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

[sule]

Honorable Mentions:
Aladdin Vain by reiver33
The mechanical parable of Flumberdinck Unterwhackle by AnRoinnUltra
The Emperor’s new… circumstances… by StilLearning
Moments in Time by mosaix
Over at the Headquarters of The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Barbarian Heroes by M. Robert Gibson

Vote:
The Cloak of Insignificance by johnnyjet

 

[paranoid marvin]

THX1138 and M.Robert Gibson would both get votes if I had 2. As I've only 1, then MRG gets it for giving the gift of laughter. I thought johnnyjet's story was really good too.

 

[johnnyjet]

My Long List, Short List, and *** Favorite ***:

Aladdin Vain - reiver33
History Class - paranoid marvin
Wash On Monday, Iron On Tuesday - Victoria Silverwolf
The mechanical parable of Flumberdinck Unterwhackle – AnRoinnUltra
Fast Fashion Feeds – emrosenagel
Love, Clone, Tailor (used as verbs) - Cat's Cradle
Something Borrowed – Guttersnipe
*** Bruce's Jersey – therapist ***
Rocket Stage - Astro Pen
Midnight Chimes - Teresa Edgerton
The Emperor’s new… circumstances… - StilLearning
Hazing in The Earth Diplomatic Service - Christine Wheelwright
Careful What You Wish For - Bren G
No Escape from a Self-Woven Prison - Ursa major

 

[THX1138]

Thanks @paranoid marvin for the mention!

 

[Phyrebrat]

The phyrevote is in.

As soon as I read it I suspected it’d get my vote. And it did.

Some mentions, second * and vote ** etc:

Omniwhere
Reiver33
VS
An Roinn Ultra
Bowler1
Cats cradle **
Therapist*
Mosaix
TJ
Ursa.

I had to discount some entries due to one thing or another — I’m a stickler for not using existing stories as the jump off: I think it mobilises our cultural capital and therefore offers more insight than 75 words gives. (i.e.existing nursery rhymes, SF, fairy tales etc), altho (shock horror) two comedy efforts made it onto my shortlist which is ultra rare

And I didn’t enter because I’m creatively bankrupt atm

 

[Lacedaemonian]

@THX1138 thanks for the mention - truly appreciate it. Such a difficult task to narrow down some favourites but here goes...

My winner: @AnRoinnUltra just resonated with me the most.

Some honourable mentions:
@Bowler1 - made me laugh out loud
@Teresa Edgerton - thought this was the best piece of prose. I am also a sucker for fairy tales and their retelling.
@mosaix - the most emotive piece.

Really enjoyed taking part in this and reading all of the entries. There are some incredible writers in this this community.

 

[Parson]

Time to vote.

Shortlisted -- Because

@THX1138 --- To Wear Ones Love --- Because, well, mood rings, who doesn't love a mood ring.

@Lacedaemonian --- A breech of confidentiality --- Because everyone likes socks in their drinks, right?

@johnnyjet --- The Cloak of Insignificance --- Because this was such a brilliant idea.

@therapist --- Bruce's Jersey --- Because this story was such a sweet fantasy.

@Christine Wheelwright --- Hazing in The Earth Diplomatic Service --- Because I practically died thinking about mining shafts.

@The Judge --- Putting the F Into Effigy --- Because this was such an unusual take on the theme.

@Bren G --- Careful What You Wish For --- Because it showed the importance of appearances and the shallowness of humans.

This was particularly hard because there were so many unusual stories and so many of us went for humor. Does that mean it's funny to be wearing clothes?

In the end I went for The Cloak of Insignificance by @johnnyjet. Just edging out @Bren G, @Christine Wheelwright and @therapist.

 

[THX1138]

Thanks for the shortlist @Parson !

 

[Lacedaemonian]

Thanks for the mention @Parson - amazing what folk can do with 75 words.

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

Thanks all for the stories.
Some great reads as usual

Really liked:

Heavy is the head by @Yozh -The magic anthropomorphic hat of destiny.
To wear ones love by @THX1138 -Green is the colour of my true love.
A breech of confidentiality by @Lacedaemonian -A tankard of toe juice.
Moment in time by @mosaix -Be advised that the timeinator may cause painful nostalgia.
Take me to your leader by @Bowler1 -Let it be known that the president normally has very large hands.
Careful what you wish for by @Bren G -Almost voted for this ...a twist in the tale.

Voted for:

The cloak of insignificance by @johnnyjet -Struck me as a twisted version of the myth of Deadelus and Icarus, with a savage plot device/ garment into the mix.

Thanks again to the reviewers and mods for keeping the show on the road

 

[THX1138]

Thanks for the mention @AnRoinnUltra!
And I presume it's a very lovely Martian green at that!

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Thanks so much to Peter V and johnnyjet for the listings, and huge thanks to Phyrebrat for the vote, I'm so pleased. (And I hope your muse returns very soon.)
You take your chances when you enter darker, wicked stories, and it's really encouraging to get a listing here, or a vote there.
Still a close race, good luck all! I'll vote soon, CC

 

[Phyrebrat]

Thanks so much to Peter V and johnnyjet for the listings, and huge thanks to Phyrebrat for the vote, I'm so pleased. (And I hope your muse returns very soon.)
You take your chances when you enter darker, wicked stories, and it's really encouraging to get a listing here, or a vote there.
Still a close race, good luck all! I'll vote soon, CC

Darker tales give us access to learning in ways other tales cannot

 

[paranoid marvin]

Darker tales give us access to learning in ways other tales cannot

Sidious has taught you well.

 

[Lacedaemonian]

@AnRoinnUltra Appreciate the mention also agree with much of your list.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Christine Wheelwright is clothed in trickery.

chrispenycate is clothed in tradition.

The Judge is clothed in witchery.

Bren G is clothed in misjudging.

Ursa major is clothed in divinity.

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

I enjoyed reading all the stories this month. The following especially stood out:

@genelewis
@Omniwhere
@AnRoinnUltra
@Bowler1
@Cat's Cradle
@johnnyjet
@mosaix
@The Judge
@Ursa major

And my vote went to @Bren G for a fairytale than nicely summed up the superficial times in which we live

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the mention, @Christine Wheelwright

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Vote goes to johnnyjet for a very clever plot.

 

[Bowler1]

I'm not expecting a lot from this month as I knew nudity would be middle of the road with this theme, but I couldn't resist once I had my idea. Making someone laugh out loud will do me, but I really wish I'd remembered hand size, as that would have been my last line - and who knows, it could have been a winner.

Anyway, AnRoinnUltra, Cats Cradle, StilLearning, Judga and Bren G get mentions with M.Robert Gibson for my vote. Well done all, clothes have brought out the comics this month with some very funny ideas.