Discussion Thread - July 2022 75 Word Writing Challenge

[Parson]

@Luiglin .... Gerald .... A story which reminds us that others make some very bad decisions as far as we are concerned.

@mosaix .... A Matter of Perspective .... A story which points out the progression from the outside to the inside.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

StilLearning: A witty demonstration of misunderstanding.

Stable: A stirring vision of tomorrow.

johnnyjet: A moving account of the ties that bind.

VRlass: A provocative fable of ultimate endings.

Hugh: An eerie pondering of choice.

Starbeast: A terrifying tale of fear.

Astro Pen: A chilling portrait of ambivalence.

chrispenycate: A surprising encounter in the cosmos.

M. Robert Gibson: A frightening story of a visitor.

BT Jones: A telling allegory of human failings.

therapist: A dark look into a troubled mind.

Luiglin: A clever variation on a classic theme.

mosaix: A wry commentary on our institutions.

 

[Parson]

@leorising .... The Outsider .... a story which reminds us that it's quite possible to feel like you're an outsider in your own world, even when you were made there.

 

[Parson]

@MatthewKusza .... The Devil Is In the Details .... A story which beautifully illustrates the problem when you work with too little information.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

leorising: An evocative and poetic mediation on alienation.

MatthewKusza: An intriguing account of a hazardous journey.

 

[Starbeast]

Starbeast: A terrifying tale of fear.

Thank you for the review.


View Through a Window @Victoria Silverwolf - Just as I began to feel sympathy for the outsider, you gave us a creepy cool ending. Darkly delightful.

 

[Parson]

@Phyrebrat .... Ugly Snowball .... A story which hints at the pathos of feeling alone with no one to love.

 

[The Judge]

I'm in. And not left to the last day for once.

 

[Parson]

@paranoid marvin .... An Outside Chance .... A story that points out that a little knowledge is perhaps not as good as no knowledge in some pursuits.

(Parson looks, looks again, looks at his calendar, ---- Okay, her honor is in early? Surely this is a sign of the Apocalypse.)

@The Judge .... The Eternal Scapegoat .... A sad story which hums with truth and anything but blind justice.

(Parson now thinks Her Honor might have written a story which shows the need for a true beginning and not a final ending.)

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Phyrebrat: A surreal and mysterious search for meaning.

paranoid marvin: A wry look at human fallibility.

The Judge: A powerful allegory of xenophobia.

 

[leorising]

@Phyrebrat I love the melodrama and haunting loneliness of the prose. It feels ridiculous yet poignant.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Ursa major: A sly look at a subtle ploy.

 

[Ursa major]

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The challenge has now closed to new entries and the poll is open at the link below:

POLL -- July 2022 75-Word Challenge -- READ FIRST POST!​

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[Victoria Silverwolf]

Very short list:

Parson

BT Jones

Vote:

The Judge

 

[Aknot]

A lot of fun and interesting takes on the theme. Well done all.

Shortlist:
Victoria Silverwolf
Daysman
Christine Wheelwright
Parson
StillLearning

Vote:
The Judge

 

[JS Wiig]

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories this month!

My vote goes to @Victoria Silverwolf because sometimes a lost soul is best left out in the dark and cold.

 

[therapist]

I hate being only allowed to give 1 vote. There were 4 stories I loved.
A Memento—by Aknot
View Through a Window—by Victoria Silverwolf
Wedded Bliss—by Peter V
Ugly Snowball—by Phyre brat

Any of those four could've could've taken my vote.
But today my vote fell with 'A Memento'.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Some really strong entries this month.

Christine Wheelwright
nixie
M.Robert Gibson

make my shortlist

but Peter V gets my vote for an unexpected, funny twist. (and would have made a great Twilight Zone episode)

Special mention goes to Ursa for the best pun ever. Out-ciders?

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

First of all some honorable mentions to @Parson , @Astro Pen and @The Judge

As others have said, @Peter V put together a great story of interplanetary breeding. Perhaps I shouldn't say this, but I can really relate to the alien.

@BigJ I enjoyed your story of a stuck up freighter crew and solitary farmer.

@Daysman , that was an inventive time travel story. I love the idea that they got so bored with being time travelers that they resorted to competing for the best cappuccino. I guess once you've witnessed the birth of Christ, a couple of Alexander's great victories and the death of Caesar a bit of light relief is welcome.

But I finally gave my vote to @Cat's Cradle . I'm usually a little wary of stories that rely on pathos, but this tale of a robot craving love and acceptance is very moving. And, as usual with Cat's Cradle, perfectly executed.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

OK
Vote goes to @Peter V

Honourable Menchies to

@TheIntelligencePolice
@StilLearning
@VRlass

For me, I have to say that quite a few of the stories strayed off the topic or never went anywhere near it. Try as I might (and I think I'm pretty flexible on interpretation) for some, I could see no connection to an outsider.

Hey, what do I know?

Having said that, there were some excelent off topic candidates, but if they don't match the brief then it's stoney ground for them IMO.

As you all know, or should do by now, I'm a picky b.....