Discussion thread -- seventy-five word challenge September 2013

[Hex]

Congratulations, alchemist, for a wonderful story that fully deserved to win!


(and many thanks to all you lovely people who mentioned Mavis and the girls, and especially to DEO, Cul and BigJ for the votes! woo!)

 

[Perpetual Man]

Congratulations Alc.!

(Even though that pesky short list went missing I'm pretty sure you were on it)

Thanks again to all those who mentioned mine and to Nixie and Aun for the votes, always appreciated.

and titanic thanks Perp for the vote, which is a great deal more than my effort deserved this month.

It has not happened for a while but I think this is getting pretty close to slap territory... Nixie?

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Yay! Congrats, Alc.


My story wasn't written to 'win' anything this month, but because the theme combined with personal events. My father passed away in September four years ago and my closest friend's family are currently facing a difficult time with a similar diagnosis for a loved one who I have known all my life and am inordinantly fond of.

My story wasn't autobiographical, though. My father and I had said everything we needed to in the horrific weeks leading up to his death. What I was trying to capture was the useless feeling of watching someone die, knowing you can't escape the outcome no matter how you will it away, and how the rituals/customs/religious faith we have around death can give a catharsis to that helpless feeling and change the past by bringing peace.

Which was all a bit ambitious for 75 words. But it came flooding out as I doodled pictures of great events that could be changed - like TJ Titanic was in my mind to do - and seemed to wanted to be said.

Now, Alc, in the style of Disney's The Little Mermaid, didn't you say?

 

[alchemist]

Before I forget myself, thanks to Aun, TJ and Ursa for the shortlistings, and to Tisiphone and reiver33 for the votes.

And now count yourselves lucky I'm on my phone or else the screen would be full of animated smilies dancing across the screen. Instead, yyyyyyyaaaaayyyyyyyyy! My first win, and its my third chroniversary this month. Yyyyyyaaaaayyyyyy!

Thanks for the congratulations and now for the thinking (too broad: its not a challenge. Too narrow: no-one takes part). Bribes will be accepted. Not cake; I prefer savoury snacks.

(springs: hugs)

 

[HareBrain]

Oops! Sorry for missing the voting. I did read the stories, though. The Judge's was probably closest to the kind of idea I was struggling (and failing) to come up with myself, and in the end I was to-ing and fro-ing between hers and Alc's. Had I remembered, I think I would have voted for Alc's, which as well as being clever and inventive, was poignant without descending into sentimental mush. Congrats on a deserved win!

Edit@ Alc: first win? Wasn't there something about Santa's reindeers?

Edit again: can't find it in the roll of honour. What am I thinking of, then?

 

[alchemist]

Joint third with the reindeers, I'm afraid. Stormfeather won that month, Hoopy lost in a tie. (Dec 2010; obsessed, me?)

 

[HareBrain]

How weird, I could have sworn you won it. (And all this time I was thinking you were a half-decent writer.)

 

[Hex]

Poke him with your spear, alc.

alchemist wrote the first 75 worder I ever voted for -- the crime and punishment one (TJ won that one). Must admit, I'm also surprised this is the first month you've won, alc.

 

[The Judge]

Congratulations, alchemist! Thoroughly well-deserved -- a great story.


Thanks for the after-the-event mention, HB!

Must admit, I'm also surprised this is the first month you've won, alc.

Well, y'know, it wouldn't be a suprise if you'd read and committed to memory all the Writing Challenge Statistics attachments someone slaved hard to produce, most particularly this one

 

[Boneman]

Well done Alchemist!! Beers all round at Brighton, then...?

 

[alchemist]

How weird, I could have sworn you won it. (And all this time I was thinking you were a half-decent writer.)

I maintain that illusion to help fund my extravagant lifestyle. (Free cake, coffee etc. And I don't even like coffee!)

Edit: sorry Boneman. That would only perpetuate an Irish stereotype. Otherwise, I'd jump at it...

 

[HareBrain]

You could confound the Irish stereotype by getting in a round of brandy alexanders.

 

[Boneman]

Edit: sorry Boneman. That would only perpetuate an Irish stereotype. Otherwise, I'd jump at it...

The Ace has just posted this on introductions:

From a teetotal Scotsman, welcome aboard.

So you need to balance the other celtic stereotype, or the world's gone into 'kilt'er...

 

[Hex]

Well, y'know, it wouldn't be a suprise if you'd read and committed to memory all the Writing Challenge Statistics attachments someone slaved hard to produce, most particularly this one

I'm only halfway through memorising them... Starting from z.

(it's OK, Boneman -- I'll balance The Ace)

 

[The Judge]

I'll be handing out test papers at the end of the year.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I'm only halfway through memorising them... Starting from z.

(it's OK, Boneman -- I'll balance The Ace)

I can provide a similar role for the Irish.

 

[Glen]

Congratulations alchemist on a very well deserved win.

Thanks for the mentions The Judge and Ursa Major.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Congratulations, Alc!

 

[Ursa major]

How weird, I could have sworn you won it. (And all this time I was thinking you were a half-decent writer.)

Alchemist won the fifth 300-word challenge with a story called Sciptorium.

 

[HareBrain]

So he did -- and I remember thinking that story could have done with more reindeer in it, so that explains the confusion. Thanks Ursa.