Discussion Thread -- February 2016 75-word Writing Challenge

Tough as ever. But a pattern struck me - a hinting menace and then an 'you're next' theme, and I started to pick out the stories that did something a bit different. Which leads to this eclectic shortlist - Cascade, Cats, clockworkbot, Johnnyjet, Bowler1, Glen, Pam Baddeley, Hazelrah and Mr G and T.

I got it down to Cascade for a lovely build and a chilling end, and Bowler for a killer last line that was the only one to make me snort with laughter.

After much gnashing of teeth, I went for Cascade. But, Bowler, it was that close.
 
Thanks for the listing, Grim. You put me in with some bloody fine stories.
 
Thanks for the mention, SB. Humbling to be so-regarded!

A second, much deeper read of each completed. No clear choice among so many fine, creepy offerings yet...

You're very welcome Grimward. I know what you mean about tough choices, I needed equestrian help.

The head is clear, the stories are read, and now it is time to vote! Hard work whittling it down to a Top 10, but here is my short list, and vote.

Starbeast
Cascade
Cat's Cradle
JohnnyJet
Phyrebrat
Crystal Haven
HazelRah
Ratsy
Culhwch
Venusian Broon

Well played everybody, and good choices, @LittleStar :)

Thank you DG Jones. I am honored to be on your Short List among such great authors.

Thanks to you and Tonto, Star beast, for including me in the scary bedtime story category. :)

You're welcome Pambaddeley. Tonto had to sleep with the lights on last night (in every room).

This is the first time voting took me into a full third read. Not that I'm an expert by any crazy stretch of the imagination, and horror isn't my normal thing, but I believe the need for the additional read says something about the quality of ALL of the offerings in general, and speaks volumes about how close the competition is. Kudos to all of you (and I'll be sending the bill for the lost sleep!:D).

There were a number of offerings that stood out for me, so with no further ado ("Yes Grim, get on with it!"):

Honorable Mentions:
Starbeast - Visceral. Can literally FEEL the rank apprehension here...

Thank you Grimward for placing me in your Honorable Mentions list. You made my night. Excellent list of authors.

Thanks SB for the mention, and Tonto to

Your welcome Nixie. Tonto is hiding in bed with his blanket covering him completely.

Thank you very much to SB and Victoria for the reviews.

Big thanks to J5V, VB, Littlestar, Mr. Orange, Pambaddeley, Starbeast, DG Jones, and Grimward for the listings, short, long and mentions. Much appreciated!

You're double-ly welcome Ratsy. I made sure I could make time for the reviews, because I enjoy doing them.

Many thanks to @Starbeast, @Vaz, @Mr Orange & @Grimward for the kind mentions and shortlistings!

You're immensely welcome Shyrka. Keep up the good work.

Howdy, Thank you Droflet, Starbeast and Grimward for the listings.

Vote goes to Robert Mackay. The Judge scared me the most as I had that very thing a short time ago. OUCH! Bob

You're very welcome Bob. I'm so glad you could join us. Because, you do come up with some wild tales.
 
Tough as ever. But a pattern struck me - a hinting menace and then an 'you're next' theme, and I started to pick out the stories that did something a bit different. Which leads to this eclectic shortlist - Cascade, Cats, clockworkbot, Johnnyjet, Bowler1, Glen, Pam Baddeley, Hazelrah and Mr G and T.

I got it down to Cascade for a lovely build and a chilling end, and Bowler for a killer last line that was the only one to make me snort with laughter.

After much gnashing of teeth, I went for Cascade. But, Bowler, it was that close.
Thanks for the shortlisting Jo!:D
 
I fell in love with Cascade's entry from the moment I first read it, so that's where my vote went. I thought it was a great take on the theme. :)
Jo Zebedee was my runner up.

And my shortlist:
Ashleyne
Shyrka
Cat's Cradle
Mr Orange
Robert Mackay
Phyrebrat
Pambaddeley
Crystal Haven
Tim James
The Dusty Zebra
Culhwch
The Judge


DG gets a special mention for being rather brilliant, though I'm not sure if his entry is horror or comedy! :D
 
I need to get my skates on and read through all the stories and vote.

But first, a big thank you to Parson, Droflet, Robert Mackay, Farntfar, LittleStar, Mr Orange, Shyrka, Pambaddeley, Starbeast, DG Jones, and Juliana, for including my story on contender lists, shortlists, mentions, runners up lists, and even a bedtime scary list. It was more than I ever expected. I hope I haven’t missed anyone out.

And a very big thank you to Tim James for the sneaky vote which took me totally by surprise. So lovely to receive it. :)
 
I have finally voted.

I loved a lot of the entries this month

Favs were

Ashlyene
Victoria Silverwolf
J5V
Cat's Cradle
Jo Zebedee
HazelRah
Crystal Haven
Venusian Broon
Mr Orange

But like so many of you, I couldn't help but vote for Cat's story. It was just right.
 
Thank you for the reviews, Star beast and Victoria!
Thank you for the mentions Vaz, StarBeast, farnfar, Mr. Orange, Parson, and Grimward.
And a vote from Grimward! Yay! Dances.
Oh my! DEO! You stealth voted me! Hurray! I feel an absolute piggy now, having more then one vote.
Whee! The luxury! I feel absolutely Khardashian, minus the spiffy wardrobe and angsty bits.

I am having issues with my tablet. Its not keeping a charge, so my apologies in advance, as this is going to be a bit rough and ready.

First off, I loved all your stories. So I had to be a bit savage about the cull.

So to get to it;

FAVORITE FEBRUARY
STORY

Shortlist

Vote


Research Complete -- Starbeast
Because I Love You -- Cascade
Snowblind -- DG Jones

The Silence of Fangwood Deep -- Vaz
Tea and Clover -- Cat's Cradle

Belasco Manor. -- Droflet

On Track (aka Nothing) -- Ihe
Death and Blindness in the Southland -- Clockworkbot

Blood Dreams -- Parson I
IlCompagno Ombroso -- johnnyjet
The Unseen -- Mr Orange

Do you tip the “Delivery Boy” -- Bowler1


Actually a True Story -- Inca_UK

The Noise -- Alex Darion

The silent killer -- MemoryTale

Without a Trace -- nixie


WHAT'S OUT THERE? -- Calliopenjo
THE LEGAL AGREEMENTS SET OUT BELOW... -- Glen

They Come At Night -- Robert Mackay
The Mourning After -- Phyrebrat

The Lurkers from Beyond -- Pambaddeley

SELF EMPLOYED -- Bob Senior
Small things -- Jo Zebedee
In the silence -- crystal haven
Sense -- JordanSC5
Imagine... -- mosaix
The Watcher in the Woods -- LittleStar

Do Not Call Upon The Shadow Grimm -- HazelRah
Blinkered -- reiver33


Interferometry -- willwallace

The Sounds of Violence -- Alex The G and T
Goodnight, God Bless. -- Tim James
The Show must go on -- chrispenycate

The Real Me -- ratsy

Receivership of the Ring -- Grim ward


Elephants Never Forget -- TheDustyZebra
Haunted -- Culhwch
The Teatray Cometh. -- farntfar
Sometimes when you look, you don’t really see -- Venusian Broon


Psycho Patho Gene -- The Judge
 
An unusually speedy Judge-ing, because for once choosing a winner was easy. My shortlist:

Alex -- The Sounds of Violence
Ashleyne -- STM
Cascade -- Because I Love You
crystal haven -- The Silence
Ihe -- On Track (aka Nothing)
Shyrka -- What Dreams May Come

Despite the strength of the opposition Cascade walked the vote for me, because it was the most horrific piece in its quiet reasonableness, the heart-sickening horror only arriving in that final weighty line.


Blood-soaked brain-fried thanks for the mentions/shortlistings Droflet, CC (I would usually say thank you for the kind words, but I'm not sure if "Eww!" counts...), Bowler, nixie, farntfar, Mr O, Shyrka, Starbeast, Grimward, Juliana, Alex and Mad Alice.

And some truly -- literally -- gut-wrenching delicious thanks for the wonderful votes StilLearning and Cathbad.

Special mentions -- for inventiveness in layout etc to DGJ and Mr Orange, and for astounding and outstanding lyricism to Phyrebrat.

And an apology to Bob for scaring him. (I'd have liked your post, but somehow liking the fact that my psychopathic pathogen had assailed you didn't seem right.)
 
My long list:
Ashleyne. B. Watts – STM
DG Jones - Snowblind
Inca_UK – Actually a True Story
Alex Darion – The Noise
MemoryTale – The silent killer
Grimward – Receivership of the Ring
Culhwch – Haunted
Venusian Broon – Sometimes when you look, you don’t really see
Mad Alice – Everything Comes Out In The Wash

Short list:
Cat’s Cradle - Tea and Clover
Mr Orange – The Unseen
Jo Zebedee – Small things
HazelRah – Do Not Call Upon The Shadow Grimm
Alex The G and T – The Sounds of Violence

And my Vote:
Cascade - Because I Love You

And thank you Ratsy, Mad Alice, and The Judge for the shortlistings/mentions.
 
First off, thank you, Parson, CC, Venusian Broon, Shyrka, Vaz, Starbeast, Grimward, Juliana, ratsy, The Judge and Crystal Haven for the mentions/ listings.

A gargantuan thanks to Droflet, johnnyjet, farntfar and Alex Darian for your votes :D

My shortlist:

Belasco Manor by Droflet

Il Compagno Ombroso by johnnyjet

The silent killer by MemoryTale

In the silence by crystal haven

Goodnight, God Bless. by Tim James

The Real Me by ratsy

Sometimes when you look, you don’t really see by Venusian Broon

My vote goes to Haunted by Culhwch
 
Please look at the decisions of the Ursa jury. There's no need to be afraid (unless, of course, you don't look at it properly...):

Honourable Mentions:
  • STM by Ashleyne. B. Watts
  • As below, so beyond. by StilLearning
  • I Always Win by J5V
  • The Mourning After by Phyrebrat
Runners Up:
  • They Come At Night by Robert Mackay
  • The Sounds of Violence by Alex the G and T
  • Sometimes when you look, you don’t really see by Venusian Broon
Winner:
  • In the silence by crystal haven

(In the above, each category is ordered by time of posting.)
 
I fell in love with Cascade's entry from the moment I first read it, so that's where my vote went. I thought it was a great take on the theme. :)
Jo Zebedee was my runner up.

And my shortlist:
Ashleyne
Shyrka
Cat's Cradle
Mr Orange
Robert Mackay
Phyrebrat
Pambaddeley
Crystal Haven
Tim James
The Dusty Zebra
Culhwch
The Judge


DG gets a special mention for being rather brilliant, though I'm not sure if his entry is horror or comedy! :D
Thanks so much for the shortlisting Juliana.(y)
 
You did fine, Calliopenjo! :) I also hope you'll return for next month's challenge...there will be a new one starting on March 1st.
 

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