Discussion thread -- January 2016 75-word Writing Challenge

[Shyrka]

@Shyrka Firstly, nice to meet you. And second, you do, that voodoo, so well. Magically delicious.

A pleasure to meet you too. I haven't written anything in anger in years so your kind words are much appreciated. It seems this place was exactly what I needed to give me the inspiration to finally put the random crap my imagination comes up with to good use.

 

[Dan Jones]

Thanks, Beastly, for the cool review

 

[Droflet]

A pleasure to meet you too. I haven't written anything in anger in years so your kind words are much appreciated. It seems this place was exactly what I needed to give me the inspiration to finally put the random crap my imagination comes up with to good use.

Yep, random crap is what we're about. Oh, hang on there's other stuff to. Welcome aboard Shyrka. Why not drop into the introd thread and say hi. We almost never bite.

 

[Shyrka]

A smart yarnspinner knows when to keep the audience hangin', like that gal did in the 'Rabian Nights, and Shyrka made sure we'd all holler for more of the story.

You're too kind, Ma'am. Thank you for taking the time to read. I wish I'd found this place before; I haven't had so much fun in years!

 

[Cat's Cradle]

"wasn't Adam Bomb a wrestler?!"

Hey DG! After I wrote and posted the story, I looked online to see if there were a zillion SF stories with religious references, that might have used weapons named Adam Bombs...then I discovered there was a wrestler by that name, and I just said to heck with it, and quit searching.

 

[Parson]

Well, I did not think I would have a clue for this challenge. But like often happens on the busiest day of the week, or perhaps month. Inspiration struck so I went with it. I hope that everyone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

 

[Shyrka]

"wasn't Adam Bomb a wrestler?!"

Hey DG! After I wrote and posted the story, I looked online to see if there were a zillion SF stories with religious references, that might have used weapons named Adam Bombs...then I discovered there was a wrestler by that name, and I just said to heck with it, and quit searching.

You did the right thing, @Cat's Cradle, I loved it.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

The story War.Earth told us was mighty peculiar, but it was poetic-like, kinda like that English fella that puffed on that Chinee opium.

Somethin' about the tale Robert Mackay spun seemed sorta familiar, and the local parson told me to go look in the Good Book.

Speakin' of the Parson, I guess them folks back in Warshington Dee Cee must be up to all kinds of sinnin', based on what we heard.

The yarn from good old Bob Senior was a real ribtickler, tho I gotta admit it made me think twice about gettin' the Blue Plate Special at the eatin' house.

 

[Starbeast]

@War.Earth Firstly, nice to meet you. And second, your tale read like a well-crafted poem. Terrific.

@Robert Mackay Marvelous entry, inspired by an ancient true-life story.

@Parson Political humor with a slam-dunk finish, that made me chuckle.

@Bob Senior Well seasoned tale, served up funny. I'll take it to go please.

 

[hopewrites]

I don't know if you'd call it inspiration, I'm calling it a drunken prank by my muse... So far all I've got is some mash up of Hair the musical and Rapunzel being played out by jackalops while that song plays in the background, you know the old rock song that goes "give me a head with hair, long beautiful hair, shinin' gleaming' (something) flaxen waxen"

No idea how to put it into any words, let alone 75 that make sense together.

 

[J5V]

... No idea how to put it into any words, let alone 75 that make sense together.

Try to write 150, then edit it down from the 80 you end up with

 

[J5V]

So, is this an unusually well-subscribed month, with many newbs (I count myself as one)?

 

[chrispenycate]

So, is this an unusually well-subscribed month, with many newbs (I count myself as one)?

Not yet shaping up to be a record breaker; we've not dropped below the magic forty-two in the nearly six years the challenge has been running, and, while the influx of new blood is much appreciated (and it was last May we last had more) we know by experience that a lot of them - well, of you, I suppose - will stop at one submission, and never hone their talents with further attempts (of the 433 members who have written stories, over a third, 183, only tried once before - no, that's not entirely fair. 183 have not yet produced a second offering. Those whose first was in 2010, this suggests that the experience will not be repeated, this month's, who can tell?

But there is time yet, a tradition of last-minute brinkmanship, and several 'regulars' who have not yet submitted - fifteen on my little list, which would bring us if not into record territories (the maximum so far was seventy-five entries, and if you think that makes the voting any easier I look forward to your voting attempts on this month's diverse selection) (no, of course nobody is forced to vote. Those thumb screws and gently glowing irons are just an encouragement - and you don't have to have submitted anything to make your opinion known, either) at least to the upper regions of our normal months.

Obviously I am verbose enough that I could never say anything in fewer than seventy-five words…

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Thanks so much, Shyrka! I'm very pleased you enjoyed my story.

And J5V, I don't know the stats for newer members entering their first challenge, but in my nearly two years at the site, I honestly do not remember another month where so many 'newbs' (such as yourself ) have made such an impact with so many terrific stories. It's been an exciting challenge! CC

 

[chrispenycate]

Cat's Cradle - when you joined in March 2014, you were one of eight new contributors that month, and there were eight again for May 2015. But the one to beat (apart from the very beginning when we were all new) was August 2010, with 17, or, if that's too close to the inception, September 2011, at 15.

Finding out how many of those fell on stony soil, and ceased, and which persevered until the present would take me some time, and is hardly important, anyway.

Chrispy, keeper of lists.

 

[mosaix]

while the influx of new blood is much appreciated (and it was last May we last had more) we know by experience that a lot of them - well, of you, I suppose - will stop at one submission, and never hone their talents with further attempts

I think that a lot of the new entrants make the mistake of missing the vital rule that the entry should be a story as well as being a well written piece of prose. Then when the entry doesn't garner many votes and other less well written pieces do I can imagine a certain amount of disillusionment would set in.

Quite often, especially with the word limits, actually telling a story can be the most difficult part of the challenge.

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

I've been out of these challenges for the last few months (too much life in the way), but I'm determined to make more time for fun stuff, so I'm back with an entry. Who could resist such a brilliant theme and genre?

 

[Dan Jones]

Good to see you back, Kerry!

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

Thanks, DGJ. Too much work and no play makes Kerry a very dull girl.

 

[Droflet]

Welcome back, Kerry. You've been missed.