Discussion - March 2015 100-Word Anon Writing Challenge (#5)

[Kerrybuchanan]

Family and horror - two areas I tend not to dabble in. What with this and the 75-worder, it's a tough old month!

Agreed, Darkchrome. Struggling to find any inspiration this month.

I must apologize to kerry and Juliana for my sad attempt at deferring blame by naming them as suspects

Don't worry, CC. I'm used to it. My teenagers do it all the time: "Mum's not here. It must be her fault!"

 

[Dan Jones]

First of all, thanks to Cat's for persuading me to have a go at this challenge - I'll get my entry in asap.

Or will I?

Secondly, the stories are - again - so good, that they deserve a dang good reviewing.

Intellicide - A chilling start, in which our antagonist sucks the intelligence from her (or is it his???) victims. Like many of the best stories, this raises a lot of questions and makes us wonder about the motivations for this horrid act, but this hints at a child-shaped hole lurking somewhere in the antagonist's past. Eerie and sad.

School For Candles - A screwball insight into how the lives of the monstrous can make dramas out of such mundane day-to-day events as brain-sucking, head-stealing aliens. Brothers will always find something to bicker over. A lovely Thing.

Disownment - A heady does of schadenfreude ensures we get, well, if not exactly a happy ending, then one that delivers a kind of justice for the reader. A visceral and gory way to keep the universe in balance.

In The Night - The worst monsters do not feature horns or claws or cloven hooves; they walk among us, and trick us into loving them before revealing their true form. A sad tale of isolation and desperation, but the most telling detail os the mother's dehumanising use of the pronoun "it" to refer to her wretched spouse.

Digitus Absentia - The zaniness of the Addams family - scrap that; of any family - is nicely captured in this little vignette that delivers a smart payoff that'll have 'em groaning with laughter all the way back to the cheap seats.

More later on, folks!

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Darkchrome and kerry, thank you both for considering the 100 worder! And you will both be fine, I know you will! (DG, you too!)

Also DG...reviews! Wonderful! Thanks to you and Victoria for taking the time to do these!

 

[Cat's Cradle]

A friendly reminder that we have an abbreviated submission window for this month’s challenge--the final date/time for entries is March 18th, at 24:00, (GMT). Now, I’ve noticed during the 75 worders that at some point a post is put up in the discussion thread naming the challenge’s regular participants who’ve not yet had the chance to submit a story for the ongoing challenge--the post’s intention: to encourage the authors along. This is a lot more difficult in an anonymous challenge, but is still a worthy undertaking, so:

Hey there **REDACTED**, how’s your story coming? And we’re all really hoping you can enter this month, **REDACTED**! Finally, what would a challenge be, **REDACTED REDACTED**, without one of your ripping yarns? There! I hope they’ll find the time to enter.

 

[mosaix]

I hope that post isn't directed at me, CC. As you well know I've already submitted. Or have I? Perhaps I forgot! I'd better check.

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

Almost the best part of these challenges is the bluffs, double-bluffs and general obfuscations we all resort to to disguise our entries. Or lack of entries...

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Two new stories, #s 16 & 17..both are nicely creepy...thank you! Just gonna sit back now and wait for the lovely reviews to come in! CC

 

[Cat's Cradle]

It's been a great Monday...the third new story of the day's just been posted. Another nice take on the challenge; it's feeling a lot like Halloween here at the 100 worder!

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Wow, productive day here at the challenge! Cool story just posted...you all are amazing!

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Waking up to a new story...great way to start the day. Our new tale is a wonderfully twisted update of source material I've always loved. Well done!

 

[Pwaa]

I think I finlly have an idea, let's just see if I can convert that into text in a scary manner.

 

[jastius]

There were so many horror films on the TV growing up that I really don't have a great deal of interest nor experience in writing the medium... I mean to do so means to be competing with some real heavy weights out there in writing and film. Hitchcock, Poe, Lovecraft, King, Carpenter, De Palma, Christie and more. Tough shoes to fill indeed.
After seeing Andrew Stevens blowing stuff up in De Palma's "The Fury" (a Carrie meets Firestarter sort of thing) ... Or watching "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" or "Psycho", its intimidating to contemplate, to say the least.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

"Blood is Thicker" -- This delicately chilling tale manages to also be emotionally moving.

"A Lovely Family and Their Cats" -- The author presents a powerful portrait of madness.

"Welcome Home" -- The terrible choices that life often forces us to make are strikingly portrayed in this story.

"Calling in the Rain" -- Vivid imagination fills this unique variation on an old theme.

"The Robot Spoke of Memories" -- A wild sense of humor fills this parody of a pop culture icon.

 

[Juliana]

I'm officially not around this week (well sort of ) but looks like lots of lovely stories for me to read when I get back from holiday!

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Pwaa, you either will be fine, or were fine (depending on whether or not you have submitted a story yet...and whether or not I have posted your...potential...story yet)!!

Things are slowing down a bit! This might force me to place a goofy advert somewhere on the site, in the attempt to draw some people to the challenge!

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

Goofy? You?

 

[Cat's Cradle]

I strive for goofy, actually! It doesn't always come across here, but I'll mention that my wife certainly leads a goofy existence, thanks to me!

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

Goofy is good. Life would be soooo boring if any of us were actually normal.

 

[ratsy]

These are all really good stories, as per usual. It's so cool that a decent sized group keep coming back to do these challenges. I'm not sure if 100 words is harder or easier, just different I guess.

I'd like to thank the reviewers if I wrote one, and a future thanks if I haven't yet written one ?????

 

[Juliana]

I'd like to thank the reviewers if I wrote one, and a future thanks if I haven't yet written one ?????

Now that beats all of this year's Oscar acceptance speeches!