Discussion Thread -- October 2017 75-word Writing Challenge

[Luiglin]

.Was it a Terry Pratchett where the desert dwellers first saw ships and kept calling them "camels of the ocean"?

Sounds something like he'd come out with but they've been nicknamed as Ships of the Desert for a long time.

Reminds me of an old joke.

Baby: Mom, why do I have these large feet?
Mom: So you can walk easy over the desert sand.
Baby: Ok. Why do I have these long eyelashes?
Mom: They protect your eyes when the desert wind whips up the sand.
Baby: Ok. Why do I have this huge hump on my back?
Mom: It stores all your fat to help you survive out in the desert.
Baby: Ok, so what the hell am I doing in Dudley Zoo?

 

[Danny McG]

Sounds something like he'd come out with but they've been nicknamed as Ships of the Desert for a long time.

Reminds me of an old joke.

Baby: Mom, why do I have these large feet?
Mom: So you can walk easy over the desert sand.
Baby: Ok. Why do I have these long eyelashes?
Mom: They protect your eyes when the desert wind whips up the sand.
Baby: Ok. Why do I have this huge hump on my back?
Mom: It stores all your fat to help you survive out in the desert.
Baby: Ok, so what the hell am I doing in Dudley Zoo?

Mega sad git that I am, just been googling Dudley Zoo and looking at the camels they have. Seeing if one hump or two

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Hoverdasher -- a chilling depiction of a journey unwanted to a destination of fear.

 

[Parson]

@R.T James .... Filthy Animal! .... Story #9 gives us a look-in to a mutiny carried out with cat-like cunning and cat-tails.

@Luiglin .... A Guide to Love by Hurak the Barbarian .... Story #10 works out the reason why romantic language is not correct in the real world.

@Hoverdasher .... Voyage to Kry .... Story #11 reminds us that sometimes the trip is much preferred to the destination, even when the trip is horrific.

@Shyrka .... To Die For .... Story #12 brings us to a time and a place where the hunting sirens become the hunted.

@Pedro Del Mar .... Castaway .... Story #13 helps us work out the fact that sometimes escape is to die for; literally.

@chrispenycate .... Lifeboat .... Story #14 Chris reminds us in this story that sometimes life's lessons are learned best in a life boat.

Okay, you lot, do you realize that we are on course to write 124 stories this month? You will work my fingers to the bone at such a pace. But at least it would double the greatest number of stories we've ever had in a 75 word challenge. The real down side is that I might not find the time to write my own. (I doubt anyone would miss it.)

 

[Joshua Jones]

@R.T James .... Filthy Animal! .... Story #9 gives us a look-in to a mutiny carried out with cat-like cunning and cat-tails.

@Luiglin .... A Guide to Love by Hurak the Barbarian .... Story #10 works out the reason why romantic language is not correct in the real world.

@Hoverdasher .... Voyage to Kry .... Story #11 reminds us that sometimes the trip is much preferred to the destination, even when the trip is horrific.

@Shyrka .... To Die For .... Story #12 brings us to a time and a place where the hunting sirens become the hunted.

@Pedro Del Mar .... Castaway .... Story #13 helps us work out the fact that sometimes escape is to die for; literally.

@chrispenycate .... Lifeboat .... Story #14 Chris reminds us in this story that sometimes life's lessons are learned best in a life boat.

Okay, you lot, do you realize that we are on course to write 124 stories this month? You will work my fingers to the bone at such a pace. But at least it would double the greatest number of stories we've ever had in a 75 word challenge. The real down side is that I might not find the time to write my own. (I doubt anyone would miss it.)

It would be sad if you were unable to submit a story. I would certainly miss it.

 

[Parson]

It would be sad if you were unable to submit a story. I would certainly miss it.

I was speaking mostly with tongue in cheek. I would be the most shocked person on this site if we should top 120 posts! But I do appreciate the sentiment.

 

[Ursa major]

ut they've been nicknamed as Ships of the Desert for a long time

Sounds like they don't know that the plural of sheep is sheep...

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[Cathbad]

Sounds like they don't know that the plural of sheep is sheep...

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You mean, it's not shoop??

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Shyrka -- A stirring tale of adventure with a unique fantasy setting.

Pedro Del Mar -- An intense sequel to a famous classic.

chrispenycate -- An inspiring account of courage and independence.

 

[Luiglin]

You mean, it's not shoop??

It's sheepsiz, my precious.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Erm. I think you’ll find the plural of sheep is ‘white’.

pH

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

AstroZon -- A sweeping prose poem of unsuspected discoveries.

 

[AstroZon]

Thanks Ms. Silverwolf. Sort of a free verse I think.

 

[Parson]

@AstroZon .... The Portage .... Story #15 brings us a voyage filled with hope of better places, perhaps beyond imagining.

@Justin Swanton .... Last Voyage .... Story #16 is one of hope after the apocalypse. There's a lot a person can see with a friendly greeting.

I see that we have maintained our 4 stories a day pattern for October so far, and I must say that we've seen some very good ones indeed. I had no idea the a "sea voyage" could be such an open concept. But indeed it seems to be. So far I haven't any ideas at all.

 

[Pedro Del Mar]

Having been a member for some years I was pleasantly surprised to find the writing challenges only a few days ago so have made my first entry this month.
I'll hopefully be contributing more in future. My lifelong ambition has been to write a novel but running my own business, kids, life, hobbies etc. has meant it's something I'm still looking to accomplish.
Anyhow, hope you enjoyed reading my 75 word entry.

 

[Peter V]

I have one ready but really cannot decide on a title and it is driving me quietly mad. I am using real science with my SF but do not know how many people will realise the implications from the laymans terminology spoken within the story. Not knowing about the science destroys the core of the story and it becomes an epic fail so I am trying to find a title that actually helps without sounding like something from a science text book. Of course even if people get it, it may well fail miserably because some of what I have read already is damn good.

Maybe I will just write something else

 

[Peter V]

Ok re-write might work. Well probably not but the original version was a definite fail. I popped it in front of my daughter to see if she understood what was going on and she didn't really get it at all.

I have one query... Word (and I) count "off-worlder" as one word... moderators do you agree?

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Justin Swanton -- A engaging tale of desperation and hope.

 

[The Judge]

I have one query... Word (and I) count "off-worlder" as one word... moderators do you agree?

Word will treat anything with a hyphen as one word, so never rely on it.

It's always tricky with compound words which don't appear in the usual reputable dictionaries. I see Wiktionary gives "off worlder" -- ie as two words -- as "rare alternative" to the hyphenated version, which makes it clear which is most common and acceptable, and another couple give it as "off-worlder" as one word with no alternatives. Since I would also write it with a hyphen, and I reckon that's what most people would do, I'll go out on a limb instead of checking back with the other mods, and I hereby pronounce -- drum roll -- that it's officially one word.

 

[Peter V]

And The Judges decision is final!

Thank you