Discussion Thread -- April 2018 75-word Writing Challenge

[Parson]

You mean I am stuck at the continental breakfast for the next 673 posts? It's better than the gruel I was eating before I became a "well known member", but still...

Sorry man. It is an old thread with many thousands of posts almost (some few snuck in) all with more than a 1000 posts. Balconies are by getting the vote total of thousands to match the level. So--- I reside on the 7th level.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Bob Senior -- With wry wit the author offers an account of something nearly all of us must face.

 

[Bob Senior]

Thank you Victoria, I was feeling a bit wry.

 

[Parson]

@Bob Senior .... NO PLACE TO HIDE .... Bob draws up a droll bit of humor reminding us that there is only one thing surer than death.

 

[Bob Senior]

Thank you, Parson, I appreciate the reviews.
Hope the snow didn't get you too bad.
Bob

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

SPoots -- This surreal comedy reveals how hard it is to find our place in the world.

 

[Parson]

Thank you, Parson, I appreciate the reviews.
Hope the snow didn't get you too bad.
Bob

Well we were actually spared most of the blizzard. We had howling winds - up to 50 mph - But we only got 4 inches of snow, so not so bad at all. In fact we had church on Sunday. But as far as I can tell we have yet to have one day of above average temperatures this month. Three weeks into a "normal" golf season we still have some snow on the ground. (Sigh!)

 

[Parson]

@SPoots .... Fit the Job .... Mr. Poots puts pressure of perfectly placed picks for professional participation. But perfection can be frustrating.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

TheDustyZebra -- This high-tech science fiction story serves as a biting satirical allegory of judging a book by its cover.

 

[The Judge]

I'm in. But by my reckoning, we still need at least four more stories. I do hope that we don't fall short on a regular basis now that the magic 42 has been breached.

C'mon, people! Get writing!

 

[Shyrka]

Tossed mine into the hat. Not my best but the well has been pretty dry this month. The state of my 300 entry is even worse...

 

[chrispenycate]

Needs more time but there isn't any, so…

 

[paranoid marvin]

It's the 23rd already?! My goodness. Apologies for the quality, but it's the best I could manage in 30 minutes!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I'm in. Wish it had a better title . . . something profound . . . but time was running out and I had food in the oven.

Wasted most of the month thinking the theme was something else (I don't know why). Oh well. I have a partially written story if that theme ever comes around.

 

[Ursa major]

The challenge is now closed to new entries.

Voting is now open at the link below:

POLL -- April 2018 75-Word Challenge -- READ FIRST POST!
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[Parson]

@TheDustyZebra .... Skin Deep .... The Dusty one points out that identity might not tell us as much about a person as we might expect.

@Moonbat .... On-line Identity .... Moonbat has a time in mind when online identity is less mutable than our off line identity.

@unbusy thing .... Them and Us .... Unbusy has shown the true identity of the competing groups in the challenge.

Welcome to the Chrons Unbusy Thing. Interesting story!

@LittleStar .... Skin Deep .... Littlestar shows us that identity is much more than what we look like.

@Shyrka .... And there shall come a king among men.... Shyrka helps us realize that birthmarks are not identity markers everyone thinks they are.

@The Judge .... Fall from Grace .... Her honor leaves us with our mouths hanging open. We never guessed the identity of the master criminal.

@Ursa major .... The Superhuman in All of Us .... Ursa finds the north star in our identity.

@RJM Corbet .... Untitled .... Mr. Corbet pokes fun of his own identity.

@HazelRah .... I carry you in my heart .... Hazel reminds us that identity truly resides in our memory.

@Teresa Edgerton .... Family Secret or Sometimes the Apple Does Fall Far From the Tree .... T.E. reminds us that identity is not destiny.

@chrispenycate .... Recognition .... Chris ruminates about identity as he cogitates a rhythm.

@paranoid marvin .... Lust For Glory .... The paranoid one develops a riddle of identity.


Okay, Guys .... Thanks for the 42 plus stories, but could a few of you think to get them in before the last 24 hours?!

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Moonbat -- This clever satire considers the way in which technology can control our lives.

unbusy thing -- This comic tale reveals how politics can be more ridiculous than anything else.

LittleStar -- This moving story demonstrates hope and courage in the face of tragedy.

Shyrka -- This witty fantasy shows characters who take fate into their own hands.

The Judge -- This pastiche of a famous series of stories ponders the close relationship between good and evil.

Ursa major -- This highly plausible biological speculation uses wordplay to make a serious point.

RJM Corbet -- This self-referential meditation reveals the power of creative thought.

HazelRah -- This emotional story portrays the powerful effect mourning has our lives.

Teresa Edgerton -- This imaginative variation on the theme of heroism shows how expectations are not always fulfilled.

chrispenycate -- This philosophical poem ponders the relationship between the individual and society.

paranoid marvin -- This tricky riddle is sure to test the reader's wits.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Short list, with one word after each name to describe each story's primary appeal to me.

Perpetual Man -- empathy

Dan Jones -- surrealism

HoopyFrood -- allegory

s.d. Ervin -- viewpoint

Parson -- realism

LittleStar -- inspiration

Ursa major -- theme

HazelRah -- introspection

Choosing just one to vote for was tricky, considering the number of entries that were cleverly satiric, emotionally powerful, or conceptually imaginative. After much consideration, I had to go with:

Confession by nixie

For an intriguing idea, narrated with verisimilitude, which compels the reader to consider its many implications.

 

[Danny McG]

I can't get into this short list thingy.
I read them all a couple of times, think to myself "I like that one" and then vote for it.

This month it was Thumbs up by the towel carrier

 

[RJM Corbet]

So much talent. Professional writing talent -- not the amateur 'talent show' variety. I am humbled by the company. Really and truly. So hard to choose.

I have made a short-list, in order of publication, of the stories that have stuck and 'left me thinking':

@Joshua Jones: What's in a name

@Perpetual Man: Dementia

@HoopyFrood: Thumbs up

@HazelRah : I carry you in my heart

@Teresa Edgerton: Family secret

@paranoid marvin: Lust for glory
(We hope you will give us the answer to your riddle?)

Still deciding which to vote for ...