Discussion Thread -- April 2016 75-word Writing Challenge

[Victoria Silverwolf]

TheDustyZebra -- A clever bit of self-referential whimsy.

 

[Dan Jones]

@Ursa major

Your story made me think of this

 

[ratsy]

I just logged in and noticed we were at mission critical. I'd actually thought to not submit this month, but came up with something in the witching hour....I mean, last minute.

 

[Ursa major]

Your story made me think of this

As long as your post doesn't start a chain reaction....

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Ursa major -- An ironic tale of evil plans foiled through carelessness.

The Judge -- A new creation myth with a tragic mood.

ratsy -- A terrifying tale with a deceptively calm tone.

Mad Alice -- A dark and exotic legend of a strange time and place.

 

[Ursa major]

I just logged in and noticed we were at mission critical.

Well, there's still almost two hours to go....

Given that apart from the title (or Idea as it was then), I had no idea what to write this month until after I'd finished watching the latest (for terrestrial UK TV) episode of NCIS** -- and that finished only 130 minutes ago -- entries can be written in the time we have left.


** - Season 12, Episode 10, "House Rules" (Yes, we're that far behind the curve.)

 

[ratsy]

Yeah but here in Canada, I never seem to know what time it really is where you shut it down. You know, daylight savings, and GMT, Mountain vs the tide, and I almost don't know what time it is here.

 

[Cathbad]

and I almost don't know what time it is here.

It's the same time it was yesterday at this time.

 

[Dan Jones]

It's the same time it was yesterday at this time.

Steady, now.

 

[Cathbad]

Sorry, I don't go steady.

 

[Ajid]

My title may be a little abstract.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Ajid -- A poignant fable of innocence and knowledge.

 

[Ajid]

Ajid -- A poignant fable of innocence and knowledge.

Victoria, if you wrote my CV I'd be Primeminister.

 

[Ursa major]

My title may be a little abstract.

Are you concerned by this?

And do you therefore want it scratched...?

 

[Ursa major]

The Challenge is now closed to new entries.

The poll will appear very soon. Be careful to read the rules about voting: they're a little bit different this month.

Oh, and there's another surprise....

 

[Ursa major]

Voting is open at the link below:

POLL -- APRIL 2016 75-Word Challenge -- READ FIRST POST!

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This month, you get THREE votes, but these must be cast at the same time!

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And yes, you read that right: Three Votes.

EDIT: And if you read the first post in the poll thread -- of course you did; you always do -- you'll have noticed that there's an extra prize this month, a paperback copy of:

The Haunting of Lake Manor Hotel​

very generously donated by our very own ratsy.

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[Parson]

Three votes!!!! I'm not sure what to say, but Thank you! will do. so Thank you, Mods! Thank you.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Wow, this was a tough one. Choosing my votes was very difficult, making a short or long list impossible.

I finally had to go with three stories which were well-written, emotionally effective, and original. In order of appearance:

The Depreciation of Ploughshares by DG Jones.

Ponyboy by sinister 42.

The Outcast by Calliopenjo.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I just logged in and noticed we were at mission critical. I'd actually thought to not submit this month, but came up with something in the witching hour....I mean, last minute.

Oh, you were just waiting until after I posted. See how close I made you get?

 

[Dan Jones]

Three votes! Ooh, yummy. You are spoiling us, Ambassador.

Here's my Top Ten for the month, then:

Guardian - Chrisp - a sweet, wry piece of verse that plays with words as would a cat with its quarry. I really enjoyed this, and your best for some time, Chrisp.
View From A Height - Victoria - quite a sad and ultimately chilling tale of why ignorance sometimes is bliss, but where the truth is ever more precious.
Ponyboy - Sinister 42 - themes of urban isolation are captured nicely in this painting of a future both desolate and advanced.
Selective Autism - Ihe - a poignant snapshot of a mind in turmoil, whether consciously or unconsciously it's difficult to say, but a nice image of the outsider as being trapped inside themselves.
What We Don't Understand - Cascade - a sour ditty that captures the visceral repulsion humans can feel at other humans, while all the while pointing out the things we have in common.
Outsiders? For now... - Mosaix - these sinister aliens are playing the long game. This sharp story captures the calm confidence of a society that knows it's on the rise and that the subjugation of the other will soon be complete. More knowing than it lets on.
tarrattarrat - VB - as the current holder of the unofficial Challenge Formatting Gimmick crown, I wholeheartedly approve of such shenanigans. And, crucially, the story is still well written, even at half the length.
No Angel Tonight - Reiver33 - hard boiled stuff with an MC whose conscience is notable for the conspicuous absence of a balancing presence (hence the clever double meaning in the title).
Homesick - Phyrebrat - I suspect there is more going on under the surface to this tale than meets the eye. The sad story of a man left to pick up the pieces as his family leave him, one by one, yet still they tug at his earthly self, never truly leaving him. It's an impressionistic vignette on the gnashing of the soul that is grief. Plus: "Bruised Jupiter." Phrase of the month.
Even if the Legend Never Becomes Fact, Print the Legend - TJ - a wry look at our tendency to conveniently forget facets of our own selves that don't fit the narrative of the day. We do sometimes sneer at the past from our position of present-day lofty superiority, sometimes forgetting what it took to get us to this point.

Some cracking stories in there this month. I did have one standout that I thought I would vote for from the beginning, but now I have three I can have a guilt-free month by spreading the love even further. So, my three votes went to...

Chrispenycate
Mosaix
Phyrebrat

Fabulous work, you guys