DISCUSSION THREAD -- September 2020 75-Word Writing Challenge

[Luiglin]

I'm in. It won't get any votes but I don't care. It made me smile writing it

 

[Justin Swanton]

I'm in. It won't get any votes but I don't care. It made me smile writing it

I like it!

 

[Marvin]

Hmmmm @Danny McG has beat me to a mushroom cloud themed story. I had been kicking a couple of ideas about, but nothing was coming together.
An enforced change of direction could be just the thing.

 

[Danny McG]

Hmmmm @Danny McG has beat me to a mushroom cloud themed story. I had been kicking a couple of ideas about, but nothing was coming together.
An enforced change of direction could be just the thing.

@Marvin
Go for it, mine is just a bit of fooling about meta fiction.
I'd like to see a proper atom bomb yarn

 

[Marvin]

@Marvin
Go for it, mine is just a bit of fooling about meta fiction.
I'd like to see a proper atom bomb yarn

Looking back at my last couple of entries, I think the ‘yarn’ part is where I’m falling short.
As pieces of writing they are fine (my own opinion obviously) but it’s the telling of a true story in 75 words that is the hardest part.

Excerpt from the rules:
It is expected that your story will have a plot, and not merely consist of descriptive prose.

I have always written these shorts with a view to hitting under 100 words in the first draft. Maybe that stops anything of substance having time to develop? I just know if I try what others do, chop from the 300 mark, I will struggle to make it comprehensible. I find it hard to then view it fresh, without my brain which remembers all the discarded stuff, saying yep that makes sense.
Respect for all you guys that manage it!

 

[The Judge]

Looking back at my last couple of entries, I think the ‘yarn’ part is where I’m falling short.
As pieces of writing they are fine (my own opinion obviously) but it’s the telling of a true story in 75 words that is the hardest part.

Put them up in the Improving... thread and see if that's something that others are picking out.

I have always written these shorts with a view to hitting under 100 words in the first draft. Maybe that stops anything of substance having time to develop?

I don't think so, but it might reflect on how you write, perhaps. Although I'm a pantser in my longer stories, when I'm writing the 75s it's rare that I begin writing without having a clear idea of the story itself -- for me the story/plot is paramount in the 75s, and it's a question of getting the plot down in as few words as possible. I do agree with your comment about finding it hard to view the story afresh after pruning, though, so I invariably have my husband read it as and when I've got it down to around 75 words. If he doesn't understand it at that point, I know it needs more work. (Or I need a new husband... )

 

[paranoid marvin]

Looking back at my last couple of entries, I think the ‘yarn’ part is where I’m falling short.
As pieces of writing they are fine (my own opinion obviously) but it’s the telling of a true story in 75 words that is the hardest part.

Excerpt from the rules:
It is expected that your story will have a plot, and not merely consist of descriptive prose.

I have always written these shorts with a view to hitting under 100 words in the first draft. Maybe that stops anything of substance having time to develop? I just know if I try what others do, chop from the 300 mark, I will struggle to make it comprehensible. I find it hard to then view it fresh, without my brain which remembers all the discarded stuff, saying yep that makes sense.
Respect for all you guys that manage it!

Your entry last month (in my opinion) absolutely fit the rules for a complete, coherent story. Although it's challenging, there is a unique joy and sense of achievement in creating a submission where every single word has had to be chosen with careful consideration.

 

[C.C.]

I came third once So mediocrity can make the lower slopes of the podium.

Seriously, how it works for me is that I take the idea and write my 75 word entry, but then expand that idea into a full short story of 1000 +
and file it for submission elsewhere. Writing a longer piece afterward also relieves the frustration brought on by the 75 word limit.

That said that is why the "secret shutin santa" was such a release, because I was able to write straight in at my normal flash fiction length of around 1000-1200. (I think that one is closed now but watch for the next if you find the shorties constrictive)

What a great idea and I think I might do the same! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery after all!

 

[C.C.]

Stupid question, but how do we vote? You posted don't use the like button on the story thread. Yeah this is my first time in a forum.

 

[Luiglin]

Stupid question, but how do we vote? You posted don't use the like button on the story thread. Yeah this is my first time in a forum.

A poll post gets setup when the entry date closed. Take a look down the thread forum for previous polls to give you an idea.

 

[The Judge]

Voting doesn't happen until all the stories are in so no need to panic just yet. The Challenge thread is closed just before midnight GMT on the 23rd of the month. At that time Ursa major will put up a poll thread with all the stories listed with member names. There's a link from the Challenge thread to it, and it's pretty simple to navigate when you're there.

 

[C.C.]

A poll post gets setup when the entry date closed. Take a look down the thread forum for previous polls to give you an idea.

Thanks!

 

[C.C.]

Voting doesn't happen until all the stories are in so no need to panic just yet. The Challenge thread is closed just before midnight GMT on the 23rd of the month. At that time Ursa major will put up a poll thread with all the stories listed with member names. There's a link from the Challenge thread to it, and it's pretty simple to navigate when you're there.

Awesome!

 

[Parson]

@Luiglin .... It’s a kind of magic .... Luiglin had me asking "What's a cloud anyway if not a kind of magic?"

@Danny McG .... They only fade away .... Danny points out that the world may end but the Chrons and certain Chronners are immortal.

@Hopcyn Miller .... Wayvestream .... Hopcyn made me want to sing... "Clouds get in my eyes."

@C.C. .... Parallax .... C.C. reminds us that that when we fail to meet someone else's expectations it can indeed be an emergency for us.

@Wayne Mack .... The Last Cloud .... W. Mack forces us to consider that the last cloud might indeed also be the first c;loud.

 

[Starbeast]

Still battling internet issues.

Hi @Starbeast. My pleasure! I hope your muse doesn't pack her bags and head home any time soon. Can't wait to read it!

Thanks man. My idea surfaced quickly, in an unusual way. I'll explain later.

Glad you're back in this month Starbeast. Your entries never fail to make me laugh!

Thank you for your awesome comment. I enjoy your outstanding poems too. You give Chrispenycate fierce competition.

Starbeast warns of the necessity of choosing your allies carefully.

Thank you for your wonderful review. Plus it's nice to read your entry as well.

@Starbeast .... Those Who Dwell in the Mist .... The Beast left me sputtering what? hmm? and Oh no!

Excellent reaction for my horror, comic book-like tale. It's always a treat to see you here.

 

[Parson]

@Marvin .... Humanity's Enemy No.1 .... Marvin takes a truth about humanity's deadliest lifeform and made it a order of magnitude worse.

@CHB .... Untitled .... CHB surprises as he points the way to the deep pockets in a land where blame is always shifted.

@GalaxyWolf118 .... A Face In The Clouds .... GW 118 gives us a sweet sentimental fantasy which is very appealing.

 

[Parson]

@johnnyjet .... The Cloud-Weavers of Canopy .... J.Jet writes a mystery which is either deeper or simpler than what is expected.

 

[Parson]

@-K2- .... Gravity Lord .... K2 gives us the perfect illustration of the truth that you pride is a precursor to a forced humility.

@telpereon --- Nue World .... Telp reminds readers that sometimes what sounds like an irrational fear is very dangerous.

 

[elvet]

Sorry to go OT for a moment.
The August / September 100 Word Anonymous Challenge Poll is up. Since we allow participants to submit multiple entries, I am concerned that the invested voting parties may be a bit sparse. So, if any members have a chance to head on over to the entry thread here , there are 16 cracking good stories on the topic of Deluge, genre Disaster.
Thanks!

 

[Parson]

@TheEndIsNigh .... Challenge accepted .... TEN goes to the obvious planet for clouds where the war clouds have move than simply gathered.