DISCUSSION -- April 2014 75+5 Word Writing Challenge

got my short list. now to hone it down and get to voting.

Edit: well that went faster than I expected. Lunch and keeping notes on what I liked about each story must have helped more than I thought they would. (or its karma for sharing the left over tuna water with the cats)

less dithering more listing.

Spring: raw visceral emotion from this one. I love how your MC's always seem to have a back stage pass into my heart and head.

Remedy: a genus uses his creations to distract more than just himself. Well played.

Farntfar: I'm sure there is something more to this, something I would love if I grasped it. Well done for making me reach further.

Starbeast: quite a bit of story you crammed into that word (and rhythm) count. *shakes finger like she's scolding but smiles to show she doesn't mean it* I love that the side kick is named Max. Somehow having Max for a side kick just makes you lovable as well as reputable. And the escape vehical is frosting on a delicious cake.

Chris: where to start? A delightful tale told from (my favorite) an under-tapped perspective, using flowing poetry that captures the whimsy of a dire (for the toy) moment. The kitten, as well as the dragon, within both give this entry two claws up.

Paranoid Marvin: another poetic entry that got a giggle out of me. Love the redeemed status given all but the orcs. (Who I agree are just punks.)

Anya Kimlin: a funny reminder to take time away from being awesome to be good.

Abernovo: something tells me he will get of with a "not" guilty, as the rich and powerful so often do.

Ursa Major: *Steam-pink wink* what would Mr McFly say?
 
Last edited:
Perpetual Man I am so sorry, you were on my list for wittily crafted truisms and I have no idea how it didnt make the transfer from paper list to typed list (ok I do; it didnt get typed, but I have no idea why!)
 
Chuff, chuff, chuff - that's better; I'm running on best Welsh coal! Not that that makes choosing a shortlist any easier; great entries all round.
My favourite ten steam-blowing clockwork auto-books:

Remedy - I love the images of Prof. Fogwerk's creations.
springs - Full of atmosphere; some terrifying visuals come to mind from this one.
Karn - Fantastic. So many layers to this; chock-full of reference points!
Cats Cradle - Wholly believable; we should all beware the dangers of industrialisation (oops, too late!).
Aun - Complex; clever - lovely use of language!
mosaix - With a wry nod to how some things never change, here's a window into a strangely familiar world.
johnnyjet - Oh yes; those damneable druids!
HareBrain - A lovely display of word-smithery; my favourite of the poem-styled entries this month.
kshRox - I enjoyed the wordplay, as well as the images this conjured up!
Abernovo - What a delightful piece! To me, the voicing of this whole piece felt exactly 'spot-on'.


...and for that reason, my vote this month goes to Abernovo; well done Sir! Let's share an Absinthe and wax our moustaches...!
 
Thanks for the shortlisting Chrispenycate - really pleased to make it that far on your judgement!
 
Thanks very much, Hope, for your mention. I fear that anything very deep in my story is hidden from me too. :)

As for my own selections, I enjoyed them all, but shortlisted
Springs
Remedy
Cat's Cradle
Aun Doorback
Glen
Khayos
Mosaix
SirGeoffrey
TacticalLoco
kshRox
A.Farewells
Hopewrites
Parson

and having to choose, I gave my vote to Cat's.

P.S. A special thanks to Parson.
I thought that I didn't know, before this, what steampunk fantasy was, but your story reminded me of something from my early youth.
When I was 3 or 4 years old, there was a kids' program on the telly (black and white) called Noggin the Nog:
15 minutes, once a week just after lunch, about a viking king called Noggin, who had a flying machine and a friend who was an ice breathing dragon.
And I now realise that this was steampunk fantasy in the early 60s.

We seem not to have invented a genre after all.:D:D
 
Last edited:
Good golly! It's been a long, hard day...a really tough day. And then I come in from fence-building to find Stormcrow's listing, and kind words, and farntfar's vote for my story...and it's amazing how things like that (wonderful things) can lift your spirits, and rush adrenalin through your system. Thank you both so much, the day is bright again! :) CC
 
hopewrites said:
Starbeast: quite a bit of story you crammed into that word (and rhythm) count. *shakes finger like she's scolding but smiles to show she doesn't mean it* I love that the side kick is named Max. Somehow having Max for a side kick just makes you lovable as well as reputable. And the escape vehical is frosting on a delicious cake.
Click to expand...

Thank you for a very sweet review Hopewrites. You've made my morning.

Go ahead, shake that finger, stomp that foot, put your hands on your hips and glare at me with one eye, or grin at me wickedly with your sharp feline teeth. From you, I know it's a positive reaction. :)
 
Wow, while springs isn't allowed to sleep anymore, I need to sleep more often! I wake up and find another vote, and a three-way tie. :D

Thanks, Tywin!

Nail-biting time....
 
Good luck TheDustyZebra.

Where are the voters? I know some people like to wait until the last moment, but, these are the last moments.
 
Starbeast said:
these are the last moments.
Click to expand...


What? There's over 28 hours left yet. That's more than half an hour to judge each story. Oodles of time. Enough, in fact, to engage in a thorough contemplation of the word "oodles".

(While I'm here, thanks for the vote, Juliana.)
 
Thank you to JohnnyJet, Parson, Phyrebrat, and Martin321 for the Short Listings!!

Also thanks to BenSt., and Telford for the Honorable mentions!

Being new to writing it means a lot to me!

My shortlist, which took forever to narrow it down, is as follows.

Victoria Silverwolf - Intelligent Design: I really enjoyed this clever twist on a classic tale.

David Evil Overlord - Dwarven Harry: The allusion to a classic movie made me chuckle.

Remedy - His Finest Creation: The twist ending of this wonderful story almost literally dropped my jaw.

Cat's Cradle - The Coal Miners: Absolutely beautiful, creatures who once hated each other throwing away their bigotry in their final moments.

Starbeast - Professor Fate the Magnificent meets the Cahokia Tribe: Incredibly well written and clever story.

Parson - Dragon Flight: Love the idea of dragons fighting to free their skies of pollution.

The vote, after much self debate, goes to Cat's Cradle. I just can't get over how much I adored the ending of that story.
 
Goodness, thank you so much, SirSamuelVimes!! Thank you for the vote, and thank you for the very kind words. What a positive experience this contest has been...I feel so inspired to write, and am working on several stories now...I am just stunned this month, I didn't expect votes, thanks again!

Oh wow, an edit to add a big thank you to StilLearning! Thanks so much! This is very humbling, goodness!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread starter Similar threads Forum Replies Date
Ursa major Discussion Thread - 300-word Writing Challenge #53 (April 2024) Writing Challenges 116
Victoria Silverwolf DISCUSSION THREAD -- APRIL 2024 75 WORD WRITING CHALLENGE Writing Challenges 103
The Judge DISCUSSION THREAD -- 300 Word Writing Challenge #49 (April 2023) Writing Challenges 150
HareBrain DISCUSSION THREAD -- APRIL 2023 -- 75 Word Writing Challenge Writing Challenges 161
Ursa major DISCUSSION THREAD -- April 2022 -- 300 Word Writing Challenge #45 Writing Challenges 171

Similar threads


Back
Top