Writing Challenge Discussion -- FEBRUARY 2011

[Perpetual Man]

I've made my mind up. I think.

Runners up: Nixie, Teresa.

Honourable mentions: Mosaix, Dusty Zebra, & Moonbat

It was hard enough whittling it down to five, and then I've just spent 10 minutes re-reading my last two, and vacillating from one to the other. The hardest decision yet, I think.

But Parson gets a very, very honourable mention, but my vote, by half a hairs breath goes to fitzchivalry.

 

[Oxman]

Voted for Greenkidz. Excellent.

Close were Nixie, reiver33, J-WO and alchemist.

But pretty much everyone made this month's vote difficult.

 

[Moonbat]

Thanks for the mentions and for the Votes (fitzchivalry & ?)

Wow! what a month, we have had 53 amazing entries covering everything:

from Bob Dylan to gladitorial combat,
from the torture of Barney's song to singing AK47s,
several based on natures song from singing fields of flowers to the music of the spheres,
from David Hasslehoff singing to freed East germans to the Hillsborough disaster,
From Ipods wiping people's minds to noise cancelling headphones allowing a captain to kill, cook and eat a Mermaid.
We had another Snow white based re-telling from Mouse and many many more....

It has taken me two days to get a short list ready and it is as follows, in no particular order.

Talysia - Dawn Chorus
Mosaix - The Song is Life
TEIN - Noise Cancelling headphones
J-Wo - Mikhail's Divas
Hilarious Joke - Zimmerman's last regret

But whittling it down to those 5 was really tough and I have had to exclude some brilliant ones. But voting is as voting does. I am yet to vote.

 

[Heck Tate]

I voted for you Moonbat.

 

[Moonbat]

Thank you Heck Tate.
2 votes in 1 month is my record, unless you count the multiple vote month.

 

[nixie]

Honourable mentions for Mouse, Pep, Teresa, Hoops, and Cul but my vote goes to Mosaix.. Big thanks to everyone for the mentions.

 

[Parson]

Perpetual Man: Thanks so much for the very, very, honorable mention. It's more than I expected.


As for voting, I haven't had the time to attempt yet, but already know it's going to be very, very, difficult. Especially since we have lost one of my main filters, genre.

 

[mosaix]

Thanks for the votes, Crys and Nixie. And thanks for the shortlist mentions.

 

[kopiteste]

Parson, I forgot to give you an honourable mention. A fantastic story, beautiful song and an original style. Mosaix touched me personally (behave!) a little bit more, but an excellent story.

 

[alchemist]

I enjoyed many, many stories this month, including (but not limited to) those by Mouse (it was just so Mousey), Boneman, Ursa Major (I’m sure I’ve only got half the references), Precise Calibre, Chrispenycate, Parson, J-WO, Teresa and Moonbat.

My shortlist comprised –
Brev – the format was monumental, but the story worked well too
Mosaix – a great, emotional story, without being over-sentimental
Heck Tate – the ultimate stiff upper lip
Challah Rajni – excellent world building in such a short story
Chel – it felt like an episode of True Blood

After much toing and froing, I went for one that hit me first time, and continued to do so, Heck’s Last Request.

 

[Mouse]

Thanks, nixie and alchemist. 'Mousey.'

 

[alchemist]

It's a new genre. You're pretty good at it.

 

[Heck Tate]

Thanks a lot, Alchemist. It's an honor just to get one.

 

[alchemist]

Which reminds me, thanks for the mentions folks, and more thanks to my anonymous voter. I knew I could tap into the Hoff backlash.

 

[Ursa major]

...Ursa Major (I’m sure I’ve only got half the references.

Once the voting is over, I'll be pointing them out. (Not that I believe you'll have missed many, if any.)

 

[mosaix]

Okay, I'm down to eight and this is supposed to be a short list.

The Piano-man's Wife - GreenKidx
Dawn Chorus - Talysia
Encore - reiver33
The Songwriting on the Wall - TheDustyZebra
Azariah - Teresa Edgerton
Noise cancelling headphones win the day. - TheEndIsNigh
How I learned to stop the silence and love the song - Moonbat
alt.history.de - alchemist

 

[J Riff]

It's Mosaix at the first turn, followed by Chel and Moonbat.

 

[Brev]

Firstly thanks to alchemist and Talysia for the mentions...


So a short-list, as seems fashionable....


Each of the following stood out, and became memorable, though for differing reasons..


HareBrain, Teresa Edgerton, TheDustyZebra, mosaix, alchemist, Perpetual Man and Chel ...


(Not that short a list, and to be honest every time I read through the stories the list gets longer...)


I went in the end for alchemist's satirical genius -

 

[Parson]

kopiteste

Thanks for the kind words. It's nice to think I have an original style, but that maybe just because I'm a novice at writing. --- Have told a few stories though, occupational hazard.

 

[Chel]

Thanks for the mentions and the mystery votes!

My shortlist consist of HareBrain, Boneman, Ursa Major, Mosaix, Reiver33, The DustyZebra, Teresa, Perp, StormFeather, HoopyFrood and Hilarious Joke... that's 11 stories.

I'm voting for DustyZebra this time; a very touching story that captures both the dreamstate and the infuriating moments just after waking up when desperately trying to remember the dream. Bravo!