Discussion -- April 2015 75-word Writing Challenge

[Bob Senior]

CONGRATS CUL.

Hey I got a vote, thank you Jastius, it means a lot.

Thanks to, Victoria, Perp Man, Ashleyne for the reviews.

THANK YOU, TELFORD, WILLWALACE, A FARE WELLS, HIGH EIGHT and TDZ for listings and mentions, they just make my days better.

I almost didn't enter this month, been suffering with a nasty bug, mostly head and chest, for 3 weeks so far. It turned out to be my inspiration for my story. I was thinking, if I were to describe how I felt to someone it would probably have gone like this, "I feel like I am bound, gagged and duct taped to a folding chair set in the back of someones head, what I see from that chair is two slits between sinus cavities and I can just make out a few things beyond that. I am just along for the ride, this guy could be a zombie for all I know, he sure moves like one.

So you see, my story almost wrote itself.

GOOD WORK EVERYONE!

Bob

 

[Juliana]

Congrats Cul. Well done.

Thanks JJ, Ratsy and TJ for the short listing. A tough subject for me, but then I started thinking of Dora the Explorer (I know, I know, but my daughter loved her when she was tiny) and that reminded me of those old choose your own adventure books. Hmm, now I kind of want a do-over with Dora in it!

 

[mosaix]

Thanks for the reviews, mentions and short lists to Victoria, Remedy, TitaniumTi, Perp, Cascade, Cat's Cradle, Moonbat, Ashleyne, Crystal Haven, TDZ, Teresa, TJ and Ursa.

An especial thanks to willwallace for the vote.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Congratulations Cul, and a pat on the back to me for guessing the winner...

It was funny that you posted your story first because although I was going to enter, when I read yours, (and later, ratsy and HB's) I felt a little despondent as the story was so strong. It's clearly a deserved win from the runaway votes and also makes me feel much much better for what has to be one of my worst performances in a 75 word challenge lately. At least I don't have to offer my apologies for anyone wasting a vote.

I knew what meta was, and I think CC's mix of theme & genre were inspired, but I really blanked out until a week or so into the challenge when I had an image of a self-imolating, alcholic author. I didn't manage to get the imolation in (far too many words), but I realised the alcoholism was a symbol of the author's anguish and bleakness so I had his scruffy digs in what I imagined was a squalid part of town over a flickering off license sign. That meant it had to be night. That suggested the impossible pillow suicide. So that's what I wrote.

It was a fun if miserable challenge entry to write.

pH

 

[Parson]

Congrats Cul! Excellent idea and well done indeed.

----

I was sort of flopping around without any real story at all. So I thought about how I was looking for a story, and that led to looking for a treasure in a story. And then I thought as long as I'm stuck in this story I might as well trap a few other posters and lift them up for some well deserved praise and recognition. But what was the accidental genius of the story was that I had Dusty Zebra write me out of the story, (I used the words from Linus in Peanuts as he is shot down by the Red Baron) and the she had had the gall and BRILLIANCE to actually do it!!

 

[Cat's Cradle]

A final shout-out of thanks to the Mods for their help with the genre choice this month. I had originally thought to use 'Breaking the 4th Wall" as my genre, but the Mods wisely suggested that Metafiction would be a better, more wide-ranging genre, and they were right! I tried not to mention their assistance when it seemed that the genre choice was an unpopular one (so the blame would fall on me), and I mentioned them at least once earlier (and again now) when the genre was being praised. So thank you Mods for the assist! And I'm happy we have a winning story that will live on in glory!

 

[High Eight]

The poll closes in just under 24.25 hours.

Whoops, I was a day out. How odd - I think I need a new calendar. Or something.

 

[TitaniumTi]

Congratulations Culhwch. Perfect pacing, great literary allusions and a spine-chilling finish.

 

[Serendipity]

Congratulations Culhwch.... sorry I didn't vote, but was at sea (literally the middle of the Atlantic Ocean)... but feel less guilty given that there was such a clear winner. Well done!