for my vote, it went to Parson. I think maybe it says something that I'm not really a religious person and your story still struck me as the most powerful of the lot. Well done.

 

[stormcrow]

Belatedly - Seasons Greetings to All!

Straight to it then, my shortlist:

Scott R. Forshaw - Not just great formatting; entertaining imagery too!
Hex - The "Crucifixion nail" image is magnificent!
johnnyjet - I love the simple-but-brilliant (didn't second guess it) twist in this tale!
lucky lola - Enjoyed the unique perspective taken here!
Teresa Edgerton - An expansive tale - so much in 75 words!
Aun Doorback - Wonderful sinister atmosphere; very chilling!
Phyrebrat - I thought the whole idea of the emergency call was superb: yet more scope for radio-plays!
Victoria Silverwolf - Lovely mood! Seems stark and cruel...most appropriate!

And my vote goes to:

Perpetual Man - Worthy of a great review! Very clever idea supported by great choice of font; superbly chosen words too. Deliciously dark!

A good month all round I reckon! Seems it could be close again: brandyrooks are eyeing the weather forecasts rather warily.!

 

[Phyrebrat]

Thanks to PM and Starbeast for their take on my story and apologies for the delay in acknowledging your kind efforts; just got back from the family HQ and am now able to post online properly (I'm all thumbs and toes with my iPhone).

As you may have realised from my whining prior to the posting of this month’s genre <grrr> I am no fan of vampires. Twilight, Underworld et al have seen to that, so my shortlist is, for once, short.

Shortlist (in order of posting):

Hex – You girls and boys won't get anything unless you let me in... a nice dark tale and a great example of why kids drive me insaaaaane (in movies) when they do things they’re not supposed to. Quite a savvy vampire, too - although if one turned up here it would probably declare ‘Npower’ and hope to get in.

Stormcrow – Vampires of the Messines Ridge. This is a huge story. You evoked so much in such limited space. It is ridiculously original and with diamond nuggets such as: ‘freezing cratered mud’, ‘“Lacking Moral Fibre”’ and ‘fog-blunted screams’ were toe-curlingly delightful. The last line regarding the Lewis guns is sad on several levels. I visualised this tale so clearly and with such atmosphere from only 75 words!

Moonbat - The True Christmas Vampires. Smart and – sadly - true. When I see the reports of downturns in Christmas sales (for the past few years) I always think perhaps people would be more into it if there was a return to traditional Christmas values and spirit. AND, don’t start playing the Christmas Tunes in bloody October! (I was at a Christingle service over the Christmas period and it was so ‘modernised’ and diluted it meant precisely nothing.) Anyway, forgive the rant, I loved this dash of satirical reality.

HareBrain – The Small Hours. There is something here that really moved me. The tension of family loss in more than one sense; these brothers must be really miserable. So sad.

So that's my top four. After Stormcrow posted his I sensed nothing would trump it in my opinion. Although HareBrain gave him a darn good run for the money with the equally sad story of the brothers, Stormcrow got my vote for managing to convey such a large story.

Well done everyone! And hope you had a cool Yule!

pH

 

[Juliana]

As usual, a horribly hard time picking among all the excellent entries! Congratulations to everyone!!

My short list:

Reiver33
Nixie
Perpetual Man
Lucky Lola
Interversus
Culhwch
The Judge

And my vote went to Teresa Edgerton.

 

[Abernovo]

Wow, another stealth vote! Many thanks James Coote.

 

[Lucky_Lola]

Goodness, thank you to TheTomG, stormcrow and Juliana for the shortlistings, and especially to Aun and Moonbat for the votes! You folk have brought a little sunshine to an otherwise horrible month. Now I must quickly run off and vote!


Right, now that's done... my heavily pruned shortlist includes:

TacticalLoco - made me giggle aloud, thanks!
Perp - equally giggle-worthy, well crafted and a perfect presentation.
Chrispy - as always, you manage to stuff so much texture into such small words.
TE - beautiful concept, and a haunting little tale.
Phyrebrat - great idea, and an end brimming with suspense.
Stephen4444 - another really interesting twist, I'm a sucker for an origin myth.

and The Judge, who takes my vote. As a stage-child this made me laugh out loud in a most undignified manner. I especially liked the title (although, if you'd wanted to appeal to the Antipodeans around here, it could have been 'Vampo-Chrisso-Panto" )

 

[nixie]

Thanks for the mentions Glen and Juliana.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks for the shortlisting Juliana, and Stormcrow, thanks for the vote.

Starbeast, hope that you are feeling better soon, and Phyrebrat, it was a pleasure.

 

[nixie]

HB, has got my vote

 

[Parson]

BigJ Thanks for the vote. I appreciate the kind words.


Short list:
Reiver 33 -- Moscow 7 -- Vampires and sex have always had a thing.
Abernovo -- Beware Seasonal Food Poisoning -- Something new to worry about.
Nixie -- Midnight Mass -- A lovely bit of pathos here
Moonbat -- The True Christmas Vampires -- Only too true!!
Victoria Silverwolf -- Miracles -- Very dark, very dark indeed, memorable.
Kylara -- Christmas Lunch -- The only vampire story which made me laugh. The bat/dragon hiccup was just hilarious.

If I could have 2 votes list:
Teresa Edgerton -- When the Cold of Winter Comes -- A unique and powerful idea which could add to the mythology of vampire-lore.
Harebrain -- The Small Hours -- I love a story whose heroes are people of integrity. This one hit that note for me.


But I Only have 1 vote list:
Teresa Edgerton -- I long to see more of this story.

 

[Abernovo]

Thanks for the listing, Parson. Brightened up my night.