DISCUSSION -- JANUARY 2020 300-word Writing Challenge (#36)

[Ursa major]

It's the last day for voting...

...so, as I type this, there are only 14½ hours left in which to vote.

 

[elvet]

Many thanks for the stealth vote, @Mr Orange .

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Thank you for the vote, @Perpetual Man!

 

[The Judge]

A good mix of stories this quarter, though as ever a number I simply didn't understand even on repeated readings.

Anyhow, my shortlist:

AMB -- The Spring House​

mosaix -- Not Long Now​

Mr Orange -- A Place​

Perpetual Man -- The Most Improper Introduction of Modern Innovations to an Older and Inflexible Mind​

Peter V -- One Day​

Phyrebrat -- The Rise of Woman​

Rafellin -- The Beaching of the Marmaduke​

Ursa major -- Putting the Cart into Cartography​

Victoria Silverwolf -- From Hell's Heart I Stab At Thee​

My first vote was easy as I immediately loved Peter's poignant tale of love, regret and a long wait on a bleak island. But I then had three major contenders for the two remaining votes and I spent quite a while reading and re-reading. In the end I plumped for mosaix's about-to-be-drowned time-traveller as I love the reveal of the Mary Rose (go see the Mary Rose everyone!!) and AMB for the sweetness of his tale of spring arrival. Fourth place, just missing the vote, was Ursa with his tale of an AI stranded on a world which doesn't deserve his perfection (I know the feeling...)

Sea-dragon island-towing thanks for the mentions/shortlistings johnnyjet, Elckerlyc and Dan, and gallows-high immortal-elixir thanks for the lovely votes AMB, olive, CC, Abernovo, LittleStar. Oh, and stealth votes from nixie, pH, and BigJ -- thanks!!

Hope you're feeling better now, Chris p.

 

[Ursa major]

The poll has now closed and we have a winner:

Congratulations, Victoria Silverwolf!​

​

 

[Ursa major]

Here are the full results of the Ursa jury, with the stories in posting order within the categories:


Honourable Mentions:

• Compass Rose by Kerrybuchanan
• CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE NEW WORLD by Elvet
• The Rise of Woman by Phyrebrat

Runners Up:

• From Hell's Heart I Stab At Thee by Victoria Silverwolf
• One Day. by Peter V
• Belief by The Judge

Winners:

• Not Long Now. by mosaix
• A Finely Woven Tapestry of Scars by johnnyjet
• The Most Improper Introduction of Modern Innovations to an Older and Inflexible Mind by Perpetual Man

​

 

[mosaix]

Congratulations, Victoria!

 

[AMB]

Thanks for the vote @The Judge

I think 6 votes might be the highest I've ever received.

Congrats @Victoria Silverwolf

 

[Abernovo]

Congratulations, Victoria!

 

[elvet]

Congratulations, @Victoria Silverwolf Well done!
Many thanks to @Shyrka for another stealth vote, and to @Ursa major for the mention.
I am very pleased with how well my tale did, considering its unconventional presentation. When I saw the map, I couldn’t think of anything else—just a new start for these people and what they were leaving behind.

 

[Rafellin]

Congratulations, Victoria.

Huge thanks to Ian Fortytwo and The Judge for the honourable mentions.

 

[scarpelius]

@Victoria Silverwolf congratulations for winning this month. Your story was a runner up for me too (as always).
I've liked almost all stories, some very much and I felt sorry I could not give them a vote. Here is the list:
@Rafellin
@Kerrybuchanan
@Cat's Cradle
@Victoria Silverwolf
@mosaix
@AMB
@etaylor
@Luiglin
@Marvin
@johnnyjet
@Elckerlyc
@Perpetual Man
@Shyrka
@Star-child

 

[olive]

Congratulations, @Victoria Silverwolf

 

[Daysman]

Congrats, Victoria!

 

[Elckerlyc]

Congratulations @Victoria Silverwolf!

 

[nixie]

Congratulations Victoria.

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Nicely done @Victoria Silverwolf

And thanks muchly for the vote @scarpelius

 

[The Judge]

Congratulations, Victoria!

Thanks for the runner-up listing, Ursa!

 

[mosaix]

Thanks for the votes Perp, UM, TJ, pH, LittleStar, Aber, Kerry, Shyrka, Danny and Olive.

Considering the slow start I had in the voting I was more than happy to come joint second with 10 votes.

I was a little worried that not everyone would know the story of the Mary Rose - especially our overseas cousins, but it looks like my fears were unfounded.

I share TJ's enthusiasm for the Mary Rose. The purpose-built exhibition down in Portsmouth is truly astounding. Don't miss it if you get the chance.

Edit: And thanks for the mentions IanFortytwo, johnnyjet, Elckerlyc, CC & MRG.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Thank you all for the very kind words.

Allow me to offer congratulations also to mosaix and Perpetual Man for splitting the silver medal, and to Phyrebrat and The Judge for splitting the bronze.