Discussion Thread -- December 2015 75-word Writing Challenge

[Mr Orange]

thanks for the review DL/minion. much appreciated

 

[HareBrain]

I forgot to say yesterday that we had to pull one of the stories for being over 75 words, which is always a great shame. This seems a good time to remind people to be careful with counting their words, especially if the count is right on the limit. Are there any hyphenations that might not count as a single word? Any compound words? (A program like MS Word will often pick these last ones up in its spellcheck, though this isn't a foolproof method.) Remember that you can ask any mod in advance of posting your story if you're unsure.

 

[Luiglin]

I used to have an issue with MS Word counting an ellipsis as a separate word when it wasn't joined onto the previous word ie

word ... = 2 count

rather than

word... = 1 count

It was more an issue with my typing fingers getting carried away but it led to much head scratching between the auto and manual count.

The strange thing is that my phone auto-corrects and removes the duff space but MS Word's manic grammar checker doesn't spot it.

 

[mosaix]

I forgot to say yesterday that we had to pull one of the stories for being over 75 words, which is always a great shame.

You've just got to feel for the author. Hard work down the pan for a simple mistake. Commiserations whoever you are.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Phyrebrat -- This highly imaginative tale casts an entirely new light on an old story.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Wow, only 33 stories with one day to go? I'm not sure we have nine more in the pipeline, even if it is Steampunk.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Culhwch -- This sardonic look at labor relations carries a sting in its tail.

 

[Droflet]

Blitzen's head in the bed. Priceless.

 

[chrispenycate]

Wow, only 33 stories with one day to go? I'm not sure we have nine more in the pipeline, even if it is Steampunk.

Indeed, eighteen hours and counting - a little list of potential sources:- A. Fare Wells, alchemist, Cascade, holland, Ihe, Kerrybuchanan, LittleStar, Mad Alice, Moonbat, Parson, StilLearning, The Judge, Travis Woodward, Ursa major and Venusian Broon.
Christmas holidays after.

 

[Mr Orange]

very nice story Bob Senior.

and TDZ after reading yours i had an irresistible urge to listen to Guns n' Roses when i came in to work this morning. which has set up my day quite nicely, so thanks!

 

[mosaix]

Wow, only 33 stories with one day to go? I'm not sure we have nine more in the pipeline, even if it is Steampunk.

So glad I got mine in early this month. These last few days have been so hectic.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Indeed, eighteen hours and counting - a little list of potential sources:- A. Fare Wells, alchemist, Ashleyne.B.Watts, Cascade, DG Jones, holland, Ihe, Jo Zebedee, Kerrybuchanan, LittleStar, Mad Alice, Moonbat, Parson, StilLearning, The Judge, Travis Woodward, Ursa major and Venusian Broon.
Christmas holidays after.

Still nuffink here. The few tries I have made have little unexpected in the rather derivative rubbish. I don't think I'll be making up numbers this month

 

[mosaix]

Still nuffink here. The few tries I have made have little unexpected in the rather derivative rubbish. I don't think I'll be making up numbers this month

Shame, Jo. Always look forward to your entries.

And, after reading TDZ's entry this month I found my cursor gliding towards the 'like' button.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Shame, Jo. Always look forward to your entries.

And, after reading TDZ's entry this month I found my cursor gliding towards the 'like' button.

And then I felt guilty.... So this is my least-bad attempt. Which was better than the first time I did steampunk when I based it around a clockwork sex toy. Really. The mods talked me down, thankfully

 

[mosaix]

And then I felt guilty.... So this is my least-bad attempt. Which was better than the first time I did steampunk when I based it around a clockwork sex toy. Really. The mods talked me down, thankfully

Excellent!

 

[Gonk the Insane]

Wow, there's been so many great stories posted that voting for a single one is going to be really tough. I'm not even sure I'll be able to narrow it down to a shortlist!

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

TheDustyZebra -- This sly dialogue has a surprise for the reader.

Jo Zebedee -- The author reminds us that this time of year is not all sweetness and light.

 

[Parson]

I'm in with an "unexpected" and "steamy" story. ..... Not like "Jo's" former story's machine. "Mam, I am a machine!" I still chuckle over that one.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Parson -- This light-hearted fable reminds us to look for the treasures found in our own backyard.

 

[Perpetual Man]

SB (Good – A bag of assorted nuts) Selfishness is transformed into selflessness and the reward is a charming and beautiful one.

Chris (Good – A snow globe) – As always a wondrous concoction of delicious tasting words that sail over one’s head in a well though creation that forces the reader to think. And in my case be wrong. Like it’s all happening in a snow globe….

Titanium Ti (Good – Build your own robot) – A beautiful story, well-constructed with a hard beginning, harsh middle and a beautiful unforeseen ending.

Bob (Naughty) – What a setup, taking the reader down the wrong path, delivering a classic bit of misdirection, then a literal payoff. Fun.

Phyre (Naughty) – A rather clever re-interpretation of a classic seasonal story. It’s all there if you look for it, but leaves the question is this part of the story we know, or something new?

Cul (Naughty) – So the Elves are a little more organised that Santa imagined, in fact less union men, more Organised Crime. Almost the perfect sting, take out the problem, in rehire it under your thumb.

TDZ (Good – Painted Tin Soldiers) – There are those that are too clever for their own good, prepared to reach for the stars no matter how far out of reach they may be. What looks great on paper, might end up to be a wash out of an idea, slowly dripping away.

Jo (Good a selection of novels) – A rather nasty piece of work does what is right for the wrong reasons, and gets his just desserts. A common expression given a more literal meaning.

Parson (Uhhh, how can you give a man of the cloth a naughty. Good – a Stetson) – A story that looks at the downside of a steampowered land, with the pollution and smog that comes with it, but offers hope and the love of one’s home. Hope and magic.