Discussion -- 300 Word Challenge #4

[Teresa Edgerton]

Thank you, Harebrain. (And to my stealth voters, too.)

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Teresa, it has been several years since a story literally gave me goosebumps. Yours did.

Now, how do I actually vote in this thing?

 

[Perpetual Man]

Just follow the link:

300 Word Vote

 

[Jo Zebedee]

and you have 3 votes!

 

[chrispenycate]

Well, I finally managed to get voting done. I don't dare write a short list because it never was.

Many thanks for the mentions, Dusty Z, Spurring Platty and Hope, and more for the Vote Aun Doorback. Yes, mine was dark; I tried to do a follow up on my mechanical Christmas tree from December's 75 worder, but it wouldn't gell. I was dark myself, I'm afraid, and finally Teresa did a much better version than I could ever have managed.

Thanks to Boneman & alchemist for the Honorable Mention and to Perpetual Man for the short listing. And a special thanks for the vote (an actual vote!) to chrispenycate. Since this is my first time in this challenge, it is especially encouraging. Thank you to all!

You earned it. I may not have been able to find the voting time easily this quarter, but I didn't skimp, and eliminating good stories was like pulling teeth; so anything that survived…

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

and you have 3 votes!

That's right. Each voter can vote for three stories, providing they submit all their votes at the same time. The software won't allow anyone to go back to cast their unused votes.

(And thanks for the kind words, David.)

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[Culhwch]

Another vote! Many thanks, HB, it's greatly appreciated!

Now I just need to pull out my finger and vote myself....

 

[TacticalLoco]

Thank you Alchemist for the shortlisting. It means a lot.

I promise to find time between working my 2 great jobs and family to finish that short story. LOL!

 

[Phoenixthewriter]

Go away for a day or three and find another vote and a mention! Thanks Tisiphone, and thanks Alchemist for the mention. It's nice to be recognized amongst all this talent.

 

[Ursa major]

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



Honourable Mentions:

• No Going Back by Boneman
• Villainous by Culhwch
• Which -cide are you on? by Moonbat

Runners Up:

• Quintet For One by Reiver33
• The Way To A Bal's Heart by alchemist
• An Extract From The Journal of Fernando Morales by mosaix

Winners:

• The New Adventures of Astrolord and Skeptia — ep3: ‘Space Needle of Doom’ by Harebrain
• Going Off Shift by Vertigo
• Amid the Cold of Winter by Teresa Edgerton

 

[alchemist]

Thanks for the runner-up spot, Ursa. I was expecting your votes in another seven hours; this is early. Will there be no late drama now?

Thanks for the vote too, Chris.

 

[Ursa major]

I have an excuse for posting early: I'm ill and thus my sense of time has gone completely wonky.

Okay, it's only a mild cold, but I have no better explanation. And, in fact, I have more time than I'd usually have on a Wednesday: I'll have to miss tonight's orchestral concert. (I doubt my loud sneezes would add to the ambiance; well, not in a way that anyone else would appreciate.)

 

[HareBrain]

Thanks for the vote, Ursa. Can't you attend a performance of the 1812 overture and save your sneezes for the finale?

 

[Ursa major]

I don't think tonight's programme is particularly sneeze friendly. In fact, it might have been designed not to be so:

• Schumann's Overture, Scherzo and Finale;
• Dvořák's Romance for violin;
• Berlioz's Rêverie et Caprice;
• Brahms's Serenade No. 1.

The sad thing is, I don't recall having heard any of these works, so the concert would have been an opportunity to do so. Worse, I'd already bought the ticket. Worst of all: unlike a lot of these concerts, Radio Three won't be broadcasting it or recording it.

But worse things can happen, so I shouldn't moan too much.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Thank you, Ursa, for the vote!

And for anyone who hasn't voted yet: Remember that there are only a few hours left to do so.

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[TacticalLoco]

Well Done All!!!

Great stories!!

 

[The Judge]

Late as ever (even Ursa's beaten me to voting this month...):

Culhwch -- Villainous -- smashing last line
Dermit -- The End -- wonderful writing
Harebrain -- The new Adventures... -- Astroludicrous! (I want to see the entire TV series!)
mosaix -- An Extract From The Journal of Fernando Morales -- cleverly plotted and written
phoenixthewriter -- View From On High -- clever story
reiver33 -- Quintet For One -- chilling
Teresa -- Amid The Cold Of Winter -- a lovely story of hope

A hard job as ever getting it down to seven, then a harder job picking the best three. In the end I went with the ones which made most impact when first I read them and stayed with me throughout: HB's silly tale made me laugh and mosaix's sent a chill down my spine, and I loved the writing of Teresa's tale.


Thanks for the hon mentions and shortlistings, and very big thanks to the Fab 4 who voted for me -- I didn't expect even any mentions at all this month as I had to rush the story out when I was feeling very low, so these were big bonuses, and very welcome.

 

[Vertigo]

Thanks for the vote Ursa

 

[Ursa major]

Congratulations, Teresa!

 

[Culhwch]

Yes, congratualtions indeed, TE! Your story was my number one from the moment I read it, and nothing changed after that point. A wonderful and deserving winner!

Thanks for the shortlistings, TJ and Urse, and many thanks for the final vote, crystal haven!