Discussion -- 300 Word Challenge #9

[Jo Zebedee]

Thankyou, lovely Starbeast, and Victoria.

 

[Juliana]

Thank you Starbeast!

 

[ratsy]

I hope to post today! I wrote my story a week ago but need to edit it still and haven't made time yet. I like the stories so far. Well done everyone!

 

[AJB]

I've been working on mine when I can. NEARLY done!

It will be the 1st 300 word challenge I've attempted, but I must say regardless of the product, I've found the process of editing, especially hacking out words, a very worthwhile process in itself. Having that limit can really focus the writing I've found.

Great works so far!

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Having read both her 75- and 300-word stories, I must say that I think EloiseA is going to be a new name to watch for in these challenges!

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

EloiseA -- an unusual and imaginative near-future take on modern "pirates"

 

[ratsy]

I am in... and it is totally different than what I was planning on doing. I got the idea and went with it. Sometimes it's refreshing to try something different. Hope you all like it.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

ratsy -- a heartwarming fairy tale

 

[Starbeast]

Thank you, Starbeast, for the interest in my humble little tale.

You're welcome BetaWolf.

Huh. Usually people reserve that tone for when they feel I've misbehaved...

So why haven't I seen it more often?

I guess you've been too nice, it's time to sharpen your claws and scratch the chalkboard loudly once more. As for me, I couldn't wait to say it in any context. Have a great day, KARN!

Thanks for the review, Starbeast.

You're welcome David Evil Overlord. Have you seen KARN, lately?

Thankyou, lovely Starbeast, and Victoria.

You're welcome Springs. KARN! Oh, excuse me, that one slipped out.

Thank you Starbeast!

You're welcome Juliana. K...whoa, caught myself that time.


Starbeast - I had an small idea for a 300 story months ago, and fortunately the opportunity presented itself this month.

EloiseA - A dark humored science fiction tale of piracy in a cyberpunk society which seems to be ebbing in a tide of destruction for the planet. High technology and horrible polution is the backdrop in this well written treat. Nice work.

Ratsy - Not every girl has her wish come true, but in this beautiful and enchanting story, Harriet has a happy ending. This magnificant and magical tale carried me away into wonderful fantasy. My heart soared for little Harriet. Good stuff.

 

[ratsy]

Thank you for the reviews Victoria and Starbeast. It felt good to write something positive.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Hex -- an epic in miniature, with an unexpected conclusion

AJB -- a dark, moody fantasy with emotional power

 

[EloiseA]

No idea this thread was here, for some reason I thought discussion would only begin after the competition ended. Silly me.

Thanks so much for the positive comments Dusty Zebra, Victoria Silverwolf and Starbeast. My first inclination was to do a more serious take on steampunk sff with Captain Nemo types, but I knew I would never get the word count down once I started to re-invent underwater periscopes and diving bells! My inner Heath-Robinson comes out in those stories.

I'll have another read through April entries and post some comments myself.

 

[EloiseA]

Enjoyed reading these almost as much as writing one -- Clash of the Titan Genres, from steampunk to piratical duelling to medieval fantasy and shapeshifting.

Luiglin -- great satirical spoof. The expressive hand of the cowed minion a triumph!

Glen -- very funny and reminded me of the ramped-up copy from creatives in advertising. Some good touches of dystopian irony

springs -- nice twist at the end and that surefooted Goat Girl may have a book in her

Juliana -- the Mapmaker as Muse and Creator of Worlds. A few years ago I was in Hereford on the Welsh Border and went into the cathedral library to see the ancient Mappa Mundi. Your story reminded me of the forgotten power of the old mapmakers

Lenny -- the 'cloud-ship Duck Friendly' is steampunk comedy genius. Such fun to read

Victoria Silverwolf -- -- yes, this worked for me. Four postcards and an intriguing journey-of-self-discovery narrative in 300 words.

Karn Maeshalarnadae -- love those 'spectral cutlasses'. Tight storytelling, not a word wasted

reiver33 -- this sounded to me like an extract from a longer story, intriguing. The anachronism of the mobile phone made me want to read on

David Evil Overlord -- this piece blew me away, amazing sensuous and experimental images. Clever, clever stuff.

Betawolf -- full of surprises. Layover with fried bayroot chips for hungry soldiers!

Heather Hawke -- poetic fantasy, that image of the flaming feather talon stays with me

Starbeast -- somehow you got Conan's chronology, the mythic backstory, an entire battle and Conan's death into 300 words. That's how to tell a story fast!

ratsy -- such an endearing story, from sadness to kindness.

Hex -- skilful twist at the end, taut and visceral fantasy

AJB -- from fireravens to sea serpents, gripping fantasy narrative

 

[Ursa major]

No idea this thread was here, for some reason I thought discussion would only begin after the competition ended. Silly me.

The main restrictions we place on ourselves in the discussion threads are:

• We do not discuss the content of our own entries, until after the voting is over, as the idea is that they ought to contain all the meaning required to understand the stories. (By your comment above, I can see that you've already seen the need for this.)
• As the pieces are not put up to be critiqued, we don't point out errors in others' entries, but do allow positive remarks. (Note, however, that there is another thread where, after the voting, entrants can ask for comments, both positive and negative, on their entries.)

 

[David Evil Overlord]

David Evil Overlord -- this piece blew me away, amazing sensuous and experimental images. Clever, clever stuff.

Wow, thank you.

 

[Hex]

Thank you for the lovely reviews

(yes, DEO is too too clever!)

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Thank you for the lovely reviews

(yes, DEO is too too clever!)

I learned long ago not to argue with a woman, dear Hex.

 

[Luiglin]

Luiglin -- great satirical spoof. The expressive hand of the cowed minion a triumph!

Cheers for the review EloiseA ... if it brought a twinge of a smile then it did its job

 

[Juliana]

Thanks for the comments, Eloise!

 

[barlennan]

Urgh. That was tough. It took me ages to have an idea, which promptly pushed out bushy branches in all directions and I've trimmed it all down into a rather sickly-looking bonzai.