DISCUSSION — May 2018 75-Word Writing Challenge

@Cat's Cradle

Cosmic Matroyshka: A story that at first is literal in terms of ambiguous tendrils, becomes a multilayered parable much like the Russian dolls. This highlights the interconnected reality that we are all either doomed or blessed to reside in, the only determining factor; our attitude.
 
@Ursa major .... The Kitties and the Cities .... Ursa reminds us that there are kitties and there conspiracies and the two work together.

@unbusy thing .... Veil Wars 101 .... Unbusy shows us a war where everything is veiled and dangerous.

@The Judge .... To be – veiled – or not to be .... Her Honor shows us a bleak choice and a too close to true court proceeding.

@TheDustyZebra .... Journey to the Center of the Self .... D.Z. answers the age old question that has been asked of those who are on a journey to "find themselves." ---- What if you're an onion and there is nothing but layers of self.

@Mr Orange .... Beyond .... Mr. O reminds us that we don't know what is on the other side of life, and that it could very easily far worse than our imagination.
 
I worry, sometimes, when the chosen genre isn't one I've often (or ever) read. A bit of Wiki-research, and a few snippets Free Sampled from Amazon don't always give me enough confidence to think I'll be able to bullseye a genre target. But my (brief) research here mentioned Lovecraft prominently, and I love Lovecraft, so I lucked out. And with some of the more outré genre choices, I don't always feel I'm able to critically judge whether or not a story hits the target, so I'm perhaps more lenient with judging than I would be otherwise. So, maybe it's not such a bad thing when we're not sure if we hit a genre dead center. ;)

Also, thanks so much for the vote, Onyx. It's unexpected, but greatly appreciated.
 
Cat's Cradle said:
I worry, sometimes, when the chosen genre isn't one I've often (or ever) read. A bit of Wiki-research, and a few snippets Free Sampled from Amazon don't always give me enough confidence to think I'll be able to bullseye a genre target. But my (brief) research here mentioned Lovecraft prominently, and I love Lovecraft, so I lucked out. And with some of the more outré genre choices, I don't always feel I'm able to critically judge whether or not a story hits the target, so I'm perhaps more lenient with judging than I would be otherwise. So, maybe it's not such a bad thing when we're not sure if we hit a genre dead center. ;)

Also, thanks so much for the vote, Onyx. It's unexpected, but greatly appreciated.
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Are we supposed to judge on how closely the work hoves to the genre?

Why unexpected? Have I generated expectations already?

I voted for yours because I like the fractal structure and that it was clear what was going on despite the cryptic descriptions. And you managed to describe four iterations while setting scene and action. Impressive use of 75 words.


That said, my work is much superior and no one reading this post should get the idea that The Cosmic Matryoshka should be voted for instead of Metamorphic. ;)
 
Onyx said:
Are we supposed to judge on how closely the work hoves to the genre?

Why unexpected? Have I generated expectations already?

I voted for yours because I like the fractal structure and that it was clear what was going on despite the cryptic descriptions. And you managed to describe four iterations while setting scene and action. Impressive use of 75 words.


That said, my work is much superior and no one reading this post should get the idea that The Cosmic Matryoshka should be voted for instead of Metamorphic. ;)
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Well if we are I've been voting incorrectly for years:D

We all have a differing view on each story, what I feel doesn't fit genre someone else will feel it does.
 
As to why unexpected, it might be the exhaustion of a Challenge veteran speaking. I've entered, I think, 51 straight 75 Worders, and after maybe a few dozen, it started to become unclear to me as to whether or not I was writing good stories; I'm also not an aspiring writer, I enter for fun...that adds to the uncertainty, I think. Phyrebrat recently mentioned that our expectations are often not met, or reflected, by the voting. And while I never enter a story thinking I will get votes (hoping some months, but never expecting), there have been more times when I was wrong about the way a story would be received, than I have been right.

And I think everyone here must have their own methods for culling stories, and listing/voting. Maybe it's an ever-changing thing, for some (for me). But there are times when I am very aware of what to expect from a genre story, and other times when I am uncertain, because I don't know a particular genre well. There have been times when I have voted for a story that I thought likely didn't fall within the specified genre or theme, but I loved the story so much, that I had to vote for it. And there are times when I don't want my reading limitations to keep me from listing or voting for a story, just because I may not recognize some element within the story that makes it perfectly fine for the specified genre or theme. I'm sorry I'm writing so much, here...these are things I've thought about, often, over the last few years of challenges. As I interpret the rules for the challenge, we do not have to, actively, assess a story's value solely according to its strict adherence to the genre/theme choices; I hope the stories I list clearly fall within the Challenge's genre/theme. But I may be wrong here, and maybe someone more knowledgeable about these things can step in to offer guidance. (Sorry, everyone, for the can of worms!)

In any case, I am always a bit surprised (and quite happy) when I receive a vote, and I really appreciate your analysis of my story. :)
 
Cat's Cradle said:
I've entered, I think, 51 straight 75 Worders, and after maybe a few dozen, it started to become unclear to me as to whether or not I was writing good stories;
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These contests are fun, but I honestly don't think 75 words is actually a story. It is more of a compositional stunt, like preparing an entire meal with a butter knife. So don't beat yourself up if you aren't the queen of 1/4 page novella.
 
Onyx said:
These contests are fun, but I honestly don't think 75 words is actually a story. It is more of a compositional stunt, like preparing an entire meal with a butter knife. So don't beat yourself up if you aren't the queen of 1/4 page novella.
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STONE THE HERETIC!

"Dies iræ, dies illa
Solvet sæclum in favilla,
Teste David cum Sibylla..."
 
LOL, my name is Sam Dude in the story poll. I'll take that as an honorary nickname.

Don't change it, errors are fun. :ROFLMAO:
 
I have a clear winner, one of the unsung heroes of these contests: none other than @dannymcg

Others that caught my eye for one reason or another:
@Perpetual Man
@mosaix
@M. Robert Gibson (remarkable)
@Parson
@johnnyjet
@TheDustyZebra
@The Judge
@Cat's Cradle

This was one of those months, fortunately rare, when I did not feel that enthused by the entries overall. Apologies for what I have missed, or failed to understand. My understanding of the genre is informed by wikipedia: while I have a good knowledge of Lovecraft, the list of authors seemed to include everyone bar Beatrix Potter. If, however, someone had contributed a weird-fiction- Potter-themed story, I might have looked on it favourably.
 
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Has Anyone Seen The New Guy, @Bob Senior – Sometimes making the new guy feel welcome is harder than you might imagine.

Truly Monstrous, @Culhwch – After a strange, eldritch force descends, the populace of this mysterious city are left to fend for feed on themselves.

The Crossing, @D3athw4lker – A lost soul stumbles across a kindly harvester who separates the wheat from the chaff.

The Kitties and the Cities, @Ursa major – Invaders from beyond come to threaten our very existence. But not our cats. Our cats are fine.
 
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