DISCUSSION -- April 2014 75+5 Word Writing Challenge

[TheDustyZebra]

Eeek! I just discovered I have votes!

Thanks to johnnyjet for the shortlisting, springs for the sleep-on-it runner-up (no more sleep for you), and to Bowler1 and A. Fare Wells (I'm sorry, you're AFW from now on. Abbreviations for everyone. Signed, TDZ.) for the lovely, lovely votes! You made my day!

 

[BenSt]

Thankyou Starbeast for the listing! and everyone else, you are more than welcome... you wrote some lovely stories, I enjoyed reading each of them.

 

[Boneman]

A. Fare Wells --- I'm very pleased with an honorable mention.

Me too! Many thanks A Fare Wells - help the aged is very appreciative.

 

[hopewrites]

Thank you for the mentions Cat's Cradle and johnnyjet they have made my morning

 

[Aun Doorback]

Really poor day today, so many thanks Victoria and Johnny for your votes - A better end to a dismal day. Thanks

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Uh oh, what's going on?

 

[Bowler1]

Really poor day today, so many thanks Victoria and Johnny for your votes - A better end to a dismal day. Thanks

Has someone made off with your rusty shopping trolley?
C'mon, we'll get them together.

 

[BenSt]

Has someone made off with your rusty shopping trolley?
C'mon, we'll get them together.

I saw a woman here in Toronto who had one of those! Looked the shifty sort... can't be very fast though. Rally the hounds... *bugles*

 

[stormcrow]

Right on - a steampunk gang o' rogues right here with you Aun!


..and blimey... thanks for listing my story Titanium Ti; Victoria; Ben St & Starbeast. Delighted that you enjoyed it!

I have some reading to look forward to before I can vote...haven't read all the entries yet.

 

[Aun Doorback]

cheers Guys! That shopping trolley will be the death of me Bowler1 !

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Only because there was a dinosaur in it....

 

[Starbeast]

What a great month for truly original stories, and what a great concept Starbeast! And thank you again to all of the reviewers, you all write such wonderful, nice things, and your reviews are so valuable to the process...I think we all look forward to them greatly!

And also, wow! thank you Starbeast and Titanium for the listings, how exciting!

You're double-ly welcome Cat's Cradle.

Yes, it was a great month for stories, and I felt thrilled to set the theme. I liked everyone's tale, from the drama, to the action-packed, to the darkened comedy, and to the very sweet. Plus it was fun to challange myself.

Massive thanks to Victoria and Starbeast for the listings in the first flurry of voting.

if the winner wants to do SteamPink for their genre it sounds like there will be minimal groaning not sure what we'll be writting, but it should be fun. Not the first time a genre has been created by/for the challenges.

A very Steampink welcome back to you Hopewrites. Whatever the next winner will choose for a theme & genre, I'm sure it will be a wild one.

Many thanks to Starbeast, Ben St and Victoria for the wonderful reviews, and to SB and BS (Did you see what I did there...?) for the honourable mentions!! Great start to the day.

You're very welcome BM. Hmm, I some how don't feel comfortable calling you BM. I used to work in a health store, and BM meant a steampile word. Take care Boneman.

Thanks to Starbeast, BenSt, and Victoria for the reviews, which were greatly appreciated.
And thanks to TitaniumTi for the listing.

You're welcome Abernovo.

Many thanks for the reviews, Starbeast, BenSt and Victoria - and thanks for the shortlisting, springs!

You're immensely welcome Culhwch.

Thank you for the listings BenSt, StarBeast and springs.

You're welcome TitaniumTi.

Thank you Bowler and Starbeast for the mentions. The alien were-wolves appreciate it!

You're very welcome Juliana. Rahharrr! Arf arf.

Ah, Starbeast. You flatter me. Gracias, amigo mio.

You're story really caught my attention A. Fare Wells. I kept thinking about it, and amidst the final decision between you and three others, I chose you. Keep em' flying.

StarBeast --- Thanks for making me a part of your finalist list.

Parson is dreading the sure to come "steam pink" genre. The stories that would come from such a challenge are hard to imagine; literally, hard to imagine!

You're welcome Parson. Don't sweat it, if, "Steampink" in chosen for next month. I'm certain it will be explained to us. However, I already have a feeling, I know exactly what it is.

Thankyou Starbeast for the listing! and everyone else, you are more than welcome... you wrote some lovely stories, I enjoyed reading each of them.

You're welcome BenSt. Oh yeah, I enjoyed all of the stories here. Good stuff.

Right on - a steampunk gang o' rogues right here with you Aun! ..and blimey... thanks for listing my story Titanium Ti; Victoria; Ben St & Starbeast. Delighted that you enjoyed it!

You're welcome Stormcrow. Keep up the excellent work.

 

[Khayos]

Long-list:

• TitaniumTi: I love steampunk-cyborg animals. The blend of machine and flesh fascinates me, this, along with the nostalgia of cute Peter Rabbit really brought out a fantastic juxtaposition.

• Cornelius: The last two lines got to me; very clever.

•Cat's Cradle: I like the idea of this story, though it made me a little sad, I found myself wishing they'd reached the poor miners sooner, which makes it a very effective story.

•Ratsy: Superb blend of Fantasy and Steampunk so very well done for sticking to the given style, I found it immensely hard. I love the use of the term: "Enveloped by dark water." It really sets he scene.

•HareBrain: The sense of rhythm in this poem is so strong and well delivered. I feel like it would be something Dwarves would sing at parties.

• StilLearning: I wish there was a longer word count, your story intrigued me, I want to know all the "why's" and "what's."

Short list:

•Aun: Great character development and very strong imagery. Your words helped me form the scene in my head, one of my favourites.

•AJB: Somehow I quickly related to Eliza, sounds like something I'd have done as a child. (Or even now, oops.) Great story line though, I'd have loved to have read how it played out.

•Bowler1: How could I not? *Round of applause* I just HAD to give you credit for that 'Oh-Holy-Yellow-One."

My vote this month goes to Remedy. I chose this as your story really stood out to me, there's something very vulnerable about Professor Fogwerk, his character development was well executed is such few lines and made me feel emphatetic for the inventor and his clockwork "pinnochio" like son. The tiny unicorn seemed like a charming idea to me too, I wish I had one.


But well done to everyone, I haven't been here long but the stories were great this month. Especially with such a hard genre and theme. Thank you to those who put me on long/short lists too. I'll thank you personally when I can, my phones acting up a little funny so my pages aren't loading but I know I read some earlier. So thank you!

 

[Droflet]

Thanks for the mention, Beasty.

Now for the task.
Honorable mentions:
Springs
Sir Samuel Vines
SB
Glen
Khayos
Mosaix
Tactical Loco
HB
KshRox
Perp
TDZ
Boneman

Finalists:
Cat's Cradle
Aun Doorback
Culhwch

Soooo many great stories but in the end I was touched by Cat's Cradle.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

OMG!!! Telford, right now, tell me, do you have an Amazon Wishlist, and what would you most desire??? I almost did a classic spit-take when I saw your post...but seriously, thank you so much, I am honored to receive your vote--I am about to go outside and start driving in fence posts, and I think now my neighbors will be wondering why I am smiling while doing so. Thank you!! CC

 

[TitaniumTi]

Thank you for the listing, Khayos. Thank you also for the wonderful mini-review.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks for the shortlisting telford.

As some of you know I've been co-opted and am busy elsewhere at the moment and I did not think I was going to have the time to enter this month. It just did not seem right - I've not missed a challenge since I started, so I rushed something in a few days ago. This month just entering seemed more important than doing something good. So to get a mention is very smile worthy, thanks again telford.

I read through them last night, but from the moment I read it, I knew there was one that was going to take some beating and although some others came close, Remedy got the vote.

 

[Bowler1]

Only because there was a dinosaur in it....

There's only one dinosaur around the rusty shopping trolley, and that's OLD Aun himself!

•Bowler1: How could I not? *Round of applause* I just HAD to give you credit for that 'Oh-Holy-Yellow-One."

Yay... thank you. Woohoo, says Bowler, shooting off a few rays for fun.

 

[Boneman]

You're very welcome BM. Hmm, I some how don't feel comfortable calling you BM. I used to work in a health store, and BM meant a steampile word.

Yeah, same here. I'm full of sh*t.... Or maybe, I'm not!



Thanks Telford, for the honorable mention!

 

[AnyaKimlin]

Long List
Remedy
Telford
Cat’s Cradle
Ratsy
Johnnyjet
HareBrain
BobSenior
Bowler1
Perpetual Man
Boneman
Tisiphone

Short List
Remedy
Boneman
Bowler1

Winner

Bowler1