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

[sule]

Honorable Mentions:
The One Called Frozen Soul by THX1138
La Loba Without Teeth by emrosenagel
Whatever you do, don't Babadunk by AnRoinnUltra

Votes:
The Water Merchant by Elckerlyc
Under Starlight by Phyrebrat
The Jökull and the Return of Hope by Parson

 

[Parson]

What nice surprises a mention from @johnnyjet and a vote from @sule --- Mega thanks to both of you.

 

[THX1138]

Thanks @sule for the mention!

 

[Ursa major]

Many, many thanks for the vote, @Rjalex.

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

Well done to all involved in reaching a half century of 300 worders. A credit to ye. The results are in from the Ox Mountain jury, and the votes have been counted:

Especially impressive and remarkable word arrangements:

Layers by @Rafellin For the world it created.
The Water Merchant by @Elckerlyc This message will self destruct you.
La Loba without Teeth by @emrosenagel The tooth fairy has very large ears.
Yeti Encounters Camping Expedition by @therapist No wonder the thing is hard to spot.
Of Old Nan and Old Faithfull by @Peter V Quality old school optimistic SF.
Firewater by @Astro Pen An honest mistake.

..and the votes went to:

Best Friend by @Victoria Silverwolf Because of the clear descriptions.
The Jokull and the Return of Hope by @Parson Because it was a nice all round piece of storytelling.
Heart of Ice by @The Judge Because of the seemingly effortless world-building.

Here's to reaching a century of 300 word collections

 

[Parson]

@AnRoinnUltra Thanks for the vote! It was much appreciated.

 

[paranoid marvin]

A tough one to choose this month. AP had a scarily realistic 'end of world's proposition, which could easily be the basis for a scifi movie.

BigJ wrote an engaging romantic science fiction drama which would work well as the basis for a longer story.

emrosenagel came up with something wonderfully different, and one of the most inventive and well told stories that I've read in quite a while.

Parson, Starbeast and Christine Wheelwright would have also got votes if I'd had 6 instead of 3.

Many, many thanks to Rjalex for your vote.

 

[emrosenagel]

Finally got around to voting!

My votes: Best Friend by @Victoria Silverwolf, A Hoary Song of Ice and Ire by @Paul J. Menzies, and Yeti Encounters Camping Expedition by @therapist

My shortlist: Meet Whalesong, Alaska's Newest Family (A Happy Tale of Confluence and Sad Events) by @Cat's Cradle, Frozen Time by @genelewis, Whatever You Do, Don't Babadunk by @AnRoinnUltra, and The Excursion by @Christine Wheelwright

Many thanks for the votes @paranoid marvin and @genelewis! And thank you for the mentions @AnRoinnUltra, @sule, @johnnyjet, @Yozh, and @therapist Much appreciated

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Another great set of entries, making it difficult to choose. Glad I didn't enter and bring the quality down

Shortlist
Frozen Time - genelewis
A Daughter’s Embrace - @Aknot
The Water Merchant - @Elckerlyc
Words End - @Perpetual Man
Yeti Encounters Camping Expedition - @therapist
In Case of Emergency - @mosaix
Heart of Ice - @The Judge

Votes to
Best Friend - @Victoria Silverwolf
A Promise Kept - @paranoid marvin
Skating Away on the Thick Ice of a New Day - @johnnyjet (and the Jethro Tull song reference didn't go unnoticed )

 

[Swank]

Went for @Victoria Silverwolf, @Yozh and @Phyrebrat

@The Judge, @Astro Pen and @Peter V narrowly escaped the clutches of my vote.


Thanks be to @Stable for his vote onto me.

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

My favorites this month included:

@Victoria Silverwolf
@Rjalex
@therapist
@Phyrebrat
@Astro Pen

And my votes went to:

@Daysman
@emrosenagel
@The Judge

 

[THX1138]

Thanks for the vote @Luiglin! Glad you liked it.

 

[emrosenagel]

Thanks for the vote @Christine Wheelwright!

 

[THX1138]

Thanks for the vote @Astro Pen !

 

[Starbeast]

Frigid Choices

@Victoria Silverwolf
@Aknot
@Rjalex
@Paul J. Menzies
@paranoid marvin
@Guttersnipe
@BigJ
@AnRoinnUltra
@Perpetual Man
@therapist
@Peter V
@mosaix
@Astro Pen


Honorable Icy Treats

@Cat's Cradle
@Rafellin
@THX1138
@genelewis
@Swank
@Elckerlyc
@Yozh
@Luiglin
@johnnyjet
@Phyrebrat
@Daysman
@emrosenagel
@JS Wiig
@Christine Wheelwright
@Stable
@Parson
@The Judge
@Ursa major​

 

[Phyrebrat]

Frigid Choices

@Victoria Silverwolf
@Aknot
@Rjalex
@Paul J. Menzies
@paranoid marvin
@Guttersnipe
@BigJ
@AnRoinnUltra
@Perpetual Man
@therapist
@Peter V
@mosaix
@Astro Pen


Honorable Icy Treats

@Cat's Cradle
@Rafellin
@THX1138
@genelewis
@Swank
@Elckerlyc
@Yozh
@Luiglin
@johnnyjet
@Phyrebrat
@Daysman
@emrosenagel
@JS Wiig
@Christine Wheelwright
@Stable
@Parson
@The Judge
@Ursa major​

Awww thanks Starbeast, I’ve often found myself in the frigid category so it’s nice to be a treat for once

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

Awww thanks Starbeast, I’ve often found myself in the frigid category so it’s nice to be a treat for once

Actually, now you mention it, I'd much rather be labelled an 'icy treat' than 'frigid'.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

I enjoyed reading the stories, well done all! Thanks for the inspiration photo, THX1138... it worked perfectly for me (had my idea in no time).

I have a shortlist, then my list of votes:

Shortlist: Swank, BigJ, Phyrebrat, emrosenagel, Perpetual Man, therapist, Peter V

My Faves/Votes:
Victoria Silverwolf, Christine Wheelwright, The Judge

Looks to be a close race, so good luck everyone the rest of the way.

Big thanks to Yozh, emrosenagel and Starbeast for the listings.
I'm grateful to nixie, mosaix, Peter V, therapist, Aknot and THX1138 for their votes.

 

[Elckerlyc]

The stories that just fell short to be shortlisted, but should be mentioned:
@Luiglin - Paronomasia
@BigJ - A promise made; a promise kept
@Christine Wheelwright - The Excursion

Next the stories that missed a vote by just 1 (or 2) centigrade:
@Peter V - Of Old Nan and Old Faithful
@Phyrebrat - Under Starlight
@emrosenagel - La Loba Without Teeth

But the votes go to:
@paranoid marvin - A Promise Kept
@therapist - Yeti Encounters Camping Expedition
@The Judge - Heart of Ice

That's All Folks!

 

[Phyrebrat]

The results from my hometown of Misanthropia.

CC
Genelewis
Paul J Menzies **
CW
Parson**
Astropen **
Ursa