Discussion Thread -- August 2018 75-word Writing Challenge

[The Judge]

@The Judge and the moderators
My 2 pennies about the date: you should consider the date as one word, no matter what is chrons history with it.
Reasons:
- is a well known formatting and not an author invented one;
- it is referring to a single point in time
- it is intended to make the reading more clear, by setting the precise time of action

Um, well, both of the final points would also apply to a date of eg 16th August 2018, and that's certainly three words and is unlikely ever to be accepted as one anywhere!

The fact it might be a standard format -- though to us in the UK it's more often eg16/8/18 -- is something we're considering. Stay tuned for a decision!

Meanwhile, as always, if someone is impatient to post and can't wait for a decision, always err on the side of caution -- better to have a story which feels truncated at 73 words than a perfect story which we decide comes in at 77.

 

[Shyrka]

Do Not Hang Up, @Graymalkin – The subject of this fantastic tale puts his life on hold to discover the secrets of stars. His quest brings him to the brink only to be left hanging. Let’s hope it wasn’t a wrong number.

@Pedro Del Mar – Books have always had power. In the Bible, the Book of Revelation details the end of our world. In this story, it is another book’s revelations that cause it.

Loved and Lost, and Found, @BigJ – An inheritance from a lost love turns out to be a book that they truly poured their heart and soul into.

 

[Shyrka]

Regarding dates, I once submitted a 100-worder that used an elaborate timestamp format. I knew it wasn't strictly one word so I asked and since it was the 100-worder, the person running it graciously allowed it as a single word, but I knew it was very dubious and I wouldn't really expect the same of the 75-worder.

 

[Shyrka]

The Book of Books, @johnnyjet – Be careful where you search for lost knowledge lest you yourself are lost.

Reading Hour, @nixie – It’s said that books are a window into another world. In this charming fantasy, it’s more of a door.

Not the Spellbook You’re Looking For, @David Evil Overlord – A hapless mage gets more than he baaaa-rgained for when he mistakes one spell book for another. They really pulled the wool over his eyes.

 

[Parson]

@David Evil Overlord .... Not The Spellbook You’re Looking For .... David will have us all taking a second look at the cover of our books just to make sure it is what you think it is. We don't want to follow the leader like a sheep.

@Cory Swanson .... Danno .... Cory gives us a lighthearted approach to a magnetic hit man via an old TV show.

@chrispenycate .... The Book of Guilt .... Chris points us to a book that includes everyone. As another book says "There is no one righteous, no not one." But what becomes of those so named?

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

better to have a story which feels truncated at 73 words than a perfect story which we decide comes in at 77.

Well, thanks to leaving it overnight and reading it afresh, I spotted a sneaky passive had crept in, and found two words that deserved to be replaced by one.
Who needs specially formatted dates anyway?

 

[SamThomas]

@Anodyne - Loved it! Funny and unnerving at the same time.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Anodyne's story was cool...definitely creepy. It was her/his only post, since joining. Hopefully Anodyne'll be back for voting and voting discussions, and then September's Challenge...and then October's Challenges...and then...

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

nixie -- Demonstrated the power of literature to take us into other worlds. -- American Libraries

David Evil Overlord -- Showed the importance of proofreading. -- Printers' Ink

Cory Swanson -- Provided a vision of the future of law enforcement. -- Police Gazette

Stable -- Took the reader on a surreal journey into another reality. -- New Age Journal

chrispenycate -- Offered intricate verse meditations on morality. -- Poetry

M. Robert Gibson -- Imagined an unexpected event in the history of exploration. -- Aviation Week

Peter V -- Cautioned against too much curiosity about times to come. -- The Futurist

 

[Starbeast]

I've posted mine. For me, this was a tough one.

I'm looking forward to read everyone's story.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Starbeast -- Gave the reader a rollicking, lighthearted spoof of fantasy fiction. -- National Lampoon

 

[Starbeast]

Thank you Lady Victoria.

BTW - If you have an Amazon account, you can rent the movie, Hunchback of the Morgue.

 

[Parson]

@M. Robert Gibson .... Not The First .... Robert shows us how books can create mysteries rather than always talking about them.

@Peter V .... Book of Life .... Peter understands that a true book of life would be ever so much better than a biography.

@Starbeast .... Hero Out of Time .... Star seems to hang out in a different dimension for this story of how about are choices wind up defining ourselves and our story.

@Hugh .... Another day on Yggdrasill .... Hugh writes us a fun little allegory about the trials and tribulations of one of the great professions.


*** I am writing this while falling asleep, hopefully they make some sense.

 

[Parson]

@Shyrka .... The Book of Plays .... The Shy one has given us a look at book designed to elicit controlled violence which instead elicited uncontrolled violence with an unintended result.

 

[Starbeast]

Thanks Parson for the review.

Yipes! It will be voting time soon, and I still need to read all of the other entries.

 

[Shyrka]

Danno, @Cory Swanson – Stored on a computer drive, this hardcore criminal thought he was safe. Maybe he should have had a “backup” plan...

Leaving the End, @Stable – A desperate quest through the pages (literally) of history ends with a triumph. Just don’t trip over the Epi Log.

The Book of Guilt, @chrispenycate – Those who commit the worst crimes rarely consider themselves guilty. Fortunately for the coffers of this church, the rest of the flock make up for it.

 

[Shyrka]

Not The First, @M. Robert Gibson – On the far side of the moon, two astronauts stage a dramatic ‘cover up’. They say history is written by the winners but this time it’s those in second place.

Book of Life, @Peter V – In this tale of a mysterious, self-writing personal history, “This is Your Life” is all too true. Sometimes you just don’t want a good book to end.

Hero Out of Time, @Starbeast – The most dangerous force in the Kingdom turns out to be a slighted librarian. It’s always the quiet ones...

 

[Starbeast]

Thank you, Shyrka.

Sometimes I miss doing the reviewing, it's been a while for me.

 

[Danny McG]

Thank you, Shyrka.

Sometimes I miss doing the reviewing, it's been a while for me.

I'm glad such dedicated reviewers do this and can think of fresh things to say.
I think I mentioned in another challenge that I avoid doing them because I like most stories. It would be somewhat repetive....

Nice story mate!
Nice story mate!
Nice story mate!
Nice story mate!
Nice story mate!
Nice story mate!
Nice story mate!
Nice story mate!

 

[Parson]

@RJM Corbet .... LOOK WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO MY BOOK, MA .... RJ reminds us that when it takes a village to write a book, it's not exactly anybody's book really.