Discussion Thread -- December 2015 75-word Writing Challenge

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Starbeast -- This simple fable of kindness is sure to touch the reader's emotions.

 

[Droflet]

Starbeast. One of the best entries you've ever posted.

 

[Judderman]

DG Jones: Pistols At Dawn
The first sentence certainly introduces a character who revels in being hard to understand! I can see the eccentricity dripping from this tale. A jolly tale. I wonder if the characters are on drugs or just rather out there naturally. Good descriptions.

Judderman: Time forever short
My debut. I threw a few different ideas together here.

Glen: the secret ingredient
Another great smoking room story. I love the way the scientists reverse the machine's effects. An enjoyable read.

Johnnyjet: The Little Engine That Really Could
This would be a great basis for a little story to tell kids at Christmas. Really positive and this is another one with a fantasy style. "On comet" is a call from the engine driver?

Hazeljah: A Time For Joy
There is some beautiful writing in this one. I read it a few times, partly becaue honestly I was wondering if the last line was just depressing for shock sake. I'm not totally clear of the motivation for the funerals line or why there is soot on the mobile. But reading back I think there is some back story we aren't aware of. Perhaps in Santa's incredibly long Christmas eve/day morning he sees a lot of problems he reflects on the next day? Or problems at his home?

 

[Mr Orange]

thanks for the review, hopewrites. much appreciated

 

[HazelRah]

Thanks for the review judderman

I don't think I intended it to be a shock value depressing thing, but I think sometimes context can get a bit lost or confusing from the word restrictions... but I'm glad you enjoyed it anyway

I maybe will expand and explain after the challenge closes!

 

[johnnyjet]

Thanks for the nice review, Judderman! Of course, I'll reserve any comments on my story until after the challenge closes.

By the way, while I'm here I want to mention that, since the holidays are going to be especially busy for me this year, I may not be online as much as I'd like. I hope I'll be able to read all the entries (lots of great ones so far!) and cast my vote, but if I don't, my apologies in advance.

 

[Judderman]

I maybe will expand and explain after the challenge closes!

That would be good. Sorry I was being a little harsh, but I think I was missing something there. It is definitely one of the better written stories, amongst a strong bunch.

 

[Dan Jones]

Thanks Judder-Judder-Judderman!

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

chrispenycate -- The intricate, elevated language of this carefully crafted poem serves to draw the reader into its strange world.

 

[chrispenycate]

Hugs Victoria.

So, jou didn't understand this one, either?

 

[Juliana]

So, jou didn't understand this one, either?

I got it!!! (I think?) But will be good and wait for the challenge to be over first before I check.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

TitaniumTi -- With the simple emotional power of a folktale, the author creates a character who is very different, but with whom one can empathize.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Bob Senior -- A touch of wordplay and some merry ribaldry combine in this amusing tale.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Oh my gosh, Bob -- that there's a definite contender!

 

[Starbeast]

Santa Wears an Army Jacket.
*Nostalgia Tears*
I hope this was based on a true story, those are the kind of Christmas stories the news used to cover when I was a kid... where for one month the news tried to find GOOD news to report rather than all the fear, doom and gloom they usually fed us. It used to make me thing that humans were kinder and more giving in this last month of the year (whether that was for the tax breaks or 30seconds of fame, didnt occur to me till I started becoming disaffected), but as I got older I realized it was media skewing, that people were good all year round, and it only made the news after Thanksgiving.

Hello Lady Hope. There are wonderful true holiday stories still going on in this world, but most of them are quick items in the media, or great acts that happen without being reported to the media. I've seen a few. I'll talk about the origin of this tale after the challenge. I'm touched by your nostalgic tears.

Starbeast -- This simple fable of kindness is sure to touch the reader's emotions.

I enjoy how you get right to the point Lady Victoria. Thank you for the review.

Starbeast. One of the best entries you've ever posted.

Howdy Drof. Thank you for your awesome comment. I still need to ketchup, I mean, catch up on reading the other entries.

 

[Luiglin]

Apparently, the entity that calls itself the Writer has lost his PC. Minion, is keen to impress that in no way has his hacking afflicted said contraption. I agree with him even if I don't know what a PC is.

A Saint by any other name by one Mr Orange - The image I get from this is not pretty, not pretty at all. I think there's a term for it in some dimensions. Yes, Minion? Builders bum, that's it. A Christmas crack-er indeed.

Santa wears an Army Jacket by one Starbeast - $60 is a touch steep for two kids. What, Minion? You mean only one? None? He's been conned, what a chump.

Krakasnower by one chrispenycate - I just don't understand writing in verse. Minion, agrees and says it's one step away from the hearse. Finding words that rhyme. I mean, what a waste of time. Even Norman thinks it's a touch perverse.

Mysterious Ways by one TitaniumTi - You see, never trust men of the cloth... they are heartless, godless and thoughtless. I'd never have thrown the creation out into the snow, not when it could be sold to the nearest scrap yard, copper prices are though the roof at present.

Paint & Powder by one Bob Senior - Aha, now I know how she manages that whistle. She doesn't put her lips together and blow, she just lets off a bit of steam.

 

[mosaix]

For those that have posted their 75 word entries and are sitting round with nothing to do until the voting starts there's always the 100 word anonymous challenge over in the Workshop...

 

[Luiglin]

Aha... forgot about the 100 anon.

 

[TitaniumTi]

Thank you for the reviews, Victoria and Luiglin.

 

[Bob Senior]

Thanks for the reviews Victoria and Luiglin.

Thanks Sam, I hope you are right. I was sitting on that for a while not paying attention to the date, soon it will be Christmas day.
No snow yet, that's unheard of in Tundra Land, the Packers are playing in the mud! I think the Vikings and the Broncs have carpeting.

Bob