DISCUSSION THREAD -- April 2021 300 Word Writing Challenge (#41)

[Marvin]

... and me!

Quite a flurry.

If I’m honest I got my entry days mixed up, so bit of a rush job this one. At least something is in.
Good luck all.

 

[Ursa major]

The big red blue lever is less than ten minutes away from being pulled.

If you haven't posted your entry yet, do so now!

 

[Ursa major]

​

The challenge is now closed and so the voting is open.

To cast your THREE votes, use the link below.

Please vote for your top THREE choices; note that all three votes must be cast AT THE SAME TIME to count.​

​

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

mosaix: In this plausible vision of the future of biotechnology, we come to understand the importance of combining technical skill with humility.

The Judge: A touch of hope can be found in this moody fantasy of prophecy and chaos.

Jo Zebedee: The way in which retribution can come in unexpected ways appears in this grim portrait of tomorrow.

Bren G: The author successfully creates a nonhuman character worthy of empathy in this scene from a time we hope never comes.

Marvin: The harsh realism of this version of apocalypse heightens the impact of its surreal climax.

Ursa major: The reflexive nature of this work of metafiction causes the reader to ponder the unexpected power of story.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Votes go to Luiglin, sule, and Laura R Hepworth.

 

[Ian Fortytwo]

Voted for @Jo Zebedee @Victoria Silverwolf and @Laura R Hepworth .

 

[Parson]

@The Judge .... Blood .... What is seen is important. What is foreseen is incredibly important. But neither is as significant as understanding.

@Jo Zebedee .... THE WASTELAND .... Nothing is more wasted or wasteful than faulty assumptions.

@Bren G .... Of Soap and Solitude .... Nothing breathes deeper sadness than an absolutely impossible quest.

@Marvin .... The final ingredient .... A story that gives new meaning to the term primordial stew.

@Ursa major .... Inventing the Uninventable .... When you're dealing with propaganda the bigger the lie, the stronger the point is that is made.

 

[Lawrence Twiddy]

ahhhh I've had absolute stinker and totally got the deadline date wrong in my head. Nevertheless such an ambiguous image has produced a delightfully varied approach to entires which I look forward to reading through again and selecting my 3 favourites

 

[therapist]

My votes
@Astro Pen
@Laura R Hepworth
@Guttersnipe

My Shortlist
@Peter V
@Wayne Mack
@G.T.
@Bren G

 

[Wayne Mack]

There were a lot of good stories this time. I had to really pick and choose.

My Votes:
There is a damp patch on my wall @Luiglin
A Hollywood Ending @paranoid marvin
Oil on Sand @G.T.

My Shortlist:
The Soul of an Artist @Laura R Hepworth
Chiaroscuro @Victoria Silverwolf
Inventing the Uninventable @Ursa major
THE WASTELAND @Jo Zebedee
It’s Clear, Once You Are Educated @Parson

 

[Parson]

Thanks for the shortlisting @Wayne Mack. It is much appreciated.

 

[Rafellin]

What a fine diversity this quarter. Actually had to think over who got my third vote, too.

So, from the top -

1: @sule (I have to add that the level of craft to create this is breathtaking. Takes a straightforward tale and makes it a work of art.)
2: @JS Wiig (Simple, effective, and rings true.)
3: @Luiglin (The echoes of Lovecraft were too much to resist...)

Honourable mentions to @Peter V and @therapist.

 

[Laura R Hepworth]

My votes go to @johnnyjet, @Victoria Silverwolf, and @Parson . Shortlist @Wayne Mack, @Starbeast, @M. Robert Gibson

Thank you, @Victoria Silverwolf, @Ian Fortytwo, and @therapist for the votes and @Wayne Mack for shortlisting!

 

[Parson]

@Laura R Hepworth .... Thanks for the Vote! The whole world looks brighter.

 

[JS Wiig]

@Rafellin thank you so much for the vote!

 

[nixie]

Some really good stories, I don't normally do a shortlist for 300.
@Cat's Cradle
@Rafellin
@Ian Fortytwo
@Peter V
@therapist
@paranoid marvin
@Laura R Hepworth
@mosaix
@Jo Zebedee

Vote
@Luiglin
@Parson
@The Judge

 

[paranoid marvin]

Thanks for the shortlisting nixie, and I'm really chuffed with getting a vote Wayne Mack, much appreciated.

Edit Just noticed a vote from Sinergio as well, thankyou!

 

[sule]

Shortlist:
A Challenge Answers; A Challenge Made by Perpetual Man (I loved how it works so well as an introduction to the month of stories)
Chiaroscuro by Victoria Silverwolf
Of Soap and Solitude by Bren G

Votes:
Down There by Phyrebrat
An End to End by BT Jones
Professional Interest. by mosaix

 

[Luiglin]

The Magnificent Seven... cue music, cue tumbleweeds, cue horses, cue dust from horses hooves, cue sweeping panoramic shot of the wilds of the West, cue me ending this never ending cue line... cue just for luck, votes in bold.

• @BT Jones - a haunting monologue.
• @Dan Jones - Sir Reggie a guilty pleasure, you say? Put me in irons and march me down the click, I say.
• @paranoid marvin - Alan, Alan, Alan, Al, Alan. Oh, it's not Alan, it's Steve, that's Steve. Steve, Steve, Steve...
• @Daysman - Emoji, the death of the written word
• @Phyrebrat - a horror provoking throwaway last line.
• @Parson - the old fetch a tin of tartan paint trick, never grows old.
• @Starbeast - a bizarre feast for this old absurd soul.

 

[Parson]

My day ends well! A vote from @nixie and a listing from @Luiglin. Thanks so much!

 

[Astro Pen]

Thanks for the votes @therapist and @Sinergio.