DISCUSSION -- July 2014 75-word Writing Challenge

[AMB]

Not happening this month. Haven't had any ideas, and I'm not going to have a chance to in the next few hours.

 

[Culhwch]

Thanks, Parse!

 

[Ursa major]

This must be the Parse who's "Read in Truth and Law."

 

[Ursa major]

This Challenge has been closed to new entries.


You can vote here:

Poll - July 75 Word Challenge​

 

[Cat's Cradle]

First, thank you Juliana for a fine, fun genre/theme combo! And congratulations to everyone who entered--terrific stories from top to bottom!

So, my listings:

Honorable mentions to the fine stories of:
Culhwch
alchemist
The Judge
farntfar
Telford

Short‐list for the wonderful stories of:
Mr. Orange
ratsy
Bowler1
springs
johnnyjet
Victoria Silverwolf

Vote:

My vote goes to Victoria for her remarkably lovely story...this is one of my 2‐3 favorite 75 worders ever, well done!

 

[Droflet]

Thanks for the mention, CC.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

You're welcome, telford! I really enjoyed your story.

 

[Droflet]

Yet another really tough choice. So many great stories. However:

Honorable Mentions:
Aun
Victoria
Springs
JJet
Martin
Alc
Mr O
Beasty
Farntfar
Perp
Chris
TJ

All worthy winners but there can be only one. For chilling me to the bone I've had to give this one to Mouse. That's a family I'd steer clear of.

 

[Ashleyne]

Longlist

Mouse: My Daughter Wants a Unicorn
springs: The cost of perfection
BigJ: Sins of the Father
mosaix: Life Is What You Make It
Ursa major: Blood is Thicker

Shortlist

johnnyjet: The Family Tree
Gawian: The cost of War

My vote goes to martin321: Do Matryoshkas Dream of Wooden Sheep?

 

[farntfar]

Good lord! What a thing to wake up to.

Thank you so much for the honorable mentions Telford and Cat's.

 

[farntfar]

As someone said at the time, I thought the game was over after Telford so delightfully combined the 2 Mrs Robinsons.

But as always you all produced stories that amused or astounded me as much or more.

So then more on my short list

Mouse________________My Daughter Wants a Unicorn
BigJ__________________Sins of the Father
Cat's Cradle___________Devotion
Juliana________________last weatherlord
Michaelhall2007_________The sims
Chrispenycate__________Ever after?
Bowler1_______________The Beach is our Happy Place
Remedy_______________Cherished memories
Jastius________________She talks to Angels


But my vote goes to
Reiver33_______________The Man-Made Man

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Thank you for the listing, farntfar!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Thanks for the mentions Cat's Cradle, Telford and Ashleyne. Made my morning.

My short list- Bowler, Johnnyjet, Victoria, Alchemist (very clever, gave me an ha! In the last line), A Fare Wells and Michaelhall2007. In the end I went with Johnnyjet's, with Bowler's a tweak of a coin-toss behind. i just loved the concept of the family tree.

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the long-listing, Ashleyne.

 

[Mouse]

Thanks for the mentions, farntfar and Ashleyne!

And Telford, you're my new favourite person.

 

[Juliana]

Thank you for the listing, farntfar.

 

[Gawian]

Had to vote for Victoria Silverwolf.

I always like stories that deal with underlying condition, even if I can't write them myself. They're always more interested to read to me than a developed, but healthy character.

 

[Bowler1]

Thank you CC, Farntfar and Springs (with the dodgy coin) for the mentions.


My short list is not that short. Karn, Springs, Johnny Jet, Judge, Culwich, Mosaix and last but not least Chrispy.


I find myself left with three to pick from, Cats Cradle, River 33 and The Cuddly Bear. After tossing Springs very dodgy coin time and again the odds and the gods fell in favour of CC.


Good job everyone.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

You're welcome for the listing, Bowler1, but I see I owe you an even larger thank you! Wow! I wasn't expecting any votes this month, so this is a tremendous thrill! Thank you again, CC

And farntfar, forgive my manners...you're very welcome for the listing! Your story was a lot of fun...very clever idea, I loved it!

 

[Starbeast]

thanks for the review SB, glad it made you chuckle... but it's Mr Smith, not Mr Hot Pants, although the recommended Zeit Travel Lead Protective Time-Space Radiation Undergarments would get a bit sweaty i suppose...

Heh heh. You're welcome Mr Orange.

Pops up and takes a pop at Starbeast - zzzaaaapppp.

AHHH! My eyebrows!

The circle of life... just off camera all those lions were feasting on chipmunks, don't you know .

Yep. I don't have to watch tv to see a nature show, I just look out the window.

Starbeast -- The strong emotional appeal of this story proves that even the isolation of deep space can be overcome.

Thank you Victoria. I enjoy reading your comments.

Family/Sci-Fi or Fantasy
(part four)​

BenSt - Unique science fiction story that could be science fact tomorrow. Smoothly written and (as always), it makes me wonder if people should experiment in human genetics. Good stuff.

Reiver33 - Excellent. An android assassin tale. This finely machined treat is gritty like a mafia movie. The graphic ending made me imagine the shocking gore. Yikes.

Abernovo - A marvelously pleasent offering that warms the heart, and has that touch of familiarness that many of us can identify with. I love a nice "feel good" story.

StilLearning - Life goes on with continuing generations far-off in space, on another world. You bring light to what humans are hoping to do by living off-world. I pray we make it happen in the near future.

Perpetual Man - You tug at my heart-strings with your beautifully written Tolkienesque tale. Wonderful to read, and it makes me think of Boromir from the Lord of the Rings.

Jastius - Wow! You took me completely by surprise, and stunned me with your incredible tale. You placed Jesus in my mind, peace be upon him. Awesomely crafted sci-fi goodness.

Mosaix - You got me laughing, because I thought about the invisible protective force field that is sometimes featured in the tv show Lost in Space. It can fry any normal person, and you wouldn't know it's even there.

Parson - Aww, such a sweet story. You made me smile, by illustrating every writer's dream, to have a hit selling novel. Plus (big plus), you wrote it as a letter. Very cool.

Chrispenycate - Heh heh. I love your little play-on-words tale, it made me chuckle. Superbly written, and very pleasent fun. Nice Buns too.

Azzagorn - Oh my. You gave me a good laugh this morning. Supremely entertaining science fiction entry that features a great song.

Gawian - Firstly, nice to meet you. And second, you've created an astonishing drama and grips the mind with tension. The thought of having to save a life of a loved one, by taking it.

Culhwch - Tremendous drama about the love shared between royal brothers. Fantastically moving and excellent to read. Well done sir.

TheDustyZebra - Whoa. Quite an intense space story with a surprising ending. The thought of being being blow out into space through an airlock, eek. Good stuff.

The Judge - Zoinks! I feel like I'm reading the script from the tv series, Game of Thrones. Pardon me while I step outside for a while. Yipes!

WordSpinner - Firstly, nice to meet you. And second, you've tinkered together the right electronics for an outstanding sci-fi story. Nicely written.

Ursa Major - A fine creepy tale that is enriched with ghoulish goodness. Disturbing, yet entertaining to read like a horror story from a classic pulp magazine. Spooky cool.