Discussion Thread -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- January 2014

[chrispenycate]

Many thanks to StarBeast and Perp for the reviews – actually, I think I forgot to thank you last month, didn't I? Sorry. Another thankyou each.

I'm afraid that cutting down to seventy-five words took rather a lot of the fantasy out of this month's, but I manage to maintain the obscurity – um, the dark.

 

[jastius]

thank you for the lovely review perp.. you always make my little stories sound amazing. i really appreciate it.

(you could ask lenny about how to do stuff on your tablet.. i truly think there is no technical question he can't answer.)

 

[Perpetual Man]

thank you for the lovely review perp.. you always make my little stories sound amazing. i really appreciate it.

(you could ask lenny about how to do stuff on your tablet.. i truly think there is no technical question he can't answer.)

Thanks Jastius (I really need to look back and find that waffle recipe you posted, it's about time I made some)

Lenny is indeed the technical master - I'm actually just trying to find a word processing program for Android, that does what I want it to. (Me being fussy in other words)

 

[Kylara]

There is an app called documents to go which I have on my lenovo which is excellent Perp. Really easy and simple to use and it does pretty much everything the main office does.

 

[jastius]

on my tablet i have olive office and kingsoft office. both are free and both are android friendly. kingsoft does everything but sing and dance. i also have rainbow notes which lets you group your notes by colour. i have a voice to text app that allows me to recite passages into the document.. i have a text to speech app that will read my story to me in any one of twelve different voices and accents.
and i have an app that tells me when i have to stop writing and leave for appointments or things.. you can also get a tied in personal assistant app. which will handle everything else.

 

[Parson]

Well, I've posted. Talk about a stretch for a positive thinking, life loving, SF addict Parson, --- Dark Fantasy???? But I think I've come up with something that fits, but it certainly isn't a genre I'd enjoy reading.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

ratsy -- The grim reality of war is depicted in this hard-hitting, open-ended prelude to a tale of sorrow and anger.

Glen -- The epic tone of heroic fantasy is given a gentle nudge in the ribs with a comic anticlimax.

johnnyjet -- The allure and danger of the unknown is hinted at in this adventure story which leaves much to the imagination.

fitzchivalry -- The strength of human emotions is shown in this account of a quest beyond life.

AMB -- The way in which something which seems to be of little consequence can have great importance is brought out in this ironic story.

chrispenycate -- The horrors of world conflict are brought to vivid life by portraying them through the looking glass of magical history.

Mr Orange -- The stubborn power of the human spirit is depicted in one final act of defiance.

jastius -- The inevitable power of change is shown in this allegory of the progression of the seasons.

Kylara -- The complex, dancing structure of a traditional form of verse is used to spin a subtle ballad of love and death.

J.Hollick -- The interior thoughts and feelings of an outsider are used in a way which allows the viewer to empathize.

Parson -- The quiet mood of a dark fairy tale fills this story of a terrible discovery.

SleepyDormouse -- The sensations of a character undergoing an extraordinary experience are made real in this introspective story.

 

[Starbeast]

Thanks, Perp and Starbeast.

You're welcome AMB.

Thanks for the lovely review SB, much appreciated! Especially when I re-read my entry this morning and suddenly thought "Too vague! Too vague! No one will know what I'm talking about!" So I am glad that you at least have understood

Thanks again, it is just so lovely for all you reviewers to review everything that gets entered, and in such thoughtful and helpful ways. My gratitude.

Thank you for your sweet words of acknowledgement. I enjoy reading all the stories, they're always colorful and imaginative. I like to highlight what I find in the stories, because I can see excellence in each one.

And yes, I think we all worry that 75 words may not convey our stories well.

Thanks SB.

Of course the computer part of things is not important really. Only picking up the mess after I throw it out the window. Or something.

Heh heh. I hope you open the window before you pitch out the pc.

cheers muchly for the review starbeast. i was actually going to title it "Frigid Elves", but then i thought that might give the wrong impression!

Oddly enough, I was thinking the same thing when I wrote your review. However that would make an interesting tale, talk about drama. Heh heh. A mighty welcome to you, Mr Orange.

thanks so much for the wonderful review starbeast! you always make my little stories sound cool. your reviews always make me smile all day.
(and your story? oh my, what a fine great tail indeed... a completely naughty gigglefest..)

You're very welcome Jastius. And thank you for your mini-review. Yeah, the idea popped into my mind, but, I blame it on me watching too many cartoons through my life.

Thanks for the nice reviews, Perp Man & Starbeast. My biggest concern was that my story wasn't DARK enough for the "Dark Fantasy" genre.

Johnnyjet, I thought you were very dark, you mentioned a land of monsters, and you slammed us with a quick death. You're welcome.

Thanks Perp and SB, much appreciated.

You're welcome Ratsy. Hold...hold...hold........................hold....ATTACK!

Thankyou Perp and Starbeast for taking the time to post a review. Really appreciate it

Nice to meet you too

You're welcome Fitzchivalry. Like Perpetual Man says, "It's a pleasure."

Many thanks to StarBeast and Perp for the reviews – actually, I think I forgot to thank you last month, didn't I? Sorry. Another thankyou each.

I'm afraid that cutting down to seventy-five words took rather a lot of the fantasy out of this month's, but I manage to maintain the obscurity – um, the dark.

Obscurity and the dark, I'll have a big helping of that. It's another great month of cool tales and interesting concepts.

I can smell the brain juices.

Hmm, I believe you did "thank" Perpetual Man and I last month. Where was I, oh yeah, you're immensely welcome Chrispenycate, resident pedantissimo.

This is Starbeast, random pedestrian, signing off (click) Bzzzzzt.....

 

[Mr Orange]

thank you very much for the review victoria - you captured a lot in those words...

Oddly enough, I was thinking the same thing when I wrote your review. However that would make an interesting tale, talk about drama. Heh heh. A mighty welcome to you, Mr Orange.

indeed it would make an interesting tale, blades thrusting into the dark an' all...

 

[jastius]

thankyou victoria! as always your kind words have made my day, painting my story onto a bigger canvas.

 

[ratsy]

Thank you Victoria. That was a good summation

 

[Parson]

Thanks Victoria, I hadn't thought "fairy tale," but on reflection that is exactly what it was.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

I now have the theme tune to a certain 80s CBBC show going round in my head but the story is done. This has been one of the most elusive for me.

 

[Kylara]

Thank you for the review Victoria, much appreciated as always

 

[johnnyjet]

Thanks for the nice review, Victoria! As always, you hit the nail on the head.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

AnyaKimlin -- By showing us events through an unusual viewpoint character, the author allows us to step back from the story a bit and appreciate its dark humor.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

alchemist -- This sad and gentle lament demonstrates the power of sacrifice.

SevenStars -- This surreal prose poem causes the reader to wonder about change and endings.

 

[Starbeast]

Cold/Dark Fantasy
(part six)​

J.Hollick - A perfect living weapon, trained to fight, is now unfortunately unneeded and unwanted. A sad tale, but this story (to me) reads like a prologue to an epic adventure. Simply superb. Nice to meet you.

Parson - I remember a while back, you said you weren't very good at writing horror. On the contrary, I thought you did an excellent job. First you set the tone with atmosphere, then you shock us at the end. Frightfully delightful.

SleepyDormouse - You gave me rippling chills reading your fine offering, because it's filled with awesome creepiness. The stark dark imagery just made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up straight. Well done.

AnyaKimlin - Mu-ha ha ha ha ha. Like an odd story, from the classic tv show, Tales From The Crypt, you dazzle us with a spooky, dark comedy. You made me chuckle. Good stuff.

Alchemist - Some people say, "There is someone out in the world for everyone." And, "Love is blind." Well, you created a romantic tale that warms the heart, and chills the blood. Beautiful.

SevenStars - Whoa. I'm stunned by your magnificantly well-written poetic entry. You've crafted a fine tale, like an frozen bar of dark chocolate, cold, tasty and solid. Outstanding.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

Thanks Victoria as usual you made it sound so elegant.

And Starbeast thanks for the fab review - although I had a different TV show in mind But I suspect you need to be a Brit nearing 40 to get it. I've been singing the theme tune all day much to my children's disgust. They decided it was worse than the Wombles theme tune I'd been singing last week.

 

[Starbeast]

You're welcome AnyaKimlin.

You've got me curious to what show you're thinking of. What is it?

Originally, I was going to mention another tv show, The Night Gallery. But, they have very few funny episodes.