Discussion thread -- 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE January 2013

[Perpetual Man]

Hope – There is always a lesson to be learned. Just because something is shiny and new filled with all the modern wonders does not mean it is better, it’s sterile. All the personality and comfort sucked out of it. Sometimes you reach for the wonder of technology forgetting the comfort you leave behind, familiarity does not always breed contempt. Sometimes it is life.

 

[Starbeast]

Thank you. I wanted to do add to my collection of kitchen tales since seeing the challenge this month. Its not near as epic as my original romp, there were hostages and despots and puns and almost a thousand words with more flooding in. So I had to reign it back to come close to the word count.

PS never let a can of potato soup take you hostage.

Can of potato soup, got it. Yes, cramming a big story into seventy-five words is a challenge itself. You could post your complete version after the challenge if you like.

Thanks Starbeast much appreciated

You're very welcomed, I like the way you write.

I should ever hope so! But somehow don't think I'll be that lucky.

You never know. The multitude of stories from our challenges out-do quite a lot of junk that comes out of Hollywood.

 

[hopewrites]

Sadly, I didnt keep it. Maybe if I ever do a Hope In The Kitchen anthology I'll write it up again.
thank you Perp! I've been feeling slowed down in my writing lately. Thinking I might want to add more adventure to my life. I'm planing on spending more time outside this year, we'll see how it goes. Maybe if it goes well it will be the start of new adventures. Hope In The Garden. *glazed eyed wonder* with flowers bossing me around and moss whispering encouragement and little brooks laughing at me for hating to get my feet cold. Yes. It will be a fun adventure.

 

[Perpetual Man]

And that's me up.

I could not squeeze everything I wanted into it, so just managed the slightest hint of what I was trying to achieve and went with the over-arcing story instead.

and in keeping up with the old comments:

Perp - Feels as though he could not squeeze everything he wanted into the story, just managing the slightest hint of what he was trying to achieve, giving us an over-arching story instead.

 

[Starbeast]

And that's me up.

I could not squeeze everything I wanted into it, so just managed the slightest hint of what I was trying to achieve and went with the over-arcing story instead.

and in keeping up with the old comments:

Perp - Feels as though he could not squeeze everything he wanted into the story, just managing the slightest hint of what he was trying to achieve, giving us an over-arching story instead.

Heh heh, very funny. Yep, squeezing a good idea into a small space is tough when you have so much more to say. I also thought it was always interesting that you review your own tales, I like that. Ok, now I review you.

Perpetual Man - Humankind at the brink of extinction, has a chance to survive, excellent sci-fi, and perhaps a chilling view of our own future. Your tale comes across very clearly, like a warning. I've always enjoyed your intense stories, there's always a message within the text that gives the reader something to think about. Well done sir.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Many thanks Starbeast, it's always nice to get a comment and see things from the other side as it were.

Heh. I do always comment on mine, normally short silly, and hopefully funny comments, this month I did something a little different because... well just because.

 

[Glen]

Nice spicy story.

Thank you kindly!

 

[Starbeast]

Many thanks Starbeast, it's always nice to get a comment and see things from the other side as it were.

Heh. I do always comment on mine, normally short silly, and hopefully funny comments, this month I did something a little different because... well just because.

Why not, it's good to be different. Let those brain juices squish out like honey on toasted bread.

And speaking of seeing things from another perspective, I can't wait to see your envisionment of the 300 Word Challenge, as well as the others. BUT, first I have to come up with my own idea before I read the submitted tales.

Thank you kindly!

Absolutely Glen, keep up the good work.

 

[Vertigo]

That's me dipped my toe in again, been very busy for a while.

I apologise for any similarities to Perp's but I always post before I read the stories already up (if I didn't I'd probably never post... gulp)

 

[Perpetual Man]

Chris – The inference that artificial intelligence is growing, living amid all those things that now make up the internet, is a solid one, almost a little frightening perhaps. There is that feel that it could happen. Beyond that there is the question of would such a thing feel restricted? Even with all of cyberspace there are certain boundaries. Being able to escape into a human body... now that could become interesting, but what becomes of the human?

Vertigo – A grim look at a future where the only way to save mankind is to embrace it’s destruction, and become a virtual lifeform, perhaps in some ways the opposite of the previous tale, this sees the diminishing survivors of a shattered Earth being uploaded into a space where they can continue, but leaving the past and the Earth behind. Scary simply because it feels desperate but possible.

Lenny – In a time where upgrades to oneself seem to be common it is frightening what they could be used for and the effect that they might have on an individual. A ‘simple’ upgrade sees memory unwritten, erased as though it never were. Of course the irony is, perhaps there would be those who would want such a thing, wishing that not just the memory but the actually could be erased rather than just being forgotten.

 

[Perpetual Man]

I apologise for any similarities to Perp's but I always post before I read the stories already up (if I didn't I'd probably never post... gulp)

Pah! I would not have noticed if you had not said.

 

[Vertigo]

Thanks Perp! I posted and then saw yours just two above me and thought Argggh! And thanks for the accurate summary/review!

 

[Starbeast]

Chrispenycate - An Artificial Intelligence wanting to upload into a human, great stuff. The last line in your tale foretells a creepy future.

Vertigo - Slighty similar tale to another entry (P.M.), but still an excellent chilling story of human survival in the most extreme.

Lenny - After reading your tale, the words: "You will feel like a new man" seem very scary. A spooky procedure, very cool.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Digs – There is something almost chilling about this entry, the complete surrender of all things biological in order to keep things going, to be able to do that which is needed. But it seems that it comes at a terrible cost, pure humanity is bled away leaving only a cold machine. I wonder what those children think, is it better to be loved or to starve? (the second line is a masterpiece!)

johnnyjet – In a similar vein, while being totally different we see the surrender of humanity for a given time period. The scary thing is you can almost see it happening. A machine like employee is less likely to be distracted. Is going to be more efficient, less mistakes. Literally a man made machine, but at the end of the day it is a human being who goes home. I’m going to have to look at my contracts a little more carefully...

 

[Starbeast]

Digs - Whoa! You caught me off guard with an operation leading into cannibalism. Freaky, and disturbing, I really liked it.

Johnnyjet - A nightmarish look at a company's perfect employee. Shocking and hopefully not what is to come in the future. Fantastic sci-fi.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Whoa! SB had a totally different interpretation to digs' story than me, and I'm guessing he might well be right. I did not think along those lines at all!

I'll have to wait now, till the end of the challenge so digs can spill the beans.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Well, I interpreted it the way you did, Perp -- but that doesn't rule out the possibility that you could be crazy ...err... wrong.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Whoa! SB had a totally different interpretation to digs' story than me, and I'm guessing he might well be right. I did not think along those lines at all!

I'll have to wait now, till the end of the challenge so digs can spill the beans.

Perp, what I love about your reviews (aside from your dedication) is that your focus is on what the story has made you feel - or the questions it raises - as opposed to saying what (you think) the story is about.

Over the past year I've had the same reaction when I've seen someone's take on a challenge story. I've thought, I did not see that! and then second-guessed myself wondering if I've been a dimwit. I've even had my own stuff completely misinterpreted at times which I must admit hurts a bit because you beat yourself up for writing something too unclear or ambiguous. (Btw, you've never misinterpreted anything of mine )

That's really the best thing for me in these challenges; it's an incredibly effective way to hone your skills and get feedback. Sure, it'd be lovely to win, but the strictures enforced by the rules are a wonderfully efficient way of perfecting your practice.

pH

 

[johnnyjet]

Thanks for the nice comments, Perpetual Man & Starbeast. Fast response times from both of you!

 

[Starbeast]

Whoa! SB had a totally different interpretation to digs' story than me, and I'm guessing he might well be right. I did not think along those lines at all!

We all see what our minds perceive. Writing is an art, and like looking at a painting, we view them and make our own interpretations.

We're both right. Until the artist chases us with a stick.


You're welcome Johnnyjet.