DISCUSSION THREAD -- MAY 2023 -- 75 Word Writing Challenge

[otaylor]

So impressed with the entries, especially the early in ones. Rather than list nearly all of them, I made a short-short list
Very short list:
@JS Wiig @johnnyjet @Daysman @mosaix
Finally voted for @BigJ (can't resist python), although @mosaix very close second for me.

 

[Hugh]

I found it hard to choose between these four:
@Victoria Silverwolf
@therapist
@Astro Pen
@Cat's Cradle
In the end I voted for Astro Pen as there seemed something genuinely real in its emotional poignancy

Others that caught my attention, in no significant order: @The Judge @Christine Wheelwright @Ambrose @johnnyjet @Guttersnipe

 

[mosaix]

Away for a few days from tomorrow so I thought I'd better vote reasonably early rather than risk forgetting.

@Peter V gets my vote this month.

 

[THX1138]

@johnnyjet Thanks for the short list!

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

Voted for:

Commander Mike Harris: An Observation of Rational Inner Monologue Versus OCD by @Peter V
Great story, and seemed to describe clearly how the mind can play tricks. I think this is a universal thing, and that the author hit the nail on the head. I've been surprised by people I've known for years suddenly coming out with something like 'I can't use that, it's slightly off center ...I know it makes no difference but I just can't'.
(@Parson 's gaming entry would've gone close to a vote for a similar 'just have to finish the game' reason ...rules, they're getting out of hand -first: 'do not kill', then: 'every particle attracts every other particle in the universe with a force that is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers', then: 'no smoking', and now this

I also really liked:

The Cure by @Victoria Silverwolf ...'how'd ya manage to come off the drink?', 'I got myself addicted to heroin instead'

That Boy from Beta Prime by @Cat's Cradle ...for being unique, and rhythmic.

Hero of an Empty Grave by @Starbeast ...Left it all to the imagination, great stuff.

Thanks all for the stories, and for the reviews

 

[Peter V]

Thank you @ BigJ, @ mosaix and @ AnRoinnUltra for your vote and @ Yozh for the mention

@ AnRoinnUltra I appreciate your observation and comment. I cannot expand or add personal context, as at this time I think would be contravening the rules of the competition but hopefully after, I can shed some light on the roots of my tale. All I will say that after weeks with not an inkling of an idea, once I started it was probably the quickest to write and least edited of all of my 75 entries. Strange how something can suddenly kick in.

I have had a read through of the entries and already know that I am going to struggle to decide where to vote. I think I have narrowed it down to six...

 

[Far Stranger]

I really rated:
@Peter V
@AnRoinnUltra
@johnnyjet

But I voted for @Astro Pen because it had so much heart.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Congrats, everyone - really good entries this Challenge, all inspired by a terrific theme.

Here is my list, and vote:

Shortlist:

Victoria Silverwolf, Astro Pen, johnnyjet, Far Stranger, Phyrebrat, mosaix, Peter V, Bren G, The Judge

Vote:

I was torn between johnnyjet and Far Stranger, but cast my vote for johnnyjet's wonderfully strange entry, in the end.

I want to thank Yozh, THX1138, johnnyjet, Victoria Silverwolf, Hugh, and AnRoinnUltra for the lovely listings.
And a huge Wow, thanks! to reddishbird for the vote. My wife and I finally caught a good case of COVID early this month, and it felt I'd only have one sentence in me to give to the Challenge. Fortunately I seem to have written a half-way decent one.

Good luck in the voting, these last two days, all! Looks to be a close one, CC

 

[paranoid marvin]

I went for 4 very inventive entries this month: Victoria Silverwolf, reiver33 and mosaix made my shortlist, but johnnyjet gets my vote.

Thanks so much to sule for the vote and johnnyjet and Yozh or the shortlistings

 

[Wayne Mack]

After a lot of hemming and hawing and ordering, I finally voted for:

• Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past @Luiglin

I also strongly considered the following:

• Violent Delights @paranoid marvin
• Who do you think taught us how not to be seen? @BigJ
• Obsessive Persuasive Disorder @AnRoinnUltra

 

[Starbeast]

The Obsessed
Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed Obsessed

@Victoria Silverwolf
@therapist
@Cat's Cradle
@BigJ
@johnnyjet
@AnRoinnUltra
@Luiglin
@The Judge
@Ursa major​

 

[Luiglin]

Top three for me.

@emrosenagel - nice ribbity twist
@Peter V - my Dad worked with someone who only ever turned left in their car. She drove a huge loop to and from work everyday. Not an obsession, she just couldn't turn right at junctions.
@The Judge - have you hacked into my PC?

Had to hop for @emrosenagel

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Semi-finalists
The Cure - @Victoria Silverwolf
Barnacle Blues - @johnnyjet
Commander Mike Harris: ... - @Peter V

Winner
Obsessive Persuasive Disorder - @AnRoinnUltra

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

Winner
Obsessive Persuasive Disorder - @AnRoinnUltra

Wahey ...made a clip of that using Sooty & Sweep from the 80's British children's TV show, will stick it here once voting ends & the dust settles (it's puppetry at its very worst

 

[Bren G]

My vote goes to @paranoid marvin's Violent Delights. I must say, the entries this month seemed to be superbly crafted. Either Chroner's have adopted Chat GPT or have been upping their game. I know it's the latter!

Runner Up: @Guttersnipe. Other stand outs include @Victoria Silverwolf, @M. Robert Gibson, @rejndzer87.

Big thanks to @Artoriarius for the vote!

 

[emrosenagel]

My vote: Commander Mike Harris: An Observation of Rational Inner Monologue Versus OCD by @Peter V

My shortlist: Conversations with a Writer by @The Judge, Count Down by @mosaix, Alien by @therapist and Barnacle Blues by @johnnyjet

Thanks for the short listings @Yozh and @johnnyjet, and thanks very much for the vote @Luiglin!

 

[johnnyjet]

Wow! I can't believe all the votes and mentions I've received this month. Thanks to all! However, hanging onto first place is going to be tough with Peter V breathing down my neck! Whoever wins, I'm honored to have run the race with you.

 

[The Judge]

A good deal of obsessive behaviour this month, though to my (rules-obsessive) mind not everyone hit the theme and genre.

My shortlist:

AnRoinnUltra -- Obsessive Persuasive Disorder​

Cat's Cradle -- That Boy From Beta Prime​

JS Wiig -- Beta Polari​

Peter V -- Commander Mike Harris: An Observation...​

reiver33 -- Invisible​

rejndzer87 -- The cost​

Ursa major -- Just Imagine the Conversation...​

Victoria Silverwolf -- The Cure​

After a good deal of mental back and forth, I went with ARN's tale of a worry that won't go away.

Tweaked writerly thanks for the lovely mentions THX, Hugh, CC, Strbeast, Luiglin and emrosenagel! And Obsessive Just-Need-To-Make-It-Perfect thanks for the gorgeous vote Ambrose!

 

[Daysman]

Difficult topic this month!

Note: a half hour of editing my reply and that's all I got, so I may come back within the hour to tweak it further.

My fave five, inc. vote:

• @Victoria Silverwolf
• @emrosenagel
• @johnnyjet (vote)
• @Luiglin
• @Elckerlyc

Many thanks to @Victoria Silverwolf for your vote, to @Christine Wheelwright and @otaylor for your mentions, and as always @Parson and @Victoria Silverwolf for your reviews.

Have a great weekend / bank holiday!!!

D

 

[OuttaInc]

Interesting theme this month! I particularly enjoyed stories by @Astro Pen @JS Wiig @emrosenagel @paranoid marvin @reiver33 @Peter V @Bren G and @The Judge
And my vote went to @Far Stranger for the perfect blend of theme, genre, and character arc. Well done!