DISCUSSION THREAD -- NOVEMBER 2022 -- 75 Word Writing Challenge

Wow, an astounding amount of great entries this month. This would be the second time I've contemplated not doing a shortlist, because of how many names are on it. But again, I didn't want those people not to think I didn't like their entry. Is there a magic number?

Shortlist
Podium

Vote
As soon as I read it, I knew @AnRoinnUltra's hilarious pastiche of moon conspiracy theories and Capricorn One was my winner.
 
Okay off I go to vote. USA got a surprising tie in soccer today. Iowa's football team surprisingly lost. So here it is fairly late at night and I'm just going off to read 75's.

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A Question of Faith by @Phyrebrat because the story made me think about what a small change could really mean. (Runner-up)

Questions for Amelia by @johnnyjet because the story dealt with a different answer to a longstanding question. (Vote)

It was hard for me to form a short list. I found that there were a lot of stories that I just didn't understand what the question was and others that I felt were not grounded clearly enough in the current timeline.
 
I see you've deleted your thoughts, @Elckerlyc, but I wanted to say that it is a hard thing, what you mentioned. It's one reason I've considered stopping my own list-making. I think because it's so difficult to get votes here that I'll continue them, for now (when time allows) - someone might get encouragement from being on another person's (subjective) list of worthy stories, and I acknowledge others might be discouraged by not making many lists.
When I don't do well in a Challenge, I see that as part of the overall challenge of entering... it inspires me the next month to write a better story. I'm not sure how many people here are entering because they hope to hone skills they will use towards being published someday. But my - unsolicited - thoughts are that the publishing world must be a lot more brutal than the world of our Challenges. Don't be discouraged here, if possible, be inspired... show 'em all next month. Hang in there, it seems to me that you do pretty well in the Challenges, so just keep trying, CC
 
Thanks for the shortlisting BT Jones.:)

I loved the genre, but really struggled with the theme this month. My favourites this time around were

AnRoinnUltra for an alternative take on the Apollo 11 mission, Hugh for a beautiful thought on how things might have turned out for JL, but the winner was the hilarious story written by Pyan. Putting the clocks forward/backward takes on a whole new meaning for those living 5000 years ago! Very inventive and very funny.
 
Hard to pick this time as the theme meant there was probably always going to be plenty of variety afoot.

Really liked:

That Tricky Bard by @Bren G 2b. If not 2b then 2c. And if ya don't c, then go back to 1a.

Empathy; Doubt; Defiance by @BigJ For the way the magic orb was quietly thrown into the story 'ha, an infinity of toil -good enough for the fiend. (and a full two minutes later:) ...wait, what's the story with that orb.'

Meanwhile, over at the Temporal Criminal Police Organization by @M. Robert Gibson A Timecop's lot is not a happy one.

Ended up voting for:

Kristallnacht by @The Judge Sent a shiver down my spine. The author's work usually goes over my head (not a criticism) but the mirror theme reflected a history that should never have been.

Thanks all for all the stories, and for all the consistent reviews.
(looks like I'm in with a shout this time -the world's gone mad;)
 
I'm glad to see my vote has kept the race to victory open and it's going to be close.

A good month and as I like my history, I enjoyed all the little twists everyone managed to pitch.

Good luck everyone, and it's still not too late to vote (ahem... for me).
 
I enjoyed reading the entries, well done all.

Here are my lists:

Shortlist:
Victoria Silverwolf, Peter V, THX1138, AnRoinnUltra, Christine Wheelwright, Phyrebrat, Elckerlyc, Hugh, Parson

Finalists:

Pyan - a very funny, clever story, presented in around 50 words, amazing. Makes me feel wasteful with my extravagant 75.

johnnyjet - had the feel of a very good Twilight Zone episode.

The Judge - beautifully written and very moving. A timeless story, sadly.

I went for johnnyjet by just a hair over my other finalists. I really liked that this entry asked questions, and left us with questions at the end.

Big thanks to LordOfWizards and Christine Wheelwright for the wonderful listings. Huge Thank You to TheEndIsNigh for the lovely vote! Many contenders for the crown, best of luck all, CC

edit to fix a typo :)
 
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