Discussion Thread -- August 2017 75-word Writing Challenge

[Victoria Silverwolf]

ratsy -- The author offers a realistic fantasy of hard work and sacrifice.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Just over 22 hours to go now, if anyone else wants to join us -- and when I say "us", I mean those of us who are in, rather than those of us who aren't but will be.

 

[Parson]

@Phyrebrat .... writes a poignant story filled with a double meaning. A "Love Letter" often is.

@Bob Senior .... leaves us smiling as the elves create their latest "Contraption" .... an attitude adjuster.

Thanks for returning to light hearted story telling!

@Dan Jones .... Sees the potential in his Steam Girl and so he arranges to steal her heart. "I Believe that the Heart Does go on."

@mosaix .... Has an attack of conscience and so discovers that there's "More than One Way to Crack a Nut."

@ratsy .... Introduces us to a miner who gives it all to his daughter in an act of parental "Sacrifice."

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Well I'm in. I didn't think I'd come up with a story but I surprised myself.

 

[Parson]

@TheDustyZebra .... reminds us that in a world where death can be circumnavigated, life can too if the reason is strong enough and it will when you send all your "Love to the Babe."

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Parson -- The author creates a gentle parable of beating swords into plowshares.

TheDustyZebra -- This moving tale takes the form of a completely unique take on an old story.

The Big Peat -- Within a hard-boiled crime story we find common humanity.

Ursa major -- Wordplay is used in this wry account of self-improvement.

 

[Parson]

@The Big Peat .... brings us a moment of normalcy in the midst of deadly chaos. It is of course "The End of the Line."

@Ursa major .... records a short phone call filled with sly winks and things wisely unsaid. It's all for a good cause, you will need "Stamina or Maintaining a Head of Steam."

Ursa, that title makes me want to blush.

 

[Parson]

@The Judge .... Makes a parody of comedy, whose stock in trade is parody by showing the real feelings which flow "After the Laughter."

I thought you were headed down a bawdy road, and then the second half really surprised me. Well done.

 

[The Judge]

I'm not sure why the idea of music hall jumped into my mind at the thought of steampunk, and I don't imagine Marie Lloyd is likely to be a name on everyone's lips, but when the muse starts singing dirty Victorian songs, what can one do but go with it!


I'm number 40, I see. So two more entries needed if we're to reach the magic number. Sounds like a job for FaceBook Wonder Woman! TDZ, get harrassing!

 

[Parson]

I'm not sure why the idea of music hall jumped into my mind at the thought of steampunk

I for one am glad it did.

 

[The Judge]

Oh, you flatterer!

 

[Parson]

Someone has to tell the nice truths.

 

[chrispenycate]

I'm number 40, I see. So two more entries needed if we're to reach the magic number. Sounds like a job for FaceBook Wonder Woman! TDZ, get harrassing!

It looks as if the missing high potential members are: Cory Swanson, ErikB, HoopyFrood, Lumens, Moonbat, Mr Orange, nixie, Old Man Steve2016, Robert Mackay and Shyrka. I'm in Switzerland right now - but my story is in, heading the pack…

 

[Joshua Jones]

It looks as if the missing high potential members are: Cory Swanson, ErikB, HoopyFrood, Lumens, Moonbat, Mr Orange, nixie, Old Man Steve2016, Robert Mackay and Shyrka. I'm in Switzerland right now - but my story is in, heading the pack…

So, looks like we could get up to 50. The real question, though, is who is going to post the last one. I think it will be @nixie...

 

[nixie]

Guilt trip has succeeded Chrispy and Joshua, I have thrown my hat in to the ring.

 

[Mad Alice]

After much wheedling with the various Internet gods that were requiring me to paste it in piece by piece to get it there, my piece is in.

 

[Ursa major]

Ursa, that title makes me want to blush.

I own a few steamy videos...


...and every one of them is steamy solely (and purely) because the subjects are steam locomotives (almost exclusively US ones), such as Union Pacific 3985.

 

[Ursa major]

The Challenge is now closed to new entries.

Voting is now open at the link below:

POLL -- August 2017 75-Word Challenge -- READ FIRST POST!

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[Victoria Silverwolf]

The Judge -- This mirror-structured poem reminds us that the face we show the world is not the one we keep to ourselves.

Mad Alice -- The consequences of an ill-fated match are provided with an apt metaphor in this allegory.

nixie -- In this surprising story we see how sacrifice can lead to gain.

______________________________________________

This was a tough one to call. In the end I went with "The Operation" by cidetraq.

 

[Parson]

@Mad Alice .... tells us a tale of life and love and death, but is a clock-work death a real death? It is for a "Gear Heart."

@nixie .... Paddy finds life as a Cyborg to be to his liking. It's always good to have "New Beginnings."

 

[Heijan Xavier]

@chrispenycate got my vote. I will admit I was hoping it was going to an Woody Guthrie, City of New Orleans, kind of place. But I found it clever and charming.

@Stable @Phyrebrat were my runners up.