Discussion thread -- July 2018 75-word Writing Challenge

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Bob Senior -- This droll variation on a classic story carries a serious theme about what makes us human.

Shyrka -- This tense suspense story demonstrates how desperate circumstances can test one's loyalties.

Mr Orange -- The mind-bending pace and imagery of this tale combine to offer a dizzying new myth of creation.

Ursa major -- This variation of an old legend reminds us of the importance of words.

 

[The Judge]

Uh oh... *runs off and performs an entry word recount*

K2

As about half of what you just described is something I did in my story, your post gave me a heart attack.

Panic not! We're not quite so callous as to announce it on the thread and let that be the first and only intimation to the unlucky story-teller. We do always send a note or PM and commiserate in private first. (Though if someone ignores the alert and goes to the thread beforehand, well, that's unfortunate...)

But let that be a lesson if you are inventing words and the like. Make no assumptions when coupling words together, howsoever it's done and for whatever reason. Even as mods, and knowing all the rules and oddities, we still check to ensure there are no problems. Do thou likewise.

Would it be possible, either after the close of entries or after the voting, for the person in question to post the story either here or in the improving thread? I thoroughly enjoy these stories, so I would love the opportunity to see it.

It's certainly possible for it to be posted here after voting, and I hope the member concerned will do that so everyone may enjoy the story.

 

[The Judge]

And I'm in. I know TDZ should be posting later, but it looks like we're going to miss the 42 this month, unless we have a sudden late rush.

 

[Hugh]

I've never picked up on the significance of 42. Can anyone explain?

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

The Judge -- The author offers an imaginative allegory of conformity and rebellion.

 

[The Judge]

I've never picked up on the significance of 42. Can anyone explain?

In the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything is 42. And it just so happened that in our first year, the 2nd and 3rd 75 worders had 42 entrants (in the very first Challenge, we had 43) and I think someone raised it then as being the magic number. Until March this year we had hit exactly 42 final entries in several Challenges, but we had never fallen below it, so it certainly seemed "magic" for us!

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Commiserations to the person who went over. That's a tough one, but hope you'll be back in August.

 

[Ursa major]

unless we have a sudden late rush

I thought I might be part of a not-quite-so-late rush... but it didn't last.

 

[mosaix]

Sad if we miss the 42.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Just a heads-up -- the story thread will be getting closed late, but anything posted after the deadline (shortly less than an hour from this post) will be removed, so get in ahead of that! I won't be able to close it until I get home from work. The poll will follow somewhat after that.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

TheDustyZebra -- This concrete poem weaves a tale of crime and punishment as intricate as its structure.

 

[chrispenycate]

Well, I'm back from a convention (in France) where they didn't have any internet either in the actual gig, nor in the place I was lodged, and I'm not going to be able to post now. First 75 I've not submitted for.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

So close, chrispy!

 

[Stable]

My list of honourable mentions:

Luiglin - Mavis and Beryl Keep Their Hand In
Harliebunny - Lucy
Jackwinabox57 - No Good Spy
Perpetual Man - Tim's Totally Twisted Tale (Perp's avatar looks like an illustration for this story)
johnnyjet - Twist Open
Justin Swanton - And then there were none
Phyrebrat - Landed Gentry
Joshua Jones - The Ball Couldn't Wait
Ursa major - The Magician and the Merle Queen

The runner up:
The Dusty Zebra - Untitled DNA poem (I loved your idea of showing the double helix here, very cool)

My vote went to:
Shyrka - Far From The Tree (I thought this story was so effective, bravo!)

 

[Hugh]

In the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything is 42. And it just so happened that in our first year, the 2nd and 3rd 75 worders had 42 entrants (in the very first Challenge, we had 43) and I think someone raised it then as being the magic number. Until March this year we had hit exactly 42 final entries in several Challenges, but we had never fallen below it, so it certainly seemed "magic" for us!

Ahh! Many thanks!

 

[-K2-]

This is going to take many reads to simply pick one. Some I can discount easily enough not striking me. Others grab me in one way or another, be it the clever use of wording, my imagination inspired, or in the case of one in particular, the blunt genuine simplicity of it.

I really don't need this stress in my life, no matter how rewarding

K2

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Well the award for what must have been the most time-consuming from a typing-in perspective goes to @TheDustyZebra
The award for making me consult Wikipedia goes to @Victoria Silverwolf
The award for teaching me a new word - pleached - goes to @The Judge

My shortlist (I seem to have gone for the gruesome)
@Cathbad - Canning Season
@Harliebunny - Lucy
@dannymcg - Dawn of the blood drinking Bunyip: Twist Creek, Yakandandah, Victoria, Australia, 1865.
@Graymalkin - The snitch at Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility
@mosaix - A Twist in the Tale.
@Ursa major - The Magician and the Merle Queen

But my vote went to @Luiglin - Mavis and Beryl Keep Their Hand In - not least because a similar idea passed through my brain

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

For me, it was a very difficult choice between two entries.

After much consideration, I voted for "Twist Open" by johnnyjet, with a very close second place to "Beginnings" by althea.

 

[-K2-]

So for me, of the many that struck me (actually all, none poor entries), a few stood out simply due to my tastes. In order of their appearance:

@D.A. Xiaolin Spires : String Theory: Yanking the Chords
@Luiglin : Mavis and Beryl Keep Their Hand In
@Perpetual Man : Tim's Totally Twisted Tale
@Justin Swanton : And then there were none...
@LittleStar : Lessons Leanrt
@Mr Orange : How Many Times?
@The Judge : Warped

Each had something special about it that struck me, be they dark or light. All very creative in their own unique sense. However...

I went with what is most likely the simplest and most blunt of all. Perhaps I'm feeling older than I should it striking a chord in me. Yet my vote went to @Phyrebrat with Landed Gentry.

K2

 

[Mad Alice]

Voted.
First place to cheesy puffs.
Second to Justin's redux of invasion of the body snatchers.
Third to Perpetual Man