DISCUSSION THREAD -- October 2022 -- 300 Word Writing Challenge #47

[Parson]

Sorry to hear this @Perpetual Man. Get well soon, and the Covid that's more than just a standard wish.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Hi All,

My shortlist and votes*

Rafellin *
Paranoid Marvin
Daysman *
Chrispy
Johnnyjet
Big J
Dan
Mosaix
Talk Anderson
Peter V
Stable
TJ *
Swank

 

[The Judge]

A lot of lighthouses this quarter!

My shortlist, longer than usual:

BigJ -- Morning Star -- a new life for someone who had nothing, then lost everything​

Bren G -- Staring into the Abyss -- a life of duty finally given hope​

Cat's Cradle -- Aphids -- slavery, acceptance, and ultimate compassion​

Christine Wheelwright -- The Lady of the Light -- shades of Bronte in the narrative structure, Wuthering Lights, perhaps?!​

Peter V -- Siren -- a tale of loss and horror​

Phyrebrat -- Beach Music -- a composer's magic and possible madness​

Rafellin -- The Witness -- Cthulhu in space​

Stable -- For Your Own Good -- friendship in unlikely places​

Talk Anderson -- Choice -- Charon in the lighthouse?​

Victoria Silverwolf -- Malador's Tower -- ancient legend, leading to future horror​

Votes go to:

• Bren G -- I loved the idea of a sentient lighthouse repurposed, and with a purpose, and the opening was perfect
• Phyrebrat -- as ever lyrical and baffling in equal measure!
• Victoria -- brilliant concept, beautifully executed

And a special mention to Ursa for his odd Odyssey, with more puns coming from the classical tale than I'd have thought possible!

Many beckoning-beacon thanks for the lovely mentions/shortlistings Wayne, Christine, BTJ, johnnyjet, Starbeast, Peter, Dan, Daysman and CC, and huge wave-filled causeway thanks for the delicious votes Ian, paranoid m and Phyrebrat, and for the ninja votes nixie and VRlass!

 

[The Judge]

@The Judge have we ever had a tiebreaker for both challenges in the same month before?

Well, technically not in the same month, as voting for the 300 was in the February, but for the same month, yes -- the January 2013 75 worder was between mosaix and me, and the 300 worder was between Mouse and me. (Guess who ended up wearing the bridesmaid's dress both times... *sob*)

 

[Bren G]

A lot of lighthouses this quarter!

My shortlist, longer than usual:

BigJ -- Morning Star -- a new life for someone who had nothing, then lost everything​

Bren G -- Staring into the Abyss -- a life of duty finally given hope​

Cat's Cradle -- Aphids -- slavery, acceptance, and ultimate compassion​

Christine Wheelwright -- The Lady of the Light -- shades of Bronte in the narrative structure, Wuthering Lights, perhaps?!​

Peter V -- Siren -- a tale of loss and horror​

Phyrebrat -- Beach Music -- a composer's magic and possible madness​

Rafellin -- The Witness -- Cthulhu in space​

Stable -- For Your Own Good -- friendship in unlikely places​

Talk Anderson -- Choice -- Charon in the lighthouse?​

Victoria Silverwolf -- Malador's Tower -- ancient legend, leading to future horror​

Votes go to:

• Bren G -- I loved the idea of a sentient lighthouse repurposed, and with a purpose, and the opening was perfect
• Phyrebrat -- as ever lyrical and baffling in equal measure!
• Victoria -- brilliant concept, beautifully executed

And a special mention to Ursa for his odd Odyssey, with more puns coming from the classical tale than I'd have thought possible!

Many beckoning-beacon thanks for the lovely mentions/shortlistings Wayne, Christine, BTJ, johnnyjet, Starbeast, Peter, Dan, Daysman and CC, and huge wave-filled causeway thanks for the delicious votes Ian, paranoid m and Phyrebrat, and for the ninja votes nixie and VRlass!

Wow! Thank you @The Judge !

 

[Bren G]

Lots of goodness this quarter!

Votes:
@paranoid marvin - A Wreckers Lament - brilliant in its simplicity and classic story telling.
@Guttersnipe - The Woman Who Looked Death in the Eye - the unexpected twist hooked me, and the poignant comment on human nature reeled me in the boat.
@Cat's Cradle - Aphids - immersive scene building with an apt lesson in humility was a unique combo for me.

Runners Up:
@BT Jones - The First Lighthouse of Lost Earth - I've been to Cape Spear a few times myself. I now know there are no Newfoundlander's on this forum. Loyal as always, they'd have voted in droves!
@Daysman - The Fitzgerald Contract - Really enjoyed this. A delicately weaved story, with a macabre cross-stitch to finish it.
@AnRoinnUltra - The blather of Ailnasearcagh - Who'd have thought - Beet Root? Nobody likes Beet Root!
@Elckerlyc - They’re Never Gonna Believe This! -> Bonus points for creativity in what was a very unique idea!

 

[Ursa major]

​

The poll has now closed and we have a winner:

Congratulations, Victoria Silverwolf!​

​

 

[Daysman]

Congrats @Victoria Silverwolf !!!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Well done, VS!

 

[THX1138]

Congratulations @Victoria Silverwolf !

 

[THX1138]

Get well soon @Perpetual Man.

 

[Bren G]

Kudos Victoria!

 

[Guttersnipe]

Felicitations, @Victoria Silverwolf!

Thank you very much @chrispenycate, @mosaix, @Ensign Shah, @M. Robert Gibson, @Astro Pen, and @Bren G.!

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

Well done @Victoria Silverwolf !!

 

[Parson]

Well done @Victoria Silverwolf well done indeed.

 

[Stable]

Congratulations @Victoria Silverwolf !

Thanks @Starbeast for the vote. I found the dreaded next-day typo so I was prepped for none.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Oh, my. What a nail biter! I was prepared for a tie-breaker poll. Many thanks to all.

With the results so close, paranoid marvin, Daysman, and phyrebrat should be considered co-winners, with many others not far behind at all. Good job, folks!

Of course, most important of all, best wishes for a full and swift recovery to Perpetual Man, one of the true stalwarts of this site.

 

[mosaix]

Congratulations @Victoria Silverwolf!

 

[BT Jones]

Well done, @Victoria Silverwolf. An absolute knockout of a story. Thanks, too, to @AnRoinnUltra for the awesome vote, and to @Bren G, @Starbeast and @johnnyjet for the mentions.
Another great round. I was glad to get reading and voting in before I caught the dreaded Covid! Hope you are better, @Perpetual Man.

 

[Elckerlyc]

@Elckerlyc - They’re Never Gonna Believe This! -> Bonus points for creativity in what was a very unique idea!

Thank you for that! I had hoped more people would see it that way, particularly on a site about SFF and ideas. Thanks also to @AnRoinnUltra for his vote.

EDIT:
Oh! I just noticed I also got a stealthy vote from @Ursa major. Thank you!