DISCUSSION -- April 2014 75+5 Word Writing Challenge

[hopewrites]

Huggles hope en passant; always worth while.

*hugs right back*


what say you to; Genre: Dragon-Lore Theme: Befuddlement

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Chrispy, them colleens would have yer eye out as soon as wink at ye. Never believe the brogue.

 

[HareBrain]

Many stories to like this month. At the risk of being parochial, I especially liked Aun Doorback's and Khayos's, both of which conjured incredible atmosphere in very different ways.

But my vote goes to TDZ, who gave me probably the biggest belly-laugh of any challenge entry yet. "I am a machine" indeed!



(And thanks BigJ for the stealth vote!)

 

[Bob Senior]

Hey, I've been under the weather(and WHAT weather) with a nasty head cold, will post thank you's, congrats and explain my story when my eyes uncross.
Bob

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Thanks to Boneman for the finalisting, Remedy and ratsy for the shortlistings, and even more to HB for the vote!

Yes, Remedy, you have indeed found the reason we don't vote for chrispy around here. Well, we say we don't, anyway, but then some of us go ahead and do it anyway because he's just too good.

 

[stormcrow]

Woop woop! Thanks for your vote Boneman!

 

[AJB]

I really enjoyed this month's challenge. As usual, everyone produced interesting pieces. What I like best about these challenges is witnessing all the effort people put into so few words and how so many encapsulate their visions succinctly. Even though they are such short stories, it's remarkable how many of them stick with you. I often find myself dwelling on them when I find time to daydream. Just shows the power of storytelling methinks.

My vote went to Remedy. The imagery and emotional twist made a lasting impression on me.

Thanks to all the reviewers and those who commented on my work when shortlisting.

Talking of which, thanks a lot for those who shortlisted me! When there are so many fine works, it's a great surprise!

 

[paranoid marvin]

Thanks for the shortlistings TDZ,hopewrites and Starbeast.

Very close run thing between Ursa's beautifully written tale and Abernovo imaginative news column. Abernovo just gets the vote for me.

 

[Tisiphone]

Wow, thanks to Victoria Silverwolf and Starbeast and BenSt for the reviews. Much appreciated!

Thanks for the short listings/mentions Victoria Silverwolf, JohnnyJet. A.Fare.Wells, Anya.

And my shortlistings/vote goes to:

Martin321. Skirmish on Southern Seas
Starbeast. Professor Fate......
Aun Doorback the Chemistry Between Us
Khayos. A young Contraptors Nightmare
Chrispenycate. Dragonfly
StillLearning. Culture Clash
TDZ. But if you try.....
UrsaMajor. Hue and Cry

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Oooh, stealth vote. Thanks, Mr Orange.

Crumbs. Things are close. I'm starting to feel very bad about sleeping on things.

 

[Ursa major]

Do you feel luck, writer of Steam Punk? Here's where you find out:


Honourable Mentions:

• The Coal Miners by Cat's Cradle
• If Tolkien Had Been a Fan of Mechanisation by HareBrain
• A Slight Misunderstanding by Bowler1
• Fries With That? by AnyaKimlin

Runners Up:

• His Finest Creation by Remedy
• Water Cooler Moments... by mosaix
• Air Africa by TacticalLoco

Winner:

• A Warning to the Mods by paranoid marvin

(In the above, each category is ordered by time of posting.)

 

[Ursa major]

That's for the Runner Up'ing, PM.

 

[Ursa major]

The poll is now closed and I see that we have a tie.

A tie-breaker poll will be along shortly.

 

[Ursa major]

The April 2014 Tie-Breaker Poll is now up.

 

[jastius]

oh my a tie.. more voting!
but first time to catch up on things ...
(as usual i am running a bit lagged..)

thankyou for the shortlisting juliana!
thankyou for the short listing and the cheerful mini review parson!
thank you so much titanium ti for the short listing!
starbeast, wow! your reviews always make me feel like i know what i am doing, a really real writer (watches chrispy's virtual wince at her language acrobatics... )
i saw that elvis and celene dion duet, and was thinking he looked like a dark knight of fairie. As an idea it has played about in my head since then.
ben st, oh my, that is simply a lovely review! thankyou so much; "refined", i love it! I was totaly trying to put in a solid reference to shakespeares 'a midsummers nights dream' but unfortunately was foiled by spellcheck in my refering to Titania's 'Bottom', her human paramore.
i tried to refine the speech of the elves to reflect their aristocratic society. i am delighted the tone came through.
Victoria, thankyou for saying my story has a real surprise ending. i tried to make it fun.
and dusty you are absolutely right... susan b koman. sorry about that. all the little bingo balls on knitting needles i use instead of a brainpan must have been shook out of their egg trays that day. my apologies to the two susans involved and anyone connected therewith..
now for the business of voting;
the following writers stories have haunted my imagination in various ways since they have been posted.
AJB
Stormcrow
Tactical loco
Star beast
juliana
abernovo
tisiphone
big j
titanium ti
Johnny jet
mr orange
cats cradle
martin 321
Victoria
remedy
farntfar
ratsy
karn
deo
dusty zebra
sir Samuel vines
if i had had five votes then it would have been
remedy, tactical loco, AJB, stormcrow, and Victoria Silverwolf.
but as i only have one it goes to victoria silverwolf for her entrancing tale of life through the silicon looking glass.
thanks again, all!
now to mull over the tiebreaker..

 

[Starbeast]

Thanks for the shortlistings TDZ,hopewrites and Starbeast.

You are very welcome Paranoid Marvin. So glad you joined us in the April 75.

Wow, thanks to Victoria Silverwolf and Starbeast and BenSt for the reviews. Much appreciated!

And my shortlistings/vote goes to:

Martin321. Skirmish on Southern Seas
Starbeast. Professor Fate......
Aun Doorback the Chemistry Between Us
Khayos. A young Contraptors Nightmare
Chrispenycate. Dragonfly
StillLearning. Culture Clash
TDZ. But if you try.....
UrsaMajor. Hue and Cry

You're immensely welcome Tisiphone. And, thank you for the listing. You made my night shine with moon light.

The poll is now closed and I see that we have a tie.

A tie-breaker poll will be along shortly.

Oh wow, a Tie-Breaker. How exciting!

 

[Phyrebrat]

Starbeast, I love your reviews. You're such an enabler thank you!

And oh lawd! Of the 3 finalists I chose, Cat's cradle AND TDZ were 2 of them!

What to do what to do. Okay, we've had (in the UK, and - I'd guess - most countries) Cash for Questions, how about 'Genre for Votes'?

I will have to think more before choosing. It's 2.39AM (I'm only awake because I can't sleep through the earsplitting snoring going on next to me!) and my brains is tired...

pH

 

[Starbeast]

starbeast, wow! your reviews always make me feel like i know what i am doing, a really real writer (watches chrispy's virtual wince at her language acrobatics... )

i saw that elvis and celene dion duet, and was thinking he looked like a dark knight of fairie. As an idea it has played about in my head since then.
ben st, oh my, that is simply a lovely review! thankyou so much; "refined", i love it! I was totaly trying to put in a solid reference to shakespeares 'a midsummers nights dream' but unfortunately was foiled by spellcheck in my refering to Titania's 'Bottom', her human paramore.
i tried to refine the speech of the elves to reflect their aristocratic society. i am delighted the tone came through.

the following writers stories have haunted my imagination in various ways since they have been posted.

AJB Stormcrow Tactical loco Star beast juliana abernovo tisiphone bigj titanium ti Johnny jet mr orange cats cradle martin 321 Victoria remedy farntfar ratsy karn deo dusty zebra sir Samuel vines

now to mull over the tiebreaker..

I just noticed your post, after I posted, Jastius.

Firstly, you're very welcome for the review.

Second, I love your explanation about your story, very interesting. Keep those tales flying.

And third, thank you so much for the listing, you put a smile on my face.




Phyrebrat

You're very welcome. And thank YOU very much for your sweet comment

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Wow, this is too much!! And very exciting! TDZ was kind enough to send me a very nice PM about the tie-breaker...I wrote back privately, but here is a very public "Thank you!" for such a gracious gesture. Hers was a terrific, very funny story with a wonderful punchline! Best of luck TDZ! This has been a wonderful experience, and now it lasts two more days (not sure if my nerves can take it! ). Thanks to everyone who supported my little tale, and a here's hoping next month's challenge is as fine, and exciting! CC

ps--thank you very-very much to everyone who has voted for me in the TB so far, you're all so kind!

 

[Parson]

Well, in my opinion the 2 best of a lot of wonderful stories are up for the tie breaker. I voted for Cat's Cradle the first time, so I voted C.C. the second.