Discussion -- 300 Word Challenge #10

[BigJ]

Well, now that it's over . . .

Firstly, a mighty congratulations to Mouse on the victory.

Secondly, my gratitude to Starbeast and johnnyjet for the mentions, and an immense thanks to Fitzchiv, HoopyFrood, Mr Orange, Perpetual Man, ratsy, TheDustyZebra, Tywin and Victoria Silverwolf for the votes. As The Judge mentioned this was a personal best for me, by quite a bit actually (I feel I may have equaled my vote total in all prior challenges combined). Thanks especially for the kind words from those who chose to share them.

I actually had a little trepidation before posting my entry. Hammered it out late one night while on the verge of passing out, narrowly avoiding posting it right then and there (experience has taught me to at least sleep on it for a day, let it sit for a while and come back to it). Although I liked it when I came back to it, I was worried it wasn't quite speculative enough, or that it may bear too much resemblance to Poe's raven. I'm glad I decided to post it and glad that at least some of you helped to alleviate my concerns.

 

[The Judge]

As The Judge mentioned this was a personal best for me, by quite a bit actually (I feel I may have equaled my vote total in all prior challenges combined).

Actually, your vote this month was double the combined total of the vote you'd received before! So very well done, indeed. (Now let's see you do that next quarter... )



While I'm here, just a general reminder -- especially since we've got newbies who might not know of it since it's not been used for a while -- we have the Improving our 300 Word Stories thread for anyone who might like help in seeing if his/her story could perhaps have been improved and/or getting a general critique on it.

 

[Mr Orange]

Well done mouse. a deserved winning entry.

thanks to dreamwalker for my vote. it keeps up my record so far of scoring one vote in each of the challenges i have entered..... which, seeing as this is my first 300 challenge is, ahem, a personal best.....

 

[Ursa major]

Just to explain my title. (I think the story is self explanatory, give or take the hiding of the word, crow, in crowd.)

The title is based on a line from Schiller's Ode »An die Freude« (Ode to Joy) as it appears in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony:

Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt!
​

which is translated (in the notes to the CD) as:

This kiss is for the world.
​

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Congrats to you, Mouse girl.


It was a matter of time before you won this one.

 

[BigJ]

Actually, your vote this month was double the combined total of the vote you'd received before! So very well done, indeed. (Now let's see you do that next quarter... )

Ha! More likely to fade back into relative obscurity, methinks.

 

[Mouse]

Cheers dears, for the congrats.

 

[Glen]

Now you're here, Glen - oh, you've gone again - I really liked your take on Boulle's most famous SF work, including the rather evocative title.

In a one-vote-per-voter challenge, you'd have got mine.

Thanks, Ursa. That's very kind. And thanks for the vote! Another eleven votes and I'd have won! So close!

I enjoyed writing that skit. It was a bit of a coincidence. I'd posted some pics of local birds on the Facebook, and an old friend from the UK had talked about their 'favourite corvid'. First time I'd heard that word - and then along came the challenge...

 

[stormcrow]

Congratulations Mouse - !!

- little late but I've been on holiday -

& belated thanks jastius

 

[Starbeast]

For those wondering about my somewhat bizzare and probably overly pretentious title: from Robert Oppenheimer upon the detonation of the first atomic bomb: "Now I Am Become Death The Destroyer of Worlds"

If I'd been sensible I'd have left it at that. But Oppenheimer was quoting from the Bhagavad Gita. अब मैं दुनिया की मौत, विध्वंसक हो गए हैं

And I'm never doing anything like that again

Thanks, I was curious. And I think it was cool that you did use another language for your title. Because, I knew the the title's meaning would be within the story.

I too tried that bold move when I did a 75 word tale. At first I was reluctant, but I felt it would give the story (which was loosely inspired by fact) more atmosphere. No one said a word, so I figured everyone understood my 75 word title written in German. So for me, I'd use another language for a title again, some other time (when I feel it would be a nice accent).

OK, stat-time. *drumroll, blare of trumpets*

A slightly disappointing month both entry- and vote-wise for this 10th Challenge, despite Foxbat's wonderful image -- only 37 stories entered, the 3rd lowest since starting, and only 104 counted votes cast, the lowest ever. We need more votes

Yeah, I noticed, and I'm sure others did too. I figured people are just busy with their lives and can't make it here. However, there are more people joining and that may be helpful for obtaining more votes.

I just hope the challenges aren't making some people very reluctant to submit an entry because the challenge might be to difficult in thier eyes.

I'll try almost anything. Only once, I almost didn't enter because I didn't have any info on the challenge's subject. But, after I did some research, I gave it a shot.

Thanks for the short listings / mentions Starbeast, TacticalLoco, JohnyJet, Stormcrow, Jastius and TDZ.

Sometimes I spend hours on these challenges and hardly get a mention, sometimes I throw something together in the last day or two (like this one) and get five votes! *shakes head in confusion*.

You're welcome, on the short listing Mosaix.

Don't feel blue about not getting a mention or feedback, especially after you've put a lot of effort into your tale. There are some of us that don't hear a thing about our stories. That's when I thought (a while back) I'd become a reviewer, so I could let people know what someone thinks of their work.

You got votes, and that says that some of the best things are left unspoken. That, or their jealous of your talent. Hang in there, and keep em' flying. I think you're doing a fine job of writing, but don't tell anyone I said that.

 

[Tywin]

Been out for a couple days having a baby.

Well, the wife had the baby, I just mainly changed diapers and ran errands while she was laid up.

Congratulations Mouse!

Thanks for the Vote Judge!

 

[Perpetual Man]

And congratulations Tywin, on the new arrival.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Been out for a couple days having a baby.

Well, the wife had the baby, I just mainly changed diapers and ran errands while she was laid up.

Congratulations Mouse!

Thanks for the Vote Judge!

Congratulations!

 

[mosaix]

Congratulations!

Seconded.

 

[Ursa major]

Congratulations, Tywin.


I hope mother and baby (and father) are doing well.

 

[Starbeast]

Been out for a couple days having a baby.

That's awesome! Congratulations for being blessed with a baby.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Congratulations, Tywin.

Okay, now that the voting's over, here is my story that grew a little too big for its boots (and the 300 word limit)...

...shall inherit the earth​

It was shaped something like a crow. The soldier could see that. It had a long axis, ending in a maybe-tail. A rounded lump that was almost a belly. Some spikes that looked a little like claws.

But rusty iron skin? And no wings? And a tiny hole for a beak? With a single glass eye peering from the beak?

‘We tried this,’ he said. ‘They don’t get scared.’

‘It’s not meant to scare them,’ snapped the scientist, her feathers ruffled.

‘So what is it meant to do?’

‘Bring me one of them, and I’ll show you.’

***​

The soldier shrieked and hopped down the street, feigning injury. Right on his tail was one of the walking dead. A big one. An old one. It had been dead for so long, it was little more than hardened leather over bones, with grey-green slime oozing from within.

Broken teeth snapped at the soldier, as the dead thing tried to fill a belly that was nothing but an empty void beneath exposed ribs.

The soldier reached the chain link fence. The only way to go was up.

‘Duck!’

‘I’m not a...’

There was a buzzing sound, like a swarm of bees were trying to build a hive in his head. Then there was a rolling crack of thunder from the clear blue sky, so loud it made his bones shiver and his stomach bounce.

The rusty iron crow spat lightning, and the walking dead burned down to little more than black ashes in seconds.

The soldier stared at the human-shaped pile of soot. ‘Wow. What do you call that?’

‘I haven’t named it yet,’ said the scientist, preening under his admiring gaze.

The soldier spread his glossy black wings, and flew up to perch next to her. ‘You should name it after yourself. What’s your name?’

‘Reagan,’ she answered shyly.

 

[johnnyjet]

Congratulations, Mouse!

And a special thanks for my 9th short-listing by The Judge & for my 4th vote by Phyrebrat! I'm honored.

 

[ratsy]

congrats on the baby Tywin

and a belated thanks to Jastius for the short listing

This was one of my worst showings on the 300 word i think... zero votes and maybe 3 mentions.

But in retrospect I could have done something much cooler instead of rushing one out...lesson learned. We will see if I take my time next one.

 

[Starbeast]

...shall inherit the earth

My review on your deleted entry.

David Evil Overlord - Yes, a zombie tale! I was taken by your entertaining science fiction/horror story, which is topped off with a comical and wonderful inside floating joke on "Rayguns". I was aware that you had that certain someone in mind who loves that technical weapon, which is becoming a growing interest of mine as well.

Thank you so much David for sharing your tale that I found fun to read.

This was one of my worst showings on the 300 word i think... zero votes and maybe 3 mentions.

But in retrospect I could have done something much cooler instead of rushing one out...lesson learned. We will see if I take my time next one.

Dear sweet Ratsy.

Don't beat yourself up about not getting the admiration you deserve for a very good story, many here get little feedback. Be proud of what you created, because at the time you were writing it, I'm sure you felt great about it. We all feel a bit uneasy that our stories aren't perfert masterpieces after we finish them, all artists do that.

Look at these challenges as a fun exercise, rather than a stressful job.

I hope I am being helpful to you, if not, you can chase me away with a stick.