Discussion thread -- seventy-five word challenge September 2013

That was grim. I got the idea yesterday, courtesy of the other half, but I couldn't work out how to write the damn thing -- usually I know the POV, setting and style as soon as I've got a line, but this time I had three different versions, none of which was any bloody good. And now it's too late to think of another story/slice of history, so I've had to post the least worst. *makes mental note never to vote for Hex again*
 
There you go, chrispy - forty-two! And you were doubting. Tsk!

I was inspired by a few different things this month, but they were storylines or throwaway comments in tv episodes, and I just know that someone else will recognise them, no matter how obscure the programme was. So this is a very last minute entry from me, just so I can continue my quest to enter every month for a year!
 
I was so pleased to have anything to post**, I couldn't resist doing it there and then.





** - Like TJ, I hadn't a (relevant) thought in my head until yesterday, and I had to drop that because I couldn't see how to make a story out of it. But in desperation -- I didn't have a single replacement idea -- I just started scribbling (to the extent that this can be done in Word) until I recalled... Well, let's just say that I thought of something that might join yesterday's "inspiration" and a story together.
 
Glad to see it wasn't just me that struggled this month! Hex threw us all a bit of a curveball, it seems. Well, I guess all we can hope for is open theme, open genre for October!
 
Hex, Don't listen to them. This was a fine choice of style and story. I actually had an idea bounding around from quite near the beginning. At least I had an idea about what kind of idea I wanted. (Okay, clear as mud, I know.) ---- Parson considers the "No description about your story until after the voting." rule; and decides he can say that he was looking for a small twist in the history of an event that was fairly recent and consider what kinds of big changes it might make.


Lenny -- I love it! Makes me think of a song. "Splish, Splash, I was taking a bath..."
 
Can I just say that my lack of inspiration had nothing to do with the topic or genre. If anyone looks at my posting record in the challenges, they'll find that most arrive in the final hours.

Anyway, I retrieve the poll from where TJ's secured it, and put in the links to it....
 
I really struggled this month as well, so I won't take it personally! (but thank you, Parson -- it's good to know it wasn't difficult for everyone!)

However, you should have seen my alternative idea -- the one TJ saved everyone from (exits stage left cackling shrilly).
 
I read all these last night. I'm really struggling.
Some I didn't understand either the event or the alternative, so I ruled those out. Which was a pity because some were beautifully written. Three that I adored had punctuation stuff in them so I ruled those out (I had to whittle somehow... :eek:)

Anyway, I have a shortlist!

Juliana's futuristic take, I loved.
Alchemist's has stayed with me since I first read it.
Glen's - I do like a nice time-traveller story.

But I haven't managed to decide which to vote for. I shall read them again over coffee, I think. I do accept bribes. Mostly of cake. :)
 
Mentions, Karn, Bigj, Aun and Lenny.
Close calls, Glen (who seems to have found the secret to 75 words), Parson (nice, and very American) and PM (Time travel in America! - did you meet Parson?).

But there was only one winner for me. What if the Germans had never bothered with the Stuka, had handed the BEF a kick ass on the beaches of France and finally finished off the UK. Usually I'm left in their intellectual wake but this month was near perfect for me, proof positive that given time even monkeys can manage Shakespeare - Ta-dah - Chrispy.

Right, time to vote and have some nana's, me hungry!
 
Mine was another one of those "wake up with it in your head" moments. Anyway, we'll see. Perhaps I posted it a little too early, before enough polishing was done.

Some very interesting work here! :)
 
A great bunch of stories this month. Fewer than previous months? Who has the time to do the research. Not me.

Thanks for the “marvelous” review Starbeast, and for the “vivid” review Victoria Silverwolf, and for the “nice” shortlisting springs. I see I have given you all rave reviews, but you may rest assured this is not for your charming words, but for your excellent writing!

My pick of the bunch were:

  • Victoria Silverwolf - lol. Shaky Rocks! Notable for use of the word “galliarding” [I woke up the next day after reading this with the word “galliarding” ringing round my head. Not sure why.]
  • Springs - a moving family tale.
  • reiver33 - great language. I feel if I knew my Shakespeare better, I would get more from this story.
  • Starbeast - There’s a lot of literary energy in this. Italics, CAPITALS, exclamation points!, double ellipses, (parantheses), all the stuff I love playing with but which is often frowned upon by the likes of Dean Wormer and Miss Peach!
  • Sound_barber - I really liked this hard-hitting prose.
  • chrispenycate - a clearly evoked alternate history, with writing as crisp and clear as the sea air.
  • alchemist - a sad, haunting story that nails the theme and genre.
  • bedlamite - funny dialogue. Not such a giant leap.
  • Perpetual Man - a story with more of my favourite stuff: recurrence, securing time-lines, things going wrong.

My vote goes to alchemist for a story that stayed true.

Common themes - WWII and the Bible. Far fewer JFK stories than I might have expected (Perpetual Man came second place BTW).

PS: I have finally made the Seventy-Five Word Writing Challenge Roll of Honour! My work here is done.
 
Another excellent and varied assemblage of intriguing tales. And now my Short List and Favorite. (My Long List was way too long!)

Short List:
1. Rocking the Globe - Victoria Silverwolf
2. Required Reading – Juliana
3. The Negative Hertz Bridge - I_Voyager
4. Searching – alchemist
5. Lost Time – Glen
6. A Cosmic Joke – bedlamite
7. A Pub in Domrémy - Aun Doorback
8. The Listening Post – Culhwch
9. Widow von Braun's Boy – Phyrebrat
10. Thus Facepalmed Apollo – Lenny

And my hands down favorite: Searching by alchemist. Well done!
 
Thank you very much for the shortlisting, springs and johnnyjet! :)

My vote goes to alchemist, for a tale that grabbed me when I first read it and just wouldn't let go.

Runners-up were Perpetual Man and The Judge.

Shortlist:
Victoria Silverwolf
Luiglin
TheDustyZebra
TacticalLoco
Hex
 
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