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

[Parson]

@Luiglin .... A Green Return .... This is a story which gives us a look at Santa's smelly green solution.

 

[LittleStar]

*knocks on the door timidly*

Hello? Mind if I join in just one time?
Something like a Christmas miracle that I can find the time to do any kind of writing these last 4-5 years, but I always kept meaning to poke my head in and say hi.

Nice to see so many familiar faces, and of course always good to see new ones (to me at least) as well. I look forward to reading everyone’s entries, and hopefully managing to find time to vote

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

LittleStar: A heartfelt wish of return.

 

[Parson]

*knocks on the door timidly*

Hello? Mind if I join in just one time?

All on board! Thanks for joining in again.

@LittleStar .... Just One Day, How It Used To Be .... This is a sweet story that left a tear in my eye.

 

[DaCrazyKat29]

Thanks love fanfiction and stuff like that lol-I love the stories I’ve read (new here so….)

 

[DaCrazyKat29]

Love the sound of magical realism-gives the brain a great chance to think lol-i don’t think it should be too hard to write (maybe I’m getting too confident…) I love that kind of thing! when I first tried to write this I didn’t realise how challenging it was to write… by that I mean to limit myself to 75 words-was anyone else like that on their first 75-word competition?

 

[THX1138]

Love the sound of magical realism-gives the brain a great chance to think lol-i don’t think it should be too hard to write (maybe I’m getting too confident…) I love that kind of thing! when I first tried to write this I didn’t realise how challenging it was to write… by that I mean to limit myself to 75 words-was anyone else like that on their first 75-word competition?

I was, and to a point still am!

 

[Provincial]

Love the sound of magical realism-gives the brain a great chance to think lol-i don’t think it should be too hard to write (maybe I’m getting too confident…) I love that kind of thing! when I first tried to write this I didn’t realise how challenging it was to write… by that I mean to limit myself to 75 words-was anyone else like that on their first 75-word competition?

Yes, it’s a very particular skill set, and I think we are all still working on it!

 

[THX1138]

@Provincial Very true indeed. There are a few who are good at it. I'm so-so at this 75-word stuff. But it is fun and makes one think!

 

[Parson]

I know that for me writing a 75 word story means that the word count is always at least the second most important part of writing the story. --- And this from someone who's lost 4 of his stories to Word Count!

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@Christine Wheelwright .... A Magically Realistic Christmas .... A story about the best plans of mice and, well, bunnies.

@johnnyjet .... Bears Discover Christmas .... A story about discovering a real kind of Christmas.

 

[Parson]

@genelewis .... Invisible Holidays .... A story which points out those holidays which you knew you were missing.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Christine Wheelwright: A wry example of anthropomorphism.

johnnyjet: A thoughtful reimagining of tradition.

genelewis: An imaginative list of unreality.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Hi all. Feeling guilty as I just realised I’d not voted in the Nov 75 poll! — I have an excuse !

Just want to apologise and say I do tend to vote even when I’ve not entered.

Trying to catch up.

 

[Parson]

Hi all. Feeling guilty as I just realised I’d not voted in the Nov 75 poll! — I have an excuse !

Just want to apologise and say I do tend to vote even when I’ve not entered.

Trying to catch up.

No problem. Life happens.

 

[Lacedaemonian]

I find voting quite stressful. Always fear I missed some piece of magic. Would hate for that person not to realise how great they were.

 

[Luiglin]

I find voting quite stressful. Always fear I missed some piece of magic. Would hate for that person not to realise how great they were.

Don't worry, I forgive you

 

[Parson]

I find voting quite stressful. Always fear I missed some piece of magic. Would hate for that person not to realise how great they were.

It is always possible to miss something. But that is what it means to be human. And even when the vast majority of the people recognize something truly inspiring and foundational others will see it differently and that doesn't make the others wrong. For example Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address is widely considered one of the very best and most memorable speeches given. But here is something that people do not know:

"A correspondent for the Times of London called the speech “dull and commonplace.” The Chicago Times claimed Lincoln insulted the fallen soldiers the ceremony was supposed to honor." (From Myths and Mysteries About the Gettysburg Address)

I wouldn't doubt for a second that these correspondent's were very well read and could usually see and understand great speeches, and yet history largely laughs at them today. So, don't worry about others so much. Be fair and honest and humble and you'll do just fine.

 

[THX1138]

I find voting quite stressful. Always fear I missed some piece of magic. Would hate for that person not to realise how great they were.

And adding to what Parson said, that's what the short/long list is for. Say if you like 4 stories, vote for the better one, as you see it, and mention the rest. For me, a mention is as good as a vote.

 

[Parson]

@M. Robert Gibson .... The Final Interrogation of Fingers McNastie .... A story which reminds us that sending the big guy in is better than sending in the clowns.

@AnRoinnUltra .... Back in five ...millennia .... A story which builds us toward an alternate universe.

@paranoid marvin .... They're Going To Find Out... .... A story which helps us to understand that there are real consequences for unbelief.

 

[Bowler1]

I really enjoy the 75 word limit as your entry has to be to the point with a clear concept, or the votes don't roll in. Getting your idea across is the problem, and what seems clear to the writer can be vague to the reader, but practice does of course help. I have had one victory and a number of frustrating second places a long time ago, with scattered votes being my more current record, but I still love the making the attempt. I've even managed to write myself into a few entries that didn't earn me any votes (which with my greatness is clearly wrong), but that could all change again this month. Anyway I think a simple and clear idea helps, all the rest is trying to get this across.

I have noted Parson's recommendation to being humble and I say bah humbug to being humble - we're all great, and anyone that disagrees with that assessment will be the next lynch mob victim (which can't be Parson, because you'd go straight to hell if you lynch him).