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

Thank you HareBrain for the vote! And thank you TDZ and Abernovo for mentioning my story.

******

Meanwhile, for those who haven't voted yet, there is still a little time left, and a very close race.
 
Wonderful idea, TDZ, thanks so much! It was an exhilarating and fascinating post...wow, we really produced some terrific stuff this month! I think seeing this right at the end of the voting really drives that home...it was a very successful Challenge.

I wonder if you'd mind if I, or others, borrow this concept in the future? I think it would be great to post some of our favorite lines from future stories--I don't really know how to review these very well, but a few lines that seemed especially fine might show why a particular story appealed to me. But again, terrific post, thanks so much for mentioning those lines from my story (I see you noticed my sibilant alliteration :)). CC
 
So, shortlist time, or rather a longlist. I've set out double my usual seven contenders, but a number of these I've included for the lyricism and sheer beauty of some of the lines as I'm in a poetical frame of mind, though I have to say not all of them completely work as stories for me.

Falling -- Cat's Cradle
Twinkling Lights -- telford
Where the Star Trees Grow -- Remedy
The Lost Daughter -- Juliana
Me 'n' My Starman -- alchemist
The fisherman -- Aun Doorback
When the Salmon Run -- Phyrebrat
Blutgift -- gdoc
Memories Remain -- Perp
One For The... -- mosaix
Prologue -- Culhwch
No Mere Accident -- Ursa
'Membering -- Abernovo
Ballad -- Teresa

I had some trouble choosing from that collection. Teresa's perfect tale of love, lust, murder and revenge was a vote-winner for me from the first time I read it, so that was simple enough, and on the second read I picked Remedy's for the image of the trees, and his wife's loving deception in pretending to see them. The third had me bouncing between a number of the rest, and I thought I might have to toss a few coins but in the end a strict view of what was speculative fiction and what makes a story excluded some of the front-runners, and Abernovo's unusual voice swung it.


I really didn't expect to get any more mentions, let alone more votes, but they are all extremely welcome! Gory breathless thanks to Phyrebrat and Juliana for the mention/shortlisting, and fleshy tidbits as thanks to Abernovo, Cul, HB and TDZ for the votes. Thanks, also, for the lovely comments, HB, and for picking out one of my sleight-of-hand lines that I was especially proud of, TDZ!


Phyrebrat said:
I know with TJ and Hex, for example that I am often going to enjoy a tale with a dark twist or some kind of misanthropic irony, and notes on the Human Condition.
Click to expand...
Misanthropic? Moi? Are we forgetting my Kitten Tall Tale? I do light and fluffy! Sometimes. On occasion. Now and then. OK, once... :p
 
Well, it's very late here in Finland, so I'm heading off to bed. Best of luck to the front runners, and I'll see everyone on the flip side of the forums upgrade!

ps--thank you very much to TDZ & TJ for the listings, that made for a very happy Friday evening! :)
 
Here they are the votes of the Ursa jury, with the stories in posting order within the categories:

Honourable Mentions:
  • A Better Man. by Springs
  • The Meeting Place by Khayos
  • Event Horizon by Flyerman11
Runners Up:
  • Me ‘n’ my Starman by Alchemist
  • A Journal of Impossible Things by TheDustyZebra
  • BALLAD by Teresa Edgerton
Winners:
  • Oliver's Army Of One by reiver33
  • (And I Feel Fine) by Mouse
  • One For The... by mosaix
 
Oooooh, has the fat - er - bear sang?

Either way, a thanks to Ursa for the mention. I've been floored how many people mentioned or voted for mine, I genuinely thought it wasn't nearly original enough.

For now - popcorn, anyone? :D
 
Many thanks for the votes, alchemist, BigJ, Brev, Perpetual Man, and Phyrebrat!!! Very much appreciated, as were the listings and mentions and mini-reviews and favourite lines all!

I missed the boat a little on giving some insight into my story, but I think I mentioned earlier I was determined to enter this one after too long away from the 300-worder. The first thing that popped into my head with the image was camping, and the first story idea I had was to write a 'What I Did On My Summer Vacation' style of thing from a kid's perspective, ending with a zombie apocalypse. That didn't last very long, though, and quickly morphed into what I ended up with. It actually came together surprisingly quick, and was only about nine words over in first draft, which is always nice.

I hadn't read any of the other stories when I posted, so I didn't realise that springs had gone with zombies as well, but I was glad to see it was quite a different take!
 
Congratulations, TJ!!


Although it looked close at times, the fact is that after she seized the lead several days ago she never faltered.
 
Congratulations, TJ! Well and magically done (with all that sleight of hand and misdirection)!

Commiserations to alc and Teresa -- you guys will have to fight over the bridesmaid's dress this time, as there probably isn't room for both of you.
 
Many congratulations to Judge. :)


And close runners with alc and TE. A good picture to go by. :)



My original was a lot closer to my vision than what I posted-but it was also about four times as long.


At least one member should know what mine was based off of, especially if I decide to post the original anywhere. :D If I can...I wrote it on the Ipad. I don't know if I have it on dropbox or not.



Seriously, we need a simple showcase thread, I think...one where we don't necessarily need critiques, but still want to show off what we've done.
 
I'll join the chorus. Well done, Dusty. Great idea. And thanks for the mention.
Also thanks for the mention, TJ.

And, congrats your honor. What a month.
 
I popped into Chrons early before going out, as I wasn't sure when we would be able to Meet On The Other Side, and I'm gobsmacked! I truly thought either Teresa or alc would have thrashed me, so I was getting the lilac taffeta ready...

Thank you all. It's not been the best of years for us here at Judge Towers, and this is a very welcome boost.

Commiserations to alc and Teresa after such a well-fought fight, and congratulations to everyone who took part in what was an exceptional quarter.
 
Congratulations to Judge!

With the exception of TDZ's very unique (and very cool) post, I believe I pulled an oh-fer this month. No mentions, no votes. Perhaps I should have made it more clear that the spiel was intended to be from the messenger of a sentient race of machines which had initially been created by man sometime in the far future, who have come to the conclusion that the universe is better off without their creators. Perhaps I should stick to writing a more traditional story, as opposed to 300 words of some person/entity/thing ranting and raving. Perhaps I need to stop bringing up God/religion/faith. Have a few months til the next 300 to think about it, anyways.

Ah, well. Live and learn.
 
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