Discussion Thread -- OCTOBER 2020 -- 300 Word Writing Challenge (#39)

Exceptional reviewing @ Victoria Silverwolf

Thank you.

So far I think it is possibly the highest quality 300 word competition I have witnessed. Already there are several entries in the "wow" category.

Quite intimidating!
 
@JJewel .... Muninn .... The difference between one call and another is that call home is often undeniable. Where else are old friends met and peace reigns?

@MikeAnderson .... Mahamudra .... Enlightenment is a mystery but it is not an impossibility.

@Victoria Silverwolf .... Storm Warnings .... A blue calm ocean and a boat load of friends does not mean all is well ---- or even just Okay.
 
@Marvin .... Post Apocalyptic Wonderland .... Life is resilient and children are amazingly adaptable, two reasons why humanity might just survive.
 
Marvin: The choice to portray what would normally be considered a terrible situation through the eyes of one who considers it normal adds great poignancy to this quiet story. The protagonist leads us to consider if our own worries are as bad as we think they are.
 
Victoria Silverwolf said:
Wayne Mack: What most distinguishes this tale of terror is the contrast between innocence and evil. Perhaps one cannot exist without the other, mirror images seen in a glass, darkly.

Rafellin: In this imaginative science fiction war story we see the crimes of humanity through new eyes, as well as the possibility of overcoming them. The narrator comes to understand that duty is often just an excuse for wickedness.

Astro Pen: The combination of a futuristic setting and a supernatural theme leads to a unique work of fiction. The protagonist's dilemma is a classic case of choosing between the frying pan and the fire.

Ashleyne: This tongue-in-cheek adventure is a classic comedy of misunderstandings and unlikely encounters. The contrast between rapaciousness on one side and whimsical desires on the other leads to much amusement.

paranoid marvin: The way in which this story slowly builds from optimistic calm to sudden horror increases the impact of its final image. There is, perhaps, a touch of very grim humor in the conclusion.

Guttersnipe: The vividness of the opening section of this tale causes the reader to share the doomed protagonist's agony. The unexpected revelation near the end intensifies the sensation of being put through a nightmare.

BT Jones: Small details, one by one, build a growing sense of unease and tension in this suspenseful story. By the end, it manages to be both frightening and moving.

Matchu: What at first seems to be a simple slice-of-life proves to be an extraordinary encounter in this offbeat creation. The subtle nature of its speculative content causes the reader to read through it more than once.

Provincial: The rollicking good humor of this modern sea chantey brings a smile to the reader's face. By throwing in concepts from a multitude of genres, the author displays wide-ranging creativity.

Danny McG: By boiling down the essence of a single image to its most vital and meaningful components, this miniature work of art conveys more in a few words than one would imagine possible. This adept minimalism allows readers to expand their imaginations.

Bren G: The author creates an entire alien culture, as well as characters with whom one can empathize, in a short space. By viewing events from eyes other than our own, what we might see as mundane becomes mythic.

Cat's Cradle: This science fiction story manages to be both wide-ranging and introspective, contrasting the vastness of humanity's fate with the despair of a single individual. The protagonist's actions may seem deplorable, but would we do something different, if we were in the same situation?

Capricorn42: Different levels of reality combine to create a mood of surrealism in this intriguing SF story. Perhaps most of us can relate to the urge to turn one's back on responsibility and simply exists in the moment.

JJewel: The contrast between a tragedy of the past and timeless, archetypical figures causes reality to seem legendary and legends seem real. In this way, one artist pays tribute to another.

MikeAnderson: A miraculous event serves as a metaphor for a new way of thinking in this mystical yet realistic tale. Like any good parable, it provides both entertainment and learning.
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Thanks, as ever, for your review and the compliments @Victoria Silverwolf. High praise indeed!
 
@Daysman .... Mr Blue .... Sometimes beauty creates unique opportunities and sometimes it obscures a looming threat.
 
Ok, that went a bit different. I remained stumped for a long time over this image. The only idea I had, whist fun and would have amused me to write, a tale of the Dark Lord have a bath and playing with his toy yacht.

It would have been funny, honest, cross my heart and all that malarkey... I may even still write it. However, I didn't want to fall back on an easy comfortable tale. I needed to work at something in a different way to give my writing brain a kick up the backside.

I apologise if it upsets anyone. It was definitely not my intention.
 
@Luiglin .... Long past .... Even the aftermath of a horror long past, is still a horror alive and well.
 
Daysman: The unusual focus of this wide-ranging science fiction story on esthetics renders it a unique look at the classic theme of space exploration. In this way, the reader learns to appreciate the beauty of the genre in a novel way.

Luiglin: Multiple meanings of the word haunting come to mind while reading this subtle, moody, and darkly romantic tale. Life and death, joy and terror are shown to be twins linked together for eternity.
 
Luiglin said:
Ok, that went a bit different. I remained stumped for a long time over this image. The only idea I had, whist fun and would have amused me to write, a tale of the Dark Lord have a bath and playing with his toy yacht.

It would have been funny, honest, cross my heart and all that malarkey... I may even still write it. However, I didn't want to fall back on an easy comfortable tale. I needed to work at something in a different way to give my writing brain a kick up the backside.

I apologise if it upsets anyone. It was definitely not my intention.
Click to expand...
Seriously disturbing @Luiglin; all the more so for how it got more unsettling every time I read it.
 
Well, there's my entry. Totally different from what I first had in mind. But lightning struck.
 
Elckerlyc: In this lyrical account of an extraordinary encounter, the imaginative use of speculative themes blends seamlessly with human concerns to produce a work of unusual emotional appeal. By presenting an historic meeting in intimate terms, the author makes us understand the importance of it.
 
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