Discussion Thread -- May 2016 75-word Writing Challenge

Sinister42- "Sleep is the cousin of death." ~Nas. Cryosleep must be the half-brother. Does the fear spiral away to return and defrost, or away never to disappear for good? Attitude is everything, how we approach tomorrow and if we even get that chance.

Ratsy- Living under the constant threat of occupation/invasion/destruction is a reality that has threatened too many peoples for far too long across history. The peoples who survive the test of time, who wind up on the side of history opposite from the one that determines that they should have perished are the peoples that shape the present and the future. Too real for this forum. Your story is non-fiction.

Robert Mackay- "...a warning to anyone still in command...of their possible futures to take care." ~Pink Floyd. I'm in a music quoting mood today. If times were people tomorrow would be quite as you've described her. Monday would be...well...this is a family friendly forum.

Mosaix- Very entertaining. Makes you wonder what life would really be like if time travel was a commercial service. The possibilities are literally endless, as are the potential incarnations of ones current self.

Phyrebrat- That's an agonizingly cynical approach to life, but one that anyone who suffers from depression would know all too well. The days blend into one miserable cloud until one literally prays for the end and not having to deal with seeing another empty tomorrow.

Johnny Appleseed- A very real metaphor for the reality of life, growth and decay. The lesson here is eat up while the world is fresh! It won't be forever.
 
Bob Senior- You wait for years for your kids to start talking. When they finally do they don't keep quiet! It's scary, they hang on every little word. You wonder how anything and everything you do might affect tomorrow.

Hazelrah- The temptation of irreversible procrastination. We are often willing to deal with tomorrow's consequence of the unbreakable chains of failed yesterdays, in order to get through the challenges of today.

Culhwch- "If I could do it all over again..." what would be different? Nothing. We are the same humans with the same nature. We will squander the yesterdays' tomorrows. Only in the most extreme circumstances do we truly learn to cherish our time. Such intensity is not sustainable though, not without technological assistance.

TheDustyZebra- Andy Warhol said that everyone is entitled to 15 minutes of fame, whether you happen to do something, or something happens to you. The pumpkin got a few hours, that's way more than most. More emptiness and withdrawal though. Eventually all waves crest and break. Better to remain on dry land.

Johnnyjet- The difference between clairvoyance and prophecy. The difference between passive future and active future. The challenge to make your own tomorrow.
 
Parson- Ahh so close. Random dude aaalllmost makes big bucks off another persons insane talent. He must be able to take solace in the fact that the world is going to be destroyed anyway, so his failure as a psychic agent will be rendered irrelevant.
 
TheDustyZebra -- A witty variation on a familiar tale, told from a surprising viewpoint.

johhnyjet -- A realistic modern fantasy with a sly touch of satire.

Parson -- A powerful fable of the danger of too much knowledge.

Starbeast -- A cheerful, enthusiastic cry of optimism.

Ursa major -- An ironic reminder that one should be careful of what one wishes for.

Cory Swanson -- An evocative, open-ended character study of someone about to face a great challenge.
 
Thank you to Victoria, Perp and HX for the great reviews!
 
I do love the way these challenges (especially the 75 worder) can kick start ideas. I've had three this month and each one could legitimately be written into a full short story. I had one idea and before I'd written everything down I had enough back story to fill a hundred pages. Not that I have the time to write 10'000 words, so in a way my 75 words allows me to record the idea, strip away the back story and leave something that persists.
Nothing better for a wannabe writer too busy with life to find the time to write properly. :)
 
I do apologize for not visiting lately. I won't try to give an explanation because the explanation sounds more like an excuse than a reason. I'll just say, welcome to all the newcomers, greetings to everyone, and I wish everyone luck.
 
Life gets in the way, sometimes, Calliopenjo. Hope things are okay, CC
 
Heijan Xavier said:
Sinister42- "Sleep is the cousin of death." ~Nas. Cryosleep must be the half-brother. Does the fear spiral away to return and defrost, or away never to disappear for good? Attitude is everything, how we approach tomorrow and if we even get that chance.
Click to expand...

Well said - thanks!
 
Wow, this was a tough one to judge. The entries are remarkably varied. With that in mind, allow me to create a few special awards, in lieu of a short list. In order of appearance:

Best poem: "Internal memo (family friendly version)" by chrispenycate.

Best horror: "Offspring" by Droflet.

Best fantasy: "Yesterday" by DG Jones.

Best comedy: "Tomorrow is...." by StilLearning.

Best science fiction: "The Next Time I Open My Eyes" by sinister42.

Best allegory: "Time At The Bar" by Robert Mackay.

Best surrealism: "How the Creatures of the Muffincake Kingdom Suppose Their World Will End" by Johnny Appleseed.

Best mainstream: "Remission" by HazelRah.

Best non-fiction: "The Way I See It" by Starbeast.

Best magic realism: "Forecast" by johnnyjet.

Whew. Some of those categories may have not had many competitors, but all were worthy of mention. I call 'em as I see 'em.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Choosing one to vote for was extremely difficult. I'm going to go for "A Thousand Moments of Self-Loathing Clarity" by Heijan Xavier, which defied categorization.
 
I'm with Victoria, this was nearly impossible to judge! Several time travel tales, but beside that a stunning variety. Therefore, we have more of a list than I think I ever had before.

Long List
@Gawian --- Wars End
@Cascade --- A Greater Cause
@chrispenycate --- Internal Memo
@Phyrebrat --- The Lament of Janus (This was so dark it might well have been a black hole!)

Short List
@hopewrites --- Meanwhile on Tomorrow Isle
@Perpetual Man --- The Tale of Saynt and Dargon
@Wruter --- An Other it
@Dusty Zebra --- Miscarriage of Justice

Runner-up
@The Judge --- .seilF emiT (This was so clever!)

Vote Getter
@StilLearning --- Tomorrow Is (I loved this story.)
 
Phew, another bumper crop with fifty entries worthy of a win. But, blah, blah, blah, as the Beast would say.
The best of the best, imho: Hope, Bowler, Still Learning, Robert Mackay, Mosiax, Phyrebrat, Johnny Appleseed, Bob Snr, Ursa, Moonbat, Beasty and Her Honor. The one that struck a cord with me, although it was as tight a contest as I've seen, was Mr Orange. Well done everyone.
 
A great theme, which inspired lots of good stories, many time-travel-related, which, I think we can all agree, are the best kind of stories.

My favourites this month, in chronological order, of course, were:
  • Victoria Silverwolf - Ah, the wise Count Alberto
  • Cathbad - Ah, the temperamental Quantumizer
  • J5V - Ah, Anthonus - he deserves it
  • Duttster - Ah, the postie
  • chrispenycate - Ah, Mr Orrow
  • StilLearning - Ah, Schrodinger et al
  • Robert Mackay - Ah, Once and his chums
  • Moonbat - yes, always install the patch
 
(In no particular order) the rather long shortlist:

johnnyjet
Mr Orange
Cory Swanson
Robert Mackay
TJ
Vaz
Culhwch
TDZ
Johnny Appleseed

The almost votes:

Cascade
Littlestar
Wruter

But in the end, my vote went to: Bowler :LOL:
 
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