Discussion -- August 2014 75-Word Writing Challenge

[The Judge]

For titles, I like to use literary allusions when I can (but those come after the story is written). No one ever seems to get them -- either they are too obscure or I'm not doing it right -- but it amuses me even if it doesn't amuse anyone else, so I continue to do it.

I think I'd noticed in the past, but I shall certainly pay more attention now. This month's is Eliot** and very fitting, even if there aren't any lilacs in it! And I note TDZ is doing Shakespeare again, nicely picked up with Jasmine!

As for me, after Parson nicked my idea, I thought I'd better bash my brains for another (no mention here that I couldn't see how to get my version of the theme below 100 words, let alone 75). And overnight -- literally. I woke up at 3.30 and started scribbbling -- I had two. Now I can't decide which to post.


** odd how one's memory plays false. My first thought was Eliot; second thought was no, the line is "breeding lilacs out of the dead year", so I went and checked and, of course, it is "land" and I'd misremembered. Can't help thinking "dead year" sounds good, though!

 

[chrispenycate]

Oof, posted. I was beginning to think I was going to fail this month. Still, it's in, and it only remains to be seen if anyone likes it

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Tj, this is why one should post early...

 

[Parson]

Oof, posted. I was beginning to think I was going to fail this month. Still, it's in, and it only remains to be seen if anyone likes it

Parson raises hand high. I like it. I like it a lot! TDZ That is one cool story.

 

[The Judge]

I also liked it, Chris. Clever and well constructed.

And I'm in. I was toying with a literary mis-title, but went with a classical music one, instead, on the basis that Anthem for Doomed Ruth would have everyone looking for a character called Ruth, rather than thinking of the noun meaning pity...

And I was going to say I had something hidden in the piece, except I don't think it is hidden, as it's so blatant, but the Judicial Helpmeet had to be cattle-prodded into seeing it, so who knows?

 

[J-Sun]

+ big thanks to J-Sun for some early potentially-rule-breaky nice comments!

Welcome! But what did I do wrong (or potentially wrong)? (I had a feeling I might be messing something up but I read all the intro posts and rules threads and didn't get real clear on anything but "don't ask the author about plots".)

 

[Jo Zebedee]

You didn't do anything wrong. It's absolutely fine to comment on others, provided the comments are positive,

Except you didn't mention mine. So you were very, very bad...

 

[J-Sun]

Sorry - a much-delayed double post - a mod can delete this.

The new Chrons has been generally laggy but it's completely unusable today. The rest of the net is fine for me.

 

[Ashleyne]

Wow, thanks for the awesome comment, J-Sun

 

[Remedy]

Welcome! But what did I do wrong (or potentially wrong)? (I had a feeling I might be messing something up but I read all the intro posts and rules threads and didn't get real clear on anything but "don't ask the author about plots".)

You didn't do anything wrong I was just joking because I am always confused by the grey area

You posted your current favorite which is unusual but not illegal, I don't think (positive honesty is great)... But not mentioning springs - that can be deadly

 

[ratsy]

Thanks for the comment j-sun. I'm glad it made you groan. If it didnt, then I didn't do my job!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I was toying with a literary mis-title, but went with a classical music one

Which I recognized at once! (Or should I say I unRaveled the riddle of the inspiration for your title?)

*****

Only a few more hours left for people to enter their stories. We have a chance of reaching 50 this month, so if anyone is on the fence about entering a story ...

 

[Ursa major]

The Challenge is now closed to new entries.

At this point I would normally state that the Poll will be up shortly. Unfortunately, I have discovered that I, and the other mods currently available, are not able to add the final few entries to the poll.

For those of you desperate to get your votes in as soon as possible, I can only apologies for the software's behaviour.

In the meantime, I shall soon be posting, software willing, a screenshot of Kylara's entry after the software threw a wobbly, after which I will return Kylara's entry to the state in which it was before that wobbly. And, indeed, it's here now. Please vote based on the version in the Entriy thread.

 

[Ursa major]

By the way.... If what I've done does not represent the way it looked -- presumably Kylara will know how it should look -- I'll change to the correct version (only in terms of formatting, obviously).

 

[Culhwch]

The poll is now live:

POLL -- AUGUST 2014 75 Word Challenge -- READ FIRST POST!

Sorry for the delay, guys!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

So we did reach fifty stories this month. Good work everyone!

 

[Parson]

And I'm in. I was toying with a literary mis-title, but went with a classical music one, instead, on the basis that Anthem for Doomed Ruth would have everyone looking for a character called Ruth, rather than thinking of the noun meaning pity...

And I was going to say I had something hidden in the piece, except I don't think it is hidden, as it's so blatant, but the Judicial Helpmeet had to be cattle-prodded into seeing it, so who knows?

Better get that cattle prod out. I've read it several times and my intuition (Do men have intuition?) kept jangling saying there's something there, but after deducing the the meaning of the title I was still no closer to it. I will be waiting with anticipation for the big reveal in a few days..... Unless I figure it out first.

 

[Parson]

The Dreaded Double Post.... But I'm not sure when I'll get back again. I tried sort the stories in this way. 1. It had to speak to innocence. 2. It had to be S.F. 3. It had to be a story. 4. How much did I like the story. So......

Honorable Mention:
StarBeast: "The Alien Encounter or Nerd in Space" --- I didn't seen the innocence clearly enough but I had to mention it for comic originality.

Short list:
Teresa Edgerton: "Out of the Dead Land" --- An innocent hope is born.
Nixie: "The Last Haven" --- This one made me shudder.
Remedy: "Taken in Lights" --- Heartbreaking
Still Learning: "Artificial Innocence" --- Sigh! Too Likely

Three Brilliant Stories:
The Dusty Zebra: "Be the Serpent Under't" --- This has a real book possibility. I can just see a batch of madcap adventures for the sharing A.I's
Chrispenycate: "The Best Intentions" --- A wonderful narrative with a poetic refrain which speaks of deep truth.
The Judge: "Pavane for a Dead Indigene" --- A somber but brilliant versification.

The winner: Chrispenycate.

(Parson worries about another challenge in the style of ????? who can tell, at least it won't be Kipling this time..... I hope!)

 

[Droflet]

They all deserve something, but ...
Honorable mentions:
Victoria - Teresa - Springs - Karn - Ratsy - Tywin - Nixie - Groot - CC - Azzagorn - Perp -
Beasty - Phyrebrat - HB.

Winner, for pure memorability: A B Watts.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Thanks for the mention, Telford.

Three I really liked were Alchemist's (again! But very clever), Boneman's, and Ursa's.

And Boneman got my vote. I loved the last line first time I read it. I can hear the dropping inflection of looming disaster...

I got it, TJ. Go me. but I needed the hint.