Writing Challenge Discussion — MARCH 2011

[HareBrain]

No One voted for me! I'm thrilled!

(It never gets old, does it?)

Despite strong competition from, in particular, TacticalLoco, Digs, Mosaix and The Judge, my favourite from the moment I first read it was Teresa's Norse-flavoured micro-epic, so that gets my vote.

An excellent showing all round, again.

 

[Ursa major]

A vote!

Thanks, Lucky_Lola.



(And thanks for the mentions, Heck Tate, No One and Talysia. )

 

[nixie]

Decided on TJ in the end.

 

[The Judge]

The first month was 42.

That's what I thought, too, so I went and double (triple) checked, but it's definitely 43 (unless I'm seeing things and/or counting double... perhaps I shouldn't have had that second glass of wine...)


Thanks for the vote, nixie! Also thanks to anonymous for the other one. And thanks for the mentions, Heck Tate, No One and HareBrain.

I love the coloured bars on the poll -- for the first time in my life I'm pretty in pink! Well, in pink, anyway...

 

[Parson]

Nixie, thanks for the mention! It's always heartening to be short listed.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Better late than never...



The Judge - A superb historically inspired one by TJ. There is a lot more going on here than should be possible in a 75 word tale, which alone makes it exceptional, the fact that it reads so well in its own right is just magical. (But I mean that in a none witch type way)

J-WO - Almost a case of misdirection here, in some ways I thought the end was obvious - but only after I finished reading it, first time around I never saw it coming. It was a story I enjoyed, even more so when what seemed to be the punishment was not actually so...

The Imp - (Welcome to the 75 word challenge!) No crime goes unpunished, no matter how perfect. Loved the idea of death by icicle, a wonderfully inventive piece o f creativity, and excellent entry.

 

[nixie]

Nixie, thanks for the mention! It's always heartening to be short listed.

Can we have the name of the heroine please

 

[RSliwinski]

GREAT JOB to everyone! A lot of people seem to think writing is easy, but they are the ones who never seem to actually get something down.

I haven't posted a short list before, but here it goes. (In order of their posting...)

Tactical Logo
Alchemist
Arkose
Cornelius
Golden Apples
Bob S. Sr.
Mosaix

My vote goes to Golden Apples. For some reason this story stuck with from the beginning. (I would have voted for my dad's story, but that seems too much like nepotism. I may have to come up with a way of reading all the entries without seeing the authors)

 

[Aun Doorback]

Wow - Feels a bit like Oscars night! (In mitigation I am a new to this) - I think you're all winners and its a flash company to mix with, so bring on April's challenge! And yet Golden Apples, Teresa and the Judge gave me the most to think about.

And the winner is.... The Judge by a whisker.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Well I've re-read everything and have started the long task of whittling down all excellent entries to my personal favourites. So here's my short list:

Evelinn
Talysia
Greenkidx
nixie
Mouse
Alchemist
Sleepydormouse
TheDustyZebra
Parson
Mosaix
The Judge

Thanks to Cornelius and Nixie for the mentions, I did not expect any this month so that's put a smile on my face.

 

[Mouse]

Thanks for the mentions, people! Noticed that some crazed lunatic actually voted for me too. Nutter.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Thanks for the mentions, mosaix, No One and PM!

I was afraid I had succeeded in being completely obtuse, and then, of course, a couple days ago I thought of a brilliant way I should have written my last line so as to make it comprehensible. Arrgh!

I haven't had a chance to go over things yet, but I'll get a list up soon.

 

[Culhwch]

Culhwch - I loved the tone, the voice of the character; he had a depth to him that made me want to know more. Again, a brilliant end that stuck in my head and caught my eye every time I scanned over the entries.

I was really aiming for a strong, distinct voice with this one, so I'm glad I succeeded! Thanks for the menton, and thanks also to Heck Tate and mosaix!

 

[alchemist]

Hello to the Sliwinski family. The first inter-generational entry? Will this be a regular occurrence?

I enjoyed (okay, enjoyed may not be the most precise description this month), but my enjoyment was not limited to, stories by Talysia, Mouse, Arkose, RoninJedi84, HoopyFrood, Ursa Major, Hilarious Joke (it’s just like Talysia’s, really), and Chel.

The shortlist comprised…
GreenKidx – chilling, but then that’s what the doctrine decreed for centuries, and according to some people (I looked it up on t’internet) it still does.
mosaix – a fantastic exploration of guilt
The Judge – the definition of justice

After much deliberation, I gave it to mosaix, by the width of a bacterium’s filament.

 

[Bob Senior]

Hello Alchemist,
My son talked me into joining in so I thought I'd give it a try, could be fun. I'm encouraged by the fact that some have actually read my story, not bad for an old man with a vocabulary of 75 words. Thanks for the welcome.
Bob S. Sr

 

[Arkose]

It is exciting to see yourself on a short list, especially on some experienced short lists.

My list was the following in no real order:
mosaix
mouse
The Judge
culhwch
Evelinn

No matter what crime I have to suffer or what punishment is brought down upon me, I will not tell you who I voted for.

 

[Bob Senior]

RSLIWINSKI,
You may have noticed that I didn't vote for you either ! I'll try harded next month, right now I wish that I hadn't spent all my time reading comic books. There is some real talent here, I'm happy that some thought my first try was interesting. Thanks To All.
Bob S. Sr

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

That's what I thought, too, so I went and double (triple) checked, but it's definitely 43

You mean that all of that time everyone was joking about it being 42 for three months straight it was 43 the first month? That's somewhat deflating. (However, it does support my original contention that interest would wane the second month. Ha! It's always gratifying to be right, if even by the tiniest fraction.)

 

[Culhwch]

...not bad for an old man with a vocabulary of 75 words.

Well that's all you need. More, really, if you double up on words like 'the', 'a', 'is' and so on...

It is exciting to see yourself on a short list, especially on some experienced short lists.

It is exciting to see yourself on shortlist, and my thanks to you for putting me on yours!

 

[TheDustyZebra]

You mean that all of that time everyone was joking about it being 42 for three months straight it was 43 the first month? That's somewhat deflating. (However, it does support my original contention that interest would wane the second month. Ha! It's always gratifying to be right, if even by the tiniest fraction.)

Well, last month I started compiling a spreadsheet (better late than never), and I have a definite 43 for last April as well! I hadn't noticed, as I was busy just putting things into it at the time, but there it is.