DISCUSSION THREAD -- June 2024 -- 75 Word Writing Challenge

[Yozh]

Thank you, @Phyrebrat for the mention and @M. Robert Gibson for the vote!

My vote this month went to @DaCrazyKat29 I liked this rather mythical personification with a light (ha!) and humorous tone. Reminds me of some Shel Silverstein.

Lots of good stories, though:

@Cooper_HFT a touchingly complete story
@Christine Wheelwright great humor
@chrispenycate for a thought-provoking counterpoint to @DaCrazyKat29
@Phyrebrat Love the horror of unanticipated consequences.
@Parson ..and more scientific meddling that can't possibly go wrong
@paranoid marvin Love that the alien neighbor's first response is "Ayuh"

 

[Cat's Cradle]

First and foremost, @johnnyjet, I hope the surgery goes very well today.

Next, thanks for the terrific reviews, Provincial, Victoria Silverwolf and Parson. That's writing too difficult for me to ever attempt.

Good month of stories... here's my shortlist, and vote:

Shortlist:

Victoria Silverwolf, Cooper_HFT, Christine Wheelwright, DaCrazyCat29, chrispenycate, Phyrebrat

My favorite story for the Challenge was AnRoinnUltra's very entertaining, The Problem with Anarcho-capitalism. Loved it when it was first posted, and it hit the mark again on my re-read just now. Well done, ARU!

Huge thanks to Victoria Silverwolf, Christine Wheelwright and Phyrebrat for the listings. Good luck all, the rest of the way, CC

edit to add: thank you, mosaix, for the vote! That's very cool, and it made my day.

 

[Parson]

@Yozh --- Thanks for the mention. I'm sure that "nothing could go wrong with a little scientific tampering."

 

[Guttersnipe]

Thank you kindly for your vote, @reiver33!

 

[mosaix]

I have a stealth vote from @nixie. Many thanks.

 

[Yozh]

I meant to mention @AnRoinnUltra also, entertaining social commentary and creative take on the theme of “light”

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

Thanks all for all the stories, and for the kind words @Cat's Cradle & @Yozh ...and welcome to the new reviewer @Provincial , fair play.

Some great stories, enjoyed them all:

Professor Binfire and the Dark Light Fright Night by @Provincial
…Nobody panic, it’s only armageddon. (almost voted for this one)

Yet, Again by @THX1138
…Never again, till the next time.

In the Privacy of a Suburban Home’s Bathroom by @Cat's Cradle
…The future of the WC is bright.

Metamorphosis by @Culhwch
…Follow the light.

Shadows by @Victoria Silverwolf
…You can’t have one without the other.

A captain’s sacrifice by @Cooper_HFT
…The captain didn’t go down with the ship.

A Shocking Near Death Experience by @Christine Wheelwright
…New ways, renewed life.

A Promise Made by @Bren G
…Good old Massey Ferguson.

Naming Rights by @Peter V
…It is your fault.

Kiss me, Pandora by @reiver33
…Careful now.

Run towards the Darkness by @DaCrazyKat29
…Anthropomorphizing -great image of the Universe(s), got my vote.

Prism of Hope by @Guttersnipe
…Animal Rescue.

For Better, For Worse by @mosaix
…Heartwarming.

Sunlight by @Daysman
…Guided by the light.

Together Alone by @Luiglin
…What we do in the shadows.

Starbeast and Tonto the Talking Horse in “An Illuminating Idea” by @Starbeast
…How many Space Cadets does it take to change a lightbulb?

Journey to the Light by @Yozh
…The way in.

The Speed of the Dark by @chrispenycate
…You’ll never beat the light.

Hard Light by @Phyrebrat
…Accidents will happen (almost voted for this)

Lighthouse Keeper with Flashlight App by @johnnyjet (hope you're on the mend by the time you see this)
…A hand to guide.

The Light Dawns by @Parson
…Burning Ambition

Light Bringer by @therapist
…There must be a better way.

Dining Out by @paranoid marvin
…Hunger is a good sauce.

Georgie Porgie by @Ursa major
…Comuppance and a light meal.

Thanks as always to @Victoria Silverwolf , @Parson & new recruit @Provincial -always enjoy reading the reviews.

 

[Bren G]

I thought @DaCrazyKat29 's tale was most inventive and original so it was a clear winner for me.

Runner up was the redoubtable @Peter V .

Cheers all and enjoy the summer for those of us in the northern hemisphere!

 

[Parson]

Thanks to @AnRoinnUltra for your review.

 

[Provincial]

Yes, thanks @AnRoinnUltra for your review! I can't help admiring how well and (apparently) effortlessly you did them all!

 

[Cooper_HFT]

All of the reviews are excellent, well done to everyone that puts in that extra effort. Definitely adds another dimension to the challenge overall.

This was my first time writing anything this short and it was good fun. I'll definitely be doing a few more!

 

[Hugh]

I voted for @Christine Wheelwright 's wonderful "A Shocking Near Death Experience"

......it all looks very close in the poll..... Good luck everyone!

Meantime these others caught my eye for one reason or other...
In no significant order:

@Starbeast
@DaCrazyKat29
@mosaix
@Victoria Silverwolf
@Peter V
@Luiglin
@therapist
@Bren G
@Parson

 

[THX1138]

Voted for @Daysman

Liked:
@Cooper_HFT
@Bren G
@Peter V
@mosaix
@Starbeast
@johnnyjet
@AnRoinnUltra

Great stories all-around!

 

[paranoid marvin]

DaCrazyKat29 gets my vote, with Parson, Starbeast and AnRoinnUltra on my shortlist.

Thankyou to those who shortlisted my story, and for the (as ever) kind and considered reviews.

 

[Parson]

Thanks to @Hugh and @paranoid marvin for the shortlistings.

 

[johnnyjet]

Thanks for all the well wishes! My surgery went well, and I'm beginning the long and painful recovery process.

Happy to be back and checking out those running toward the finish line. Looks like a nail-biter!

 

[Parson]

@johnnyjet .... Glad to hear about your surgery.

 

[Daysman]

And so ends the 2024 summer solstice challenge: the brightest, most optimistic, least world ending stories since… hang about… wot, no? Ah.

Well, maybe next year…

My favourites in the hall of bright carvings, inc. vote:
@Culhwch
@Cooper_HFT (vote)
@Christine Wheelwright
@mosaix
@Luiglin
@Phyrebrat
@Parson

Thanks all for these entertainments, @Provincial, @THX1138 and (under the cover of night) the stealthy @Luiglin for your votes, and @Provincial, @AnRoinnUltra, @Victoria Silverwolf and @Parson for your glowing reviews.

Just made it.

D

 

[Ursa major]

​

The poll is closed and we have a winner:

Congratulations, DaCrazyKat29!​

 

[THX1138]

@DaCrazyKat29 Congratulations!