Discussion Thread -- November 2016 75-word writing challenge

[Vaz]

First, a major thank you to Glen for the mention and Cats for the vote!

Now, to business. It gets harder every month to cull stories. I enjoyed reading everybody's entries, y'all are fantastic.


Favourites

Victoria
Cats
Parson
Mith
Luiglin
Shyrka
Astrozon
Littlestar
VB
Perp
Ihe
Hope
Hazel
Tricanthos

Finalists & Vote *

Judderman
DEO
Phyrebrat *

 

[Parson]

My goodness this was hard. Almost always I find a story that really stands out for me. This time there were several that I would have been happy to vote as the winner. And by the way, what was the trick with all of the Latin phrases? Google Translate became necessary this go round.

Short List
@Judderman --- Hope Is for the Hopeless: Very, very dystopian.
@Shyrka --- A Dream of Clouds: A dreamer of false dreams is so sad.
@Phyrebrat --- Mappa Cutis: Deeply disturbing story.
@Tricanthos --- Palm Reader: A world where correction is fatal.
@Hex --- Goodnight Kiss: Chilling!
@Culhwch --- the Mapmaker: A hopeful dystopian.

Special Mention for incredible originality
@hopewrites ---Apocalyotic World: Hugely original and creative, but I couldn't find a map in it.

Voted for:

@The Judge --- Dead Man's Map: A truly cold blooded escape plan.

 

[farntfar]

A very difficult one to choose again. They were all so good, but:

Favourites

Victoria,Silverwolf THE PROMOTION
Cat's Cradle Tit for Tat
Ajid Safe Behind These Walls
Perpetual Man Glimmer
Ihe Backup
Hex Goodnight Kiss
Justin Swanton DISCOVERY
Culhwch The Mapmaker
mosaix The Eyes Have It
Dave Barsby Last Chance
Ursa major Forbidden Knowledge
Anushka Mokosh Myth
The Judge Dead Man’s Map

with The Judge getting my vote.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Thanks for the short shortlisting, Vaz.

 

[Luiglin]

@David Evil Overlord - brilliant rhythm and fantastically weird, just loved it, well worth the vote

Close runners up @Ihe @Perpetual Man @Justin Swanton @Culhwch

 

[Hugh]

I'm new to this and have really enjoyed the whole process.

My favourites:
Cathbad
Parson
Bowler1
Venusian Broon
Peter V
Perpetual Man

My winner:
Victoria Silverwolf's "The Promotion" for describing so touchingly the deeply human longing for recognition.

 

[Steven Sorrels]

I'm new to this and have really enjoyed the whole process.

Ditto. My first time partaking, and it's been a fun experience all around. Ready for next month!

 

[Wruter]

I thought these were both effective and captured the theme/genre:

Victoria Silverwolf
Luiglin
Shyrka
Vaz
LittleStar
Venusian Broon
Hex
Bowler1
Mad Alice
Anushka Mokosh

My vote goes to "Dead Man's Map" by The Judge for its visceral power.

 

[Venusian Broon]

[Venusian State Overseers office memo]

The following reports sent in by informants were initially of interest to me: Mith, Judderman, Victoria Silverwolf, Cat's Cradle, Shyrka, Phyrebrat, Bowler1 and Anushka Mokosh.

The following people I ordered a more detailed investigation into: Vaz, Wruter and Harebrain

Finally the person I most want to pursue and 'question' is: Hex

Give her a point on her record...

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Luiglin, thanks for the vote!

 

[hopewrites]

Thanks for all the mentions this month!!!
Couldn't be more pleased.


Thank you!


About the "map" elements in mine... will say more when voting closes.

 

[Anushka Mokosh]

Top 10
@Judderman - Hope is for the Hopeless
@Cat's Craddle - Tit for Tat
@Shyrka - A Dream of Clouds
@Wruter - We Have a Map of the Future
@Phyrebrat - Mappa Cutis
@Hex - Goodnight Kiss
@Culhwch - The Mapmaker
@Ursa major - Forbidden Knowledge
@ratsy - Hope
@The Judge - Dead Man’s Map

Top 5
@Shyrka - A Dream of Clouds
@Hex - Goodnight Kiss
@Culhwch - The Mapmaker
@ratsy - Hope
@The Judge - Dead Man’s Map

Runner-up
@The Judge - Dead Man’s Map

Vote Gained
@Hex - Goodnight Kiss

It was neigh impossibly hard to decide between the last two to the point where I consider them both equally excellent. Sadly, I can only vote for one.

 

[Phyrebrat]

What a joyful load of happy lil tales, eh?

Ones I liked
Luiglin
Cat's Cradle
Peter V
Hugh
Venusian Broon
Coast
Perpetual Man
Parson
Harebrain
The Big Peat

Finalists
Astrozon
Wruter
Ihe
Tricanthos
Hex
Culhwch
TJ

One I voted for
Ihe

Thank you for the mentions and big love to Vaz for the vote

pH

 

[Bowler1]

Mentions to VB, Perp, Ihe, Hex, Culhwch and Mosaix.

It came down to the Judge and HB, with HB getting in there by a whisker.

It wide spread of votes reflecting the range of ideas this month so it could be anyone's yet. Good luck everyone.

 

[Vaz]

Thank you Wruter and VB for the mentions

 

[LittleStar]

My picks this month go to

AstroZon
Perp
Hazelrah
Cullwch
Ratsy
TJ


TJ would have won this one, but the single word 'almost' added to Hex's final line was a vote stealer for me. Excellent

 

[HazelRah]

Shortlist

Peter V
TJ
Mith
Cory
CC


Finalists

Ratsy
Littlestar
Hex - got the vote after some hard choices were made

 

[TheDawnAwakening2029]

Where do you go to give a 75 word piece?

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Where do you go to give a 75 word piece?

This month's is into voting already, but the new one will go up in the Writing Challenges forum (Forums -- Books and Writing -- Writing Forums -- Writing Challenges) on the first of December. The winner of this month picks the theme and genre for the next one, which will be posted there. Be sure to read the Rules thread and also the first post of the new Challenge before posting, and don't hesitate to ask anyone if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing your stories!

Oh, and do look over this month's stories and vote for one -- and if you wish to make a shortlist of favorites, that's always welcomed in this thread. We're always short of votes.

 

[Parson]

Where do you go to give a 75 word piece?

This is the voting stage of our monthly 75 word contest. A new contest will start December 1. You will find this here: https://www.sffchronicles.com/forum/writing-challenges/

It is on the main forum page, under "Books & Writing" and then the subheading "Writing Forums" and then the sub-sub heading "Writing challenges." Look for 75 Word Challenge. Each month a new 75 word challenge is put up by the previous month's winner, who will choose the theme and the genre of the story.

Edit: Grrr! @TheDustyZebra you just made all my hard work moot.