Discussion thread -- October 2015 75-word Writing Challenge

[Dan Jones]

Named and Shamed! Go get 'em, Chrisp

 

[Perpetual Man]

Hah, do I look scared. Still got over 24 hours to go!

That Bowler fellow does not worry me one bit.

 

[Zoe Mackay]

I've voted! I voted for HareBrain, because I thought it was really clever and a little bit different.

 

[Mr Orange]

slowly steps back out of raygun range and behind Tim

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I've voted! I voted for HareBrain, because I thought it was really clever and a little bit different.

He is that, yes.

 

[Hex]

Not just a little bit.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Rayguns I laugh in the face of rayguns! (Preferably from a great distance)

Of course while I'm typing this I could be reading through and voting

 

[TheDustyZebra]

slowly steps back out of raygun range and behind Tim

Don't worry, buddy, I've got your back. It's right here in front of me.

 

[Perpetual Man]

On a slightly more serious note...

One of the reasons I have not voted (yet) is that I felt the quality this month was absolutely outstanding and there were any number of stories that I felt I could have voted for.

Drof, D G Jones, Chris, Ursa were just some that spring immediately to mind but there were so many others too.

In the end I think I am going to go with a different tack, for the subject of language one person wrote in, what to me is, one of the most beautiful, musical languages of all; on the surface it was what we would expect from him, a good fun story, but there is a lot of hidden depth there that should not be overlooked.

So the vote goes to Starbeast.

 

[Saharren]

Let's start with just putting down all the stories I liked.

Ashleyne. B. Watts - The Helpful Earthling
Victoria Silverwolf - Love Letters
Littlestar - Piece Taut to a Whirled at Wore
Droflet - One Small Misstep
Bowler1 - Love at First Smell
Mr.Orange - Gernusian Octopoids Only Get Limited, Error-ridden Translation
DG Jones - The Ministry of Language and Linguistics
TitaniumTi - The Last Enemy
Willwallace - Origins
mosaix - Out of the Mouths...
Culhwch - Cheers to the Universal Language

Ashleyne's story was my favorite, though Bowler's was a very close second. I was fond of Littlestar's, but the sheer number of homonyms made it hard to understand on the initial read through. Once I wrapped my head around what was going on I could appreciate the technique, but the humor of the other two I mentioned here was what I was looking for this month.

Cheers for the mention, johnnyjet. That story ended up being more of a world building piece than anything else, something for the story that I've been working on that came to me when I read the theme of this month. I'll probably have that, or something similar show up as an inscription.

As for the delay in voting... not sure, really. Things have been busy, but on occasion the season change makes me listless. Perhaps minor seasonal depression, or something like that.

 

[Mr Orange]

right so i've found a quiet moment to have a re-read of the stories and feel i'm ready to vote. it has nothing at all to do with any threats that have been made. i am not scar- what was that? a footstep in the gravel outside? what's that strange yellow moon in my window... oh no it's looking at me! and it has a ray gun!

runs off to read the stories. well, digitally runs off at least, scampering across the Chrons to the 75 challenge, jinking and jiving through the critiques, stepping on a literary discussion on the way, snagging 75 word challenges like multi-coloured velcro streamers on an overweight merino lamb in a cunning way of whittling down a short list in such a high quality month:

Fathers will be Fathers -- ratsy: an age old problem that had me giggling

The Ministry Of Language and Linguistics -- DG Jones: a moving story told very well

LAUGHTER TRUMPS ALL -- Jo Zebedee: another moving story that had used the all the right language in all the right places. "Gargh" indeed.

The problem with multiple AI’s and interstellar pirating on a shoestring. -- Venusian Broon: sometimes i feel like i'm having a similar problem with my car! another story that had me chuckling.

Lexicatastrophe -- HareBrain: great clorm, made me laugh and clorm, and clorm too. even had a bit of a clorm.

all the above were good clorms, and it was hard to clorm betwen them. enjoyed clorming them all, but only one can clorm so am clorming for the clorm by HareClorm.

spreglacht.

 

[Mad Alice]

According to my little list, there are:- A. Fare Wells, Ashleyne. B. Watts, Culhwch, cyprus7, HareBrain, Kerrybuchanan, Luiglin, Mad Alice, mosaix, Mr Orange, ratsy, Robert Mackay, Saharren, StilLearning, The Judge, TheDustyZebra, Tim James, Travis Woodward, and, of course Ursa Major who have submitted, but not yet voted. And nobody who hasn't submitted has yet voted. And I forgot to thank Vaz for the mention.

I keep going to vote and my vote keeps changing. If I could borrow six or seven extra votes, I could clear up spit spot.

 

[Dan Jones]

Thank you Tim, Saharren and Oranjeboom for the mentions

...but what's this? A stealth vote from @ratsy! I always did say those Canadians were a fine (if secretive) bunch. Thank you sir!

 

[Droflet]

Many thanks to Tim and Saharren for the mentions.

 

[Grimward]

My hat's off to all of you with entries. I had only 1 idea this time around, and upon examining it more closely I regrettably could tell it was stillborn.

Here's my take:

Of note
Glen - Great idea, and well-executed
Littlestar - Language, indeed.
Ashleyne - Nice scifi twist on the old "Who's the greatest baseball player?: Ruth!" staple.
Juliana - Chuckle.
Mr Orange - Chuckle and snort.
Ratsy - A language, indeed, this one with no need for words.
Chrispy - I'll never be worthy to dot your i's, cross your t's, or judge your verse
DG - Harsh penalties. You make the IRS seem kind!
A. Fare Wells - Nice ending twist. And you're right; they'll definitely need help translating that one!
Mosaix - All too true.
johnnyjet - This month's winner of the Can't-Explain-Why-I-like-it-I-Just-Do award
Venusian - Chuckle, snort and a grin.
Hare - Clever
Judge - Also clever

Finalists
Victoria - Might have said this before, but your offering this month's once again makes me think I've no business submitting mine.
Alice - I've always had a thing for bells, and this idea has so much opportunity for expansion.
Ursa - I have to admit, this month's theme was right in your wheelhouse, and you didn't disappoint!

Winner
Starbeast - Couldn't find a Lakota word counter to keep you honest*grins*, but as I read the story before the title, I truly didn't see that one coming. Great job!

 

[Ursa major]

Many thanks for the (stealth) vote, mosaix.

 

[johnnyjet]

Thanks for the listings from Venusian Broon, Starbeast & Grimward (and the special award!) and thanks for the fascinating commentaries by Victoria & Tim (still haven't gotten around to translating it, but it sounds good).

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I got my vote in last night, but I'll have to work on the list today and get it up later. Just wanted to make sure I didn't miss the vote this month!

 

[ratsy]

TDZ, that's what I did! You're welcome too DG. It is a great story

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

Just in the nick of time I remembered that I hadn't voted yet.

My vote went to **Jo for Laughter Trumps All**. I liked it best as I read the stories when they were submitted and it's stayed the favourite, although both Juliana and Victoria gave her a fair run for her money.

Other favourites were Mosaix and TDZ and honourable mentions go to Droflet, Bowler 1, ratsy, Chrispy, DGJ, Glen and Ursa. Brilliant stories this month.

A huge thank you to johnnyjet for the lovely, lovely vote and thanks to all the other wonderful people who mentioned or shortlisted my story.