DISCUSSION -- January 2015 300-word Writing Challenge (#16)

[farntfar]

Good lord, TJ. Alan Bennett. What a lovely thing to say. Thank you so much.

 

[Juliana]

Thank you for the mention and comments TJ!

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks for the short-listing, TJ.

 

[Cascade]

Thank you heaps to TDZ and SB for the mentions and to JoanDrake, Boneman, The Judge, Hex, Luiglin and Big J for the votes.

 

[Ursa major]

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


Honourable Mentions:

• Field Trip to the Home of Miss Bessie McFadden by Cat'sCradle
• a moment of madness by Glen
• Ode by TheDustyZebra

Runners Up:

• The Blessing Bough by Juliana
• The Whimsical Nature of Scientific Megalomania by Moonbat
• Romancing The Stone. by mosaix

Winners:

• Slabs by willwallace
• The Alien Gate by The Storyteller
• Pillar of the Community by The Judge

​

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Here my lists.


Honorable Mentions:
farntfar
jastius
Rafellin
Kerrybuchanan

Short List:
Juliana
Victoria
holland
Mr Orange
Big J
mosaix

Votes:
Moonbat
Phyrebrat
The Judge

 

[Ursa major]

The poll is now closed.

Congratulations, The Judge!​

​

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Congratulations, TJ! A well-deserved win (and I'm not just saying that because I voted for you...oh, ok, maybe I am)!

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Congratulations to The Judge on a smashing victory! Well done!

Mention should also be made of the strong second place showing by Moonbat and third place by willwallace.

(An interesting voting pattern; 13 votes, 11 votes, 9 votes.)

Many thanks to those who thought by own entry worthy of a vote or mention.

For whatever it might be worth, my primary goal was to create an exotic future; something that would seem strange to modern eyes, and not entirely explained. My inspiration was the work of Cordwainer Smith, although I don't think anything in my attempt resembled his beautiful and poetic stories.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Well done, TJ. and thanks to all for the mentions!

 

[Droflet]

Congrats, Your Honor. It's about time.

 

[Anne Martin]

A well-deserved win, TJ.

Strangely, I got my most ever shortlistings/mentions, but no votes this time. I think I needed more words to get the most from this story. I was up to about 600 before I realized I was way over on the word count with more story to go and struggled to maintain any sense of meaning as I cut it back to 300. I think I may expand it to about 1000-1500 and re-post it somewhere.

 

[willwallace]

Congratulations on the win, Judge. Also kudos to Moonbat for second place.

I think I've thanked all those who've voted or mentioned my story, except for the two votes today from Ursa Major and Ashleyne B. Watts-thanks very much, both of you.

For my entry I had originally written a story using a Lovecraft inspired theme with the Slab being a harbinger of returning elder gods. After letting it sit a few days I realized that it didn't convey the mood I wanted at all. So I trashed all but the first paragraph and did a totally different story. Seeing how it was fairly well received I might have to follow the same pattern from now on-write a story, wait a few days, then trash it and start over

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Congratulations, TJ!!
And well done to Moonbat and willwallace!

 

[Starbeast]

Congratulations The Judge​

I think you're amazing too, SB. Thank you for the kind mention. K x

You're welcome Kerrybuchanan. And thank you for your wonderful comment.

Thanks SB!

You're welcome Juliana.

Oooh, a finalist, Thanks SB

You're mighty welcome PM. I like your use of color to express the seasons.

Thanks for the vote starbeast. That had made my day.

You're immensely welcome Moonbat. I enjoyed your tale very much.

Thanks for adding me to the finalist list, Starbeast.

You're welcome Willwallace. Keep em' flying. And by the way, "FREEDOM!!!" Our world needs it.

Thanks for the finalist listing, Starbeast! And thanks for the mention, Perpetual Man. Awesome to be recognized by my peers. (You are my peers, correct???)

You're welcome Johnnyjet. You are an excellent peer, that are amongst all the excellent members here my friend.

Thank you very much, Starbeast, for counting me amongst your amazing authors.

You're very welcome Farntfar.

Wow, two votes! I'm shocked and very pleased. Thanks so much Starbeast for the vote! (And of course, you are very welcome for the mention.)

I enjoyed your entry very much The Storyteller. Keep up the awesomeness.

Thank you for the finalist mention, Sb.

You're mighty welcome Springs.

I loved the preponderance of Lovecraft-esque entries this month! And what a diverse take on the stim pic.

Thank you Victoria Silverwolf for your review, to willwallace, Springs, Remedy, Mosaix, sancho, farntfar, Starbeast and Storyteller (thanks for your kind words also Storyteller) for the mentions and shortlistings etc. And many thanks to Moonbat and Perp for wasting a third of your votes on me*

You're very welcome Phyrebrat. I almost did a Lovecraft-ian tale myself.

Many thanks for the vote, Phyrebrat. And thanks for the long-listing, Starbeast.

You're welcome Ursa Major. I have donuts for you and the mini Ursas.

Thanks for the finalist listing SB!

You're welcome Ratsy.

First, many thanks to Cascade (sorry for the earworm), springs, farntfar, Perp and SB for the kind mentions/shortlistings/finalists/amazing whatsits, and even bigger thanks to mosaix, Phyrebrat, telford and Juliana for the lovely votes!

You're welcome Lady Zebra.

Many thanks SB for the mention and Phyrebrat for the lovely review

You're welcome Sancho.

eek, guess i better vote before this all wraps up... before i do, thanks sancho, farntfar, starbeast for the mentions and listings of my tale.

You're welcome Mr Orange.

Thanks for finding my story of note, Perpetual Man. A gargantuan thanks to Starbeast and Mr Orange for the votes.
So then, my shortlist:

MR VICKERS’S ALIEN STONE by Springs
An Outstretched hand by johnnyjet
Fencer by Remedy
Blue Eyes and New Eyes by Starbeast

You're welcome Lady Watts. Once again you've written a story that was something completely different. And you stunned me by placing me into your very Short List. You made my night. Thank you. Wheeeeeee!

I'm astounded my entry has come up so often in people's shortlistings etc, but some elderly, old-man's-beard swathed thanks for the mentions/shortlistings to The Storyteller (thanks for the lovely comment), Kerry, telford, johnnyjet, crystal haven, farntfar, Perp, Starbeast, Phyrebrat (the Queen Mum, how did you guess? ) and Mr Orange. And some only just younger than mangrove mega-thanks for the wonderful votes Cascade (glad the pun didn't make you change your mind!), LittleStar, Anne, Juliana, Victoria, Cat's Cradle, Remedy (thanks also for the kind words), TDZ, Boneman, ratsy and Chris. Thank you all kindly!

You're welcome The Judge. And once again, a big crongrats to you.

Congratulations to The Judge on a smashing victory! Well done!

Mention should also be made of the strong second place showing by Moonbat and third place by willwallace. (An interesting voting pattern; 13 votes, 11 votes, 9 votes.)

Many thanks to those who thought by own entry worthy of a vote or mention.

For whatever it might be worth, my primary goal was to create an exotic future; something that would seem strange to modern eyes, and not entirely explained. My inspiration was the work of Cordwainer Smith, although I don't think anything in my attempt resembled his beautiful and poetic stories.

You're welcome Victoria. No need to apologize for your entry, 300 words is still tough to pack in a story, and I thnk you did a marvelous job.

And I agree about your mentions for MOONBAT & WILLWALLACE, they got many votes, and that says a lot about their exceptional tales.




Whew. I felt like I just hosted the Oscars.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

You mean to say you're not hosting the Oscars? Phooey, I'm not watching, then.

 

[Starbeast]

Crocodiles ate my tuxedo, and they decided on Steve Martin instead. Go figure.

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

Well done, TJ!

And thank you for mention, Teresa x

 

[Perpetual Man]

Congratulations TJ.

 

[Moonbat]

Congratulations Judge A stunning victory. Ooh i just missed out, that is by far the most votes i have ever received for a 300 worder so I'm mighty pleased. I would thank everyone individually but I'm much lazier than starbeast.