Discussion Thread - July 2022 75 Word Writing Challenge

[Stable]

I voted for @Daysman
The honourables: @Luiglin, @The Judge .

 

[Ian Fortytwo]

Voted for @Starbeast

Short list
@The Judge
@Christine Wheelwright
@Hugh
@Parson
@Ursa major
@Victoria Silverwolf

 

[nixie]

A long shortlist, there was others I could have added.
@Cat's Cradle
@Victoria Silverwolf
@Peter V
@Parson
@VRlass
@chrispenycate
@BT Jones
@The Judge

Vote
@M. Robert Gibson .

 

[BT Jones]

Shortlist:

• @Victoria Silverwolf
• @Daysman
• @Parson
• @johnnyjet
• @M. Robert Gibson
• @Phyrebrat
• @paranoid marvin

Finalists:

• @StilLearning - This brought me a wide grin!
• @The Judge - Sadly poignant.
• @Ursa major - Delightful whimsy.

Vote:

• @Aknot - Hauntingly beautiful.

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Runners up (or is it runner-ups as I saw it spelt during the world athletics comp?)
- An Outside Chance - @paranoid marvin
- The Outsider - @Parson
- I’m Marrying a Monster From Outer Space - @Peter V

And vote
* Outside? - @Christine Wheelwright

 

[Wayne Mack]

Quite an interesting array of stories. In the end,

Vote:
What’ll it be, Mister? @JS Wiig

Others that deserved at least a mention:
My Baby Boy @Bowler1
Ugly Snowball @Phyrebrat
Boo @Guttersnipe

 

[JS Wiig]

@Wayne Mack thank you so much for the vote, greatly appreciated!

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

Had trouble deciding, really liked:

Circling Towards a Drain by @Cat's Cradle -fitted the theme well with great imagery and almost got the vote.

I’m Marrying a Monster From Outer Space by @Peter V -had a funky old school SF sort of theme.

Not There by @ThatWordCat -did something with memory, not sure what but it worked for me.

We Watched Him from the Window by @johnnyjet -had a great opening line.

An Outside Chance by @paranoid marvin -took a different slant on the theme

I ended up voting for The Outsider by @Parson -It reminded me of old school SF. The idea of humans locking themselves away underground to see out an apocalypse seems current. Plus the arc ended up with the protagonist up top to find all is well with the world

Thanks @Christine Wheelwright for a great theme, and to the reviewers

 

[paranoid marvin]

Thanks for the shortlistings AnRoinnUltra, M.Robert Gibson and BT Jones.

 

[Parson]

@Ursa major .... Knowledge: The Undeniable Truth .... Sometimes competitions have to end with a pun that's squeezed down to juice.

-----------

Major thanks for the short listings by @Aknot, @Christine Wheelwright, @Ian Fortytwo, @nixie, @BT Jones, and @M. Robert Gibson. That was quite a bit of attention for my modest little story.

And then.... A vote! and a wonderful synopsis of the story which was spot on! by @AnRoinnUltra.

 

[johnnyjet]

My Short List and *** Favorite ***:

Circling Towards a Drain - Cat's Cradle
View Through a Window - Victoria Silverwolf
I’m Marrying a Monster From Outer Space - Peter V
A Memento – Aknot
*** Outside? - Christine Wheelwright ***
Therefore by their fruits you will know them - BT Jones
A Matter of Perspective. – mosaix
The Devil Is In the Details – MatthewKusza
Ugly Snowball – Phyrebrat
The Eternal Scapegoat - The Judge

 

[Astro Pen]

Short list
@Cat's Cradle
@Peter V
@Aknot
@ThatWordCat
@mosaix

Vote
@VRlass

 

[sule]

Shortlist
Circling Towards a Drain by Cat's Cradle
A Memento by Aknot
Echoes From Outside / Outsider Othered: by StilLearning
The Eternal Scapegoat by The Judge

Vote
Order for Mr Palmer by Daysman

 

[Hugh]

There've been months when I've struggled to shortlist, but certainly not this time.

I'm particularly full of admiration for the craftmanship/writing of the following (in no particular order):
@Aknot A Memento
@Peter V I’m Marrying a Monster From Outer Space
@JS Wiig What’ll it be, Mister?
@The Judge The Eternal Scapegoat
@Phyrebrat Ugly Snowball
@Luiglin Gerald
@Astro Pen The Occupier
@mosaix A Matter of Perspective
@Cat's Cradle Circling Towards a Drain
@nixie City Vacation
and there are a fair number of others that also impressed me....

Although I was fairly certain early on which story I would vote for, I've had several days to mull over my choice, and these have only served to reinforce my views. I think it's very difficult to write a story that's not derivative in some way, or a re-invention, of past themes from the giants who have gone before us, however skilled we are or how hard we try. To my mind @Phyrebrat's entry is not only completely original but touches the heart.

The Special Pun Award goes of course to @Ursa major

and... Many thanks as ever to @Parson and @Victoria Silverwolf for the effort and thoughtfulness you put into your reviews.

And a BIG THANK YOU to @Ian Fortytwo for the listing.

​

 

[Starbeast]

Voted for @Starbeast

You made my day shine bright. Thank you.

Those on the Outside

@JS Wiig
@AnRoinnUltra
@Victoria Silverwolf
@Ian Fortytwo
@nixie
@Peter V
@Christine Wheelwright
@TheEndIsNigh
@ThatWordCat
@BigJ
@Bren G
@Parson
@StilLearning
@Hugh
@chrispenycate
@M. Robert Gibson
@Luiglin
@mosaix
@Ursa major​

 

[Parson]

Appreciate being on the "Outside" @Starbeast

 

[TheIntelligencePolice]

My first entry got a mention!!! Ta @TheEndIsNigh

I have to say these are all excellent entries and I had real trouble making a short list, but in the end these were the ones to make the cut.

@Victoria Silverwolf
@Peter V
@Parson
@VRlass
@Hugh
@leorising
@Phyrebrat
@The Judge

But my vote goes to @Cat's Cradle, it's the one story that kept me going back and rereading, brilliant work.

 

[Parson]

@TheIntelligencePolice Thanks for placing me among those who "make the cut."

 

[therapist]

Appreciate being on the "Inside" @Starbeast

 

[Peter V]

Cracking selection of entries and a tough job to separate my favourites.

Runners up, in no particular order (I lie, it's in order they were posted)...

@ Cat's Cradle
@ Victoria Silverwolf
@ Daysman
@ Christine Wheelwright
@ BigJ
@ StilLearning
@ Hugh
@ M. Robert Gibson
@ BT Jones
@ The Judge

But my vote, mainly for the different and literal way outsider was used and specifically its context with insider, goes to
@ Parson

well done everyone and thanks as always to Victoria and Parson for the reviews