DISCUSSION -- July 2014 300-word Writing Challenge (#14)

[Brev]

PC just went bang so trying this on my phone. I'll keep it brief. A few of you were on my longlist. A few less than that were on my shortlist. I voted for three of you. Well done all.

 

[alchemist]

PC just went bang so trying this on my phone. I'll keep it brief. A few of you were on my longlist. A few less than that were on my shortlist. I voted for three of you. Well done all.

I can see this vote-announcing system catching on...


Thanks for the vote!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I just noticed a stealth vote by Riever, so thank you!

Gosh, is this the closest it's been for a while? It feels mildly terrifying.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Thank you Ashleyne, Brev, and reiver for the votes! And thank you ratsy for the listing.

I just noticed a stealth vote by Riever, so thank you!

Gosh, is this the closest it's been for a while? It feels mildly terrifying.

Well, it was a real nail-biter in January, as I recall, which sounds a long time ago, but was really the time before last. I don't remember so many people being so close, though.

 

[The Judge]

Once voting starts I don't usually look in at the Discussion threads again, nor do I look at the polls until I'm just about to cast/have just cast my own votes, but a hare whispered something which suggested I might like to have a look-see. So I did. And then started to wonder how I could close voting early...

Anyway, I have no doubt that a more worthy story will forge ahead very quickly, dammit, but in the meantime, some blood and gore-spattered thanks for the mentions/listings telford, alchemist and Bowler, and some fresh tasty eyeball-thanks for the votes Cats Cradle (thank you for the kind words), DEO, farntfar, Flyerman, Karn, Kerry, nixie, ratsy and Wordspinner (and especial thanks for the lovely review Ws!).

I've read every story at least twice, but I'm no nearer voting yet. Likely to be a last minute affair as ever...

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I've had two nailbiters recently, one with TJ and one with you. I aged noticeably in both... But I can't remember so many being within 3 of the lead with 4 days to for ages. Which makes it more fun, I think.

And, with 4 days to vote - am I wrong, or is there less votes than usual in at this stage? Are we in for a last surge and a terrifying last few days...?

 

[Ursa major]

There aren't less of my votes at this stage, if that's any help.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Don't get on here much these days but I knew the deadline for 300 was looming so...

First of all, thanks Victoria for your reviewette - I liked what you said!

Also thanks to Wordspinner and Farntfar for the shortlist and mention.

Hugescary thanks to Cat’s Cradle, Teresa Edgerton, Remedy, Amycook for the votes.

And on to my shortlist (in order of posting) and votes.

Cats Cradle
Remedy
Khayow
StilLearning
Perpetual Man
Mosaix
Culhwch
Ursa Major
The Judge
Teresa Edgerton

A couple of years back one of my entries was about a phantom-carnival from the sixties that returns to the beach every year and a boy who gets lost there. I wanted to revisit the ambience of that piece and this is how I ended up with what I've posted.

How about the rest of you? Only a few are talking about their initial idea or gestation of their story.

pH

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the shortlisting, Phyrebrat.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Thanks for the vote, Phyrebrat!

***

As for my original inspiration for the story, the picture put me in mind of folklore about drowned maidens, and from there to folk ballads (hence the name).

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Oh, Phyrebrat, you're driving me crazy trying to find that old story! I remember it, but I can't find it. Since it's your fault, you have to go and find it for me.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Are we allowed to talk about it yet? The voting ain't over... (I didn't have one, as it happens. I rarely do. I just get voices in my head. Lots of them. All the time. It's a wonder I'm as normal as I am.... )

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Yes, just not to explain or expand upon your own story yet.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Because the discussion threads don't seem to be as much fun as they used to be (there are pages and pages of "thank you for the review" and "thank you for the vote" and we're not discouraging the thank yous, but all by themselves they don't make for stimulating reading or discussion) we're encouraging people to be more active about discussing the stories, as they did in the old days when the challenges were new, so long as the writer doesn't explain what the story means or expand on the plot.

 

[ratsy]

I saw the picture and got a few ideas. The one I went with was more of a feeling of desperation and sadness for the MC. I was working on a post aploco tale for a short story so it was easy to be in the mood for it....it doesn't seem to have worked out for me but I still like the story so that is really all that matters.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Oh, Phyrebrat, you're driving me crazy trying to find that old story! I remember it, but I can't find it. Since it's your fault, you have to go and find it for me.

Yes Ma;

Feb 2013 writing challenge.

I agree with Teresa - the thank yous are not very interesting (I try to save mine all up for one mega-thanks but often that = forget to even come back and end up looking like the Chron Ingrate). I love logging in and seeing a discussion about someone's entry in the same way I love watching DVD 'making-of' extras.

There is a much longer story to mine but I cut it down as I don't have confidence to write a novella or full length period piece. What you get is the very-abridged version with a tweaked ending.

I usually make notes on the entries I like, for shortlisting and votes, and post these if I get the chance to type them up. These days I find myself voting on the go and I loathe typing on my iphone so I've eschewed the summaries for sanity's (mine) sake.

pH

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Um, okay, mod-slap me if I go too far.

I saw it as a place where a last stand could be made but I was more intrigued by the characters in that last stand than the environment and wanted to cause something that would lead to a last stand without using up loads of words. Hence the Zombie apocalyspe - I figured everyone would know the trope of the undead and words would be available where I wanted them.

Phyre - what did you think of the voice in the end? (I won't be offended but I write a bi male character and it'd be interested to know if it sounded vaguely authentic.)


Edit - ooooh, thanks Juliana.

 

[Juliana]

Usually I have a pretty clear idea of who I'm voting for, and then a massive shortlist that's a nightmare to pare down. This time, however, I had six favourites. Oh the pain! Thank heavens we get 3 votes, at least...

Votes went to Springs, Abernovo and Mouse. Springs for the little glimpses of the relationship between the three survivors, and the other two purely for the absolutely delicious voice. I'm a sucker for an interesting voice.

Runners up were Teresa, Alchemist and Victoria. By a whisker, really. Alc's also had the delicious voice thing going on - I wondered if the MC lived near Springs' guy with the frizzled brain? (Can't remember which month that was...). Victoria's was very unique, and Teresa's chillingly beautiful.

Top three of the remaining stories were Remedy (made me cry), and Culhwch and The Judge, both for the fabulous, twisty endings.

 

[Abernovo]

Yay! Thanks for the vote, Juliana! And thanks for the compliment on the voice. I like voices too - perhaps because nobody understands me...sob, sob.

Hmm, I might get cushions thrown at me for that crack.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Yes Ma;

That's why I couldn't find it -- I was looking too far back! I guess Feb 2013 is getting perilously close to being "a couple of years ago", isn't it?

I remembered that story, because it reminded me of Something Wicked This Way Comes, and it was fabulous.

I think you did get that same feeling in this story, though differently. Yes, that makes perfect sense, I know.