DISCUSSION THREAD -- December 2017 75-word Writing Challenge

[Peter V]

Cheers Peter V. I reread your story. Spooky, timely and maybe even prescient. It occurred to me that for the jollyest time of the year a good number of these stories could form a horror anthology. Now don't get me wrong, I loved them. Happy New Year! Steak n eggs for everybody!

I have to agree and when I look back, I think most of my entries are either dark or dark humour. In fact virtually everything I write is quite dark. I wonder what a psychologist would make of it?

Steak n eggs sounds just about right now... 8:19 am, grey, wet and 3c

 

[Danny McG]

Well done Peter V.
How about picking some dark theme for next month? Just for a change from all the nice stuff usually opted for

 

[Peter V]

Well done Peter V.
How about picking some dark theme for next month? Just for a change from all the nice stuff usually opted for

Somehow I do not think a dark theme is needed dannymcg...our twisted selves will create the darkness around it

 

[Abernovo]

Congratulations, Peter V!

 

[Luiglin]

Congrats @Peter V.

Cheers for the mentions. I suspected mine was going to be a touch risqué this month. I blame Carry On.

 

[The Judge]

Congratulations Peter!! Commiserations reiver!


Some wit-grace-and-giant-iPod thanks to Aber for the lovely shortlisting!

 

[Perpetual Man]

A big congratulations to Peter V!

And thanks for the four votes I received - pyan, Chrispy, farntfar and reiver33. It's the most I have received in quite a while so a good way to end the year!

 

[Perpetual Man]

Wondering what to do while you are waiting for the next challenge and the 300 worder to trundle in with the New Year?

Why not take a gander at

The Perp Challenge

With not one, but two winning spots up for grabs, it's worth a go... and it is something writing orientated but a bit different.

 

[Joshua Jones]

Somehow I do not think a dark theme is needed dannymcg...our twisted selves will create the darkness around it

Then again, if we did an intentionally dark theme, maybe it will turn out light-hearted. Something like "Oppressive Malevolence" might wind up producing unicorns and Care Bears...

...as psychological torture, if I know this group (myself included).

 

[Danny McG]

Then again, if we did an intentionally dark theme, maybe it will turn out light-hearted. Something like "Oppressive Malevolence" might wind up producing unicorns and Care Bears.

I can't imagine Care Bears ever being scary

 

[SPoots]

Sorry i think i missed the vote period. Rather slipped my mind in the holiday season.

 

[SPoots]

Thanks for all the mentions and even two votes!

Congratulations to Peter V!

 

[Starbeast]

My Story: I thought, "Why not write a Holiday Televised Celebration for a very grumpy person." I began to think about fictional villains. Meanwhile, I had just finished the laundry, and looked upon my Tom Baker shirt, and thought, "It would be funny if Davros was the honored individual in my story and Dr Who would give his nemesis a gag gift, and Davros would become furious about it." And, you know the rest.

 

[Peter V]

Tom Baker... still my favourite Doctor

 

[Perpetual Man]

Can't argue with that

 

[Ursa major]

for what turned out to be the deciding vote

As it happens.... When I voted, I thought I might be creating the need for a tie-breaker poll (not my favourite thing, as it requires me to be on the Chrons at midnight local time -- and 1am when daylight savings is in operation, for an extra day in the month). However, your story was clearly the best in my eyes, so I mentally prepared myself for being up at midnight on the 30th (in addition to being up and about at that time on the 31st for obvious reasons).

I was perhaps as surprised as you were that my vote would push you over the winning line in first place (and, as luck would have it, remove the need for a tie-breaker poll rather than create one...).

 

[Ursa major]

I can't imagine Care Bears ever being scary

And as for unicorns... try reading the Charles Stross novella, Equoid (set in the Laundry universe, and Winner of the 2014 Hugo Award for Best Novella).

 

[Parson]

Congrats Peter V. on a downright chilling tale. It made me shiver and not want to think about it at all.


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As to my own story the inspiration came for it when UI started considering how so many people only ever think about the present and what makes them feel good right now without seemingly the slightest consideration for the future or others. I've always felt that modern society's greatest weakness is the massive narcissism that characterizes so many people. ---- Also I love stories about people making sacrifices for the good of another or others in general. I think that this is the most mature human emotion and the one that gives us the best hope.

 

[Starbeast]

@Ursa major - You could set up the next challenge EARLY, then "lock it". And the following day, open it.

Of course you'd need Peter V's new theme and genre, EARLY as well.

 

[Ursa major]

You could set up the next challenge EARLY

Actually, I don't usually get involved in setting up the next challenge these days.

I set up the October 2017 challenge, but I did so as the winner of the previous challenge, not as a mod, just as LittleStar did so for the September 2017 challenge.