DISCUSSION THREAD -- January 2025 -- 75 Word Writing Challenge

[Ursa major]

January's thread is now open -- here -- with theme and genre courtesy of paranoid marvin:

Theme: Sanctuary​

Genre: Open​

​

 

[Ian Fortytwo]

Well I have entered my sanctuary story.

 

[Ursa major]

How long are you prepared to stay in there? (And should we know why?)

 

[paranoid marvin]

Thanks for creating the thread for me Ursa, and pleased to see a couple of great entries already.

Sanctuary covers an awful lot of things from actual places, to rules of law, to states of mind. And an open genre should hopefully allow everyone's minds to run free.

Good luck, and a happy new year to all.

 

[Parson]

@THX1138 .... My Sanctuary .... This is a story which easily slides us into the true peace that is beyond understanding.

@Ian Fortytwo .... The Guardian's Deceit .... This is a story which makes a sanctuary something else.

@Guttersnipe .... Memoirs from a Dusty Room .... This is a story which gives slides the idea of sanctuary around a bit.

@JS Wiig .... Santuario .... This is a story which has been heard many times as true and very sad.

 

[Parson]

@Culhwch .... Sanctuary .... This is a story about a sanctuary which really lives up to the name.


@AnRoinnUltra .... The paranoid refuge of Flut Habernackle .... This is a story that reminds me that not all refuges are what they seem.

 

[paranoid marvin]

AnRoinnUltra - very cleverly done.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

THX1138: A moving meditation on personal philosophy.

Ian Fortytwo: A chilling fable of deceit and corruption.

Guttersnipe: A sobering portrait of malign obsession.

JS Wiig: A tragic tale of hopelessness in adversity.

Culhwch: An inspiring account of perseverance during disaster.

AnRoinnUltra: An ironic story of imagination and reality.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Terrific choices, @paranoid marvin!

And... sorry about the darkness of that one. I'm worried about oligarchs lately.

Now, on to the 300 worder. Good luck everyone, CC

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Cat's Cradle: A sad cautionary tale of power corrupting.

 

[Parson]

@Victoria Silverwolf .... Refuge .... This is a story which I thought was a nightmare and it was, but not the one I thought.

@Cat's Cradle .... The Past Isn't Present .... This is a clever story with a clever title and a grim state of affairs.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Daysman: A grimly ironic tale of exploitation.

Bren G: A witty revision of an old story.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

parkydoc: An ironic account of rough justice.

Astro Pen: An insightful look at be complexity of character.

 

[Parson]

@Daysman .... Niche .... A story which makes me wonder if the sacrifice is worth the reward.

@Bren G .... Error in Judgment .... A story which capsulizes the human penchant.

@parkydoc .... Sanctuary and Justice .... A story which which makes me smile at the fitting end of the story.

@Astro Pen .... Incognito .... A story that reminds us that who you really are is revealed when no one knows who you really are.

 

[Starbeast]

The Muse stopped by two days ago. She jotted down an idea on paper, handed it to me, took a block of cheese from my fridge and left in a waiting taxi.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Starbeast: A sly variation on a classic theme.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Provincial: A madcap look at making deals.

 

[Parson]

@Starbeast .... Birth of a Post Apocalypse Road Warrior .... This is a story that reminds us that its wise to make hay while the sun shines.

@Provincial .... Asylum - Mr. B: the truth behind the superstar .... This is a story whose punchline comes most unexpectedly.

@johnnyjet .... Hiding With the Robots .... This is a story with an interesting quid pro quo.

@paranoid marvin .... Perkin's Progress .... This is a story which has the feel of something historical with a hint of the sinister.

 

[Parson]

If we were allowed to plagiarize, I'd be sorely tempted to use a Beach Boys song this month. When you think about all of Brain Wilson's demons during his brilliant career it's not hard to see this as a sanctuary song.

There's a world where I can go
And tell my secrets to
In my room
In my room

In this world I lock out
All my worries and my fears
In my room
In my room

Do my dreaming and my scheming
Lie awake and pray
Do my crying and my sighing
Laugh at yesterday

Now it's dark and I'm alone
But I won't be afraid
In my room
In my room

(The original lyrics have 4 repeats of the "in my room.")

 

[paranoid marvin]

If we were allowed to plagiarize, I'd be sorely tempted to use a Beach Boys song this month. When you think about all of Brain Wilson's demons during his brilliant career it's not hard to see this as a sanctuary song.

There's a world where I can go
And tell my secrets to
In my room
In my room

In this world I lock out
All my worries and my fears
In my room
In my room

Do my dreaming and my scheming
Lie awake and pray
Do my crying and my sighing
Laugh at yesterday

Now it's dark and I'm alone
But I won't be afraid
In my room
In my room

(The original lyrics have 4 repeats of the "in my room.")

I think a lot of people don't appreciate how beautifully poetic music actually is. In many cases, as in the one you illustrate here, remove the tune and you are left with a well written piece of literature.