Discussion -- April 2015 75-word Writing Challenge

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks CC greatly appreciated, I was struggling toward the end.

And Parson it is sort of to do with intelligence... but meant with the uttermost respect.

 

[Parson]

Thanks CC greatly appreciated, I was struggling toward the end.

And Parson it is sort of to do with intelligence... but meant with the uttermost respect.

Thanks. But I never thought you meant anything malicious by that remark anyway. --- It's sort of comic relief from my "oh so polite" professional self.

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for mini-review, Perp.

(I'm not a doctor, but I prescribe a good sit down after this month's titanic efforts.)

 

[Ashleyne]

Thanks for the honorable mention, telford

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Thank you for the "runner-up," Remedy, and for the mention, Juliana.

Perp, that part about "a benevolent day" made me laugh.

 

[Bowler1]

I've not had a chance to catch up on my reading yet, so my voting will follow tomorrow. But I looked at this thread at 7am today and 4 people had already voted - do people ever sleep?

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Well, you know, there are members here from just about everywhere. The sun never sets on the Chronicles Empire.

 

[David Doherty-Jebb]

Really tough challenge this month. I have no embarrassment in admitting it was beyond me

I loved and voted for Culhwch's tale of a character escaping through the pages via various forms of literature. And I did look behind me!!! Great work

 

[Dan Jones]

Gosh, I've been uber busy at home and work and have ashamedly neglected these 75-worders. Apologies to everyone who might have expected a review; the last one I think I read was Harebrain's....

The good news is I've lots to read! I'll take a read through them this arvo and get my vote in.

And thanks for the honourable mention, Victoria!

 

[Cascade]

Thanks Victoria and Remedy for the shortlisting.

My own list is longer than I would normally like but the quality across the board certainly warrants it. This genre certainly brought out the wit amongst the chrons community and there were some hugely clever stories.

I enjoyed (consider it a long listing), the Parson and TDZ double act. Jo Zebedee's commodification of writing was a great idea, and Mosaix having the confidence to just impose himself on a classic character was great

My Shortlist, Runners up (*) and Vote (**) go to.

Culwych- this was an imperious start to proceedings, that both set the bar high and gave those of us still perturbed with the genre a perfect example of how it was to be done.

Cat's Cradle*- Lovely, delightful and fully self contained. Tolkienesque, in that the 'not pines' still speak like Ents.

Holland- I love the post modern knowingness of this story. I also suspect (and love) that our author is fishing for validation. Happy to give it. I did like the backward story Holland, I think lots of us did. I think I like this one more though.

Harebrain*- I spent a long time wondering whether this story was too clever, but I laughed out loud when I read it, and its self awareness won me over.

Jastius- whilst many of us focussed on the authorial voice, Jastius addressed the mechanical act of printing, and brought something different as a result.

The Judge**- It is Anzac day in Australia so a 'war story' strikes me as particularly appropriate. But this story would have worked at any time. It is meta-fiction, but it is about much more than just breaking down the wall between reader and author. It is also intensely sad. Whilst glib, at it's heart this story promises the ghost of a character revisiting, I imagine forlornly his home town. Perhaps looking in on family, perhaps watching as his sweet heart sleeps, haunting as a shade his old 'haunts.'

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Thank you very much for the kind words, Cascade! I couldn't have hoped for a better reaction to the story. (The not-ty pines do sound a bit like Ents, don't they?)

It was a great month for stories! I like telford's thought on listings, and I will borrow it...my honorables list includes every story entered. On, then, to the other listings:

Shortlist: ratsy, willwallace, Perp, telford, Tywin, Jo, Titanium, mosaix, TDZ
Semi-finalists: DG Jones, Phyrebrat, jastius, Teresa
Finalists:
Culwch--a terrifically effective tale, with a very nice and spooky narrative voice.
Cascade--Wow...such a beautifully written and lovely story. A timeless little gem.
Victoria--A perfect whodunit, except we'll never whodidit because of the perfect ending. (I suspect Morwich, the butler.)
HareBrain--Clever-clever-clever! I love the last line! (Terrific title, too!)
TJ--Great title, TJ! And a very effective tale, with a wonderful/sad ending.

Vote: Cascade's Wooing Sophie. Loved every word. There is a whole story here, but more than any other entry this month, this one makes me wish this had been a 100-word challenge, so I could have read a bit more of this story of nascent love.

 

[willwallace]

Thanks for the shortlist, CC

 

[Dan Jones]

Some corkers in there this month, and no mistake. I found it hard to pick a handful of especially excellent gems out of the stacks of treasure, but these few particularly pleased me

So here's my shortlist and eventual winner:

Culhwch - Off The Page
Perp - Ouroboros
Holland - The Writer's Wrath
Winterlight - Not To Be Read Until This Date
Harebrain - Conflict Of Little Interest
The Judge - Not All Quiet On The Western Front
Teresa - Give My Regards To Ned Stark

 

[Dan Jones]

Thanks for the shortlist CC!

 

[Parson]

Cascade: -- I'm glad you enjoyed the "Dusty Parson" story.

 

[Perpetual Man]

And a thank you to CC and D G Jones for the mentions.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Thank you for the short listings DG and CC.

I had a quick look at the stories yesterday, and will have a much longer look today or tomorrow and vote.

 

[willwallace]

Rather a long shortlist, but there were quite a few entries.

Starbeast, for The Quiet Side of my Real Life, just a very poignant story in 75 words, done so well.
Moonbat, with Epic Spelling War at the Mountainous Moon of Madness, always like an HP reference combined with UK vs. US spelling wars
Remedy's Seventy-Five, the play on the rules made me smile.
Juliana and Choose Your own Adventure, but be aware there will be consequences!!
Bob Senior chips in with Inside Out, which sadly reminds me of how I feel at times
David Evil Overlord gave us When a wizard writes your spellcheck program, and its effect upon your character, wow, that's a long title for a very smart story
The Judge weighed in with Not at All Quiet on the Western Front, slipping in a Remarque-ably sly twist at the last
Victoria Silverwolf's entry The Perfect Crime, packed more into 75 words than I would have thought possible

My vote went to mosaix for The Case of The Shropshire Writer. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a good Sherlock Holmes story written in such a clever way. Well done to everyone

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I thought for sure Cul had my vote and then snorted at Teresa's last line... I also enjoyed Will Wallace's and Telford's. And read Parson's for the first time and wanted a like...

 

[Droflet]

Thanks to CC for the short and Jo for the mention.