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

[THX1138]

Much thanks @Starbeast for the vote!

 

[Elckerlyc]

Special mentions:
@Yozh - Natural Light
@M. Robert Gibson - The Unused Door
@Phyrebrat - Stone Snitch
@mosaix - Office Politics

Votes:
@Victoria Silverwolf - The Room at the Drago Volante
@Christine Wheelwright - A Crime of The Flesh
... and last, but not least...
@Perpetual Man - Endings...

 

[Ursa major]

Many, many thanks for the vote, Phyrebrat.

 

[Abernovo]

Thank you for the mentions, Yozh and Chrispy, and also the always wonderful Starbeast.

I was very taken by a few stories, this time, particularly
@Parson who wrote something with a Fahrenheit 451 feel (in my head, at least) of forbidden portals to escapism in storyland;
@Ursa major's empathetical cautionary tale for genies who should know better the double-edged sword of wishes;
@Jo Zebedee and her story of what every pet owner might wish for (yet every reader of The Monkey's Paw would fear); and
@Phyrebrat, whose story of homely horror is the stuff of childhood nightmares come back to haunt you with eldritch screams.

However, I had to vote for:
@Christine Wheelwright's superb take on transgressive love, something which has been done before, but was achieved with a novel spin;
@Guttersnipe's bittersweet tale of infatuation with vampires, again something seen before, but with a subtext so redolent of our own reality; and
@Yozh, who created the ultimate reminder to think before using gene splicing for biostructural engineered habitats, something both amusing and grimly horrific.

 

[Ursa major]

​

The poll has now closed and we have a winner:

Congratulations, Yozh!​

​

 

[Yozh]

Wow, I am glad so many people enjoyed this story! Thank you all for the votes and shortlists.

I had fun reading all the entries this round. Interesting to see what ideas we all project onto the door lamp.

That lantern just really reminded me of an anglerfish, so I puzzled how to make it into a building. The pseudo-second-person "tour guide" style was inspired by Julie Otsuka's book "The Swimmers" which I'd read in the winter. I thought it would be fun to play with this sort of voice in a short piece.

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

Well deserved Yozh!

 

[emrosenagel]

Congrats @Yozh! Great story

 

[THX1138]

Congratulations @Yozh! Well gone!

And to @Phyrebrat for placing second!

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Many congratulations to Yozh on obtaining victory in a very close race!

Equal congratulations to Phyrebrat for the silver medal.

(I'll gladly split the bronze with Jo Zebedee. That's fine company to stand with.)

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Many congratulations to Yozh on obtaining victory in a very close race!

Equal congratulations to Phyrebrat for the silver medal.

(I'll gladly split the bronze with Jo Zebedee. That's fine company to stand with.)

Likewise! Well done, Yozh, a great entry and commiserations to the bridesmaid who looks delightful in pink

 

[Rafellin]

Congratulations, @Yozh

Huge thanks to @AnRoinnUltra for the vote and the high praise.

Thanks also to @Jo Zebedee for the honourable mention.

See thee all next quarter, kids. Don't do anything I wouldn't in the meanwhile, and do keep writing. Ciao.

 

[Guttersnipe]

Congratulations, @Yozh!

Thank you,@chrispenycate, @Abernovo, and @Perpetual Man for the votes!

 

[mosaix]

Congratulations, @Yozh! An excellent piece of writing.

 

[Elckerlyc]

Congratulations @Yozh!

 

[Luiglin]

Congrats @Yozh .

Thanks to @Perpetual Man , @Wayne Mack , @JS Wiig and @otaylor for the votes + the mentions folks.

My first effort was a tale of a Will o the Wisp, employed as a overworked lantern light who suffered burnout. The story didn't go anywhere though. I wanted the second to be about a hunter who turned into the prey. Quite happy with the result but didn't enjoy writing it.

 

[BigJ]

Congratulations @Yozh on a well deserved victory!

For my own little story (which I totally didn't hammer out on the last day . . . ), thanks to @The Judge and @chrispenycate for the shortlistings, and @therapist and @Starbeast for the votes.

Toying with the idea of wading into the 100 word anonymous.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Congratulations, @Yozh! And fine Challenge, everyone.

Huge thanks to those who listed, or voted for, my story, CC

 

[JS Wiig]

@Yozh congratulations!

 

[Phyrebrat]

Congratulations @Yozh Sothoth, Eater of Contests!

Many thanks for the votes and the shortlists for my entry. It’s evolving into a short story/novella as we speak

My shortlist (my votes are upthread)

Victoria Silverwolf
Paranoid Marvin
Johnnyjet
Mosaix
Elkerlyc
TJ
Aber