DISCUSSION -- OCTOBER 2019 300-word Writing Challenge (#35)

[Ian Fortytwo]

Thanks to @dannymcg for my vote.

 

[Abernovo]

Thanks for the review, Victoria!

This is exciting. Watching the final authors rush into the room. I'm hoping for a new member to post.

Nice to see familiar faces making it in. Cheers folks!

I wasn't going to post anything, as it just wasn't happening in my head. Then, I got a late piece of inspiration (either that, or had a dodgy meal before one night's sleep which induced weird dreams), and rushed something onto the page.

 

[Peter V]

A lot of exceptionally good entries and below is just a selection of the ones that caught my attention the most. I have tried to make come comment but you can clearly see why I do not try and emulate our esteemed Victoria and review.


Fade to White @ Victoria Silverwolf
Nicely written with an interesting premise. This left me wondering where it was going right to the end.

Ghost Wrangler @ Daysman
I really liked this from the first line. Again it was not even remotely obvious where it was going but as the penny drops with the last few lines it paints a perfect picture. Shortlist

Childs Play @ Rafellin
Sometimes a conversation tells all the story you need. The content is relevant and speaks volumes about our changing society. Shortlist

Notice of Seizure @ Cat’s Cradle.
Only lacking an Esmerelda, this amusing homage to Hugo leads to a less than perfect ending for our protagonist who may, or possibly not, be called Quasimodo. It’s got cowbell. Gotta have more cowbell!

Obituary @ Elckerlyc.
I really enjoyed this well written and very original tale with a poignant ending. Shortlist

A New Frontier @ D3athw4lker.
Highly amusing, especially at the end. Also made me Google the human voice box (just to make sure about Orama )

Shall We Dance @ Elvet
A fantasy future for end of life care which we can only wish could be true. A happy ending for a loved great grandmother.

Out of the Frying Pan @ dannymcg.
What a diabolical imagination you have sir!

… They Have Their Entrances and Their Exits ... @ mosaix
Ultimately a horror story of one born into a challenging existence but one without redemption.

Sic Semper Tindalos @ Kharn
Interesting and very original – like the title (after I Googled it)

All the Stage, My World @ Culhwch
This wonderfully written tale paints a vivid picture. It’s beautiful in structure and immediately understandable. Shortlist

Written and Performed by the Old Quarter Orphanage @ Littlestar
When I think I probably have my three decided, along comes another beautifully written tale to turn my head. I could picture every moment as everything on that stage was painted with such vivid reality. Shortlist

A Horseless Carriage @ Phyrebrat
Another brilliantly written and perfectly paced tale. Very original too. Shortlist

A Fool’s Paradise @ Mr Orange
Great originality and a great twist. Not sure about the choice of alternative source material for a play

The Seven Stages of @ Ursa Major
For the cleverly developed mystery and an unexpected conclusion

Pleasure and action make the hours seem short @ M Robert Gibson
For the T.A.R.D.I.S by any other name

The Final Stage @ The Judge
I really enjoyed the emotional ending to what at first appeared to be a somewhat underwhelming afterlife for our protagonist. Shortlist


It was hard enough coming up wit the long list and a real challenge deciding on my shortlist. Picking three from these has proved extremely difficult and ultimately left me not noting for at least two stories that I was convinced I would vote for the moment I read them. It feels a genuine disservice not to vote for them in truth.

So, by the finest of margins...

@ Daysman
@ LittleStar
@ Phyrebrat


It's been fun (and a bit stressful).

So long and see you around some time.

 

[elvet]

I woke up to find I have a vote and a menion. Thanks ever so much, @Victoria Silverwolf and @Peter V . You brightened my day!

 

[Danny McG]

I gorra vote! Yippee! ThankeeSai.

I get so down when a writing challenge finishes and I'm still a blankie

 

[Star-child]

@Victoria Silverwolf and the American people: There was no quid pro quo. I repeat, no quid pro quo.

Thanks to you and @MoominAhoy for your kind votes!

 

[Ian Fortytwo]

I have voted, however as I am doing a stint of Poppy collecting, it's hard finding time to do much else.

 

[Ursa major]

Many, many thanks for the stealth vote, chrispy!

 

[chrispenycate]

Many, many thanks for the stealth vote, chrispy!

It was not intended to be stealth! I'd got my short list (Elckerlyc, johnnyjet, Luiglin, mosaix, Perpetual Man, Star-child and Ursa major), was thinking up things to say about the last time we had eight, count 'em, eight newcomers (it was in 2013), and my computer decided to give up talking to the internet and continue in splended isolation. So I whote some dragons, and lo! This morning it was back to its usual chatty self. But the votes were already in.

I liked that theme photo - had a dozen ideas that would have fit.

 

[Venusian Broon]

The mentions:
Best supporting cast - @Victoria Silverwolf @mosaix @Mr Orange @The Judge

Almost best performance @Shyrka - loved the act structure and the repetition & @Phyrebrat for the mib theme.

But best performances I gave to @Dan Jones @Mouse and @LittleStar

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Here are the ones that entertained me for whatever reason

Ghost Wrangler - @Daysman
Child’s Play - @Rafellin
Notice of Seizure - @Cat's Cradle
Obituary - @Elckerlyc
Out of the frying pan - @dannymcg
The Travels Of Sir Reginald Rigmarole, Part 94! - @Dan Jones
The Peculiar Incident Experienced by Mr Nempnett Thrubwell - @Mouse
Written and Performed by the Old Quarter Orphanage - @LittleStar
The Audience - @johnnyjet
A Fool’s Paradise - @Mr Orange
The Final Stage - @The Judge

But the votes went to
Fade to White - @Victoria Silverwolf
Never Too Proud - @Shyrka
A Horseless Carriage - @Phyrebrat

 

[Mouse]

I've voted for @Elckerlyc @Dan Jones and @The Judge

@M. Robert Gibson was so close to a vote for that acronym.

Ta to @Venusian Broon for the vote and @M. Robert Gibson for the mention.

 

[Elckerlyc]

Yes! Thank you, my first vote!

 

[Ian Fortytwo]

Shortlist.
@Daysman
@Cat's Cradle
@elvet
@Star-child
@Mouse
@Venusian Broon
@LittleStar
@johnnyjet
@Mr Orange
@The Judge

Voted.

@Victoria Silverwolf
@Starbeast
@dannymcg

 

[Ursa major]

Many, many thanks for the stealth vote, Margaret Note Spelling!

 

[Elckerlyc]

Stealthily or in modest silence, it doesn't matter. My thanks also to @Margaret Note Spelling!

 

[Elckerlyc]

I thought having 3 votes would be easier than just the one for the 75-word stories. No more agonizing over whose story to reward with my vote.
Well, I was wrong. It is agonizing^2.
There many strong entries.

Anyway, here's my shortlist and votes:
@Daysman
@Peter V -> vote
@mosaix
@Mouse -> vote
@J.C. Scoberg
@Ursa major
@The Judge -> vote

 

[Shyrka]

Big thanks to @Venusian Broon for the almost vote and kind comments and huge thanks to @M. Robert Gibson for the vote!. That particular idea had been buzzing around in my head for a while so it was good to finally get it down. I felt I was sacrificing a lot to cram it all in but I'm glad you enjoyed it.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Thanks so much for the listings, Peter V (more cowbell, indeed), M. Robert Gibson, and Ian Fortytwo.
And merci, Calliopenjo, for the vote!

 

[Star-child]

Thanks @mosaix and @chrispenycate for your votes!