Discussion Thread -- August 2018 75-word Writing Challenge

[Ursa major]

I voted for Cathbad. I thought that his idea stood out among the rest (but obviously not ). Anyhow, there is a wide open contest this month with no one out in the lead yet. That must be good and makes a change, although a five or six way tie-breaking vote will be tough on the losers.

Not to mention the person who would have to set up the tie-breaker poll (with all 5 or 6 stories copied into it) at one in the morning.

 

[nixie]

Favourites
@Cathbad
@Cat's Cradle
@mosaix
@M. Robert Gibson

Vote
@TheDustyZebra

 

[Peter V]

Quite a few caught my eye but I opted for Luiglin for his completely unexpected (and highly amusing) ending.

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

The award for best toilet humour goes to The small things in life - @Luiglin
The award for pointing out the futility of writing if no-one can read goes to Eli Got it Wrong - @Justin Swanton
The award for the best cautionary tale about returning library books on time goes to Hero Out of Time - @Starbeast

And my vote for the best ending goes to Book of Life - @Peter V

 

[johnnyjet]

Lots of great stories! With much difficulty, my Long List, Short List, and **** Favorite ****:

Kelvin 506 - Victoria Silverwolf
A BOOK JUST FOR YOU – Ashleyne
The Banshee Of Old Kilkenny – dannymcq
GRANDMA's TREASURE – Calliopenjo
The Book of Shells - D. A. Xiaolin Spires
Eli Got It Wrong - Justin Swanton
***** The Book of Hope – Parson *****
Not the First - M. Robert Gibson
Book of Life - Peter V
A Cosmos Within – Onyx
Forged Anew at the Pearly Gates - The Judge
But Thinking Makes It So – TheDustyZebra

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Thank you for the listing, nixie!!

I don't think I've ever seen a voting spread quite like this...on the 4th day of voting there are six people tied with the lead - with two votes! And another 14-15 in second, with one; and others still in contention with zero votes, it's just that close. Cool.

 

[Joshua Jones]

Thank you for the listing, nixie!!

I don't think I've ever seen a voting spread quite like this...on the 4th day of voting there are six people tied with the lead - with two votes! And another 14-15 in second, with one; and others still in contention with zero votes, it's just that close. Cool.

Let the bribing of the electorate begin!

In seriousness, I do think it is really great to see this spread. It says much about the writers who contributed, as well as the theme and genre selection of this month. Whoever wins, it has been a great month in the 75s.

 

[Hugh]

There's still plenty of time for those of us with no votes at all to speed past all others to Infinity and Beyond.

 

[Starbeast]

Thank you, Starbeast, for the vote. I do appreciate it. It's been a long month it seems. I wish everybody the best.

You are immensely welcome, Calliopenjo. This was a tough vote for me, because you were one of five runners up. However, "spin-the-bottle" is a very precise science. But realistically, I enjoyed your story the best.

OH MY GOSH!!! I was about to post, but I thought I'd check the Poll. And, lo and behold, you gave me a stealth vote THANKS BRO I'm stunned

Good theme this month - it's brought out a bunch of different stories. My favourites:

• Starbeast - caught!

Thanks for the mention, Glen. You made me smile. I thought that last line in your story was great, "We have to go by the book." Stay awesome.

The award for the best cautionary tale about returning library books on time goes to Hero Out of Time - @Starbeast

Thanks Robert. You made my day shine bright. I liked your astronaut tale too. A very unexpected and cool story. Keep em' flying.

 

[Parson]

Hi my name is Bob, some of you may remember me.
I wrote a story in a hurry hoping to get it in under the wire, it's not a good one but I wanted to participate.
Unfortunately I was in intensive care and unable to enter.
I probably won't be able to vote either as my eyesight is bad at this time.
Just wanted to let you know where I've been ( a really sick puppy ) and hope to show my poor effort just for the hell of it..
Bob

Bob, you are my hero for writing a story in that condition. I pray that your healing might be expedited.

-------------

@johnnyjet .... Thank you kind sir for the vote. It is sweet to get a vote, very sweet indeed!

 

[SamThomas]

I cannot fathom the lack of love for @Anodyne! It's funny and dark.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Not to mention the person who would have to set up the tie-breaker poll (with all 5 or 6 stories copied into it) at one in the morning.

Now that I've voted, I believe you mean 8.

This may be the first time my shorter list is more than half of my shortlist! I was tempted to revive the third level I've used from time to time, while contemplating my vote.

Anodyne -- untitled
Brian -- The Book
Cathbad -- The Final Story
TEIN -- It's Absolute Torture
Joshua -- The Book of Enlightenment
mosaix -- Time Enough and More...
BigJ -- Loved and Lost, and Found
*johnnyjet -- The Book of Books*
DEO -- Not the Spellbook You're Looking For
MRG -- Not the First
Peter V -- Book of Life
Perp -- The Book of Always
TJ -- Forged Anew at the Pearly Gates
Ursa -- Agatha Christie! What Have You Done?

 

[LittleStar]

I lost track of days, (seems all too common recently) so almost missed this.

A good bunch of stories, but my winners all come from very early on.

My under the wire vote goes to Cathbad, with podium spots fo Brian and dannymcg

EDIT: and looking at the figures now, I make that a 10-way tie for first place at the moment

 

[chrispenycate]

A ten way? That's not a tiebreaker, it's a competition on its own. So, from my continuing spreadsheet, I make it that:- Anodyne, Ashleyne, Brian G Turner, Cat's Cradle, Cory Swanson, D.A. Xiaolin Spires, Justin Swanton, Onyx, Robert Mackay, Russiano, Shyrka, The Judge and Ursa major have submitted without yet voting (a couple of them are first time entrants and might not have caught onto voting techniques yet, while at least as many are serial 'leave it to the last minute'rs, but I prod haphazardly nonetheless), while Dave, Phyrebrat, scarpelius and Vaz all voted despite not having submitted this month (cheers and thrown blossoms).

My short short list consisted of: Cat's Cradle, johnnyjet, nixie and TheDustyZebra, which just goes to show I pruned it back overenthusiastically.

 

[Pedro Del Mar]

As soon as I read Victoria Silverwolf's entry I knew it would be the one for me.

I really enjoyed the nod to Fahrenheit 451. I was so impressed by Victoria's entry that I almost didn't enter myself, but then I realised that's not the spirit of the challenge.

 

[scarpelius]

@chrispenycate I've actually finished the story on August 2nd, but forgot to post it

 

[Cat's Cradle]

What a race! I've just voted, and there is - at least momentarily - a leader. So, my lists:

Honorables:
Cathbad, Joshua Jones, mosaix, Robert Mackay, Starbeast, TheDustyZebra

Finalists (many, many finalists):
Anodyne, D.A. Xiaolin Spires, johnnyjet, Cory Swanson, TheJudge, Ursa major

Vote:
johnnyjet, for my favorite story idea of the Challenge.

Best of luck - everyone! The vote's very close, CC

 

[Shyrka]

The Book of Always, @Perpetual Man – The book of time is a real page-turner, apparently. So good, you just don’t want it to end.

The End? @LittleStar – The end, it turns out, is not necessarily nigh in this clever tale that hits the ‘mark’.

Forged Anew at the Pearly Gates, @The Judge – When it comes to the afterlife, although your destiny may indeed be written, you can choose who does the writing...

Agatha Christie! What Have You Done? @Ursa major – They say reading broadens the mind but it’s reading that creates the mind in this clever twist on a familiar tale.

But Thinking Makes It So, @TheDustyZebra – A would-be author is offered a tempting choice but there’s a (potentially deadly) catch...

 

[Shyrka]

No shortlist this month due to being internet-challenged at the moment but my vote goes to @Anodyne's beguiling tale - I couldn't resist its dark, amusing and all-too-lifelike charms.

 

[The Judge]

I found it hard to draw up a shortlist, as so many stories I liked were there or thereabouts, so here's my longlist instead:

Anodyne -- "Read me"​

Brian G Turner -- THE BOOK​

Cathbad -- The Final Story​

Cat's Cradle -- The Hospice Cat​

DavidEvilOverlord -- Not The Spellbook You're Looking For​

LittleStar -- The End?​

Parson -- The Book of Hope​

PeterV -- Book of Life​

Plucky Novice -- Inimical Odds​

Sam Thomas -- Shelf Life​

TheDustyZebra -- But Thinking Makes It So​

Ursa major -- Agatha Christie! What Have You Done?​

Victoria Silverwolf -- Kelvin 506​

But a relatively easy choice for the vote for once, as Cathbad's punchline grabbed me on first read and stayed with me throughout.

And a tie for best title -- TDZ's mental prison and Victoria's clever updating of a classic.


Goodness, I don't think I've ever seen a Challenge where it's so open coming into the final straight and where over 20 stories have a good chance of winning -- there really is everything to play for still! As to which, many genuine pearlised three-dollar bill thanks for the shortlistings/mentions Victoria, Hugh, Plucky Novice, johnnyjet, TDZ and CC, and pearl-encrusted and beautifully handwritten share certificate thanks for the lovely votes Stable and a ninja-ing mosaix! (Though I've a bone -- as well as a pocket -- to pick with Stable for coming up with a throwaway line about voting that was a whole lot wittier than my story!)


Sorry to hear how poorly you've been, Bob. Hope things pick up for you shortly, and you're back on your feet soon.