Discussion -- 300 Word Challenge #10

[Perpetual Man]

The tables turned eh? Thanks BM, greatly appreciated.

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the review, Perp.

 

[TacticalLoco]

Thank you so much, Perp - you put an awful lot into these and I truly appreciate it.

Perp: Death walks the land, his job completed. A terrible picture of the grim reaper, aged and old, but still wielding his scythe. The feeling of dryness and desolation is brought over well, in a few phrases and images that stay with you, long after you read them. The clever juxtapositioning of a 'murder of crows' sits so easily alongside the ultimate killer, and the artful reveal that a throng of the birds are his inverted shadow is a wonderful final line.

Good job there, Boneman.

 

[Boneman]

Good job there, Boneman.

Thank you! I can do one per challenge, that's about my limit - full of admiration for Perp and Starbeast and Victoria who selflessly do every entry!!

 

[Ursa major]

I thought you might be keen to do three.

 

[Boneman]

I thought you might be keen to do three.

ah, erm... yes. Hoisted by my own petard, there...

Victoria Silverwolf: a wonderfully moving look back at love lost, cleverly involving the chess pieces, which holds the hope of things to come.

Starbeast: The three stooges find their way into an alien fantasy, and as usual, mess it up, but survive. Funny and inventive look at the genre, which works very well.


Maybe we should set up a roster so Perp Victoria and Starbeast get this every month, in return for their sterling efforts. I've done mine, reckon I've got at least three years until my next one...

 

[RoninJedi84]

Thanks very much to Victoria, Starbeast, and Perp for the reviews. I know that doing so takes time and energy away from other things, and it is very much appreciated.

Not sure why, but I've stayed away from this challenge since its inception, but I saw the picture, thoughts stirred, and so I jumped in.

Now, after reading the entries for this challenge (and a few from past ones), I think it may have been a simple intimidation factor keeping me at bay. I am more than impressed at what has been presented with a higher (but still extremely modest) word count of 300. Truly some great stuff from all comers.

 

[Mith]

I've not posted or even visited here properly for a while, so I thought I would return with an attempt at the challenge. Not a great attempt I admit, but I tried!

 

[ratsy]

Wow guys. I am blown away by the quality of writers on here. You all make it more of a challenge for sure. A challenge to write better to be in the same league as most of you and a challenge to pick the top stories out of a pool of brilliance.

 

[Boneman]

And all too often, choosing is harder than writing!

 

[The Judge]

Me again.

I've got the sorry duty of having to confirm another entry has had to be pulled for being over word count, so if anyone was wondering why the number of stories has dropped, that's why.

 

[Abernovo]

I did notice. I triple-checked my entry, and went under, as I had hyphenated words.

Always sad to see it happen.

 

[Ursa major]

At least the challenge isn't for stories of exactly 300-words. With that condition, a lot of us would be playing hyphen-roulette.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I'm so paranoid, I had to go back and make sure it wasn't me, even though I knew I had ten words to spare! (And knowing that someone would have told me first.)

I always hit 75 words exactly, but the 300 worries me, so I leave some room.

Sorry to hear we've lost another story. Commiserations.

 

[HoopyFrood]

At least the challenge isn't for stories of exactly 300-words. With that condition, a lot of us would be playing hyphen-roulette.

I wouldn't be able to participate. No matter how many word counters I put it through, how many times I hand counted, I'd still think it wasn't exactly 300. The pressure would be too much! Argh!

 

[Mouse]

I even hand-counted mine (counted the hyphened words as two) even though I'm under 200 words. (I think).

Who's missing? Or can't I ask that. Sorry anyway, I hate missing seeing them!

 

[chrispenycate]

Well, my idea wasn't big enough for a three hundreder, but I've no time to produce another, so posted it anyway.

Try and do better next time.

 

[Abernovo]

I wouldn't be able to participate. No matter how many word counters I put it through, how many times I hand counted, I'd still think it wasn't exactly 300. The pressure would be too much! Argh!

I hope you'll forgive me for suggesting that you could give it to someone else (or No One) to count. It's always good, giving a person a job and making them feel useful.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Oh, he doesn't escape that, don't worry. He counted this one for me.

 

[Fitzchiv]

Well, I've enjoyed reading through the stories and this thread - my first time doing either. Such an array of styles, content and approach - and I've got to say you're all an absolute credit to this forum in the way you conduct yourselves in the discussion too. Not sure many other sites could boast such an open and friendly atmosphere.