Discussion thread -- March 2017 75-word Writing Challenge

[Talysia]

Many thanks for the mention, Wruter. That's cheered me right up.

 

[Starbeast]

@Starbeast .... Thanks for the shortlist.

You're mighty welcome, Parson. The last line of your tale was a excellent touch.

Many thanks for votes @Vaz and @Starbeast. Glad my story brightened your day

Mr Orange, I giggled for two days, imaging it. And like VAZ, I read it with an accent in my mind. "Get t'working" Man-a-live, that's funny. Unexpected awesomeness.

Thank you! Your story was high on my shortlist, too. Tie 3rd with Justin Swanson

You're very welcome, RJM Corbert. When I read your entry, I thought, "Oh man, that guy really stepped on it." Great obsessive writer story.

Starbeast- Justice! Sweet Jammy Justice!!

Yes Hope, as you and others know, work can be stressful, and bosses can be disturbingly unreasonable with, so-called "policies".

BTW, you have a nice tale too.

 

[Andrew Lambert]

Well, i didn't expect a mention, but very happy to have one from you, Wruter.
I only stumbled onto the challenge with a couple of hours left before the close, so flicked through my WIP and found something that could have 'work' added. Felt a bit of a fraud afterwards!!

 

[mosaix]

Well, i didn't expect a mention, but very happy to have one from you, Wruter.
I only stumbled onto the challenge with a couple of hours left before the close, so flicked through my WIP and found something that could have 'work' added. Felt a bit of a fraud afterwards!!

All your own work AL. And that's all that's required.

 

[Aine]

Thank you for the mention, Wruter! I'm a bit new around here and this was my first 75-word story - I'm delighted someone has enjoyed it!

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Thanks to everyone who shortlisted me (even though Starbeast's shortlisted was more like a longlist).

 

[Parson]

Interesting challenge this month. I found very few stories to discount because they were not really stories, and I don't believe that there was a one that missed the theme. So good work to everyone who entered.

Shortlist
@Talysia .... Panacea --- a demigod as a virus cleaner.... Too cool!
@Victoria Silverwolf ... It's a living --- Except it's really not.
@Stable ... Farmville World 2025 --- the surprising dystopian model of George Jetson's work.
@Justin Swanton ... The Last Engineer --- important work is a reward in itself
@David Evil Overlord ... Little Wonder --- Nor surprisingly the wife is the real Super Hero; I know mine is.

Serious Contenders
@Culhwch ... Work Sets you Free --- A memorable story of self sacrifice.
@The Judge ... What a Piece of Work --- Advancement by assassination most subtle.

Voted for
@AstroZon ... The Huǒxīng Settlement --- A gripping tale of sacrifice in a setting that would not have to be Fantasy or (sigh!) even fiction.

 

[Mr Orange]

thanks for the shortlisting @hopewrites

Its even better when read with a Yorkshire accent

Mr Orange, I giggled for two days, imaging it. And like VAZ, I read it with an accent in my mind. "Get t'working" Man-a-live, that's funny. Unexpected awesomeness.

good to see my mangling of the English language worked!

 

[Stable]

I voted for Little Wonder by David Evil Overlord, with the Stable Award for Most Chuckles being jointly held by Peter V and Mr Orange (or Misters V and O as my brain keeps referring to you).

Other honourable mentions go to Ashleyne, Cat's Cradle and Hugh.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

There were many stories I liked this month (too many to list them all without saying 'Everyone' - though my lists are still long), but fortunately for me, only one I loved...so much less hair pulling that way (lord knows I cannot afford the hairs these days). So...

Honorables:
Ahleyne, Stable, Hugh, Justin Swanton, mosaix, saulfan, ratsy

Shortlist:
Wruter, Talysia, Cory Swanson, Heijan Xavier, DEO, Vaz, Ursa major, Phyrebrat, Aine

Vote:
The Judge. I often end up voting for a story I wish I had (or could have) written...that was What A Piece of Work... this month. World building, characterization...humor and drama, all in 75 words. I love this one.

Close race! Seems almost anyone could win this one, with only 19 votes having been cast. Best of luck all!!

 

[Vaz]

Thank you Wruter and Cats for the kind mentions.

 

[saulfan]

Wruter and Cat's Cradle - thankyou to you both for the 'honorable' mentions - that is hugely appreciated, given that this is my first attempt in over 40 years to be involved in something like this.

And ... it's also an incentive to get involved again.

Best Wishes,
David

 

[Talysia]

Parson and CC - thank you so much for the shortlistings. An unexpected treat.

 

[Peter V]

No doubt doing many a disservice by not mentioning their fine efforts but right now it is the end of a long working day and I am at an extremely low ebb and using this time to kill some time. Got in the office at 7:15am and still here at 18:18. At approx 16:50 an articulated lorry decided to reverse into a large sign which promptly fell onto my car. Get that sorted and Junction 1A on London's fine orbital car park, the M25 is snarled due to an accident (I have a fine view of that and the QEII bridge from my elevated position). No point in going anywhere because it will take at least an hour to get to the motorway- a journey which I could walk in five minutes - and I simply do not have the energy or the will. So back to more enjoyable matters... a very short short list of Dave Barsby and Victoria Silverwolf and the winner mosaix. I liked plenty more, especially the one about the oversized 'rats' and can only apologise for not mentioning them.

Now over to Trip Advisor's NYC forums to do a bit of trip planning (for me this counts as BIG fun)

Peter

 

[Dave Barsby]

No doubt doing many a disservice by not mentioning their fine efforts but right now it is the end of a long working day and I am at an extremely low ebb and using this time to kill some time. Got in the office at 7:15am and still here at 18:18. At approx 16:50 an articulated lorry decided to reverse into a large sign which promptly fell onto my car. Get that sorted and Junction 1A on London's fine orbital car park, the M25 is snarled due to an accident (I have a fine view of that and the QEII bridge from my elevated position). No point in going anywhere because it will take at least an hour to get to the motorway- a journey which I could walk in five minutes - and I simply do not have the energy or the will. So back to more enjoyable matters... a very short short list of Dave Barsby and Victoria Silverwolf and the winner mosaix. I liked plenty more, especially the one about the oversized 'rats' and can only apologise for not mentioning them.

Now over to Trip Advisor's NYC forums to do a bit of trip planning (for me this counts as BIG fun)

Peter

I am surprised and humbled by being on your very short short list and can therefore only assume that the sign fell on your car when you were in it so get well soon

 

[Wruter]

Thank you for the mention, Wruter! I'm a bit new around here and this was my first 75-word story - I'm delighted someone has enjoyed it!

Well that's a great first entry and I do hope you'll stick around. There's a 300-word one coming up in a few days as well, if you're feeling adventurous.

 

[Calliopenjo]

I'm looking forward to the 300-word challenge. I'm hoping I can come up with a happier story this time. We need happy. Happy is good. Sorry, I'll leave now.

 

[Parson]

It seems to be awfully quiet around here. Is everyone hibernating until the very last second to vote?

 

[chrispenycate]

I did vote - for DEO - and my shortlist consisted of:- Cory Swanson Victoria Silverwolf Parson mosaix saulfan and David Evil Overlord.

But you're right, reverend - 23 votes at the beginning of the last day, even with two non-submitters voting already, missing (if my table's correct:- Aine, Andrew Lambert, Appello, Ashleyne, AstroZon, Coast, Cory Swanson, Culhwch, EPT Henry, HazelRah, Heijan Xavier, Ihe, johnnyjet, Justin Swanton, LittleStar, Luiglin, Mad Alice, Mr Orange, NbDawn, Phyrebrat, ratsy, Shyrka, The Judge, TheDustyZebra and Ursa major. That's a lot, even if some of the names are recognisable as last second plungers.

Thank you Cathbad and Starbeast for the mentions.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Two votes! Woo hoo!