DISCUSSION THREAD -- 300 Word Writing Challenge #49 (April 2023)

[Ursa major]

Many, many thanks for the vote, pm.


(That's now two more votes than I thought the story would get.)

 

[Appello]

Thank you so much @Yozh for the vote, and also @THX1138 for the honourable mention! I haven't entered a challenge in ages so stoked to brush off the cobwebs and rise to this humble occasion.

My votes went to @emrosenagel, because sprites get me every time; @Perpetual Man for the beautiful, haunting prose; and @Dan Jones because I spent a whole morning trying to picture pentagram-shaped sausages, and still can't XD

 

[THX1138]

Thanks to @JS Wiig and @Yozh for the listings!

 

[emrosenagel]

Thank you for the vote @Appello!

 

[Dan Jones]

sensible nonsense

This is possibly the greatest compliment I've ever received for a Sir Reggie story. Reader, I wept.

 

[emrosenagel]

This is possibly the greatest compliment I've ever received for a Sir Reggie story. Reader, I wept.

I had no idea what the heck was going on yet somehow I did knew exactly what was happening good stuff

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

Hard to pick three this quarter, really liked:

The Unused Door by @M. Robert Gibson It's all gone loopy.
Post Tenebras Lux by @Appello For the descriptive writing.
From a Door to a Window … and Beyond by @johnnyjet An offer no historian could refuse.

Ended up voting for:

Stone Snitch by @Phyrebrat Because it was so well written (always boil the water).
Remains by @Rafellin Have read some serious worldbuilding in the author's work before -thought the way it was combined with a natural sounding dialogue this time round was a touch of class.
The Travels Of Sir Reginald Rigmarole, Part 94! by @Dan Jones The best Reggie adventure I've read so far .
(Note: I voted for two of the podcast team this time, which might seem suspect, but isn't ...gospel truth -have always liked Reggie's adventures, and Stone Snitch was too good to overlook).

Thanks all for all the stories, and for the reviews

 

[Phyrebrat]

Note: I voted for two of the podcast team this time, which might seem suspect, but isn't ...gospel truth -have always liked Reggie's adventures, and Stone Snitch was too good to overlook).

It’s a dilemma isn’t it? I voted for Dan in the 75 and wondered if it came across as inauthentic as we do the podcast. And I vote for TJ a lot.

I tell myself it’s like this; we all have predilections and I hope that people understand. There are many people I’ve yet to receive a vote from but I never think ‘WTH are they thinking voting for him/her’.

I often have Johnnyjet, TJ, Dan, Stillearning and a few others on my list month after month because I tend to like their swerve (as the kids say). I think it’s the same for all of us when it comes to our favourite entries.

Thanks for the nice words (and vote, too)

 

[THX1138]

@Phyrebrat Vey true. Over the last year or so when I first started doing the 75, 100 and 300's I had a difficult time understanding many of the stories. But over time as well as reading other posts from the authors on Chrons, I am starting to get a better understanding, to a point, of how their creative process works in writing their stories.

Plus, there are some authors that have an established style/formula that they use in developing their works, unlike myself who has no real style. But I have found that some of you are starting to rub off onto me, and I am beginning to appreciate everyone's work more. Great stuff!

We are also drawn to writing styles that speak to us, and there is nothing wrong with that. Part of the fun!

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

I voted for Dan in the 75

Same as that, and it was a good story.
I try separate the author and the story. I'm new to writing and don't fully understand the link -was doing a night course by an author who seemed very clued in and said that at the time publishers were looking for young female authors. It seemed like a cart before the horse thing to me -and very strange, like looking for stories written by apprentice carpenters ...with the story contents as an afterthought.
Seems to be all going out the window anyway with the rise of AI publishing -every time I go on social media there's another ad for getting rich quick by running a patented plagiarism machine on the internet and flogging the result to Amazon
At the end of the day I suppose it boils down to what is enjoyable or insightful to read.
Great story, fair play.

 

[Luiglin]

Just finished my perusal. The clicks of the radio button...

• @Peter V - I liked the idea behind this, it has the trace of a larger tale to be told
• @Dan Jones - I do enjoy a dose of Sir Reggie, taken once a quarter for work migraines
• @Starbeast - An assault on reality, just what I needed

There are things you know about, and things you don’t, the known and the unknown, and in between are the doors—that’s us - Ray Manzarek.

You could say the same about writers.

 

[Astro Pen]

Vote to @paranoid marvin
Life savers thrown to @Victoria Silverwolf for style and @Parson for a story I could read to the grandchildren.

 

[Parson]

@Astro Pen thanks for the "life saver." Your vote made for a great ending to the day. I love to think that you might actually read my story to your grandchildren someday.

 

[Dan Jones]

@Phyrebrat @THX1138 @AnRoinnUltra it's absolutely the same for me. Everybody has their own tastes. I enjoy Bean's entries as they appeal to me and my tastes, and while it might look like we vote for each other frequently because we're podcast buddies it's actually the other way around. We made the podcast work because we understand and appreciate each other's writing.

I always seem to appreciate entries by @Cat's Cradle, @sule, @The Judge, @johnnyjet, @mosaix and more recently @Christine Wheelwright has been catching my eye with some frequency. But one can't be too closed about these things. Sometimes an entry will come from leftfield, like this month's entry into the 300 by @Yozh that's so good it demands attention.

Sometimes it works the other way around, too. I'm pretty sure The Judge never votes for my Sir Reggie entries because they're so beautiful it would be unfair on the other entrants.

At least, I'm pretty sure that's right.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I vote pretty widely, I think - mostly it's
did it hold my attention so that I got to the end (yes, yes, they're only 300 words, but I'm fickle like that. Sometimes I don't even get to the end of a 75 word...)?
Did it stay with me as I read the others? Ie did it stand out enough
Did it make me feel something - I do like a bit of humour but if you can break my heart in 300 words, that's awesome
Did the writing feel solid and confident

I do have some favourites but I'll not name them as it leaves others out, but they don't always get my vote!

 

[Phyrebrat]

I think it can be helpful to mention those who you frequently vote for (or get votes from, either!).

I’ve chatted on here with Luiglin for n the past about his Dark Lord stuff vs his dark theme stuff. From me he usually gets at least a shortlist for his dark themes which often carry the pathos and liminality I love, but I don’t think I’ve voted for a Dark Lord one.

Similarly, I’m not going to ‘try’ write trad fantasy any more when the genre calls for it because I just find it so hackneyed and tedious. That’ll definitely cost me votes but I’ll be a happier silverfish

(I don’t do the 100s).

I know we run these within the community for the community, I don’t think of them as á participation-trophy event. Whilst I agree people shouldn’t be left out, I only see discussions like this improve our craft.

Unless we’re insecure and tbh that’s not the community’s concern, is it.

 

[Luiglin]

I've chatted on here with Luiglin for n the past about his Dark Lord stuff vs his dark theme stuff. From me he usually gets at least a shortlist for his dark themes which often carry the pathos and liminality I love, but I don’t think I’ve voted for a Dark Lord one.

I know, it cuts me to the quick. I'd show you the damage but my quick was completely sliced off years back

 

[THX1138]

I vote pretty widely, I think - mostly it's
did it hold my attention so that I got to the end (yes, yes, they're only 300 words, but I'm fickle like that. Sometimes I don't even get to the end of a 75 word...)?
Did it stay with me as I read the others? Ie did it stand out enough
Did it make me feel something - I do like a bit of humour but if you can break my heart in 300 words, that's awesome
Did the writing feel solid and confident

I do have some favourites but I'll not name them as it leaves others out, but they don't always get my vote!

I'm still working on this myself, and I know most of the time I am very lacking here. But with many examples to read and study, some day!

 

[johnnyjet]

My short list was pretty long, so instead of listing all of them, here are my Top Three:

Natural Light – Yozh
A Crime of The Flesh - Christine Wheelwright
Stone Snitch – Phyrebrat

 

[Phyrebrat]

I'm still working on this myself, and I know most of the time I am very lacking here. But with many examples to read and study, some day! I

I’d never written a word till I joined Chrons. Early influences on me were Jo (Springs that was), Harebrain, TJ and Mouse. There were many others who have since left.

My point is — this place has been responsible for all my growth. The brutal crits, the failed entries, the support and care; you’re in good care here and I certainly find your stories on my lists