Discussion Thread -- June 2018 75-word Writing Challenge

[Pedro Del Mar]

Thank you for the reviews Victoria and Parson.

Parson yours made me laugh out loud

 

[Parson]

Judging by the mid-month silence.... Everyone must be like me. I have nothing for this challenge. We have a genre "Horror" which I avoid reading like the plague, and a topic technology which I love and always think people see way too much wrong in what's usually right about it. So I have something I don't want to make sound bad in genre where bad is what's expected. SIGH!

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Sorry Parson, and to anyone who might find the Challenge genre offensive, or uninspiring. I've written, I think, some of my best Challenge stories when I was writing outside of my comfort zone, but I hadn't considered that this was a genre that might prove unpopular.

Are there other ways to approach this Challenge? Though I went bloody/gross-out, there are other types of horror. But apologies if this month is too much of a downer for folks.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Justin Swanton -- Sometimes you have to almost destroy in order to preserve.

 

[Justin Swanton]

Sorry Parson, and to anyone who might find the Challenge genre offensive, or uninspiring. I've written, I think, some of my best Challenge stories when I was writing outside of my comfort zone, but I hadn't considered that this was a genre that might prove unpopular.

Are there other ways to approach this Challenge? Though I went bloody/gross-out, there are other types of horror. But apologies if this month is too much of a downer for folks.

I found it an interesting subject, but then I personally don't consider scientific innovation that great a benefit for humanity in the long term so it suited my cheerful temperament.

 

[Hugh]

Well I'm in!

I did find this hard, and was dissatisfied with my story, feeling that it did not fit the genre in the way that I would have liked, but I'm not a writer* and feel obliged to honour whatever story comes to me: just grateful to produce one.

However, looking through the entries, I see several that I think very good.

*Please note: though I am not a writer and profess no ambition to be one, secretly a part of me would be delighted (briefly) if the world were suddenly to gasp in wonder at the brilliance of my stories.

 

[Justin Swanton]

Well I'm in!

I did find this hard, and was dissatisfied with my story, feeling that it did not fit the genre in the way that I would have liked, but I'm not a writer* and feel obliged to honour whatever story comes to me: just grateful to produce one.

However, looking through the entries, I see several that I think very good.

*Please note: though I am not a writer and profess no ambition to be one, secretly a part of me would be delighted (briefly) if the world were suddenly to gasp in wonder at the brilliance of my stories.

Gasp!*

*My opinion being worth at least that of the world.

 

[Onyx]

Judging by the mid-month silence.... Everyone must be like me. I have nothing for this challenge. We have a genre "Horror" which I avoid reading like the plague, and a topic technology which I love and always think people see way too much wrong in what's usually right about it. So I have something I don't want to make sound bad in genre where bad is what's expected. SIGH!

Come now, sir. 'Horror' in a 75 word story is nothing more than a horrific element or punchline. Certainly you can think of books you like with horror elements - human sacrifice, people being swallowed alive by sea monsters, people being nailed to trees, etc.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Hugh -- Revenge is sometimes served hot.

 

[Parson]

Sorry Parson, and to anyone who might find the Challenge genre offensive, or uninspiring. I've written, I think, some of my best Challenge stories when I was writing outside of my comfort zone, but I hadn't considered that this was a genre that might prove unpopular.

Are there other ways to approach this Challenge? Though I went bloody/gross-out, there are other types of horror. But apologies if this month is too much of a downer for folks.

@Cat's Cradle --- You are apologizing too much! I have done horror before even though I do not intentionally read any of it. ---- Hm, I guess years ago I did read some Edgar Allan Poe without it being assigned. My problem is the linkage of the two. I really, really, like technology and having that be the stimulus for horror ..... well it doesn't work well for me. But I will most certainly try to come up with something. I've never intentionally not entered one of these 75 word challenges.

Come now, sir. 'Horror' in a 75 word story is nothing more than a horrific element or punchline. Certainly you can think of books you like with horror elements - human sacrifice, people being swallowed alive by sea monsters, people being nailed to trees, etc.

Certainly I can, I've read a lot of S.F., a lot of historical works, and a lot of thrillers, but the purpose of these horror elements was not simply to evoke cringes, or at least I didn't see it that way. My wife and I always shake our heads at a trailer or an ad for a horror flick, and say "Why would anyone willingly go see something like that?"

 

[Parson]

@Justin Swanton .... Brave New World .... Just when you thought you'd heard of all of the possible reasons to push the button, Justin gives us a new and chilling one.

@Hugh .... Tomorrow .... Hugh points out that Armageddon might not just pit human against human, but that some might be fighting for dear old Gaia.

 

[Hugh]

Thank you @Justin Swanton

And many thanks, as ever, Victoria and Parson for the reviews.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Parson -- Just because something is new doesn't mean you can forget about the old.

 

[Travis Woodward]

Picked a tricky month to start taking part in the challenges again! My first few attempts ended up reading more like entries for the Darwin awards than horror stories...

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Travis Woodward -- Commitment to another may require sacrifice on one's part.

Artoriarius -- A simple vice might carry a heavy price.

 

[Parson]

@Travis Woodward .... Security update .... Travis gives us the unwelcome news that mechanized security can be just as inhumane as the human counterpart.

@Artoriarius .... Begin Your Day with NutriCorp .... Artoriarius goes all post-apocalyptic in a story about going Postal for some Joe.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

reiver33 -- Charity begins at home, and sometimes ends there.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

ASleepyGiraffe -- One's reach should exceed one's grasp.

 

[Parson]

@reiver33 .... Rearguard .... And the moral of the story is that it's not the strong that survive, it's the coward.

@ASleepyGiraffe .... True Horror .... Success can become the greatest horror of all.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

jackwinabox57 -- Others may not appreciate the pride you take in your work.