Discussion - 300 Word Challenge #11

[Jo Zebedee]

Congratulations The Judge!! Now, if only I'd voted, would it have made a difference...? Some idiot got it into his head there were two more days to go, because of the shutdown...

Never say! I remember that happening to someone else one month - being told that a vote that didn't happen would have made the difference - and going noooooooo.

It's nice to get a close one, and TDZ was galloping along nicely, too.

I thought the standard was really high this month, in general.

 

[Boneman]

Actually, my votes would have gone to Springs, The Judge and Mosaix, so no change at the top...

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Actually, my votes would have gone to Springs, The Judge and Mosaix, so no change at the top...

Perfect. i really loved TJ's story, and that it was really original. It always amazes me how many takes people take on a single image of an Ent!

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Congratulations, Your Honour.

 

[ratsy]

Congrats TJ! Now stop taking all the votes!!! (oh wait..i voted for u too!)

 

[Bowler1]

Well done Judge and well fought Springs (next time buddy).

 

[Starbeast]

Congratulations, The Judge​

 

[alchemist]

Never say! I remember that happening to someone else one month - being told that a vote that didn't happen would have made the difference - and going noooooooo.

Yeah, you're laughing, but I logged on while in a hotel room and nearly threw the TV out through the window

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Only rock stars are allowed to throw TVs out of hotel room windows...

 

[johnnyjet]

Congratulations, Judge! Well fought!

 

[Rafellin]

Congratulations to the winners, dang but I nearly had the right one (hi, springs).

Thank you to Remedy for the vote. Thankee Jastius, Mr Orange & Tywin for honourable mentions.

All in all, a pleasant surprise for a wordslinger who only just wandered in.

 

[Phyrebrat]

I’ve been bad mannered.

Thank you for the mentions and votes. I feel a sense of achievement getting mentions from the winner (congratulations Your Honour) and the resident pedant.

So, thanks to Johnnyjet, TDZ, Chrispenycate, Stormcrow, Jastius and TJ.

Even more surprising were that I got two votes – not a bad conversion rate, I reckon – and had not even seen High Eight’s, “odd, but evocative” post! And, a stealth vote from Dream Walker, so thank you there, too.

The reality behind my low profile in this challenge was borne out of smarting from an almost-argument with one of my mates over my entry. He is from New Orleans, so I asked him to check my dialogue for regional accuracy. He helped and I cahnged the dialogue, but he also told me that: it never freezes in New Orleans; it is called NOLA, not Nawlins; Galveston is in Texas; Chickory is a bush never a tree; we bury our dead in mausoleums; and on and on and on…. lots of stuff I knew but accuracy of that was not germane to my tale.

I thanked him and tried to outline the difference between speculative fiction and writing factual histories. I also told him I chose Galveston because it is one of the most horrible places I have been to in the US and that I wanted my narrator to besmirch the place in an aloof way. He came back with some rather petty and nasty stuff so I felt really down about entry and sulked away from this thread. (I ended the discussion as amicably as I could, though I really wanted to call him a mouth-breathing coprophage)

So I am really happy to get the votes and the mentions and will be saying ‘in yer face’ to him next time we speak.

pH

 

[jastius]

I really wanted to call him a mouth-breathing coprophage)



pH

LOL that is the best comeback i have ever heard, phyrebrat...
your story was coherent, consistent with the area chosen and creatively written. i enjoyed it. has your friend entered any of the challenges? (perhaps he needs vitamins to combat his pica?)

 

[The Judge]

Sorry you felt so down, Phyrebrat, and glad you feel a bit better now. When you confront him with the votes, tell him you were writing of an alternative New Orleans! (I have to confess I didn't fully understand the washing of bones bit but I rather assumed (um... hoped...) that part of it wasn't true!)

 

[Glen]

Congratulations TJ!

Thanks Tywin, Brev, Remedy, Mr Orange, Phyrebrat for the vote/kind words/shortlistings. It’s always nice to get a vote, but it was also good to hear why some of you liked the story.

 

[Remedy]

Well done TJ, a deserving win

Enjoyed taking part in my first 300, already looking forward to the next!

 

[mosaix]

Commiserations to Springs and congratulations to T.J!

Thanks for the mentions / short lists Abernovo, Johnnyjet, Jastius, T.J. and UM.

Thanks for the votes Alc, Bowler, Karn, Mith, Mr Orange, Nixie, TDZ and Tywin.

And thanks for the potential vote from Boneman.

 

[Fitzchiv]

Congratulations TJ, a very worthy winner.

I'd like to apologise to all participants, as I failed to get my votes submitted - some work stuff has taken over recently and time simply got away from me.

It would be unfair of me to say who got my nod, but I can say honestly my votes would not have changed the landscape one jot.

As usual it was a very high standard group, impressive stuff. Very disappointed at my own inability to produce something better on this one to be honest.

Onwards and upwards!

 

[Mr Orange]

congratulations TJ on the win

thanks for all the votes and mentions, and thanks mith for the stealth vote i missed!

my best result so far but still way short...

 

[Tywin]

I thanked him and tried to outline the difference between speculative fiction and writing factual histories. I also told him I chose Galveston because it is one of the most horrible places I have been to in the US and that I wanted my narrator to besmirch the place in an aloof way. He came back with some rather petty and nasty stuff so I felt really down about entry and sulked away from this thread. (I ended the discussion as amicably as I could, though I really wanted to call him a mouth-breathing coprophage)

Considering the number of Americans (likely including Cajuns) who write fiction set in England with all its inherent inaccuracies, I think you are probably owed a couple like your story.

The story itself was good, and getting into the voice that you used had to have been an interesting experience for you as an author.