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

[Wruter]

A stealth vote! I'll take it.

That was me, apologies for the delay in posting here.

My stand-outs were:

Victoria Silverwolf
Jo Zebedee
Cathbad
DZara
mosaix

My votes were:

Vaz
Cory Swanson
ratsy

A special mention to Starbeast. Would get my vote every time if I was judging on entertainment value alone.

And my glad thanks to everyone who thought 'A Cup of Moonshine' worthy of a vote or mention. If I die tomorrow, remember me this way.

 

[Shyrka]

**** Small Steps – Shyrka ****

You honour me, Sir. Much obliged.

 

[Vaz]

Thanks for the vote, Wruter

 

[Starbeast]

@Wruter special mention to Starbeast. Would get my vote every time if I was judging on entertainment value alone.

Why thank sir, for the awesome compliment.

@johnnyjet

Thank you for the mention. You made my day.



Great Galaxy!!! The 15th is Monday. The poll will close SOON!!!. I've got to...wait a sec...I already voted.

 

[Mad Alice]

@Wruter special mention to Starbeast. Would get my vote every time if I was judging on entertainment value alone.

Why thank sir, for the awesome compliment.

@johnnyjet

Thank you for the mention. You made my day.



Great Galaxy!!! The 15th is Monday. The poll will close SOON!!!. I've got to...wait a sec...I already voted.

Monday is the eighth, isn't it?

 

[Starbeast]

@Mad Alice

I goofed it again.

 

[Mad Alice]

@Mad Alice

I goofed it again

I thought it to be a brilliant gambit to curry more votes, to be honest. By inducing last minute voting panic .
I was totally convinced you were right, then I started thinking where my missing week went... Alien abduction and such commonplaces came to mind, but since my tin foil bonnet was firmly anchored and I still possessed my traveling towel, I rethunk.

 

[Moonbat]

I loved the image this month and all the stories that went with it, here is my shortlist and votes.

cory swanson – ode to italo
thomas g – penta
cascade – the delta
chrispy – homecoming
perp – coyote
little star – the space between
shyrka – little steps


Thanks to all those who mention me and particularly for the three votes (yay!)

 

[Droflet]

Early days yet, but is that the scent of a multiple tie?

 

[Ursa major]

And are you... er... putting your neck on the line by prophesying such a tie with a week or so** still to go....


** - Where the "or so" is just ten minutes short of 15 hours.

 

[Droflet]

Probably.

 

[ThomasG]

Thanks for the mention, @Moonbat , and I will repeat my apology for the awful last sentence.

 

[Shyrka]

While you grimly await your fates here, why not consider an entry for the magnificent August Anonymous 100-word challenge!

 

[Shyrka]

I loved the image this month and all the stories that went with it, here is my shortlist and votes.
shyrka – little steps

Thank you thank you!

 

[Starbeast]

I thought it to be a brilliant gambit to curry more votes, to be honest. By inducing last minute voting panic .
I was totally convinced you were right, then I started thinking where my missing week went... Alien abduction and such commonplaces came to mind, but since my tin foil bonnet was firmly anchored and I still possessed my traveling towel, I rethunk.

Fatigue from work causes my brain not work good. Rest good, work bad. Good is good, bad is bad. Must save brain. Good, good.

 

[Cory Swanson]

I go on vacation for a couple days then check in and I'm tied up! Thanks for the votes, Liuglin and moonbat!

 

[DZara]

Victoria Silverwolf's reviews were terrific - can't beat those, but I couldn't not say something for each one, at least this once.

oh dear God – Made me laugh. “Sex Slaves of Mercury” – LOL!

Ballad of Light and Night – Epic imagery that reverberated in my head.

An Ode to Italo – Won me over with just the title – love Calvino! And loved the invention of a new extreme sport.

It’s Inevitable – Wanted to expand on the idea of us vs. them fighting for the planet – felt his frustration

Amber Waves – Exquisite description, especially of the wind and the hair.

A Cup of Moonshine – Great fairy-tale style, and loved how the title is so integrated with the story itself in such an unexpected way that makes me want to read it again.

A Single Fall of Hair – Felt such genuine emotion in main character’s dilemma – goes from peaceful to scary in two seconds flat and hangs on to scary, adding wistful and lonely on top of that.

Blood Moon, Man and Beast – The red moon so perfectly set the stage for his pain and agony in transformation – good character description.

Old Sun – Very detailed descriptions of the world and the family. Drew me very quickly into the story.

Dust – This story generated so many questions in a simple conversation. Made me want to know more.

A Detective’s Tale – First line of the story wins the ‘Best Metaphor of the Whole Contest’ award. Very funny, and loved the ‘Never-Ending Story’ breaking of the fourth wall near the end.

Penta – Why didn’t I think of extra moons? Great concept.

The Delta – Absorbed me from beginning to end. Fantastic writing.

Life’s Easter Egg – Pokemon line made me laugh, plus the twist at the end.

Homecoming – Another not-so-obvious twist in concept, and I liked the term ‘hyber-ship’.

The Singer, etc. – Longest and Most Authentic Fairy-Tale Title Award. Some fine myth-making here. Beautifully done.

The Lust of Avarice – Good creature invention, incorporating beauty, courage and risk.

The Space Between – Good description at the moment of contact – a soft and tender connection.

Small Steps – Best time-telescoping award. I think this story covered what – a whole decade? In less than 300 words? Awesome job. And great twist at the end – did not see it coming.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress – I felt upset when his parents divorced too. I was already vested in the story by then. Less than 100 words drew me right into his anguish – well done!

The Spark from a Burning Moon – Lush descriptions of the setting and the sisters, particularly in the first two paragraphs.

Vehicular Offense – Best Douglas Adams ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide’ knockoff story – loved it!

Crying for the Moon – Best ‘In Love with the Moon’ story award.

An Offer They Can’t Refuse – Best ‘disaster that happens so far there’s no time to even breathe’ story. Also best ending award.

Conscientious Deserter – Best use of poetry in a story award.

The Call of the Moon – Best ‘Through-Death Experience’ Award in the last few paragraphs.

Saviour Moon – Best incorporation of song in story Award. I could almost hear it at the end…

The Bulrush Child – Great fable. Terrific karma moment at the climax. And using the story to describe natural events at the end – brilliant!

Can You Have Emotion Without Motion? – Best description of character in-between the lines Award.

Cake and Wotsits – Best man-and-dog moment award. Ending was poignant and yet somehow still optimistic.

Why Do Rabbits Dance in the Moonlight? – Intriguing premise, and it works as a description of natural phenomena, especially the pearls-as-stars imagery.

Not With a Whimper… - Best Unprovable Question Proven award. Also nice last-line tie in with the title.



And my three big winners were:

Jo Zebedee – A Single Fall of Hair

Cascade - The Delta

Mosaix - An Offer They Can’t Refuse

Awesome job everyone – and thanks everyone who voted for my first-ever effort (curtsey). I’m totally flattered!

 

[LittleStar]

Was worried I'd forget to vote for this, so I'm getting in now, ather than dill-dallying for another few days. Really good stories all, I like the amont of created myths that the imAge has brought up.

My shortlist is as follows:-
Vaz
Starbeast
Cascade
Perp
Ratsy
Stilearning
Phyre
TJ
Fitzchiv


But there must be winners, and so my three favourites were:-
Cory Swanson
Wruter
Hazelrah

 

[mosaix]

Well I'd had a few mentions but given up on any votes and now look - two! Thanks Perp and DZara.

 

[Cory Swanson]

Thanks for the vote, little star. I am so excited to be in the running this time. Especially against all these great stories.