DISCUSSION THREAD -- August 2020 -- 75 Word Writing Challenge

chrispenycate said:
My sheet says we're missing AstroZon, Elckerlyc, Maya13, Stable, Starbeast and Vince W of the usual suspects. And TDZ, but she's been away for a couple of months already. Joshua Jones? DEA? I don't think we're going to make it - looks as if they're all going on a summer holiday.
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How long do you have to regularly contribute to be a usual suspect? I think last month's was the first I missed since my debut attempt about three years ago (that's a guess because I am rubbish with time and doing this through my phone, so cannot be doing with checking). I must admit guilt to now missing two in a row but hopefully it is not a trend.

If I am not a usual suspect, am I therefore an UNusual suspect? Some who know me personally would agree I am definitely unusual. :rolleyes:

Anyway, lax as I am at jotting something down, I shall do my utmost to read the efforts of those who have not been lax and cast a vote. (y)
 
Peter V said:
How long do you have to regularly contribute to be a usual suspect? I think last month's was the first I missed since my debut attempt about three years ago (that's a guess because I am rubbish with time and doing this through my phone, so cannot be doing with checking). I must admit guilt to now missing two in a row but hopefully it is not a trend.

If I am not a usual suspect, am I therefore an UNusual suspect? Some who know me personally would agree I am definitely unusual. :rolleyes:

Anyway, lax as I am at jotting something down, I shall do my utmost to read the efforts of those who have not been lax and cast a vote. (y)
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I do my 'who hasn't submitted' list fairly late on in the writing period, and cross off names as they join in. The previous month is weighted (as indicative of probable presence) and yes, probably I should have put you on the list - the only one you had missed previous to that was last November.. Maya13 didn't get ticked off in time, either – my infallibility is not all that watertight.

But the list is reincarnated every challenge, and I can only apologise for your not having been on it.

Thanking you for your fidelity - and your forthcoming vote :)
 
chrispenycate said:
I do my 'who hasn't submitted' list fairly late on in the writing period, and cross off names as they join in. The previous month is weighted (as indicative of probable presence) and yes, probably I should have put you on the list - the only one you had missed previous to that was last November.. Maya13 didn't get ticked off in time, either – my infallibility is not all that watertight.

But the list is reincarnated every challenge, and I can only apologise for your not having been on it.

Thanking you for your fidelity - and your forthcoming vote :)
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Chrispy, you missed an ideal opportunity to go into bouncer... sorry door security representative... mode.

"Your name's not on the list, so you're not coming in!"
 
I didn't get a chance to enter this month either. I have been very busy, and any downtime is spent in the garden. I keep thinking that's there is lots of time, and before I know it, the challenge is over.
 
The Judge said:
And I'm in, too. And it's pure coincidence I'm following scarpelius's spoiled broth... ;)

I see I'm number 35, and with most -- all? -- of the usual suspects having entered, it looks like we won't be hitting 40, let alone the magic 42, but then it's not over till it's over, and all's well that ends well, so we'll just have to make the best of a bad job, though every cloud has a silver lining. :p
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chrispenycate said:
My sheet says we're missing AstroZon, Elckerlyc, Maya13, Stable, Starbeast and Vince W of the usual suspects. And TDZ, but she's been away for a couple of months already. Joshua Jones? DEA? I don't think we're going to make it - looks as if they're all going on a summer holiday.
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Sad day that I'm not among the usual suspects now... although I'm glad to be part of the psuedo-regulars still! :giggle:

My apologies for not getting one in this month; it's been an unexpectedly insane month at work, so I've had very little time to work on it. It doesn't help that my muse kept prompting me with the proverb, "There's more than one way to skin a cat."; not even I'm that grimdark...

As soon as I get through my (hopefully) last crazy day for the next week or two, I'll put together my shortlist and vote.

Looking forward to getting back in the regulars list in the next few months!
 
Joshua Jones said:
My apologies for not getting one in this month; it's been an unexpectedly insane month at work, so I've had very little time to work on it. It doesn't help that my muse kept prompting me with the proverb, "There's more than one way to skin a cat."; not even I'm that grimdark...
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And I thank you for that, as I do intend on voting this month.
 
Personally, with each entry offering something wonderful and different, I'm hesitant to post short-lists or honorable mentions since it implies 'better than' those I don't list--which would be untrue. Nevertheless, this is the final set that struck me most of all:

Proverbs 10:12 - Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins -- @Luiglin
Proverb 1:20 -- @Calliopenjo
Words of Wisdom I Wish I’d Heard Sooner -- @AMB
You Complete Me -- @Bren G
I remember it well…. -- @Hugh
<untitled> -- @BrightSparrow
An Armed Society is a Polite Society -- @Parson
The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry -- @M. Robert Gibson

Well done everyone! And a double-plus well done to those that struck me personally.

K2
 
Interesting batch of stories. But oh, so many of went for the pun road.

Short list:

The Engraver and the Mechaniman by @Cat's Cradle because it lifted up a world altering proverb.
You Complete Me by @Bren G because it showed a sacrifice of love.
A Technical Problem by @Victoria Silverwolf because it ended with the prince of surprise puns.
How to Make a Forum Groan by @Perpetual Man because it did exactly what it said it would.
In Which the Rather Too Numerous Cook Family - Initiate the Launch of One of Her Britannic Majesty's Space Ships - Whilst Employing Pithy Aphorisms by @The Judge because it had the most proverbs and the title with the most.
New Fangled Machines by @nixie because it used it's proverb by the letter and yet left it humorously misunderstood.

Everyone of my shortlisted stories had something in it that could have easily enticed my vote. In the end I voted for the one that most appealed to me. You Complete Me by Bren G.
 
I voted for @Bren G : truly lovely story. For me it reached the places other stories didn't.

Others that caught my eye in no particular order:
@mosaix
@Perpetual Man
@Eclectic Dragon
@Astro Pen
@The Judge
@Victoria Silverwolf
@Ambrose
@Guttersnipe

I was initially dismayed by the genre (a not unusual experience), but then appreciated that this particular one had not been chosen for over two years . Also, I remembered that on that occasion I wrote one of my very favourite stories, one that still regularly intrudes into my mind and makes me smile (Queen Gagool in Windsor Castle). That's for me the unexpected joy of these challenges and the varied genres. That story was one of those that received no votes or mentions (which doesn't mean it wasn't appreciated by some), showing yet again that what really matters is one's own pleasure in creation.
 
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Hugh said:
How wonderful! A vote! Many thanks indeed @BrightSparrow

And a mention too! Many thanks @-K2-
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You're welcome. I enjoyed the way it gave me an impression of the larger world and what was going on in it.

It made me think about holograms, each piece still contains information about the whole picture. So you can chop it in half and still peer round the corner at the whole image, albeit from more limited angles than the whole hologram.

Your piece was like that, I got images of the rebellion that was going to take place. Gave me something to think about when writing my next flash fiction.
 
Great work everyone who, unlike me, put together a solid and memorable month of the challenges. Of course, now my sick and sadistic muse gives me a proverb which would be a great story: the wounds of the wise are better than the praises of fools... Anyone want a temperamental, grimdark muse? Going cheap...

Shortlist:
@Iwroteathing
@BT Jones
@Calliopenjo
@Danny McG
@Guttersnipe
@-K2-
@mosaix
@johnnyjet
@Perpetual Man
@BrightSparrow
@M. Robert Gibson
@Maya13

Finalists:
@Luiglin
@Cat's Cradle
@Eclectic Dragon
@Parson

Vote:
@paranoid marvin - Vote
 
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