Discussion -- 300 Word Challenge #9

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks for the shortlisting SB.

 

[stormcrow]

Likewise, Thanks SB!

 

[Juliana]

Thank you for the shortliting, Starbeast!

 

[Starbeast]

Thanks for the shortlisting SB.

You're welcome Perpetual Man. I couldn't help but to think of my favorite wizard Gandalf in your story.

Likewise, Thanks SB!

And speaking of Gandalf. You're welcome Stormcrow Monocrowme (I like that).

Thank you for the shortliting, Starbeast!

You're welcome Juliana. And let the dance of words begin!

 

[johnnyjet]

Even more so than usual, all of the entries were exceptional and unique, making it very difficult to narrow down my favorites. But I finally ended up with the following Short List:

1. States of Mind - Victoria Silverwolf
2. The Man Who Fell to Urth - reiver33
3. Avoid a Girl from Ebora Void - David Evil Overlord
4. Mapless on the High Seas - EloiseA
5. The Cage Seas - barlennan
6. Strange Fruit - Phyrebrat
7. The Map Making Man - paranoid marvin
8. The Big Island - Glisterspeck
9. Broken - Brev
10. Serpentine Bridges - TacticalLoco
11. And sometimes we have, and it is. (or, Cartographers Aren't Always Lazy) - TheDustyZebra
12. The Blood of Mapmakers - The Judge

And my favorite three: EloiseA, Phyrebrat and Glisterspeck.

 

[Brev]

Thanks for the mention Johnnyjet. And thanks to Perp for the vote.

I've got my short-list, but wrangling between two entries for the third vote. Will sleep on it and read them again in the morning.

Half each?

 

[paranoid marvin]

Thankyou to Perp, springs, luiglin and grizzgreen for selecting my entry as one of your top three.

And Starbeast , jonnyjet, mosaix, ratsy and bowler1 for the short listings/honourable mentions.

The only other time I've written a poem in the style of another was the Challenge when we HAD (Rudyard Kipling) and I found that just as entertaining to do as well. I hoped I hadn't done the Doctor a disservice with my entry, and I'm pleased (well, more relieved) from the positive comments that this isn't the case. So thanks again

As for my votes; I always find the 300 word challenge an incredibly dificult one to judge. So much time and effort has been put into these entries that any time I spend reading/judging them doesn't seem to be sufficient. A little more time is required yet.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Starbeast, Mosaix and Boneman,ty for the mentions.

 

[Starbeast]

Starbeast, Mosaix and Boneman,ty for the mentions.

You're welcome Springs.

Paranoid Marvin: Thankyou to Perp, springs, luiglin and grizzgreen for selecting my entry as one of your top three. And Starbeast , jonnyjet, mosaix, ratsy and bowler1 for the short listings/honourable mentions.

Starbeast: Definately an honorable mention!

Paranoid Marvin: As for my votes; I always find the 300 word challenge an incredibly dificult one to judge. So much time and effort has been put into these entries that any time I spend reading/judging them doesn't seem to be sufficient. A little more time is required yet.

Starbeast: I highly agree, it takes me days to judge the entries. It's painful for me to make Short Lists, let alone choose three to vote for. I love the imagination involved, and delight in the humor, the drama, the poems, the spooky tales and even the weird stories that stand out.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Thanks for the vote, TacticalLoco.

 

[BetaWolf]

Thank you, Eloise, for your vote. I still haven't decided on my three. . . .

EDIT: Amended. springs, chrispenycate, Teresa E., after much deliberation I've decided on you three. David, alchemist, abernovo deserve honorable mention.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Thanks for the honourable mention, BetaWolf.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Forever star girl (sorry, I didn't see the vote earlier) and Betawolf, ty for the votes. Slips off for sleep happy.

 

[BetaWolf]

Thanks for the honourable mention, BetaWolf.

It was a very imaginative story, David. You might want to do something else with that story idea.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks to the vote from BigJ!

 

[Glen]

Lots and lots of stories for this 300wd comp. More than usual? Or perhaps my attention span is... Anyway, thanks to all.

I needed at bit of a wordy map myself to remember what they were all about and to remind me of my favourites. Here it is. I had a couple of clear winners, and I picked the next one based on how positive it made me feel.

Luiglin - a convention for arch-villains, hilariious. Too much cowed.
Glen - hahaha, this guy cracks me up
Springs - the warm, life-affirming feeling got hacked off at the knees.
Juliana - the map comes before the story.
Lenny - I get the sense there is a gag here that I'm not quite getting...
Victoria Silverwolf - a real sense of journey, change, character and fun. what maps are all about. ***
Karn Maeshalanadae - oooo aaaar!
reiver33 - enterprising time-traveller, and old friend (?) with strong mobile signal.
David Evil Overlord - nightmarish crustacean navigation
BetaWolf - military stopover
Heather Hawke - fairy-tale sci-fi *
Starbeast - ...criss-crossed with the scars from many battles...
EloiseA - economic comedy
ratsy - topographic cinderella
Hex - rich with history and culture. Does the twist raise a question mark against the character? **
AJB - elemental battle
barlennan a rich weave of history, culture, fantasy nature, companionship, love ***
mosaix - yorkshire pirates
Grizzgrenn711 - catty gladiators
alchemist - aged heroes
Anne Martin - break up by knife
Phyrebrat - gruesome comedic mix of ghosts, piracy and environmental destruction
The Spurring Platty - sense of loss, history. Glassmaking.
johnnyjet - self-contained, atmospheric, positive **
Perpetual Man - the end of magic
paranoid marvin - Dr Seuss!
Abernovo - the loooove trade
JoanDrake - scones, lemonade and massacre
Glisterspeck - sorry raiders
Brev - bullying and revenge
BigJ - last breath
chrispenycate - colonists
TacticalLoco - dragon bridges
Ursa Major - wizards come-uppance
stormcrow - solitary without the map
Teresa Edgerton - atmospheric, supernatural, grounded with clean details
TheDustyZebra - frustrated dragon love
The Judge - magic maps
jastius - rock and roll!

My view of common themes invoked by this months pic: pirates, scenes from "Life of Brian", killings, twists in the tale (sometimes involving killings), wizards, more killings, oceans, dragons, history.

Thanks Starbeast, Victoria Silverwolf for the shortlisting and mentions, and also to Springs and EloiseA for the mentions (dystopian irony! I love it! I think that should be my new genre!).

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Thanks for the long shortlisting, Glen.

BetaWolf, I may just do that.

 

[Abernovo]

Thanks for the listing, springs, and the mention, BetaWolf.
And, many thanks for the vote, Victoria Silverwolf.

I wanted 5 votes.
I loved springs' entry, not least because it reminded me of a much-loved film, but also because it had the usual gorgeous writing and strong story. I also adored The Judge's spellbinding (sorry! ) tale of essential protection - a different take on giving your lifeblood to defend those you hold dear.

But, because I only had three votes, they went to:
Juliana, controlling the puppets of inspiration from the tower;
Hex, saving the prince and restoring the kingdom; and
Glisterspeck, teaching that first appearances may be deceptive.

All were wonderful. But that said, there wasn't a bad entry in the challenge, and getting a short list was next to impossible. Well done to all entrants.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Thanks, Aber for the lovely feedback. For a picture I struggled to come with anything for I've had some lovely comments. It shows these things are always worth dredging something up for!

 

[Brev]

Tough choice this month - well done all.

Honourable mentions to...

Luiglin, Victoria Silverwolf, reiver33, Hex, mosaix, Abernovo, Ursa major, TheDustyZebra

for a collection of well executed and memorable tales.

Votes to..

springs -
Glisterspeck -
The Judge -

Who all managed to bring their worlds alive with great dialogue and sparkling description. All three are well paced, cleverly constructed and inventive.