DISCUSSION THREAD -- November 2021 -- 75 Word Writing Challenge

[chrispenycate]

Sorry, folks, but my muse delivered me a brainworm - like an earworm, but with a meme rather than a melody intruding. Utterly useless, even in 'worst jokes' as it's not even in English. I hope that externalising it will sap it's power, and it shouldn't infect anyone else. And it's interfering with my grading of yje 300 word submissions.

Savez-vous qu'est que c'est un oiseau migrateur? C'est un oiseau si court sur pattes qu'il ne peut pas se gratter partout, et fait que le moitié.

I'll get my coat, shall I?

 

[The Judge]

So if a migrator is only half-grated, is it only half grateful if someone scratches the rest of it?

 

[nixie]

Well I'm in.

 

[Parson]

Parson tries to clear brain of brain worm and the hopelessly wonderful migratory come back. ---- How am I to review the next stories?

-----------

@Bowler1 .... Beer Hall Putsch – My Tenth Attempt .... Sometimes defeating evil does not lead to the least bit of gratitude.

@Cat's Cradle .... Synesthesia - or - The Nightingale's-song Aura of Existence .... Gratitude can be communicated in ways that are not auditory nor physical, but still beautiful.

@AnRoinnUltra .... Don't forget to say 'Happy Thanksgiving' to the toaster .... Gratitude is not due any machine.

@Valtharius .... Long Live the Emperor, Most Gracious and Merciful .... Pardons, Prison Parsons, and Praise-worthy Potentates --- this story has it all.

@Guttersnipe .... How to Communicate Gratitude in Plutonian .... Giving thanks can be lost in translation.

 

[Parson]

@nixie .... Harvest Festival .... Nixie turns the tables on expectations and remembers an old custom.

@Simbelmynë .... The Mechanics of Nirvana .... Thanks can be given for that which seems to others not a good thing at all.

 

[DF17]

Hello, I'm new to the site and had some questions regarding entering into this competition. I've read both the specific and general contest rules, and after doing a word count by hand, I'm dead certain my entry is right at 75 words, but I'm not 100% sure my entry fits within the theme of gratitude, and I want to make sure I understand what all speculative fiction encompasses so that I can determine if my entry fits within the genre. Would anyone be willing to help me out?

 

[The Judge]

Hello and Welcome to the Chrons!

Deciding whether something hits the theme is very often, like beauty, in the eye of the beholder. I know that I've seen stories get votes that I've thought didn't hit the theme, but clearly for others they were inside the theme's boundaries. If you've got something of gratitude or thankfulness in there, then you're probably fine.

As for genre, to me speculative fiction covers all of SF, fantasy and horror, as well as all their sub-divisions such as fable, myth, magic realism, fairy tales, steampunk, dystopia, time travel, ghost stories etc etc. But again, we all look at genre in different ways. If there is an element of not-reality/real life in your story, then that for me would come under speculative fiction.

If you're really anxious to get a second opinion, PM me with the story and I'll give it a once over for you if you like. (I say "PM" but you use the thing called "Conversation").

 

[DF17]

@The Judge That pretty much covers it. Thanks.

 

[Dan Jones]

I am currently resisting a very strong urge to, once again, violate the rules and use the "like" button for one of the entries. But we all know what'd happen if I did, don't we viewers!

 

[nixie]

I am currently resisting a very strong urge to, once again, violate the rules and use the "like" button for one of the entries. But we all know what'd happen if I did, don't we viewers!

I'll let Wally chew your fingers.

 

[Parson]

@DF17 .... Untitled .... Some good deeds end with frightening experiences.

@Dan Jones .... Bequest .... Sometimes you don't need thanks for doing someone a good turn.

 

[Parson]

@BT Jones .... John .... Gratitude is a humble virtue.

@mosaix .... Deep Cover… .... Sometimes deep cover is not appreciated and sometimes it is. Or is it?

 

[Parson]

Well, I'm in. A bit daring for me, but there it is.

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

Well, I'm in. A bit daring for me, but there it is.

Good stuff. What happens now with the review -can you try forget what the story was about, read it fresh, and post a comment? Keeping on with the theme of gratitude, fair play for the continuing discussion posts, the consistency of them is remarkable. Leaving aside the points made on the 300 worder thread, I think they keep the show rolling along ...and best of luck with:
@Parson ...The Attitude of Gratitude

 

[Parson]

@AnRoinnUltra --- Thanks for your interesting comments and questions.

First, I'm not sure what you are asking so maybe I'll be answering things you are not asking.

I do not review my own stories. I couldn't be objective about my own story and I would guess that it could be seen as providing more background and information about my story, which would be unfair. --- The same could be said about my commenting on other people's stories but I think there are two mitigating factors. First, commenting positively on other peoples stories has been encouraged from day one in this contest. Second, I did not write the stories I am reviewing and my review only represents what I saw in the story. And, as my wife tells me all time, I can easily be wrong. I expect that everyone is completely aware of that.

When I review, I try to say what I feel is the heart of the story for me and I try to put as positive a spin on it as I can honestly do. If there were a truly dreadful story I might have a problem. But nothing truly dreadful has ever appeared in these challenges. Certainly, there have been stories that I have not understand, and sometimes my review stands to highlight my own denseness.

I've got to admit that in light of some of the comments on the 300 Word discussion I am a little less sure if I am doing a service to this contest or not. What I am completely sure sure of is that In the end how good a story is, is a lot like beauty. It is all in the eye of the beholder. In the Chrons challenges I find a lot to like.

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

@AnRoinnUltra --- Thanks for your interesting comments and questions.

First, I'm not sure what you are asking so maybe I'll be answering things you are not asking.

I do not review my own stories. I couldn't be objective about my own story and I would guess that it could be seen as providing more background and information about my story which would be unfair. --- The same could be said about my commenting on other people's stories but I think there are two mitigating factors. First, commenting positively on other peoples stories has been encouraged from day one in this contest. Second, I did not write the stories I am reviewing and my review only represents what I saw in the story. And, as my wife tells me all time, I can easily be wrong. I expect that everyone is completely aware of that.

When I review, I try to say what I feel is the heart of the story for me and I try to put as positive a spin on it as I can honestly do. If there were a truly dreadful story I might have a problem. But nothing truly dreadful has ever appeared in these challenges. Certainly, there have been stories that I have not understand, and sometimes my review stands to highlight my own denseness.

I've got to admit that in light of some of the comments on the 300 Word discussion I am a little less sure if I am doing a service to this contest or not. What I am completely sure sure of is that In the end how good a story is, is a lot like beauty. It is all in the eye of the beholder. In the Chrons challenges I find a lot to like.

Good stuff, was just joking -I wanted to stick your title in the thread as everyone else got a go! For what it's worth I think your reviews do a big service to the contest. They are not long enough to give too much away, always appear even handed, and point me to reading all the entries.

 

[Elckerlyc]

I've got to admit that in light of some of the comments on the 300 Word discussion I am a little less sure if I am doing a service to this contest or not. What I am completely sure sure of is that In the end how good a story is, is a lot like beauty. It is all in the eye of the beholder. In the Chrons challenges I find a lot to like.

Your reviews (and Victoria's) are definitely a service to the contest. And more than welcome. No doubts there, please!
Some people (including me) would like to see some more comments on the stories, not less.

 

[paranoid marvin]

@AnRoinnUltra --- Thanks for your interesting comments and questions.

First, I'm not sure what you are asking so maybe I'll be answering things you are not asking.

I do not review my own stories. I couldn't be objective about my own story and I would guess that it could be seen as providing more background and information about my story, which would be unfair. --- The same could be said about my commenting on other people's stories but I think there are two mitigating factors. First, commenting positively on other peoples stories has been encouraged from day one in this contest. Second, I did not write the stories I am reviewing and my review only represents what I saw in the story. And, as my wife tells me all time, I can easily be wrong. I expect that everyone is completely aware of that.

When I review, I try to say what I feel is the heart of the story for me and I try to put as positive a spin on it as I can honestly do. If there were a truly dreadful story I might have a problem. But nothing truly dreadful has ever appeared in these challenges. Certainly, there have been stories that I have not understand, and sometimes my review stands to highlight my own denseness.

I've got to admit that in light of some of the comments on the 300 Word discussion I am a little less sure if I am doing a service to this contest or not. What I am completely sure sure of is that In the end how good a story is, is a lot like beauty. It is all in the eye of the beholder. In the Chrons challenges I find a lot to like.

I like the way you and Victoria always post comments to make the writer feel good about what we've written; and that can never be a bad thing. I understand the reasoning for no comments or reviews, but from what I can remember there has always been at least one person reviewing the Challenges each month. It would be a shame for that to stop.

 

[nixie]

The reviews are great, I take my hat off to @Parson and @Victoria Silverwolf for their effort each month in given every story an insightful and positive review.

 

[Parson]

@johnnyjet .... Thanksgiving Day, Pluto, 2121 AD .... People make us thankful when they serve with love.

@dgackst .... When Money's on the Line, What Good Is Gratitude? .... Crass commercialism is a poor substitute for the gratitude of a true relationship.