Discussion Thread -- June 2018 75-word Writing Challenge

[Fivestrings]

I probably shouldn't have versified horror - adding rhythm and rhyme makes it cheerful and bouncy. But once I'd started I'm too pigheaded to back down.

Shouldn't be any difficulty getting to this 42, seeing we're only short one story and: Ashleyne, CTRandal, Culhwch, LittleStar, Paranoid Marvin, The Judge, TheDustyZebra and Ursa major have yet to submit (Ashleyne late on horror?!)

Parson and Victoria - thanks for the commentary

Fivestrings (is that a banjo I see before me?) I trust I din't bully you too hard to get you here? Nice to see you, anyway.

Banjo? I have been tempted in the past. They're a lot of fun, but rarely have a place in rock bands! so, alas, I'm a lowly bass player.

Noooo, you didn't bully me! I'm far too stubborn to be bullied!

 

[Ashleyne]

Thanks, CC. I actually had a lot of trouble thinking of something for this challange.

 

[Ursa major]

The challenge is now closed to new entries.

Voting is now open at the link below:

POLL -- June 2018 75-Word Challenge -- READ FIRST POST!​

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[Luiglin]

Thought I'd better vote before I forget and lo! I'm first. Anyways top three for me.

@dannymcg - pass the soap

@Cathbad - hitchhiking for the soul

@Dan Jones - hush, little babies don't you cry, Mama's going to scream you a lullaby

And the vote went to @dannymcg

 

[TheDustyZebra]

How exactly does a new boy vote?

For me, of course!

Kidding aside, they will post a poll thread when the challenge closes where you may choose a story based on whatever criteria you go for. Some people vote based on what catches their eye for some reason, others have charts for mapping how closely the story matches the theme and genre, skill, clarity, and so forth. Be as formal or informal as you wish.

And, as others have said, welcome to the Challenges!

Yes, welcome!

The only rule (aside from Joshua's, which is not codified) for voting is that you can't vote for yourself, or recruit new members to Chrons to vote for you -- which is essentially the same thing. Other than that, just read the stories, head to the poll and click carefully for whichever one floats your boat the most.

 

[Joshua Jones]

Yes, welcome!

The only rule (aside from Joshua's, which is not codified) for voting is that you can't vote for yourself, or recruit new members to Chrons to vote for you -- which is essentially the same thing. Other than that, just read the stories, head to the poll and click carefully for whichever one floats your boat the most.

Hey, I have to farm votes wherever I can. And I do plan to put the measure that all new people must vote for me on their first challenge on the ballot for new rules. You know, for practice...

 

[Danny McG]

Yay! I got a vote already, awesome.
As per usual there's a few "last day" entries to read and think about so it'll be a while until I cast my vote.
In the meantime many thanks to the Dark Lord's scribe

 

[Parson]

@LittleStar .... When We Were Gods .... L. Star helps us to remember that Pandora was not the only one to open something with too little information, and the results are a true horror.

@Ashleyne .... WHAT WAS I THINKING? .... Ashleyne shows an answer to an increasingly modern problem, but then there is some doubt, Is it peace or murder?

@TheDustyZebra .... Horror Story .... TDZ gives us a new form of 75 word story, and with any good story, the story is in your head, and is it voyeurism if everyone is watching?

@The Judge .... Clean Energy, Dirty Hands .... Her Honor has given us a story which is like a mind worm. You're never going to be rid of it, and neither are the children.

@Ursa major .... (Very) Local Warming… For Now.... The North Star points out that the terrors of technology have their roots in the earliest of decisions.

@Mad Alice .... Dark of the Moon .... Mad Alice has a perfectly mad idea. What if the moon is alive and waiting for it's opportunity to strike?


Let's see 48-1=47. Fourty-seven stories this month! Good job everyone! Now comes the hard part. Who to vote for and why? Lots of luck!

 

[Dave]

I thought I knew who I would vote for, but that gush of late entries has changed everything. This is very hard.

 

[Graymalkin]

Beyond missing last orders at my local I realise I tend to simplify my 'true' horror into gore and/or insanity. I also prefer an intimate feel.

Loadsa good tales but fave's are the following.

dannymcg
CC
Johnnyjet
Perpetual Man
Shyrka
Ashleyne

Vote goes to Peter V for Upgrade.

Dr Zeller grr.. just doing their job of course.

Special mentions to Bob Senior for reminding me of Fred

 

[Bob Senior]

Fred ?

 

[Danny McG]

@johnnyjet Got my vote - clean up those streets!

 

[Graymalkin]

Fred ?

Me grandpa. He enjoyed his chair.

 

[Parson]

This was a really hard challenge for me to judge. --- Also to write, but I've told that tale before. I literally could have picked anyone for a short list. I did pick these:

@D.A. Xiaolin Spires .... Tough (P)luck .... For a humorous horror

@dannymcg .... "Pull the Plug" .... For a real horrific possibility

@Cathbad .... "Success" .... For truly understanding human nature.

@Pedro Del Mar .... "Xentransplantation" .... For a funny far future throw back story.

@Venusian Broon .... "A Class Trip to the Farm" .... For a sick gross out.

@ASleepyGiraffe .... "True Horror" .... For a horror rarely considered.

@Ashleyne .... "What Was I thinking?" .... For a horror filled with a mystery.

But the winner almost from the moment I read the story:
@The Judge .... "Clean Energy, Dirty Hands" .... For a horrific tale which smells like "Soylent Green."

 

[Venusian Broon]

The highlights, IMHO, from this months selection were:

Cathbad and Phyrebrat: delicious highlights. While, Dan Jones and Ashleyne made me ponder my vote. But for sick horror I had to plump for Cat's Cradle disturbing imagination. Well, I did vote for it, so I suppose I'm a touch disturbed too .

 

[Peter V]

A bumper bunch of gruesomeness, with a lot of high quality entries. I have listed my personal favourites:

Victoria Silverwolf. Beautifully horrific & well written. Would have been a very strong contender but I am not sure how scientifically innovative dissection is J

Dave. Nicely twisted tale of the cure being worse than the affliction… the protagonists relative lack of emotion to his horrific fate just counting against it.

Cat's Cradle. Brilliantly hideous (shortlist)

Dannymcg. Again brilliant hideous. If hideouser was a word I would have used it! (shortlist)

Ihe. Oh but we are a twisted community

Venusian Broon. I think by the time I finish reading these I will need therapy (shortlist)

Mosaix. Clever, keeps the reading wondering… except in the context of what I have been reading.. we KNOW it’s going to hurt (shortlist)

reiver33. What a heinous protagonist… but unfortunately understandable too.

Bob Senior. Oh but this is horrible… family and all!!

Shyrka. A terrifying waking nightmare!

Dan Jones. Just when I thought it was safe to read on… this literal nightmare rears its ugly head! (shortlist)

Fivestrings. Yuck. Just yuck

Ashleyne. Sobering, poignant and very powerful (shortlist)

The Judge. A job is a job at the end of the day and its only a little more demanding than chimney sweeping

Well done all - I am still debating which of my shortlist to give my vote to. Its a tough one. I will update as soon as I have decided.

 

[Peter V]

Thank you for the vote Graymalkin

 

[Fivestrings]

I voted for @Dave, with "Silver lining".
Haven't decided why exactly yet, but it caught me. Maybe a mixture of the horror of being trapped in such a way, but also the pity I felt for the child.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Thanks so much for the vote, VB! I am both thrilled, and deranged.

Thank you Graymalkin, for the listing, and Peter V, I'm very happy you found my story to be hideous!!

 

[Venusian Broon]

Venusian Broon. I think by the time I finish reading these I will need therapy (shortlist)

I don't care if I get a vote now, my work is done.