Discussion -- 300 Word Challenge #7

[Mouse]

Votes went to Mouse, Chrispy and Boneman. Each of your stories made the breath catch in my throat. Wonderful, wonderful stuff.

Thank you so much Lucky Lola!! That's great company to be in. All I have to do now is vote...

Seconded! Amazed I got a vote, amazed to be included with the likes of Boneman and Chrispy! Thank you, Lola!

And then, I noticed Talysia's voted for me too! (Have I included too many exclamation marks yet?)

I've not read them all yet, but I'll vote once I have.

 

[Lilmizflashythang]

Thanks for both the short-listing and the vote Tactical Loco. Glad you liked the story.

 

[Boneman]

Holy mackerel, what a difficult month! Choose three winners? I need five votes at least, and then some...

So, here are the closest ever shortlist, finalists and *votes*.

Springs
Scott R Forshaw
Juliana
Ratsy (where's the ending? I hate making my own up...)
KshRox
*Mouse*
Abernovo
Karn
*Perpetual man*
*Stormcrow*
The Spurring Platty
Lucky Lola
Paranoid Marvin
Ursa Major.

There was one story that led from the very first time I read it, and that didn't change. I'm not saying one vote would have been sufficient this month, but if I'd only had one, then Mouse would have got it. The Zummerzet voice and the slow realisation were absolutely perfect...

Great job everyone!

 

[Luiglin]

Thanks for the vote Tactical.

I normally have a good idea about my votes on a first read through but this month is quite difficult. I shall peruse again later.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Wow, another vote!

Thanks BM!

(I really should get on with my voting....)

 

[johnnyjet]

Tough, tough, tough decision. All well-written with great ideas. My long list was more than half the stories. Finally got it down to a short list of 15 tales:

My Short List:
1. Bedtime Story – Juliana
2. Homecoming – kshRox
3. Ready to Go – Abernovo
4. 300 Words for 300 Miles – billhafan
5. Mega-Man Comix: Issue 658; Mega - Man’s Vacation – Grinnel
6. Museums – Kylara
7. In the Blood – chrispenycate
8. A Hare's Breadth – Robjwhite
9. Black Jack's Night – stormcrow
10. Peat's Dragon - The Spurring Platty
11. Charlie Fundle and the Boots of Love – HareBrain
12. Memory Cards Are Made of This - Ursa major
13. A Cautionary Tale – TheDustyZebra
14. Thanks for All the Fish – mosaix
15. Beeching's Axe – Phyrebrat

And my favorite three:
1. Mega-Man Comix: Issue 658; Mega - Man’s Vacation – Grinnel
2. Memory Cards Are Made of This - Ursa major
3. Thanks for All the Fish – mosaix

Close runners up award goes to Abernovo, stormcrow & The Spurring Platty. Good job everyone!

 

[Ursa major]

A whole heap of thanks for the vote, johnny jet.


And thanks for making me a finalist, Boneman.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Well, that was a lot harder than I thought. As always you whittle away until you have your last few favourites and then realise that there are four or five and two have to go...

So my not so short list:
Scott
Ratsy
KshRox
Aber
Billhafan
Karn
Kylara
Chris
JohnnyJet
Robjwhite
Stormcrow
TSP
MB
Phyrebrat

The so close that I still might change my mind before voting
Starbeast
Ursa

And the three votes (Unless something changes in the few seconds before I vote)
DEO
TacticalLoco
TDZ

 

[Mouse]

There was one story that led from the very first time I read it, and that didn't change. I'm not saying one vote would have been sufficient this month, but if I'd only had one, then Mouse would have got it. The Zummerzet voice and the slow realisation were absolutely perfect...

Thank'ee, my lover!

 

[Ursa major]

Moving on....


Thanks for the near miss, Perp.

 

[Mouse]

Should I point out 'lover' is a term of endearment in Somerset that can be used for anybody, relations, strangers, all sorts? Or let people wonder?

 

[Ursa major]

And I'd just like to point out that while Somerset is nearer to me than Devon, I was referring exclusively to Perp's voting intentions.

​

 

[Mouse]

I thought you were*, but was going to add that to my post anyway and decided not to.


*It's the international folks I wonder if I confuse!

 

[Starbeast]

Thank you David Evil Overlord (fish and chips, that still makes me laugh), kshRox & Stephen4444 for the votes! I'm stunned. My jaw dropped when I saw your three names.

And a big YOU"RE WELCOME to all those for thanking me for votes and mentions. Every story was unique and original, it took me hours to narrow down my three choices.

A lot of talented people here, it is a pleasure to be amoung you all.

 

[Juliana]

Wow! Thank you for the shortlisting, Boneman and johnnyjet...

 

[The Spurring Platty]

Short List
ratsy - A Hero's Return
kshRox - Homecoming
billhafan - 300 Words for 300 Miles
Karn Maeshalanadae - The Fall of the Last Ancient Wyrm
Kylara - Museums
Perpetual Man - Love Like Old Leather
alchemist - Sins Of The Flesh
Boneman - The Last Post
The Judge - Hide and Safe

Really Short List
Starbeast - Wormius Daemoniacus
Hex - The Best Boots in the World
Ursa major - Memories Cards Are Made of This

Votes
reiver33 - They Also Serve
stormcrow - Black Jack’s Night
TacticalLoco - Feast of the Workers

Thank you Abernovo, David Evil Overlord, Juliana, Starbeast for the votes.
What a great way to start my weekend!

 

[billhafan]

Thanks Johnnyjet, Platty and Perp for the shortlistings, and Interversus for the vote! Nice to know I've got one

 

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks for the shortlisting TSP!

 

[billhafan]

Well, this was hard to vote on - but a real pleasure reading so many great stories with such diversity!

My very final Short-list, in no particular order, and all were excellent:

Perpetual man
Starbeast
Lilmizflashythang
The Judge
Ursa Major
Harebrain

And my votes went to:
Mosaix – sublime!
Springs – for the truth of it, and the dark humour of Ryanair dooming us all!
Boneman – dark and poignant.

 

[stormcrow]

Well, bless my boots! Woohoo!

Massive Thank You to Boneman and The Spurring Platty for your votes

...and to Perp Man and johnnyjet - a runner-up award, eh? I'll make space in the nest - for the shortlistings!