Discussion thread -- March 2017 75-word Writing Challenge

[Cat's Cradle]

Thank you for the very nice review, Parson! (And...sorry!)

edit: also, I liked/listed your entry last month, @Calliopenjo!

 

[Dave Barsby]

Wasn't sure if I was going to do it this month. Usually I get an acorn of an idea pop into my head as soon as I see the theme, then let it grow into a sapling as I ruminate over the next few days. But there was no seed this time. It was a great big tree that crashed through my subconscious, so I shrugged my shoulders and thought "nuts to waiting for an acorn to grow, just plant the tree and hope it takes root".

 

[Calliopenjo]

Sorry, Cat's Cradle. I do apologize. My comment was from a personal point of view. I do appreciate anyone who put me in their short list. It makes me smile.

 

[Cory Swanson]

I'm in like Flynn. But I guess Flynn is out now, so....

 

[Parson]

@Luiglin .... is in love with the only thing left alive on the ship, but it could all be over in a "Blink."

@Calliopenjo .... is working off his penance after doing what every sibling has longed to do to another sibling. He cries his innocence because "It was not my Fault."

@Culhwch .... is convinced forced work is more than can be accepted. With a roll of thunder and a crack of lightening everyone finds that in one way or another "Work Sets You Free."

@Dave Barsby .... is working on the ultimate timeless revenge. He will never be "Belittled."

@Cory Swanson .... is listening in while the deities work so that the man upstairs "Can Behold the Works of God."

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Ashleyne -- It's a dirty job, and dangerous, but you can make good money.

Cathbad -- Garbage in, garbage out.

Wruter -- Looking for a few good men; or at least one.

Perpetual Man -- Back to the old drawing board.

Talysia -- A new broom sweeps clean.

EPT Henry -- Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

Cat's Cradle -- You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps.

Luiglin -- Semper fidelis.

Calliopenjo -- You can't make bricks without straw.

Culhwch -- Greater love hath no woman than to give up her life for her friend.

Dave Barsby -- Practice makes perfect.

Cory Swanson -- Middle management is the most stressful position.

 

[Peter V]

I felt way outside my comfort zone with the fable genre, so was happy to see general SF / fantasy and all it encompasses for this one. Then I saw a story and thought wow, that is going to take some beating. However, I think that may just have happened. And it is only the 6th!

In the face of such competition, I am currently devoid of anything that remotely resembles and idea

 

[chrispenycate]

In the face of such competition, I am currently devoid of anything that remotely resembles and idea

The 'challenge' in these challenges is not to beat everybody else, write a masterpiece universally admired, although a recognition can be very welcome, but to meet the requirements with something you find satisfactory. If it isn't enjoyable, don't force it. Nobody else regularly accepts my personal limitations, nobody forces them on me - I challenge myself, and take a lot of pleasure in doing so. Still, the demand to produce something within a given word limit and a given deadline just has to be positive for exercising techniques that will be useful in other branches of composition, the genres hitherto unexplored must widen your thought frontiers, and the sprint format has to improve your finishing longer races - I can't see how it could fail to deliver improvement in the long run, even if restricted.

 

[Luiglin]

In the face of such competition, I am currently devoid of anything that remotely resembles and idea

+1 @chrispenycate.

I deliberately don't read any of the stories until vote time. That way they're all fresh and I don't get any 'crap, that's good' feelings.

Also you can never judge how others will read your entry. I've entered some that I was really proud that never received any mentions or votes. Others I've just written on the fly, posted and later thought I could have done better that have got loads of mentions.

Just challenge yourself and forget everyone else. If you get a mention, good, a vote, even better.

Trust me, as someone who's never won or got near to winning one of these, I consider everybody on here to have distinctly poor reading tastes

 

[Cathbad]

I deliberately don't read any of the stories until vote time. That way they're all fresh and I don't get any 'crap, that's good' feelings.

This is why I try to get my story in early. I'm afraid I'd chicken out after reading all those excellent entries!

 

[Parson]

@Victoria Silverwolf .... is looking in on a most unusual job interview. As is usual the applicant is forced to take a lowly unappreciated position, but well "It's a Living." Or is it?

 

[Cathbad]

Y'all are really gettin' on my nerves...

Don't we have anyone that doesn't write such supreme prose!?

I feel so unworthy.

Great job everyone who's entered so far - really enjoying them this month!

 

[Parson]

[B]@johnnyjet[/B] .... is giving us a view of the hard life, doing hard time. It's not a good thing when your chain gets rattled in outer space and "You're Working on a Chain Gang."

 

[AstroZon]

OK, mine is in. Now I can read the previous entries. (I never read any until I write mine.)

 

[Parson]

@AstroZon .... is taking us to a place where work is to be precise, but precisely what the important work was, is not clear. It is obviously "The Huǒxīng settlement."

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

johnnyjet -- You load sixteen tons and what do you get?

Astrozon -- Success can come at a terrible price.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

hopewrites -- The most dangerous part of the machine is the nut behind the wheel.

 

[Parson]

@hopewrites .... is looking in on a macabre work place where the machinery is all gooped up disturbing the "Master's Peace."

 

[hopewrites]

Thanks guys! *bows to review board*
For half a second I forgot what I'd written, having just sat down myself from a long days .... relaxation. (Ha! I had you there for a second.)

Truly though.

Thank you. *humble happy smile*

 

[Parson]

@Coast .... Is looking for a way off and a way out. With the Quantum Discombobulator he needs both because as he says "I Owe my Soul..."