DISCUSSION -- June 2014 75 Word Writing Challenge

[Juliana]

Thank you for the runner-up mention, The Storyteller!

 

[Starbeast]

Are you just trying to keep me out of it, SB? I hate being splashed!

I wouldn't dream of leaving you out of the pool party. Because I know you'll join us sooner or later. Pardon me.

(runs) WAH-HOO! (SPLASH)

This isn't getting any easier to pick a winner. (Haven't I said that before?)

Honorables: Beasty (A gatling gun at the Okay corral? You have no shame, sir.)

Howdy Telford, thanks for the mention, pardner. I thought a gatling gun would be the quickest way to get rid of an army evil men.

Short List:

Starbeast – Day of Reckoning in Tombstone

Thank you Ashleyne for the mention. You made my day.

Alright, good stuff this month, more so as I thought it a tough theme. I don't mind a tough theme, keeps us on our toes.

My vote goes to Starbeast. If you'd dropped a RAY GUN into the OK corral gun fight you be my hero forever, but you didn't, you picked a rubbish gattling gun, so a vote is the best you get. Something to think on next time.

Right... I'm off to shoot something.

Wow. Thanks for the vote Bowler1. As for the use of a ray-gun, well, I got burned for using it in my "steampunk tale". And I knew for sure I couldn't use a high tech weapon this time, because this is historical fiction, and not sci-fi (or fantasy).

Thanks again for the vote. You made my day shine bright!

Basically historical fiction is true to the historical time line with fictionalized (some more, some less) characters and hidden agendas and actions.

Historical fiction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

While Alternate history changes the events and the results of an historical event. IE, Having a Viking invasion of 10 century England repelled by a brilliant inventor of a cannon.

Alternate history - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You definately made it clear Parson. That's what took me so long to create a story. I had to stay within the narrow guidelines. No fantasy or sci-fi.

Well I didn't get to writing in the challenge this month, but I took the time to read all the entries this morning and here is my verdict!

Long-Listing (all of these were very good, there is only the slightest difference in preference between my long-listing and my short-listing):

Short-Listing:
Starbeast: Day or Reckoning in Tombstone- I liked the setting and execution of this story, and the way the theme of 'deception' was used.

Sorry you couldn't join us Storyteller, but thank you for taking the time to read, choose and vote.

And a big thank you for the mention. It made my day.

Short List of Favorites​

Telford - Excellent tale which touches on the true-life controversy of some the Moon missions. Well done sir.​

Springs - You certainly know how to crave out a creepy story. Bone-chilling coolness. I feel like a snack now, but without so much rat in it.​

Ratsy - The power of the 75 Challenge compells you! Monstrous tale which is packed with creamy goodness. Bless you.​

Cat's Cradle - Awesomely hard-hitting story that reflects the horrible face of the ugly American. AND, showcases the power of faith for the day of equality among humans.​

Victoria Silverwolf - A tremendous tale that resonated in my mind. It gave me a haunting feeling that it could have happened. Outstanding.​

Teresa Edgerton - Ahh, the glorious days of shady carnivals. I remember as a child going to some of those. Thanks for sparking the memories.​

Glen - I have to tell, you have the funniest story this month. The first lines got me laughing. Thank you for the comedy. Great stuff.​

Johnnyjet - Spooky. Your story has some elements that are not unlike the strange goings-on at Bohemian Grove. Diabolically freaky.​

Paranoid Marvin - You sir have wrote the best punch-line at the end of a wonderful story, for this month. Heh heh. Absolutely great.​

David Evil Overlord - The madness of greed abounds in you tale, like kangaroos. Astonishingly wild story that made me do a double-take.​

 

[Bowler1]

Thanks again for the vote. You made my day shine bright!

Good. You have good reasons for not using RAY GUNS this time so I'll let you off... with just a warning.
​

 

[Starbeast]

Great.

Think fast! BZZZZT! (crash) Uh-oh. Chee-zit! (runs away)

 

[martin321]

Here is my longlist, shortlist (*), runner up (**) and vote (***):

AnyaKimlin *
springs
Flyerman11
Victoria Silverwolf *
mosaix *
Teresa Edgerton *** [VOTE]
Juliana
Starbeast
chrispenycate **
paranoid marvin *
The Judge

I excluded most of the Alternate History stories from consideration, although a number of them were pretty good too. My favourites were the Hitler related stories by Mr Orange, alchemist, Aun Doorback.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

He sounds like he was (is?) an interesting man. I love a lot of the "hillbilly" stuff.

Yes, he was. Of course as a child, I just took it all for granted. I wish now that I had written down some of his stories while he was still with us, so that they could be passed down in the family. I am sure I've forgotten a lot of them. Maybe I should get together with my brother and sisters and ask them about any stories they might remember.

___________

Thank you martin321 and Tywin for the votes! And thank you Starbeast for the short-listing.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

Fab, Martin. Thank you very much for the shortlisting.

 

[Starbeast]

Here is my longlist, shortlist (*), runner up (**) and vote (***):

AnyaKimlin *
springs
Flyerman11
Victoria Silverwolf *
mosaix *
Teresa Edgerton *** [VOTE]
Juliana
Starbeast
chrispenycate **
paranoid marvin *
The Judge

Thank you Martin321 for the mention. You made my day. I feel awesome to be among your picks.

Thank you martin321 and Tywin for the votes! And thank you Starbeast for the short-listing.

You're very welcome Teresa E. Miss the Sideshows of the past.

I still remember the eerie recordings of the "carnival talkers" promoting captured monsters, wax museum horror statues and the woman who could turn into a werewolf. Oh yeah, there was a women who turned into a gorilla too. I was a few years old, and remember running away from the gorilla woman. Heh heh.

 

[Juliana]

Thank you for the listing, Martin!

 

[Droflet]

Thanks so much for the mention, Beasty.

 

[A. Fare Wells]

Thank you so much for the long listing, Storyteller.

 

[Starbeast]

Thanks so much for the mention, Beasty.

You're welcome Telford. Stay awesome.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Thank you so much for the listings Phyrebrat and The Storyteller! Thank you for the listings and kind words Parson and Starbeast! I greatly appreciate it!!! We have visitors from the States this week, so I won't be around much, but I want to congratulate all who have received votes, and wish everyone the best of luck the rest of the way! Looks like it will be close again! CC

 

[Bowler1]

Thank you BigJ for a vote. Three being a personal record for me I'm already very happy indeed.

Great.

Think fast! BZZZZT! (crash) Uh-oh. Chee-zit! (runs away)

I'm so happy, I'm going to chase Starbeast and share the joy of RAY GUNS with my buddy. Clearly, I'll have more fun than Starbeast, but such is life.

 

[Parson]

Yes, he was. Of course as a child, I just took it all for granted. I wish now that I had written down some of his stories while he was still with us, so that they could be passed down in the family. I am sure I've forgotten a lot of them. Maybe I should get together with my brother and sisters and ask them about any stories they might remember.

I don't think you'd ever regret doing something like that. Family stories are a wonderful gift.

Alchemist wrote:

When I set the challenge, I was thinking of the Sharpe novels, or Master and Commander -- fictional characters in a real historical setting.

Which in my view is a wonderful piece of historical fiction.

 

[johnnyjet]

Awesome and creative tales again! Tough to narrow this down. But finally here are my choices:

My Long List, Short List and ***Favorite ***
1. Queen Edward - Ashleyne. B. Watts
2. Headline Grabber – telford
3. RATS! – springs
4. *** One Small Step - Victoria Silverwolf ***
5. Smoothing Over a Wrinkle - Mr Orange
6. Potter Terror – Remedy
7. Vacationing at the World's Columbian Exposition - A. Fare Wells
8. The Ballad of Mary Read – Juliana
9. Day of Reckoning in Tombstone – Starbeast
10. His Story - The Spurring Platty
11. Eureka! – chrispenycate
12. 1937 – Hex
13. You Can't Run, But … - Ursa major
14. The Original Sin – Culhwch
15. TM - David Evil Overlord

Also, thank you so much for the short listings, Victoria & Starbeast! I am humbled and honored.

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the short-listing, johnnyjet.

 

[Juliana]

Thanks for the mention, johnnyjet.

 

[ratsy]

Thank you to Ashleyne B Watts and Starbeast for the shortlistings. I'm going to read through and pick my winner now.

Ok, so I did already so I will add to this post!

Short-listing

Victora - One Small Step
Mosaix - Now You See it
lonewolfwanderer - A King's Secret
johnnyjet - Chamber of Honors
Juliana - The Ballad of Mary Read
Starbeast - Day of Reckoning in Tombstone
Ursa - You Can't run, but...

I had to go with Juliana's fantastic take on a couple female pirates...that was gold. Well done!

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the short-listing, ratsy.