Discussion - 300 Word Challenge #12

[JoanDrake]

Thank you so very much for the vote, Jastius

 

[Bowler1]

I'd believe you Boneman, you strike me as being very trustworthy. And yes, I'll buy that bridge off you. How much was it again?

This one is going to the wire. Nerves of steel required by our front runners. It's cool to watch the voting, as the gap closes again.

 

[HareBrain]

Votes go to Teresa and Alchemist (frankly baffled as to why Alchemist's hasn't done better) and TitaniumTi.

Rest of the shortlist: Springs, Ratsy (lovely ending), Glen, Abernovo, Martin321, The Judge. But there were many other good ones, and I especially loved some of the "harder" sci-fi ones for the imagination and thought that had gone into the sciency bits.

 

[Phyrebrat]

oooh, cutting it close

Sorry for my absence the last week - it's been stupidly busy with this Tottenham Hotspur commission and the final week before Half Term is always hectic.

But it is wonderful to come and find I have 4 (FOUR) votes!! I don't think I ever caught that many in any challenge so far, so my thanks to Glisterpeck, Johnnyjet, Mouse and TDZ.

While I'm on the subject of thanks; Starbeast, thanks for making me one of your finalists. To TitaniumTi, Fitzchivalry, Glen, Chrispenycate and Perp for the mentions. Chrispenycate came to mind when debating on whether to hit send to post my story because I was afraid of your red grammar scalpel and I had really struggled with the punctuation on this one.

My shortlist:
Perpetual Man
Alchemist
Remedy
Victoria Silverwolf
Mr Orange
Teresa Edgerton

My votes:
Abernovo
Bowler1
Fitzchivlary

I have not had the time to write up my notes on why I loved the shortlist and winners this month, apologies. Suffice to say, I always vote with my viscera, so these ones gave me that reaction in there!

Should I save my congratulations for Springs or say them now?

pH

 

[Fitzchiv]

As usual, a massive range of excellent work by all - it was difficult to separate subject preference from writing-craft, but in the end it's about what you enjoy reading and thus that's how I've voted.

Honourable mentions;

AMB
The Spurring Platty
Ursa Major
Phyrebrat

Really, really honourable mentions (you three were part of my top six which took over an hour to separate into three!)

Brev
SleepyDormouse
Rafaellin

Votes - well done, some fantastic reading

Abernovo
Juliana
Alchemist

Again, well done all.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Should I save my congratulations for Springs or say them now?

pH

*looks up from repairs to the last 300-er bridesmaid's dress*

I think you should save them. the momentum has switched again and I suspect the Fat Lady* is warming up.

Cheers for the mention, Hb.

*the singer, not Teresa

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

As the estimable Mr. Berra once said*, "It ain't over 'til it's over," so I'm not counting on my momentum to pull me through, not at all.

As for nerves of steel ... mine have always been more like spaghetti.

______


*Or perhaps not. He's also famous for saying, "I didn't say everything I said."

 

[Bowler1]

Should I save my congratulations for Springs or say them now?

pH

The week before holidays is always mental.
The gap has closed, yet again and again. If it does go to a tie breaker I'm stumped.

Thank you mate, appreciated.

I'm keeping tabs on the neck and neck race.

 

[Fitzchiv]

As usual, a massive range of excellent work by all - it was difficult to separate subject preference from writing-craft, but in the end it's about what you enjoy reading and thus that's how I've voted.

Honourable mentions;

Bowler1
AMB
The Spurring Platty
Ursa Major
Phyrebrat

Really, really honourable mentions (you three were part of my top six which took over an hour to separate into three!)

Brev
SleepyDormouse
Rafaellin

Votes - well done, some fantastic reading

Abernovo
Juliana
Alchemist

Again, well done all.

Seeing Bowler1 post reminds me, you are on the honourable mentions list - unfortunately as I wrote the original post it timed out and I lost my list and the old memory isn't great!

So, now corrected.

 

[Rafellin]

Thank you, Fitzchiv.

THANK YOU! alchemist

 

[The Judge]

A fleeting visit. No time for a shortlist, but my votes went to Teresa, Brev and Abernovo.

Only time for a general rather than personalised thank you for the sundry hon mentions/shortlistings, and monster thanks for the surprising but very welcome votes. Thanks all.

 

[Bowler1]

As for nerves of steel ... mine have always been more like spaghetti.

A new leader. OMG

 

[Juliana]

Thank you very much for the vote Fitzchiv!

 

[SleepyDormouse]

Thank you Fitzchiv for the honourable honourable mention! And thank you very much Abernovo for the vote

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the mention, Fitzchiv.

 

[alchemist]

My votes were already cast so need for anyone to get excited...

List (votegetters)

springs
Bowler1
Victoria Silverwolf
Mr Orange
BigJ
Rafellin
Ursa Major
Fitzchiv (had to make sure to name the right person!)

Thanks to everyone who mentioned my story, and big thanks to Brev, Fitzchiv, HareBrain and Mouse for the votes. Even bigger thanks to HareBrain for the kind words.

 

[Ursa major]

Here they are the votes of the Ursa jury, with the stories in posting order within the categories:


Honourable Mentions:

• Survival by TitaniumTi
• Night Fears by Glen
• Match-3K by Brev

Runners Up:

• The Island of Doctor Alberts by ratsy
• Bioluminescence. by Chrispenycate
• Ghost in the Machine by TheDustyZebra

Winners:

• TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE AUSTRALIA DAY by HareBrian
• The world goes out with a pfffff by Phyrebrat
• EBONY, OAK, AND IRON by Teresa Edgerton

 

[Jo Zebedee]

As the estimable Mr. Berra once said*, "It ain't over 'til it's over," so I'm not counting on my momentum to pull me through, not at all.

As for nerves of steel ... mine have always been more like spaghetti.

______


*Or perhaps not. He's also famous for saying, "I didn't say everything I said."

Also spaghetti nerves here as you know. (I have watched from behind my hands tonight.)

I think the Fat Lady just started so I'll be first to say well done to Teresa (and that I never thought I'd ever run her so close and am delighted to have done.)

Thanks to all for the lovely comments and votes. Can't say losing on the last night for two 300 challenges in a row doesn't sting (but if it didn't we wouldn't bother entering, right?) but I suspect I have a lovely steam punk-esque short coming from this (are you there, Mr Compton?) just as I had a nearly-favourite-ever short come from the last. And who knows where a storm-mage might end up, eventually. He might be in my bones, this character (I'll see which betas work out where the root of him lies).


Ps cheers for the mention, Alc, and the stealth vote, Crystal Haven.

 

[TitaniumTi]

Congratulations, Teresa.

Thank you for the vote, HareBrain, and thank you for the honourable mention, Ursa.

 

[Ursa major]

With 70 minutes of voting still to go, it might not be the best idea to start counting chickens quite yet.