DISCUSSION THREAD -- SEPTEMBER 2022 -- 75 Word Challenge

[Swank]

Are these stories supposed to be "SFF"?

 

[Parson]

It's Open Genre this month, so, no, doesn't have to be SFF.

 

[Swank]

It's Open Genre this month, so, no, doesn't have to be SFF.

Since people tend to consider that when they vote, it may be a good idea to emphasize that entries do not have to be SFF themed when the voting page goes up.

 

[Starbeast]

Been busy. I popped in to drop off my entry. It's in that box, marked Dangerous Hamsters.

 

[Bren G]

Well, sorry to say, but after warning others to be sure to count their words in the story carefully, I lost this month's story to word count. My word count was indeed 75 but in the last line I wrote “Somethings last and others don’t. Don’t be confused as to which is which.” A line I was extremely happy with, but if you are observant you will note that somethings is not a word, it should be some things which is two words and pushes me to 76. Sigh! I am so sad about this.

@Parson ,

I've seen far worse. One had 96 words and received a vote! Given your preemptive mea culpa I vote to reinstate!

 

[Bren G]

Since people tend to consider that when they vote, it may be a good idea to emphasize that entries do not have to be SFF themed when the voting page goes up.

That's a good idea. It's probably my story that drew the question. I indeed saw it was open season for genres so chose alternate history.

 

[Ursa major]

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The challenge is now closed to new entries and the poll is open at the link below:

POLL -- September 2022 75-Word Challenge -- READ FIRST POST!​

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[Parson]

@Parson ,

I've seen far worse. One had 96 words and received a vote! Given your preemptive mea culpa I vote to reinstate!

It wasn't "preemptive." I received a personal "conversation" note which informed me of the action and the reason. But if I had been preemptive I still would have asked that it would be taken down. I am not happy with myself when I find myself breaking the rules.

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@Starbeast ..... 2012: Courtroom Smoking Ban Effective .... S. B. shows us that neither honor nor judges have to have a single set of actions to make it effective.

 

[Swank]

It wasn't "preemptive." I received a personal "conversation" note which informed me of the action and the reason. But if I had been preemptive I still would have asked that it would be taken down. I am not happy with myself when I find myself breaking the rules.

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@Starbeast ..... 2012: Courtroom Smoking Ban Effective .... S. B. shows us that neither honor nor judges have to have a single set of actions to make it effective.

That kind of 1.3% word advantage would've swept you into the winner's circle.
(Or should I have said "would have"?)

 

[VRlass]

HM
@Raz2k13 - did you just experiment with adding instead of reducing?
@Iwroteathing - no clue why but i ambit sea sick after reading this story… gonna grab some grog, me think…
@Bowler1 - no little geishas after all but i am gonna stick to my original misread of your title and initial “Total War” vibes
@Phyrebrat - have no clue where is the honour in here, but i like the voice in here
@Hugh - smart, funny, with message, close vote but theme seems forced
@Elckerlyc - did enjoy this one… kinda nonobvious. Usage of honor within story.
vote
@Astro Pen you had me at the title
Probably i could HM more but i failed to understand some and this might be due to my non-native english..

 

[Parson]

That kind of 1.3% word advantage would've swept you into the winner's circle.

I'd like to think so.

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

Well, sorry to say, but after warning others to be sure to count their words in the story carefully, I lost this month's story to word count. My word count was indeed 75 but in the last line I wrote “Somethings last and others don’t. Don’t be confused as to which is which.” A line I was extremely happy with, but if you are observant you will note that somethings is not a word, it should be some things which is two words and pushes me to 76. Sigh! I am so sad about this.

I know how that feels. In my case I once used thankyou instead of thank you.

 

[Ian Fortytwo]

Voted for @Jo Zebedee .

 

[THX1138]

Voted for @Bruce MacLean

Long List (Too many for a short this time)
@Astro Pen
@Bren G
@Starbeast (Funny! )
@johnnyjet
@therapist
@The Judge
@JS Wiig
@Jo Zebedee (One of my parents went through something kind-of similar leaving E-Europe in 1956)
@Raz2k13

I just had fun challenging myself this time.
Great stories everyone!

 

[therapist]

I voted for The Burden of Command by @BigJ for its perfect display of honour.
I also liked One Last Step by @Troyzan787 for another honourbale suicide but with a twist
And 2012: Courtroom Smoking Ban Effective by @Starbeast for making me laugh

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Bruce MacLean honors the power of conscience.

Astro Pen honors the willingness to accept one's failures.

Bren G honors learning from the wise.

Starbeast honors the strength of satire.

Ursa major honors skill at wordplay.

___________________________________________________

Short list:

Raz2k13

JS Wiig

Jo Zebedee

sule

The Judge

Bren G

___________________________________________________________

VOTE:

johnnyjet

 

[johnnyjet]

My Long List, Short List, and *** Favorite ***:

The Earth Citizen of The Year Award - Christine Wheelwright
One Last Step - Troyzan787
*** The New Queen's Bath - Cat's Cradle ***
The Burden of Command – BigJ
Code of the Admiralty – Swank
Confession of an Honourless Executed Criminal – Stable
Henry XXVIII - Peter V
The meaning of last words – StilLearning
Droidtown – therapist
The faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting - The Judge
Pals – mosaix
Virtue Mine Honour - Bruce MacLean
Revolution, 180 or 360? - Astro Pen
The Victorious Contrarian - Bren G

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

Here is my shortlist for this month:

@Victoria Silverwolf
@Jo Zebedee (this story put me in mind of the movie The Journey)
@Stable
@johnnyjet
@Peter V
@OuttaInc
@Daysman
@therapist

But my vote went to @Cat's Cradle. I love the idea of insane monarchs and leaders. There is a proud tradition of course; Nero and Caligula in Ancient Rome, all the way up to present times.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Christine Wheelwright and Starbeast make my shortlist, but - for the second month in a row - CC's entry stands out as a fantastically inventive piece of writing.

 

[sule]

Honorable Mentions
Watchman by Phyrebrat
The faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting by The Judge
A Promise Made... by Elckerlyc
Pals. by mosaix

Vote
The left shoe of dignity by AnRoinnUltra