Discussion -- August 2014 75-Word Writing Challenge

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Not having done this before, do we vote on our favourite at the end of the month or something?

Yes. The moderators will announce when the contest is closed, and another thread will be started for voting only.

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Luiglin -- The author presents an event of enormous importance through an unexpected viewpoint, adding to its power.

Cat's Cradle -- This wild black comedy effectively presents a protagonist we can all identify with.

Kerrybuchanan -- Through vivid details, the author creates a remarkable allegory of the challenges we must all face.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

The 75 Word Challenge is always closed for entries at 11:59 pm GMT on the 23rd of the month and voting usually commences almost immediately after.

We used to change the date depending on the length of the month, but now we always close the Challenge on the 23rd and the voting closes on the 28th (unless there is a tie) to make it easier to remember. The basic rules are always posted at the beginning of the monthly thread.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

nixie -- This hard-hitting story takes an unblinking look at the evil that lurks within us all.

 

[nixie]

Thanks Victoria

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

Thank you Victoria. Lovely to see a review on here.

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

Springs, you made me go upstairs to check on my teenage (minecraft playing) son, but Cat's Cradle - I laughed out loud at yours, and keep going back to it!
Glad I didn't read all of these before entering, or I'd never had plucked up the courage.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Thank you, Victoria, for the kind review...wild black comedy is what I was hoping for! Thanks!

And WOW, thank you so much Kerrybuchanan, your kind words made me so happy! I'm so pleased my story made you laugh out loud...I honestly couldn't hope for higher praise on my little dark comedy. Thank you!

I really enjoyed your story...a really fine first Challenge effort! Keep it up each month, okay? CC

 

[Ashleyne]

Your first 75er was very impressive and vivid, Kerrybuchanan.

CC, I love dark comedy and yours made me giggle a couple of times.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Cool, thank you Ashleyne! That makes me really happy!! CC

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

Thank you, CC and Ashleyne. I'll definitely keep trying these, because they're great fun. Never really tried flash fiction before.

 

[Bowler1]

A late thank you for the review Victoria.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

telford -- A heartbreakingly lovely and moving fantasy.

 

[Parson]

Parson smiles happily.

Victoria, T.E., and Telford have given him stories of the kind of innocence he likes to read. Thank you for the fine stories.

 

[Michael Colton]

And my first challenge. I figured, well, why not?

 

[Droflet]

Thank you so much, Victoria for your lovely review.

And thank you, Parson. That's what I was going for but it's still nice to hear that I was included in such fine company.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Parson smiles happily.

Victoria, T.E., and Telford have given him stories of the kind of innocence he likes to read. Thank you for the fine stories.

Dang it, and I thought I was so close.


Well, Parson, at least you did get a few, huh? Innocence has so many uses as a term, though...it's very versatile...

 

[Jo Zebedee]

And my first challenge. I figured, well, why not?

Why not indeed, another nice entry. Newbies are doing well this month!

Parson, I'm sorry - I didn't even mean mine to be dark this month. In fact, I didn't think it was. It was inspired by my rather cute nine year old and everything... but, as Karn says, there's room for lots of interpretation of innocence, and without the shades of dark, how do we see the light ones?

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Indeed it can, springs.


And actually, I rather like the thought of stories being all over the place. It simply shows just how the term innocence can be used. For the light side, innocence can mean purity, kindness, and generosity, wishing to never harm others. This is the kind we see in most children and indeed, people who only want to live their lives in peace and go about the world, or those who actively try to improve the lots of others. Those who, I feel, we need more of in this world. This is, perhaps, the best human trait to have, I feel, because it can lead to the greatest good anyone can do.


And on the dark side, innocence means ignorance, naivety, trust too quickly and too easily given. This side shows those who, that, while may be in and of themselves inherently good and well intentioned, are manipulated in awful ways. Sheltered lives, a lack of experience of how the world truly works, and the misguided thought that everyone you come across will not cause harm...or indeed, the thought never entering your mind at all. Equating others to yourself, to your own demise. In a perfect world, this side of innocence would be no problem, but it is precisely this side of innocence that is the worst character trait of all...because the dark side of innocence is the one that leads to the destruction of the light side...and is also the truth behind the old phrase, the road to Hell was paved with good intentions.

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

Telford, lovely, but heart breaking

 

[Droflet]

Thank you, KerryB.