DISCUSSION THREAD -- 300 Word Writing Challenge #55 (October 2024)

[Starbeast]

Blade Runner 2166 by @Starbeast -And the best part is that you can take the batteries out if they start annoying you.

Thank you for your reviews. Plus you made me laugh. Stay awesome!

 

[Parson]

@johnnyjet -- Thanks for the shortlisting!

And I noticed I have stealth votes from @RTGR and @Ian Fortytwo --- Very much appreciated.

 

[THX1138]

Votes:
@Guttersnipe
@Starbeast
@Parson

Others I liked:
@AnRoinnUltra
@Luiglin
@johnnyjet
@Bren G
@mosaix

 

[Starbeast]

@THX1138 Thanks for the Vote!

 

[Parson]

@THX1138 thanks so much for the vote. It's always a welcome surprise when votes come your way.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Many thanks to mosaix and Ian Forty Two for your votes - it's very much appreciated.

My three votes go to -

Parson for an outstanding example of short story writing

CC for a very imaginative tale

Ursa for a story whose 'voice' I thought was brilliantly done

 

[Ursa major]

Many, many thanks for the vote, pm.

 

[Parson]

Parson for an outstanding example of short story writing

I'm humbled by your praise. Thanks for your vote!

 

[Elckerlyc]

There were 6 stories that either spoke to me, surprised me, or were imho well written. Three votes to cast, three stories to mark as shortlisted. Simple and easy, right? No, it wasn't. It was grueling. The results shown below are just reflecting the continuously fluctuating scoreboard at 8:12:36am (give or take several milliseconds) this morning, shortly after my first dose of coffee.

@Victoria Silverwolf - Sunrise
@AnRoinnUltra - The Spacelord of Bearnagaofa - vote
@Starbeast - Blade Runner 2166
@mosaix - A Friend In Need…
@The Judge - Missed - vote
@Ursa major - The Fixer - vote

 

[Ursa major]

Many, many thanks for the vote, Elckerlyc.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

I loved the picture by Mike Masnick, and found it perfectly inspiring. I can't remember the last time a Challenge picture gave me an idea so quickly, so thank you Mike.
.
Thanks, as well, to the people who take the time to review the entries; it's always nice to have your story talked about.

I kept my Shortlist short, just because there were so few stories entered, and I didn't want to pick half the field, and leave the other half on the sidelines. So, here are my lists:

Shortlist:
Rafellin, AnRoinnUltra, chrispennycate

Votes:
Victoria Silverwolf, The Judge, Phyrebrat

I thought all of these were especially strong. I think my favorite this Challenge is Phyrebrat's truly clever, and spookily effective tale. I don't want to describe it at all, for fear of giving away the surprises. But beautifully done.
I voted a week or so ago, so my votes won't affect the totals, today.

Thank you farntfar, Starbeast, AnRoinnUltra and johnnyjet for listing my entry. Huge thanks to Victoria Silverwolf, Peter V, Ian Fortytwo, paranoid marvin and chrispenycate for the lovely votes.

Still plenty of time to vote!! Good luck, all, CC

 

[The Judge]

A great pity we're getting so few stories for the 300s this year, particularly for such an atmospheric image this quarter. Not that fewer stories make it easier when it comes to voting! (Though as ever there were a number I didn't fully understand.)

Anyhow, my shortlist:

Cat's Cradle -- Snow Globe​

Elckerlyc -- Ignis Fatuus​

johnnyjet -- One Foggy Day​

mosaix -- A Friend In Need...​

Paranoid Marvin -- It's Been Emotional​

Rafellin -- Interventionist​

Victoria Silverwolf -- Sunrise​

My first vote was easy, as I was immediately stunned by CC's horrifying story of alien experimentation, and the second nearly as easy as I loved Elckerlyc's tale of Fool's Light. The third kept me going back and forth, but in the end I settled on Raffelin's paranormal intervention, though I'm still not sure if that intervention is for good or evil...

Many Witch-Mist Enshrouded Thanks for the wonderful votes farntfar, johnnyjet, Elckerlyc and CC! And for the ninja votes I've just seen, nixie and Chris p!

 

[paranoid marvin]

A great pity we're getting so few stories for the 300s this year, particularly for such an atmospheric image this quarter. Not that fewer stories make it easier when it comes to voting! (Though as ever there were a number I didn't fully understand.)

Anyhow, my shortlist:

Cat's Cradle -- Snow Globe​

Elckerlyc -- Ignis Fatuus​

johnnyjet -- One Foggy Day​

mosaix -- A Friend In Need...​

Paranoid Marvin -- It's Been Emotional​

Rafellin -- Interventionist​

Victoria Silverwolf -- Sunrise​

My first vote was easy, as I was immediately stunned by CC's horrifying story of alien experimentation, and the second nearly as easy as I loved Elckerlyc's tale of Fool's Light. The third kept me going back and forth, but in the end I settled on Raffelin's paranormal intervention, though I'm still not sure if that intervention is for good or evil...

Many Witch-Mist Enshrouded Thanks for the wonderful votes farntfar, johnnyjet, Elckerlyc and CC! And for the ninja votes I've just seen, nixie and Chris p!

Many thanks for the shortlisting.

As for the numner of entrants. As great as the pictures chosen are, is it perhaps worth creating a poll of four to choose from? Looking back, the last time this was done there were 34 entrants.

 

[The Judge]

As for the numner of entrants. As great as the pictures chosen are, is it perhaps worth creating a poll of four to choose from? Looking back, the last time this was done there were 34 entrants.

In fact I was thinking of doing that for this quarter, but TDZ reminded us of this image we'd looked at for the last spooky October Challenge, so we used that instead, and the You-Choose-The-Image will now happen next month, if I can get my act together!

 

[Ursa major]

if I can get my act together!

If you like, I can get hold of some juggling clubs -- okay, they might be refugees from a bowling alley -- plus some hula hoops to make it all look that little bit more difficult special. And all for a not-too-exorbitant fee.

But you'll have to provide your own costume.

 

[The Judge]

I think I'll go with something a little less special...

 

[Ursa major]

So just the clubs, then....

 

[The Judge]

In spades, and with plenty of heart(s) -- should be a diamond affair.

 

[mosaix]

Enough, enough. Mercy!

 

[Ursa major]

Enough, enough. Mercy!

Snap!