Discussion -- 300 Word Challenge #3

[Parson]

Harebrain thanks for the Vote!!! It's a pleasure that someone else liked "millions of minions." I rather enjoyed writing the phrase myself.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Oh, wow, another mention, thankyou TJ.
I'm just so pleased I didn't let the lovely Mr. MacNeice down, and if anyone hasn't read any of his poetry, can I put a quick plug in, its lovely, sadly overshadowed a little by Auden, but he has such a lyrical touch, and of course I'd recommend starting with Snow.

 

[Culhwch]

Thanks for the vote, TJ!

We've still got a log-jam at the top. I'm feeling a tie-break approaching.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I just got around to a practically last minute reading of the stories, some agonizing, a decision, and finally voting, with about two and a half hours to go.

Short list: Culhwch, Mith, Devil's Advocate, Parson, TDZ, southron sword, The Judge, Highlander, Glen, and Paranoid Marvin.

Votes went to Glen, TJ, and Devil's Advocate.

And thank you very much, chris, Highlander, Hoopy, Mouse, Perp, and TJ for the votes.

To everyone who hasn't voted yet: There are only two hours left.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Well, everyone who's given me honorable mentions, thanks very much.


And to those I voted for, well, while every entry had its own unique qualities, the votes I sent out were because of some stirring within me.

 

[Ursa major]

Here are my choices (with the stories in posting order within the categories):


Honourable Mentions:

• The Graveyard by Glen
• Picnic in a Graveyard by Hex
• To Accept with Serenity by The DustyZebra

Runners Up:

• Earth to Earth by HareBrain
• Agape by chrispenycate
• Looking Back by Boneman

Winners:

• One Dastardly Plan by The Spurring Platty
  [*]A Date With Destiny by Paranoid Marvin
  [*]Cast a cold eye by alchemist

 

[alchemist]

Many thanks, Ursa. Have you seen what you've done to the leaderboard?

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Oooops, sorry. I lied, it was only one hour. The time change let me astray. Now it's less than 40 minutes.

 

[Ursa major]

Many thanks, Ursa. Have you seen what you've done to the leaderboard?

Never mind that: if two of my choices make it to the run-off, I'll have to make a conscious decision as to which to vote for.

(For previous tie-breaks, I've generally already decided - and posted - my preference between the candidates in the first poll.)


But there's still five minutes during which some kind person might save me from having to think.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

We have a four-way tie! The Poll will be along presently. Congratulations to all our finalists!!!

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Well, this should be interesting! Before I forget, big thanks to Hoopy and Highlander for the votes -- much appreciated.

So ... (ducking) do we get three votes for the tiebreaker?

 

[mosaix]

Well, this should be interesting! Before I forget, big thanks to Hoopy and Highlander for the votes -- much appreciated.

So ... (ducking) do we get three votes for the tiebreaker?

Surely we should get four!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Sorry, everyone, but there is going to be a delay in posting the tie-breaker poll.

 

[Culhwch]

The tie-breaker poll can be found here: http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/534109-tie-breaker-poll-300-word-chellenge-3-read.html

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Wow, another vote! I really didn't expect that. Coming from someone like Teresa, that means a lot. Thank you, Teresa.


And a 4-way tie! Either the quality of the entries is getting significantly better with each challenge, or we are all becoming increasingly indecisive...

 

[Boneman]

And a 4-way tie! Either the quality of the entries is getting significantly better with each challenge, or we are all becoming increasingly indecisive...

I think we're becoming indecisive because the challenges are getting significantly better - choosing the votes gets harder every time! And with two of my votes in the tie-breaker, it just got even harder!!

All four were worthy winners, and what happens if there's another tie??? But I went with TDZ in the end. The sheer beauty of the story just edged it by a micron from Mosaix's wonderful urban tale.

And than you Ursa and Harebrain for the shortlisting for my own entry.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

If it's another four-way tie, the mods will have to put our heads together and come up with some complicated formula for determining the winner. We can only have one, because there is a prize involved. We can, however, be more generous in determining whose stories go on the Home page.

If we have a three- or a two-way tie, we can keep doing tie-breaker votes until someone is victorious. It's not like the next 300 Word Challenge is breathing down our necks.

 

[Moonbat]

A four way tie, how very quadrastic of us.
All the four winners are fabulous entries, it was hard to decide, but I'm grateful for Cul for putting them all into the thread, makes it alot easier to read through them.

 

[Ashcroft]

Congratulations, winners. You all deserved it - those were some pretty great entries.

Thanks to everyone who entered (it was fun reading your stuff!) and everyone who voted.

 

[The Judge]

A four-way tie! A bit different from last quarter's results then...

While we wait for the tie-break to.. er... break the tie, congratulations to all four and to those who were only just behind them, and, indeed, to everyone who took part. A very close finish and some real nail-biting going on in some quarters I imagine.

And thanks to Teresa for the last minute vote which was a pleasant surprise to find this morning! And doubtless everyone's forgotten, but the hidden thing in my story was a reference to John Donne's Song:

"Go and catch a falling star
And get with child a mandrake root"


While I'm here, after the first 300 worder someone (sorry, can't remember who) mentioned the possibility of having an "Improving our Challenge Stories" thread separate from the 75s but nothing happened at the time. Anyone want me to set it up now? The four finalists won't be able to put their current stories up while we're waiting for the tie-break to end, and it's perhaps best if they don't put up earlier ones either, not just yet, but if anyone else wants to start the ball rolling, just say.