DISCUSSION -- July 2016 300-word Writing Challenge (#22)

[Wruter]

ps - hope you're working on a 300-word story!

No sooner said than done

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Wruter -- The author creates a new but entirely authentic folk tale in this charming story. By capturing the voice of a storyteller from long ago perfectly, it becomes more than a pastiche, but a genuine example of the form. Proof of craftsmanship is shown by a seemingly simple style, which is the most difficult to write.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Jo Zebedee -- The reader is drawn into this powerful drama through the use of strong sensory details. One can truly experience the haunting setting through all of one's senses. By not fully explaining the nature of the tragic situation which the narrator must face, the reader's imagination is brought into play, creating an intense emotional reaction.

 

[Cathbad]

I couldn't get the story I wanted to tell down to 300 words, so I'd given up... then decided to write this one.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Cathbad -- This moody, introspective dark fantasy takes us deep into the mind of the viewpoint character. By choosing for a narrator one who is often depicted as a one-dimensional antagonist, the author makes us aware of the true horror of such a fate. The difficult task of creating empathy with such a character is done with great style.

 

[Cathbad]

Thank you for the nice review, Victoria

 

[Denise Tanaka]

It's a beautiful image but somehow a story isn't popping up. I have until July 31, right? If nothing comes to mind at least I look forward to reading everyone else's entries. Go forth and do!

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

AstroZon -- With the complexity of a novel, this open-ended story offers a variety of characters who are fully developed in a few words. In addition to this, we have a novel concept. By not completely explaining everything, the reader is intrigued by this strange new world.

J D Foster -- This gently melancholy tale of courage in the face of impending loss touches the heart. By examining a disaster of enormous proportions through the eyes of a parent and child, it is made real for the reader. A theme which could have easily become overly melodramatic in lesser hands is narrated in a completely believable way.

 

[AstroZon]

AstroZon -- With the complexity of a novel, this open-ended story offers a variety of characters who are fully developed in a few words. In addition to this, we have a novel concept. By not completely explaining everything, the reader is intrigued by this strange new world.

Thanks Victoria,
This is, as you surmised, the opening of a novel or short story. I just wrote it yesterday after listening to a lecture by David Icke (whose opinions I take with a huge grain of salt.) Anyway, he was talking about Saturn and its symbolism throughout history. At one point he brought up the term Old Sun, and it stuck in my head so hard that I had to write something.

BTW, are we allowed to make revisions to our submissions? I wanted to rephrase the first sentence of the last paragraph.


Again thanks for taking the time to read it and offer your critique. Cheers.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Thanks Victoria,
This is, as you surmised, the opening of a novel or short story. I just wrote it yesterday after listening to a lecture by David Icke (whose opinions I take with a huge grain of salt.) Anyway, he was talking about Saturn and its symbolism throughout history. At one point he brought up the term Old Sun, and it stuck in my head so hard that I had to write something.

BTW, are we allowed to make revisions to our submissions? I wanted to rephrase the first sentence of the last paragraph.


Again thanks for taking the time to read it and offer your critique. Cheers.

Sadly no changes are allowed. We're also not allowed to discuss our own stories in this thread but others can- which can be an exquisite form of torture.

Welcome to the challenges!

 

[The Judge]

You can make changes within the usual editing window of one hour, but after that, no. Which can be very annoying when you realise after 61 minutes that you've made spelling error or other typo!

 

[AstroZon]

You can make changes within the usual editing window of one hour, but after that, no. Which can be very annoying when you realise after 61 minutes that you've made spelling error or other typo!

OK, thanks.

 

[Starbeast]

Good afternoon everybody. The muse struck me on a dark and rainy night. After my fourth draft, I trimmed a few words for safety, and to satisfy the "paranoia monster" that was breathing heavily on my neck.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Starbeast -- This high-spirited romp through popular fiction manages to poke fun at multiple genres. The author manages to draw the reader into the story by parodying the conventions of narration itself. Lest it become overly intellectual, this merry tale is careful to appeal to the funnybone throughout.

 

[Starbeast]

Thank you Lady Silverwolf for your lovely review.

 

[Wruter]

@Starbeast never fails to make me laugh

 

[ThomasG]

Hi, all, I'm in . That was tough keeping to 300 words, a great test though. My story was cut out and adapted from something much longer that I wrote a few weeks ago which I was going to put forward as my first for critique, chapter 1 of an eventual book. I still hope to do so soon in its original form soon.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

ThomasG -- The matter-of-fact tone of this far future tale makes its exotic setting seem very real. Through the use of vivid sensory details, a place unlike anything we have ever experienced comes to life. Through this technique, the narrator's sense of loss is as powerful as anything we have felt ourselves.

Cascade -- The psychological depth of this seemingly simple story reveals its true complexity. The thoughts and actions, or lack of actions, of the narrator may seem puzzling, but it is clear that the author has analyzed them completely. This strengthens the sense of tragedy at the end.

 

[Luiglin]

I'm in with a slightly off kilter take on the photo.

 

[reiver33]

I've only now looked at the challenge, but can't see an image!