DISCUSSION -- JULY 2019 300-word Writing Challenge (#34)

[Garfunkel]

Congratulations @Cat's Cradle! A very well-deserved win for a great story.

Huge thanks to @nixie, @Perpetual Man, @Ursa major, @Marvin, @johnnyjet, @Hugh, @Stable, @MikeAnderson and @JBGood for the votes, and to @farntfar, @The Judge, @Cat's Cradle, @Daysman and @Starbeast for the mentions! I was really happy with how my story turned out, so it was lovely for it to be so well-received.

 

[Peter V]

Brilliant writing CC, well deserved.

Commiserations to the runners up, all worthy efforts

 

[The Judge]

Congratulations, CC! A wonderful story and a decisive victory! And congrats, too, to Garfunkel for second place.


Hugh, I see Phyrebrat and Culhwch have beaten me to the explanation for the genre, but Luiglin and Starbeast are correct as to the inspiration bit. (Though since I'm a bit of a curmudgeon** I personally like to see a connection between the story and the image, so if the inspiration takes a writer too far from it and I get left behind it might mean I discount the story, but I doubt anyone else worries about that.)


** OK, a lot of a curmudgeon...

 

[Ian Fortytwo]

Congratulations @Cat's Cradle . I actually voted for the winner.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Wow! I think this is (let me do the math...um...okay, guestimate) the 22nd 300 worder I've entered, and this is my first win. Everyone entering, just please keep trying, and in some future quarter you'll hopefully hit on that winning idea, and that just-right Voice- perhaps fueled by caffeine and insomnia, as my story was this Challenge (also, I had no idea what a colliery was, and thought the photo was of an old farm-type barn, which gave me the idea for the piece...so a bit of ignorance can come in handy, too).

I had told my wife a few days ago that I was pretty sure I wasn't going to hold the lead. So many good stories, and so many stories with voting momentum the last 3-4 days. I'm a congratulater and a thanker, so bear with me. First, well done all- great Challenge, and great photo, @Mister_Oy. Congrats to Luiglin, Culhwch, and Garfunkel for keeping it so close, right till the very end. Thank you to everyone who listed, and voted for, my entry. And for those who mentioned how much they enjoyed the story, thank you for the kind words. My father grew-up in a farmhouse milieu very similar to the one depicted here (minus the violence), and my family's visits to the place filled in the general background for the story.

I have a sick kitty to take care of (dose with meds, and make sure she doesn't re-injure a damaged leg), or I would thank the voters/listers individually. But wow, very exciting, very cool, thank you all. Okay, mods - being unused to winning the 300 worder, when do I have to get the genre and theme to you for October's Challenge?? Looking forward to October, CC

 

[nixie]

Congratulations CC.

 

[elvet]

Congratulations @Cat's Cradle . And best wishes to your little kitty for a complete recovery.

 

[Cathbad]

Congratulations CC.

 

[Danny McG]

Well done CC, good story

 

[Hugh]

Yes, many many congratulations @Cat's Cradle

And many thanks indeed @Daysman @LittleStar and @Starbeast for the votes!

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Many congratulations to Cat's Cradle on a smashing victory, ahead from the very start.

Equal congratulations to Garfunkel for the silver, and to Luiglin and Culhwch for splitting the bronze.

 

[LittleStar]

Congrats, CC

 

[Hugh]

Congratulations, CC! A wonderful story and a decisive victory! And congrats, too, to Garfunkel for second place.


Hugh, I see Phyrebrat and Culhwch have beaten me to the explanation for the genre, but Luiglin and Starbeast are correct as to the inspiration bit. (Though since I'm a bit of a curmudgeon** I personally like to see a connection between the story and the image, so if the inspiration takes a writer too far from it and I get left behind it might mean I discount the story, but I doubt anyone else worries about that.)


** OK, a lot of a curmudgeon...

Many thanks for clarifying.

 

[Rafellin]

Congrats to Cat's Cradle and may your kitty be well soon.

Thank you @Tywin for the honourable mention.

@Hugh and @scarpelius, I hope this helps:

My tale is first person, single speaker. The view shown in the photo is his view as he speaks. We're hearing the side of the conversation humans without his gift will hear. To an onlooker, he's standing there, facing an abandoned colliery, chatting to thin air.
If you had his gift, you could hear the whole conversation, but you still wouldn't necessarily be able to work out how many fey he's talking with- even he doesn't know.
Someone with the ability to see the fey (Eyes of Night or Eyes of Morning, depending on it being Unseelie or Seelie aspected), would be able to describe who he's talking with, but, as the tale intimates, would be highly unlikely to be able to hear what the fey are saying.

 

[Hugh]

Congrats to Cat's Cradle and may your kitty be well soon.

Thank you @Tywin for the honourable mention.

@Hugh and @scarpelius, I hope this helps:

My tale is first person, single speaker. The view shown in the photo is his view as he speaks. We're hearing the side of the conversation humans without his gift will hear. To an onlooker, he's standing there, facing an abandoned colliery, chatting to thin air.
If you had his gift, you could hear the whole conversation, but you still wouldn't necessarily be able to work out how many fey he's talking with- even he doesn't know.
Someone with the ability to see the fey (Eyes of Night or Eyes of Morning, depending on it being Unseelie or Seelie aspected), would be able to describe who he's talking with, but, as the tale intimates, would be highly unlikely to be able to hear what the fey are saying.

Ahh! Makes completes sense now. It never occurred to me re just the single speaker.
Thanks for explaining.

 

[Daysman]

Wonderful piece from @Cat's Cradle this month and a well deserved win!

Many thanks for mentions to @Garfunkel, @The Judge, @johnnyjet, @Starbeast and @Ian Fortytwo

 

[Starbeast]

Congratulations Cat's Cradle
@Cat's Cradle

Medals for all of the RUNNERS UP

And a free beverage for all the rest whom entered the challenge. Hail to you, gladiators!​

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Congratulation @Cat's Cradle

And thanks for the mentions everyone. I didn't expect any.

Now, as for my own effort, I hope it didn't go unnoticed that I referenced all the other photos, but it probably did

As I said earlier, I just couldn't get going this month, so I know why it failed as a story - all beginning and no middle or end.

I also could have ended it better with something like:
Suddenly, Kajar looked at me. "You're using too many adjectives, you're going to run out of..."

I still wouldn't have got any votes, but I'd have felt happier

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Maybe you can return to the Yaggat Desert in another Challenge, @M. Robert Gibson. It's a fun read, and it was pretty bold to stop mid-story, and leave us all hanging. I know this won't help, but the next 300 worder is in 1.5 months, so knock 'em dead in that one.

Thanks, everyone, for the congratulations.

 

[elvet]

Congratulation @Cat's Cradle

And thanks for the mentions everyone. I didn't expect any.

Now, as for my own effort, I hope it didn't go unnoticed that I referenced all the other photos, but it probably did

As I said earlier, I just couldn't get going this month, so I know why it failed as a story - all beginning and no middle or end.

I also could have ended it better with something like:
Suddenly, Kajar looked at me. "You're using too many adjectives, you're going to run out of..."

I still wouldn't have got any votes, but I'd have felt happier

I did not notice the references to the photos, so now I will thank @M. Robert Gibson for another mention—the lignified hydra was my entry