DISCUSSION THREAD -- MARCH 2022 -- 75 Word Writing Challenge

[paranoid marvin]

Thanks for the shortlisting Hugh.

 

[Mark_Harbinger]

So whose story did it choose...?

@Cat's Cradle's, actually.

 

[Aknot]

@MatthewKusza
@AnRoinnUltra
@OuttaInc
Thank you for the votes and comments! Tried for something slightly different this time. Very glad you all liked it. Was a fun bit to write

 

[Starbeast]

Does anyone have any RPG multi-sided dice I could borrow? I'm having a tough time trying to choose one story out of many. It's taking me days to decide. I should have a decision by tomorrow.

 

[StilLearning]

I enjoyed the whole thread, but here's my short(ISH) list:
@mosaix
@Peter V
@DF17 - vote
@Ursa major
@The Judge
@Luiglin
@astropen
@BigJ
@Iwroteathing
@paranoid marvin
@alexvss
@Cat's Cradle

 

[Peter V]

I have three favourites.

Cat's Cradle gets an exalted "oh so close" but ultimately it came down to a straight shootout between two very different stories. Victoria's tale of reincarnation, cleverly interwoven with a conundrum from a classic, or Luiglin for his light hearted and genuinely funny appearance of The Dark Lord, the timing of which was much welcomed.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

A lot of great takes on reiverr33's prompts, well done all.

I had a hard time voting this month for two reasons... as always, there were many worthy stories. But also, several of my favorite entries... well, as broad of a definition as Speculative Fiction has, I just couldn't see how several stories that might have been vote contenders for me fit within the genre. To use a relevant part of one description I found online, as terrific as I thought these stories were, they did not seem to have elements that do not exist within the present universe. I think hitting the prompts matters, and so...

Anyway, I thought there were many-many interesting takes on the genre/theme pairing, so here are my lists:

Honorables:
Luiglin, johnnyjet, Mark_Harbinger, Peter V

Shortlist:
Iwroteathing, Christine Wheelwright, Dan Jones, BT Jones, farntfar, The Judge

Vote:
Daysman
I really enjoyed this poignant, well-written story. A lot of humanity - and detail - there, in 75 words.

I want to thank Dan Jones, Christine Wheelwright, Sule, johnnyjet, Victoria Silverwolf, MatthewKusza, BT Jones, Hugh, StilLearning, and Peter V for the listings. Big thanks to the folks who left nice comments about my entry (and thank you, @Peter V - I've never had an 'exalted' before, and accept it with pride). As always, I'm grateful for Victoria Silverwolf and Parson for putting so much time into their thoughtful reviews.

Finally, thanks so much nixie, BigJ, and Mark_Harbinger for your votes.

Well, it's a close race, good luck all the rest of the way, CC

 

[Mark_Harbinger]

I just couldn't see how several stories that might have been vote contenders for me fit within the genre. To use a relevant part of one description I found online, as terrific as I thought these stories were, they did not seem to have elements that do not exist within the present universe. I think hitting the prompts matters,

I was struck by this, also.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

It happens sometimes. I didn't mean this as a negative comment, but hopefully as a helpful one. I used to miss the genre or the theme a lot in my early Challenge days. I was told this a couple of times by the friendly folks here, and hadn't really been aware I was missing out; it helped to know, and I pay more attention to hitting them nowadays (though I probably still miss one of the other from time to time ).

 

[DF17]

I enjoyed the whole thread, but here's my short(ISH) list:
@mosaix
@Peter V
@DF17 - vote
@Ursa major
@The Judge
@Luiglin
@astropen
@BigJ
@Iwroteathing
@paranoid marvin
@alexvss
@Cat's Cradle

Thanks for voting for me. Glad you liked my work.

 

[farntfar]

I enjoyed all the stories this month but need to especially mention @AnRoinnUltra , @johnnyjet , @Ian Fortytwo.
My shortlist entries were @The Judge and @Cat's Cradle,
But my vote went to @alexvss for the perennial doubt.

Great big thanks to @OuttaInc, @Astro Pen and @Cat's Cradle for including me in your shortlists which gave me a great deal of pleasure.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Thanks for the shortlisting StillLearning. And a vote! Thanks so much redzwritez.

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Marchers-up
March of the AI Shoes - @johnnyjet
The March Between Awake And Sleep - @Aknot
Shop till you drop - @Astro Pen
Beware the Ides - @BigJ
The March of the Evil - @alexvss

Top Marcher
Just put the right left foot in front of the other, surely? - @Luiglin

 

[Luiglin]

@Astro Pen - I bet none of the shoppers could hit the sales though
@BT Jones - so which month hates its job?
@The Judge - Romp in the Rowans
@M. Robert Gibson - I think you need a new M key

And the the vote goes to @The Judge's odd couple.

 

[Daysman]

So here're my harebrained faves and (vote):
@Cat's Cradle
@Victoria Silverwolf
@Luiglin
@johnnyjet (vote)
@Mark_Harbinger
@Peter V

Thanks to @Dan Jones and @Cat's Cradle for your votes, to @AnRoinnUltra , @johnnyjet , @Mark_Harbinger and @OuttaInc for your shortlistings, and @Victoria Silverwolf and @Parson for your essential comments.

Was it just me or did this month's madness remind anyone else of the hunt for the golden hare?

D

 

[The Judge]

Some interesting stories this month, though as ever some I didn't understand, and an unfortunately goodly number which for me didn't for me hit theme or, more often, genre.

My shortlist:

Bren G -- All Things End in Time -- time's march ends in a robot's form​

Cat's Cradle -- Double Time -- time marches forward, but time travel marches both ways​

DF17 -- The March of Progress -- marching to doom​

JS Wiig -- Beware the Hands that March -- remorseless, time marches on​

Luiglin -- Just put the right left foot ... -- marching ever out of step​

M Robert Gibson -- + From Mars Mission Control ... -- manifold multiplied marching madness​

​

CC and Bren G stole a march on the others, but I had some diffculty choosing between life-saving time travelling and life-saving robotic inventing as I loved the themes of both, but after some deliberation Bren just marched ahead.

Many mad marching birds-and-bees thanks for the lovely mentions/shortlistings Dan, Christine, sule, Iwroteathing, johnnyjet, Matthew, Chris p, BTJ, StilLearning, CC and farntfar, and millions of unboxed march daisy thanks for the stupendous vote, Luiglin!

 

[Bowler1]

I'm quite convinced that no-one has a solid appreciation of RAY GUNS or pitchforks other than my good self. It's a burden I carry lightly, says Bowler1 one with a tear in his eye, as I take Julius to my shooting range to let off steam.

It's a good scattering of votes this month, anyone could still win.

 

[Abernovo]

I've been away from the Chrons, so no time to write an entry, but my vote went to @M. Robert Gibson. It was a toss-up between this and another, both witty and clever. However, + From Mars Mission Control to Outpost Mu, Olympus Mons + Earth date 2222-03-18 met the genre better, in my opinion, for what that's worth.

 

[Ursa major]

​

The poll has closed and we have a winner:

Congratulations, Luiglin!​

​

 

[Ursa major]

Many, many thanks for the vote, Starbeast.