DISCUSSION THREAD -- October 2021 -- 300 Word Writing Challenge #43

My shortlist:

Betok_Haney – Wanderlust – even this arachnophobe can applaud a spider with dreams!​
Cat’s Cradle – The Righteous Path is a Two-Way Lane – fanaticism brings death and destruction; time travel adds to the horror​
Mon0Zer0 – You Can’t Run From The Night – a moving story of a father’s love and self-sacrifice​
Perpetual Man – View For Those Left Behind – a lovely, lyrical piece filled with longing​
Phyrebrat – Johari’s Window – simply beautiful, as ever​
Rafellin – Gloriana Days – I loved the bittersweet truth of that last line​
Sule – “Even the Weariest River…” – a perfect story of a man weary of days and hours where life has death for neighbour​
Victoria Silverwolf – Bindlestiff – a sweet tale of society’s outsiders giving an eulogy to the ultimate outsider​

I’ve been strict in my criteria, trying to keep the shortlist short, but a good few stories only just missed out, not least those of Bren G, Elckerlyc, mosaix (I got the last line reference, too!), VB and chrispenycate.

But voting was easy for me, since – as so very often – I fell for beauty of prose and poignancy of theme, and the stories of Sule, Phyrebrat and Perp gave me that in plenty. (NB pH, I expect all 4 of those promises to be kept…)


I’m astounded my story has garnered so much attention. Many Whistling Memory Thanks for the lovely mentions/shortlistings Chris p, johnnyjet, Phyrebrat, and Elckerlyc. And multiple Swan-filled Beauty and Very Contented thanks for the glorious votes and miscellaneous kind comments Victoria, Drof, BTJ, sule, Bren G, Parson, Wayne, Mon0Zer0, Dan, Astro Pen and CC, and for the stealth votes Perp and Peter!
 
Congrats to The Judge.

A huge thank you for two votes to @BT Jones and @mosaix (as my high bar is one, this is special). Similar (but not-quite-so vast) thanks to @sule @Parson @therapist @chrispenycate & @The Judge for honourable mentions.

See y'all next quarter. Don't do anything I wouldn't before then. You'll likely hurt y'selves. :LOL:
 
And really folks, was anyone going to catch her honor? Not likely. Congrats Your Honor. About time. ;)

Oh, and thanks to Daysman for the mention. Always appreciated.
 
Congrats @The Judge .

Thanks for the vote @Daysman and for the mentions folks.

I wanted to write about someone surviving a zombie apocalypse on a narrow boat but it didn't quite work. The dystopia idea remained though and I thought how amusing it would be if Mad Max was set in Britain on the canals instead of the roads. Thus came Livid Lou, the navvy warrior - for those who don't know navvy or navies were the names of those who worked on the canals.
 
Luiglin said:
Congrats @The Judge .

Thanks for the vote @Daysman and for the mentions folks.

I wanted to write about someone surviving a zombie apocalypse on a narrow boat but it didn't quite work. The dystopia idea remained though and I thought how amusing it would be if Mad Max was set in Britain on the canals instead of the roads. Thus came Livid Lou, the navvy warrior - for those who don't know navvy or navies were the names of those who worked on the canals.
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@Luiglin, have you seen Zomboat?
 
Congratulations, TJ! Wonderful story, resounding victory. Congrats to Dan Jones and Betok_Haney as our runners-up. Great voter turnout for this one, too - I think it was 42 voters on 38 stories... very cool.

Well, we're half way between 300 worders... see you all in January's discussion thread, CC
 
Congratulations to The Judge on a comprehensive victory in the end. Sir Reggie entertained thoughts of making a sprint for victory in the final stretch, but like all great champions, The Judge simply streaked ahead. It was a great story, a worthy winner, very well put together, with some wonderful references to some very highbrow culture.

Talking of highbrow culture, ten votes!?!? TEN VOTES?!? Have you all gone yumpy? Never before has Sir Reggie managed more than four votes, so this was most unexpected, very welcome, and rather amusing. I'm actually a little bit touched that my nonsense was so well received. It might not look like it, but I actually spend a lot of time crafting these entries, making sure every word is as good/funny/deranged as it can be.

Delicious, piping hot bockwürsts shall be delivered unto all the lunatics who placed me in their shortlists. Well done!

However, an intimate session with Colonoscopy Jones and the Tongs of Invincible Penetration (did you not translate the Slovenian?) shall be awarded to @HareBrain, @Phyrebrat, @Venusian Broon, @Luiglin, @Cat's Cradle, @Daysman, @Betok_Haney, @therapist, @Mon0Zer0, and @AnRoinnUltra for giving me their votes. Thank you!

SIR REGINALD RIGMAROLE WILL RETURN​
 
Dan Jones said:
SIR REGINALD RIGMAROLE WILL RETURN
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Don't make me take back my vote!

Seriously, I found that the most enjoyable RR story I'd read to date, I think. So that was one vote, along with @The Judge, for writerly brilliance, and @Betok_Haney for spiderly exuberance.

And that means, it turns out, I voted for the top three. Since I clearly have my finger on the popular pulse, I'm now going into politics.

I didn't make an official short-list, but I remember entries by @Phyrebrat and @Starbeast as being others I particularly enjoyed.
 
I forgot to thank TJ and johnnyjet for the listings, so... thank you! Much appreciated, CC
 
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