Discussion thread -- November 2014 75 word writing challenge

[Teresa Edgerton]

Less than 45 minutes to go.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

*goes back to check*

Yes, I'm in!

 

[Ursa major]

The Challenge is closed for entries, so now it is time to vote (or think about voting, or make your lists). You can find the link below:

NOVEMBER 2014 POLL, VOTE HERE
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Please read the first post in the poll thread before casting your vote!

 

[Parson]

Thank you Victoria. You make me sound much more clever than I am.

 

[willwallace]

First to vote -I really liked Hex's twist on the frog/princess story.

 

[Starbeast]

Many thanks for the review, Starbeast.

Many welcomes to you Talysia.

Thanks for the wonderful reviews Victoria and Starbeast!

Absolutely Holland. You're welcome.

Thanks for the awesome reviews, Victoria & Starbeast! Each had its own unique perspective which made my little piece seem greater than its handful of words.

You're very welcome Johnnyjet. There are tons of great writers here. It's always a pleasure for me to read everyone's story. I merely highlight what I like so much about each tale, in my own way of course.

Hehehe thanks for the review @Starbeast

pH

You're immensely welcome Phyrebrat. I feel like this month everyone still has the darkness of Halloween in them, but there are a number of us who like to get dark and gritty almost every month.


Pardon me folks, I've got 13 remaining entries to comment.

 

[Starbeast]

Fractured Fairy Tale
(part four)

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Kiffinyjean - Perhaps if the Prince stop pea-ing in the Princess's mattresses, and went to the furniture store and bought one of those ajustable, firm beds, with a remote control, maybe she wouldn't be so crabby. Superior and comfortable story I can relax with.

Glen - This tale is like a great tasting, sugary enery drink. It picks up you, makes you read at a rapid pace, then after the pulse-pounding ingredients leave your system, you crash hard. But, you enjoy every delicious word in it. Terrific.

Perpetual Man - Executioner. Throw the switch. (BZZZZZZZZZT bzzt bzzt) Hmm, smells like teen spirit. Grim offering that illustrates to us that crime doesn't smell good, I mean pay. This would make a good episode for the show, Tales From the Crypt.

Robert Mackay - There's an eerie familiarity about this young girl's rise to glory, much like a Hollywood celebrity. I enjoyed the way this story is presented, a diffinate "rags to riches" tale, with a very hard edge to it. Nicely done sir.

Alex The G and T - Three men in a tub realize that their vacation is on a "no frills" ticket, with third class accomodations. But the writer honors "us", by giving us front row "dry" seats to this wacky offering that stays afloat. Good stuff.

Ursa Major - I love the telekinetic references to the 1981 David Cronenberg film, Scanners. It adds a marvelous touch to this wonderful, and mind-blowing concept. Sheer excellence.

Darkchrome - Things sometimes don't always turn out the way we thought they would, and this is well illustrated in this fine story. Hey. I think I know that squirrel. He still owes me a jar of peanut butter. Anywho, you created a very good tale.

Martin321 - Oh, man. You've written a concept script for a new Quentin Tarantino movie. Highlighting graphic elements of reality with extereme violence. Shocking images abound, but I can still eat popcorn while I read it. Diabolically delightful.

StilLearning - Wow! Another "R" rated thrilling story that rips through my head like buckshot, splattering my own gore against the wall, in a good way. This tale really goes for the throat, leaving me wanting more. When does the sequel come out?

David Evil Overlord - A big "high-five" to the writer who cranks out another entry that relates to McDarkElfs. A super-sized offering with extra cheese to weaken your knees, and makes you grin as you clutch your clogged heart. Awesome dude.

Parson - Our faithful Parson dazzles us readers with a mighty tale of interest, then rewards us with a grand humourous ending. Whimsically written with wonderful wordage wowing us weaders, I mean readers.

TheDustyZebra - I enjoyed the dialouge, with it's twists and turns, then smiled at the finish. Such a cute and sweet little story that made me feel good. I feel like playing with puppies right now. Mmm....Huh?! Oh, and well done M'lady.

The Judge - The story that you read is true, the the names and locations have been changed to protect the innocent. Heh heh. Tremendously cool how you treated your offering like a news report. Very entertaining and fun to read.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Wow, thanks Starbeast

 

[Alex The G and T]

Awesome, Beast. Thanks!

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Thanks for the review, SB.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Apologies in advance--my voting post will likely be longer than 5 of these tales combined!

Such a good month for stories; I went into my re-read knowing there were tons of terrific entries, and thinking I'd have to be a hard-*ss in making out my list, to keep its length manageable; my short-list still ended up being 26 stories. IMO every story this month could have been short-listed. So, I've--painfully--whittled down my list a bit, and here it is:

Honorable mentions:
Victoria, Teresa, alchemist, Alex, Ursa, The Judge

Semi-finalists:
Talysia, Phyrebrat, HareBrain, Jastius

Finalists:
Mr. Orange, Darkchrome, Holland, Bowler1, Sancho

Vote:
Sancho. I LOVED your take on the Challenge, and your last line absolutely sealed the deal for me. It so perfectly concluded your story!

Well done all! Best of luck to all entrants in the voting, CC

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Darn, forgive the double post...a big thank you to Hex too for the wonderful choice of 'Fractured Fairy Tales'!

 

[Dan Jones]

The challenge is up. Discuss!

("open" means that -- there is no constraint on the theme this month, except the normal ones of family-friendliness and general brilliance)

I dang just missed the deadline for submission - rookie mistake, thought the deadline was next Sunday so logged on this morning to submit my entry. Dammit!

So am taking the liberty of posting my entry here although I'm fully aware I cannot win! Think of it as a vanity publication.

This is the first time I've looked at the challenges, and I love it. The entries are really strong, and pretty dark.

Anyway, here's my invalid entry...

The Big Bad Stinger

Smiling, Red Riding Hood stepped over the corpse of the Big Bad Wolf toward the handsome woodcutter. They stepped out of the cottage into the twilight.

The silence was broken by a guttural growl. Then a second came. Another. More.

Horripilation played across her flesh as a dozen pairs of yellow eyes appeared in the darkness.

Of course, she thought, gripping the hand of the woodcutter ever tighter. Wolves are pack hunters…

 

[Glen]

Thanks for the kind review, Starbeast.

Lot's of top stories this month. My favourites were from Mr Orange, alchemist, Culhwch, Talysia, Perpetual Man, StilLearning, and The Judge. Could have done with three or so votes, but my single vote went to Talysia for a cleverly fractured tale.

 

[Droflet]

Here we go again. I didn't have the heart to cut any more, so on with the show.
Honorables: Talysia - Victoria - Teresa - Mr Orange - Alc - Karn - Mosaix - A fare wells - Culhwch - Beasty - Bowler - HB - Johnny Jet - Perp - Martin - Parson. Phyrebrat, oh sooo close but I'm afraid you'll have to settle for the silver medal. The gold medal goes to TJ who snuck her very clever entry in at the post. Nicely done Your Honor.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I found this so hard. Anyway, my shortlist was:

Teresa, Alchemist (again! argh), Ratsy, Remedy, Talysia, Hex, Robert MacKay (again! argh)

Anyway, it came down to Alc, Robert and Talysia and I finally, finally, broke my voting pattern and went for Talysia's tale because it made me smile.

And thank you for the vote, DG Jones. Much, much appreciated.

 

[Ursa major]

Ursa Major - I love the telekinetic references to the 1981 David Cronenberg film, Scanners. It adds a marvelous touch to this wonderful, and mind-blowing concept. Sheer excellence.

Thanks for the mini-review.

Oh, and 'mind-blowing'.

 

[Talysia]

Wow! Many thanks for the votes, Glen and springs - you've made my morning! Thanks for the shortlistings, too, CC and telford!

I'm off to read the stories now, and I'll give my vote a bit later.

 

[Hex]

Hurm... Difficult month to vote.

So, shortlist with shorter list:

Harpo, Teresa, Mr Orange, paranoid marvin, Talysia, HareBrain, Perp, Robert Mackay, Darkchrome, TJ.

Finally, finally, I came down to deciding between TJ, Teresa and Robert... and I ended up voting for Robert.

-----

Back from doing that! Thank you very much, willwallace and DEO, for the votes

 

[Talysia]

Thanks for the shortlisting, Hex!

Ok, on to the voting. Others have said it, but it's been really tough to narrow my list down this month. The quality has been so high!

My shortlist: Victoria Silverwolf, Ashleyne B Watts, Teresa, ratsy, Phyrebrat, Hex and Perpetual Man.

My top three: alchemist, Culhwch and The Judge.

My vote: Robert Mackay.

Well done everyone!