DISCUSSION THREAD March 2020 75-Word Challenge

@LittleStar .... Starseeds .... L. Star transforms a stellar nursery into a stellar nursery.

@TheDustyZebra .... Curse of Virus is Dazzling .... TDZ sees a transformation which some of us will die for.

@Shyrka .... As Red as Blood .... Shy tells us about a transformation which is very familiar and devastating at the same time: Time changes all things, even when we hope it doesn't.

@Mad Alice .... Diplomatic Immunity .... Alice brings us a transformation in title expectations.

@Perpetual Man .... No Time to Transform .... Perp reminds us that transformation takes time, and sometimes there's no time.

@Abernovo .... Spooky Action at a Distance .... Abe shows us a transformation that puts the Borg to shame.

@Ursa major .... The ‘Should Have Been’ Star of S.125 .... Ursa knows that music does not always transform in a good way.
 
Marvin said:
Honourable mention for:

@Victoria Silverwolf
@Guttersnipe
@mosaix
@Hugh

Vote goes to:

@Daysman

Nicely done everyone else that got a story up.
Apologies for my absence. Sometimes there just isn’t enough time in the day.
I don’t enjoy rushing, I prefer a good think and time to tinker. Jealous of those on here that can crash one out in 5 mins, be happy with it, and snag a vote or two!
Click to expand...

Some months that's me, but it's not a talent, it's a result of being a dad to a 3 and 10 year old and there seldom being more than 5 minutes to spend on it!
 
Marvin said:
Honourable mention for:

@Victoria Silverwolf
@Guttersnipe
@mosaix
@Hugh

Vote goes to:

@Daysman

Nicely done everyone else that got a story up.
Apologies for my absence. Sometimes there just isn’t enough time in the day.
I don’t enjoy rushing, I prefer a good think and time to tinker. Jealous of those on here that can crash one out in 5 mins, be happy with it, and snag a vote or two!
Click to expand...


I used to be in that group there...usually the first one in, often within minutes of it opening...

However, snagging a vote or two usually didn't happen in those cases. XD It's tough competition this month, despite how proud I am of this entry, it's a steep hill to climb. :eek: And I'm a fat man, I don't climb very well. XD
 
chrispenycate said:
Hmm, last day, less than ten hours to go, and only thirty-five entries - with Culhwch, dannymcg, LittleStar, Margaret Note Spelling, Marvin, Perpetual Man, Shyrka, Star-child, Starbeast, TheDustyZebra, Ursa major and Vince W not yet entered. I hope next month's tenth anniversary summons forth more enthusiasm - who would have thought it would continue this long?

Oh, all right, it's already better than December's, and we know there'll be at least a couple of attempts at the last entry on the last second before the gong sounds, but nostalge about the days it remained above forty-two for years at a time…
Click to expand...

My apologies, I had every intention of entering, but this month has been... kinda weird.

I will endeavour to get the stories read and vote, though, and get back in the game for the big anniversary month!
 
Ursa major said:
That's because you don't have to set up the tie-breaker poll in the middle of the night, one with a couple of score of candidate stories....
Click to expand...

Sorry, UM! The premise of my very lame joke was that we call it a draw after the first round of voting, with no tie-breaker. I figured we could all use a (shared) win, during these difficult times, CC
 
Thank you, Victoria, and Parson for the lovely reviews. :)
 
sule said:
So many good entries, it was hard to narrow it down even a little. My vote changed many times.

In the end, I voted for Planet Sol #3.

Honorable Mentions:
"Do Fish Swim?"
Starseeds
Not a morning person
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks Sule. A landmark for me: my first ever vote!!! I loved your story too.
 
Two shortlistings and a real live vote! Riches indeed, many thanks and much appreciated @Marvin , @sule and @Ian Fortytwo

I've got a pretty good idea of where my vote is going, but I need to read through another time or two. I'm really enjoying the unusual voting pattern, a reflection of the strength of the entries.
 
Last edited:
As ever, a wonderful selection of entries

My longish shortlist
Behold I Make All Things New - @Justin Swanton
Kafkaesque - @Simbelmynë
My Sixteenth Birthday - @Calliopenjo
Never take a handy parking space at face value. - @nixie
The Lamentable Tale of Dodgy Roger - @Peter V
Love Thy Neighbor - @Teresa Edgerton
On a Whim or Stray Thought - @johnnyjet
Not All Super Powers Are Amazing - @David Evil Overlord
Diplomatic Immunity - @Mad Alice

Runner Up
I Do What!? - @mosaix

Winner of my vote
Not a morning person - @Daysman
 
@Vaz thank you ever so much for your vote!
As for mine, I'm still trying to narrow down my choices. There are so many I like. :unsure:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Vaz
This was an interesting challenge. The differences in the take of the theme were as diverse as one could imagine. In my mind that's a sign of a really good theme. But the very variety made it hard to compare one with the other. I believe I also saw a shift in the tone of a lot of the stories as the month wore on and the Coronavirus started dominating our thoughts and lives. Being who I am, I tended to favor those stories which spoke of positive or lighthearted transformation.

Not a Morning Person by @Daysman .... because this story married the fantastic with reality in a way that brought a smile and a nod.
Harm an Experiment in Integration by @Cat's Cradle .... because this story touched a truth about how we try to transform ourselves into that which we are never going to be.
I Do What!? by @mosaix .... because this story is just great in in its reversed and unexpected humor.
Love Thy Neighbor by @Teresa Edgerton .... because this story recognizes the truth that others often see us more clearly than we see ourselves.
Acceptance in Birkenau by @Celine_Brace .... because this story speaks of the greatest transformation experienced by humanity, from fear to hope.

I am surprised by how short my short list is. It's a list which lives up to its name. Unfortunately this makes voting all the harder. Everyone of these could be my choice.

*
*
*
*
*

5 min. later: Still no decision.

*

1 min. later: I decide to start eliminating from the "bottom" rather than waiting for something to float to the top.

*
*
*

3 min. later: I decide to go with the story that is both hopeful and dead on theme: Love Thy Neighbor by @Teresa Edgerton
 
Parson said:
This was an interesting challenge. The differences in the take of the theme were as diverse as one could imagine. In my mind that's a sign of a really good theme. But the very variety made it hard to compare one with the other. I believe I also saw a shift in the tone of a lot of the stories as the month wore on and the Coronavirus started dominating our thoughts and lives. Being who I am, I tended to favor those stories which spoke of positive or lighthearted transformation.

Not a Morning Person by @Daysman .... because this story married the fantastic with reality in a way that brought a smile and a nod.
Harm an Experiment in Integration by @Cat's Cradle .... because this story touched a truth about how we try to transform ourselves into that which we are never going to be.
I Do What!? by @mosaix .... because this story is just great in in its reversed and unexpected humor.
Love Thy Neighbor by @Teresa Edgerton .... because this story recognizes the truth that others often see us more clearly than we see ourselves.
Acceptance in Birkenau by @Celine_Brace .... because this story speaks of the greatest transformation experienced by humanity, from fear to hope.

I am surprised by how short my short list is. It's a list which lives up to its name. Unfortunately this makes voting all the harder. Everyone of these could be my choice.

*
*
*
*
*

5 min. later: Still no decision.

*

1 min. later: I decide to start eliminating from the "bottom" rather than waiting for something to float to the top.

*
*
*

3 min. later: I decide to go with the story that is both hopeful and dead on theme: Love Thy Neighbor by @Teresa Edgerton
Click to expand...

Alright, well that made my entire month.:D Thank you for the words and consideration!
 
My list:
@Victoria Silverwolf Bette Davis Eyes You always pack so much meaning into 75 words.
@Cat's Cradle Harm Disturbingly touching and a haunting image
@mosaix I Do What!? "........no fear of French kitchens?":LOL:
@Hugh “Do Fish Swim?” for showing aging as a positive journey.
@LittleStar Starseeds for beautiful imagery.
@Perpetual Man No Time to Transform A timely, but subtle reminder of RL.

Vote to @Daysman Not a morning person For the whimsey and smile I got when I read it.
 
Just had a read through, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very nice choices, Teresa, and very nice stories, all.

Here are my selections:

Shortlist:
Simbelmynë, mosaix, Teresa Edgerton, sule, Celine_Brace, Hugh

Finalists:
Victoria Silverwolf, Daysman

I really loved both of these, and had a very difficult time deciding on my vote...and actually, I could not decide by myself. I asked my wife to read them, and then we talked a bit, and with her thoughts taken to mind, I decided by a very narrow margin to go with Victoria's richly inventive story. I'd love to know more of the story of this firm and their inept business model. :) Well done, both though, on your terrific entries.

I'd like to thank nixie and Vaz for their shortlistings, and Parson and elvet for the listings, and the kind words about my story.
And a huge thanks to Victoria for the vote! Best of luck, all, with the voting, the rest of the way. SO looking forward to April's two Challenges. As someone (mosaix?) mentioned above, the diversion from the difficulties the world is going through now will be very welcome, CC
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread starter Similar threads Forum Replies Date
The Judge DISCUSSION THREAD -- March 2024 -- 75-Word Writing Challenge Writing Challenges 128
HareBrain DISCUSSION THREAD -- MARCH 2023 -- 75 Word Writing Challenge Writing Challenges 152
The Judge DISCUSSION THREAD -- MARCH 2022 -- 75 Word Writing Challenge Writing Challenges 136
Ursa major DISCUSSION THREAD -- March 2021 -- 75-Word Writing Challenge Writing Challenges 173
elvet February / March 100 Word Anonymous Challenge Discussion Thread Workshop 116

Similar threads


Back
Top