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

[Elckerlyc]

Congratulations @Phyrebrat!

 

[Ursa major]

I want alms.

By the sound of it, you'll also be needing hollow legs....

 

[The Judge]

Congratulations, petit morveux! Commiserations, Victoria!

Thanks for the finalist listing, CC!

 

[mosaix]

Congratulations @Phyrebrat!

Commiserations @Victoria Silverwolf.

Many thanks for the last minute stealth vote from @Ursa major.

 

[nixie]

Congratulations @Phyrebrat

 

[Daysman]

Congrats @Phyrebrat !!!

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Congratulations, Phyrebrat! Commiserations Victoria!

Looking forward to Cosmic Horrors in October, CC

 

[JS Wiig]

@Phyrebrat congratulations!

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

Congratulations @Phyrebrat !

Thanks to @Parson , @Astro Pen , @Ian Fortytwo and @Elckerlyc for the votes.

And to @johnnyjet , @genelewis and @Cat's Cradle for the shortlistings and mentions.

 

[Parson]

Congrats @Phyrebrat and a catch of the bouquet to @Victoria Silverwolf for the good things to come.

 

[Starbeast]

Congratulations Phyrebrat
@Phyrebrat

Silver Metal - @Victoria Silverwolf
Bronze Metal - @Christine Wheelwright

Star Wars Metal - Everyone else who Submitted

​

My Story: I decided to write a tale about giving humankind another chance for a peaceful free world from a futuristic dystopia. I was inspired by the few who dare to discuss where this world may be heading in the near future, George Orwell's novel, 1984 and by the 1988 John Carpenter film, They Live.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Congratulations Phyrebrat
@Phyrebrat

Silver Metal - @Victoria Silverwolf
Bronze Metal - @Christine Wheelwright

Star Wars Metal - Everyone else who Submitted

​

My Story: I decided to write a tale about giving humankind another chance for a peaceful free world from a futuristic dystopia. I was inspired by the few who dare to discuss where this world may be heading in the near future, George Orwell's novel, 1984 and by the 1988 John Carpenter film, They Live.

Is it bad that I’d rather have a Star Wars medal?

 

[Starbeast]

@Phyrebrat I still feel bad that Chewbacca didn't receive a metal. "What am I, chop liver?", said the Wookie.

BTW, I was also inspired by the late, great Martin Luther King Jr.

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Congratulation @Phyrebrat

Big thanks for the votes
@paranoid marvin @Artoriarius @emrosenagel

And more thanks for the mentions
@Christine Wheelwright @Starbeast @Daysman

---

As for my own effort...
First off I want to apologise most humbly for the grammatical error - I used prophesy (the verb) when I should have used prophecy (the noun)
Needless to say I took the walk of shame through my home town streets


For those of you who don't know ancient Greek, Ailuros means cat, hence the title The Oracle of Ailuros
I initially started off with just the prophecy (see, I can use it correctly) but then I wanted to establish the presence of cats so when the king tripped over one it wouldn't come out of nowhere - Chekhov's gun and all that

I also hope that the prophecy hinted at a kitten - Felix is almost always a cat, thanks to Felix the Cat, and a child cat is a... you know. The rest just sort of happened

My first attempt at a story came about because I was having one of those no inspiration months, then I went for my two-yearly eye-test, and one of the posters in the waiting room mentioned Vision and I thought Aha! What if there was a third eye test for clairvoyants/remote viewers - tell me what's in the box sort of thing - but I wasn't satisfied with it. I might post it


So there we are

Carry on

 

[THX1138]

Since we are sharing, mine is based on a quote by Bruce Lee:
"Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do."

The main idea is about taking a good, deep and hard look into your very core, and act upon it. Being responsible when others are not.

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

Well done @Phyrebrat -and fitting that ya have the job of selecting the inspiration for scary darey season, great story

 

[Yozh]

Congrats, @Phyrebrat! Great little horror tale.

Thanks @M. Robert Gibson, @johnnyjet, @emrosenagel, @The Judge for the mentions.

 

[Luiglin]

Congrats @Phyrebrat and cosmic horror... maybe a I need to write about another damp patch. How about the ceiling?

Thanks to @Daysman and @JS Wiig for the votes plus the mentions folks.

Strange this month, my idea came from a favourite lyric of mine From the Faithless song, Reverence.

So just chill
And get off the racetrack
And take a pace back, face facts
It's your decision
You don't need eyes to see
You need vision

However, I couldn't fit an upbeat tale in 75, so down the dark rabbit hole I went and myths always talk about seers needing to be blind to see.

I admit to being thankful for one thing. I've been very disheartened in my output both for sometime, both in quality and amount. This came to a head in August, with missing the 75 and asking a mod if my account could be deleted. Thankfully, they either forgot or ignored to follow up after initial acknowledgement.

BTW - I'd advise anyone to listen Faithless, even if you're not into dance music. Maxi Jazz had a sublime way with lyrics that are often way more than just a dance or pop song.

 

[The Judge]

I admit to being thankful for one thing. I've been very disheartened in my output both for sometime, both in quality and amount. This came to a head in August, with missing the 75 and asking a mod if my account could be deleted. Thankfully, they either forgot or ignored to follow up after initial acknowledgement.

We forget nothing! But sometimes we shelve allow a lengthy period of grace to elapse before actioning matters we really, really don't want to action.

 

[paranoid marvin]

We forget nothing! But sometimes we shelve allow a lengthy period of grace to elapse before actioning matters we really, really don't want to action.

Which is a very good thing. The ability to win several Challenges (as Luiglin has done) over the last couple of years does not go away, but it does sometimes play hide-and-seek with us.