DISCUSSION THREAD -- 350 Word Writing Challenge #50 (July 2023)

I struggled with an idea for a story all month. The Muse had mercy on me and helped me write out my entry this morning. In reality, I asked God for help last night because I wasn't going to give up this month. I wanted to write a story, and by gosh I did.
 
Had my idea practically straight away but just never got round to writing the thing. Now I realise it's the last day of the month and I panicked and started writing it about two hours ago. I've got a feeling I could have done better. But I'm in and reasonably happy.
 
I'm in. No ideas all month, then the Muse graciously floated the opening sentence into my head when I went out for a walk last night. Having done that, however, she declined to help further, so didn't bother to give me any idea what came next and what the damn story was actually about. As a result, I've spent the last 24 hours scrabbling around for something to fill the other 346 words.
 
After having the three youngest grandkids for 4 days, preaching on Sunday, and trying to write a story I finally get back to writing reviews. It looks as if everyone was just like me. We finally found time for the story at the end of the month.

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@Daysman .... the wreck of the infinite jest .... Tells a story which had more turns than a mountain road which led to a place I could not have guessed.

@emrosenagel .... La Loba Without Teeth .... Tells a story of cruelty, cunning, duty, and liberty all leading to rough justice and a surprising final insight; La Loba leads to La Lobo.

@JS Wiig .... Ice Age .... Tells a great myth of a story with a sense of the numinous.

@AnRoinnUltra .... Whatever you do, don't Babadunk .... Tells a story where the rules are the rules, whatever the rules.

@Christine Wheelwright .... The Excursion .... Tells a sweet story of joy and escape, or maybe not.

@Perpetual Man .... Words End .... Tells a story of how the world ends too soon.

@therapist .... Yeti Encounters Camping Expedition .... Tells a story of the illusive Yeti, that I've yet'-imagine.

@Stable .... That Beastly Ice .... Tells a story which might have been inspired by John Donne's classic "For whom the Bell Tolls."

@Peter V ,,,, Of Old Nan and Old Faithful .... Tells a story that gives truth the axiom "Desperate times call for desperate measures."

@Starbeast .... Indiana Jones and the Evil Dead .... Tells the perfect story because it has Indiana Jones, zombies, incantations, and time travel. What's not to like?

@mosaix .... In Case of Emergency… .... Tells a story where the ending might be either a bang or a whimper.

@The Judge .... Heart of Ice .... Tells a story with a great first line and an even better title, which makes the story a real classic.
 
I just remembered this challenge!
About an hour to go so had to think of something, seriously fast.
Nothing quite like writing under pressure for generating typos :)
It's in, now I can relax. :cool:
 
I'm in... just. :eek:

While the challenge will be closing in a few minutes, the poll will take a little bit longer to appear. (Who knew word counting about 350 words would take so much longer...?)
 
The Challenge is now closed.

The Poll will be along... sometime....
 
This was a very tough vote. My initial short list was 12 stories and it pained me to pare it down further. But after much rereading I managed to whittle it down to a more manageable 7.

Here they are:

Frozen Time by @genelewis
La Loba Without Teeth by @emrosenagel
The Excursion by @Christine Wheelwright
Best Friend by @Victoria Silverwolf

These were all superb and deserving of a vote. But I was only given 3. Here are the 3 I voted for:

Heart of Ice by @The Judge - I loved this one. Great atmosphere to it. Was instantly hooked by the conflict between the Hunters and the Sorcerers.
A Hoary Song of Ice and Ire by @Paul J. Menzies - A great light hearted yet clever story.
Meet Whalesong, Alaska's Newest Family by @Cat's Cradle - A wonderful cast of lovable characters that made me want to keep reading about them
 
JS Wiig creates a new myth, with surprising revelations.

AnRoinnUltra mixes absurdity with mystery.

Christine Wheelwright offers a strikingly plausible version of the future.

Perpetual Man brings the ultimate adventure, with a twist.

therapist weaves a tale of suspense and the unexpected.

Stable has an unusually realistic vision of space travel.

Peter V has a solution as apocalyptical as the problem.

Starbeast gives popular culture a wild ride.

mosaix studies the ruthlessness of the entertainment industry.

Parson paints a portrait of a lonely hero.

The Judge speaks of magic and menace.

Astro Pen
imagines total disaster.

Ursa major has a wry look at what comes next.

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Another tough one to judge. Votes to BigJ, johhnyjet, and Christine Wheelwright.
 
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And now, after reducing a Very Long List to a Simply Long List--nice work, everyone!--the following is my Long List and *** Top Three ***:

Best Friend - Victoria Silverwolf
*** Frozen Time – genelewis ***
The Water Merchant – Elckerlyc
Awakenings – Yozh
*** A promise made; a promise kept – BigJ ***
La Loba Without Teeth – emrosenagel
The Excursion - Christine Wheelwright
*** Of Old Nan and Old Faithful - Peter V ***
The Jökull and the Return of Hope – Parson
Heart of Ice - The Judge
 

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