Discussion thread -- November 2014 75 word writing challenge

[HareBrain]

My shortlist and finalists:

Teresa Edgerton
Phyrebrat
Talysia
Holland
Hex
The Judge

I had a truly awful job trying to decide between Phyrebrat and TJ for my winner. Both were very clever, funny, and well-crafted. In the end, I really couldn't make up my mind and tossed a coin. It came up the lady with the crown.

Thanks Remedy for the vote, and the others who shortlisted my entry.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Oh, dear. I'm so glad I didn't look at the votes (or HB's post above) before I cast mine! I, too, was between Phyrebrat and TJ, and ended up with TJ (though I didn't flip a coin). If I'd seen that I was throwing it into a tie, I might have had to dither a bunch more.

Harpo -- Gold Hair Girl Plus Bear Trio
Kerrybuchanan -- Lips the Color of Blood
Teresa -- The Last Straw
Mr Orange -- A Wolf in the Nursery
paranoid marvin -- Heir Today
Phyrebrat -- Snow Blight
Talysia -- Not Ugly, Just Different
HB -- Witch-ever
Hex -- Well, well, well
Glen -- One Hundred Years of Snoring
Ursa -- The Valiant Little Tailor
Darkchrome -- Trevor Takes a Trip
*TJ -- From the Huff-Puffington Post*

 

[HareBrain]

Hmm, and there I was feeling okay about my coin-toss because it didn't change anything ...

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the shortlisting, TDZ.

 

[The Judge]

Lots of very good stories again this month, but I guessed that Fractured Fairy Tales would lead to some twist-in-the-tail type endings, and although many were very good, I was on the look-out for something a wee bit different when it came to short-listing.

My shortlist, slightly longer than normal for a 75 worder:

alchemist -- moral hazard
HareBrain -- WITCH-EVER
jastius -- Little Boy Blues
martin321 -- Grimdark Fairy Tales
Mr Orange -- A Wolf in the Nursery
paranoid marvin -- Heir Today
Phyrebrat -- Snow Blight
Robert Mackay -- Sisters
Talysia -- Not Ugly, Just Different

And after no thought at all, since I'd pegged it as a winner when he first showed it to me, my vote goes to Phyrebrat for his Six Sick Dwarfs and their Sickeningly Smug (temporary) Doctor. (I knew I should have told him he couldn't post it...) And a special mention for martin and marvin for their titles.


And, well, blow my house down. No huffy-puffs from me as I can't believe how well I've done this month. So some eco-friendly straw and twiggy (?furzey) thanks for the mentions/shortlistings and some wonderful runners-up-ships, Cat's Cradle, Glen, Hex, Talysia, alchemist, Starbeast, Mr Orange, holland, Chris P, Parson (yep, real life is a fairy tale where I live -- Grimm and lots of wolves), Perp, Phyrebrat, farntfar, martin321, Bowler and Remedy (hope I've not missed anyone there) and solid brick thanks to telford, Alex (I'm so glad that bureaucracy can make you laugh), Darkchrome, HB and TDZ for the votes!

 

[Phyrebrat]

Wahh! I didn't even know the drama that was going on till I got a nudge from someone. (I was engrossed in multiple watches of the new Star Wars teaser trailer and a re-watch of Dead of Night).

I won't be able to sleep now.

pH

 

[Talysia]

Many thanks for the shortlistings, Harebrain, TDZ and TJ!

 

[Boneman]

In haste, Phyrebrat, for me. It made me laugh aloud the first time I read it, and though there were so many brilliant entries (great theme in the first place!) this one stayed with me, and made voting that bit easier. Great story Phyrebrat, well done!

 

[Starbeast]

Lots of very good stories again this month, but I guessed that Fractured Fairy Tales would lead to some twist-in-the-tail type endings, and although many were very good, I was on the look-out for something a wee bit different when it came to short-listing.

And, well, blow my house down. No huffy-puffs from me as I can't believe how well I've done this month. So some eco-friendly straw and twiggy (?furzey) thanks for the mentions/shortlistings and some wonderful runners-up-ships, Cat's Cradle, Glen, Hex, Talysia, alchemist, Starbeast, Mr Orange, holland, Chris P, Parson (yep, real life is a fairy tale where I live -- Grimm and lots of wolves), Perp, Phyrebrat, farntfar, martin321, Bowler and Remedy (hope I've not missed anyone there) and solid brick thanks to telford, Alex (I'm so glad that bureaucracy can make you laugh), Darkchrome, HB and TDZ for the votes!

You're very welcome Judge. Keep up the awesomeness.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Thank you TDZ, HareBrain, Parson, and Perpetual Man for the mentions, and chris for the vote!

_____

My lists: long, short, vote**

springs
ratsy
paranoid marvin
kiffinyjean
Alex the G and T
Parson
TheDustyZebra
willwallace
alchemist
Culhwch
The Judge

In the end it came down to either Hex or Robert Mackay** and I chose Robert's story, wishing very much that I had two votes.

 

[Ursa major]

The following might have been a fairy easy list to concoct, except that something, or someone, broke it. But after nearly endless toil, here are the results of the Ursa jury:

Honourable Mentions:

• The Last Straw by Teresa Edgerton
• What Happened East of the Sun and West of the Moon by Karn Maeshalanadae
• Not Ugly, Just Different by Talysia
• There's No Kissing by TheDustyZebra

Runners Up:

• Heir Today by paranoid marvin
• Sisters by Robert Mackay
• From the Huff-Puffington Post by The Judge

Winner:

• The Little Match Girl by Bowler1

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

 

[Ursa major]

The poll is now closed and we have a winner.

Congratulations, Phyrebrat!​

 

[Abernovo]

Congratulations, Phyrebrat!

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Oh, it's winter! I wasn't expecting this so soon, so it's a good thing I wasn't in charge of closing the voting.

Congratulations, Phyrebrat! A well-deserved win!

 

[Juliana]

Well done, Phyrebrat! Congratulations!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Congrats, phrye! Whoo hoo.

Ok mine. I think it came across differently than I (entirely) intended. This was the exceprt I based it on by Christine Reihill:

Once upon a time
I was you
Keeping secrets
Being true

What happened child
Of golden hair
What happened then
I wasn't there

Running wild
Laughing free
Bursting sun
You reached for me

But another won your heart
That day
A smiling lie
Danced your way

You followed him
Into a wood
No one saw
The wolf in hood

And now you stand
And stare at me
Your frock is stained
Your knees are green

How do I hold your hand and say
How do I heal
That death
In May

This day
This night
This hour
This day

This ink
This page
This prayer
For you...




So, that was the feel I was going for. But feminist me didn't want Red Riding Hood to be a victim and .i hoped by having it in her pov I indicated she knew what was supposed to happen and was no unwilling victim. In fact, she had waited until the time was ready and had the mature hood to confront him. And when he met his hooded prey perhaps all was not as it seemed.

I was too subtle, wasn't I? Darn it...

 

[ratsy]

Thanks Teresa! And thank you bowler for the mention.

And congrats Phyre..well done dude. Great entry

 

[Starbeast]

Congratulations Phyrebrat​

Congrats, phrye! Whoo hoo.

Ok mine. I think it came across differently than I (entirely) intended. This was the exceprt I based it on by Christine Reihill:

So, that was the feel I was going for. But feminist me didn't want Red Riding Hood to be a victim and .i hoped by having it in her pov I indicated she knew what was supposed to happen and was no unwilling victim. In fact, she had waited until the time was ready and had the mature hood to confront him. And when he met his hooded prey perhaps all was not as it seemed.

I was too subtle, wasn't I? Darn it...

Whoa Springs! Your tale was quite a loss-of-innocence story. Shocking and darkly enchanting. And, yes, I liked the way you wrote it.

 

[johnnyjet]

Congratulations, Phyrebrat! I'm glad I was one of the ones to help take you over the top.

 

[willwallace]

Thanks for the shortlist, Teresa. And congratulations to Phyrebrat.