The results are in. Here is what the judges had to say!
We made our decisions (in record time, I think). The stories were great and we had a lot of fun reading and discussing them.
Honorable Mentions:
Jeffrey Hollar - @Klingorengi Cara Says - Jeff is my pick. I loved Shal Khar and his faded greatness. This aging tiger has known the fierceness of the wild, and the opening of the story sets that up so well. To have the moment shattered by younger cats and the realization of Shal Khar's captivity made a great finish. Great story, Jeff!
J.M. Blackan - @J_M_Blackman Siobhan Says - Jalisa is my pick. What I loved about her story was the sense of a woman waiting for her lover to return, patient with her longing. Then the turn around at the end where she watered the grass with his faithless blood made me nod and grin. Oh yeah, he learned the hard way. Nicely done!
Cara Says - Fantastically funny story. I got pretty quickly from 'Tony' and the title that I might be seeing the world from a tiger POV. The whole story made me laugh with its very human references and great finish. Brilliantly done, J!
Siobhan Says - What I liked best about was it seemed to be a story of two guys going to dinner like any other guys. I got a clue from 'Tony' and absolutely loved the 'live meat in sleeping bag tortillas' that brought the story together. Well done!
J, email either of us with your mailing address and we will get your cover art sent out ASAP!
Thanks for letting us reign over the challenge this week, Lisa. We had a great time and thank you to all the writers who participated!
Cara & Siobhan
Thank you Cara and Siobhan for judging this week! I have loved having you here.
It’s time again for the 55 Word Challenge. I’m excited for this week because we have not one, but two awesome guest judges. That’s right, both Cara Michaels and Siobhan Muir are gracing us with their presence and they have some exciting prizes for the winner of today’s challenge.
Ok, first, for those that are uninitiated, the 55 Word Challenge is a contest to write a story in 55 words or less. Not an easy task, but fun and I have been blown away by some of the entries. See for yourself, all the past contests can be found here.
The challenge begins at noon Eastern time every Wednesday and ends at noon Thursday. The story is based on one of three photo prompts and can be written in any genre you choose. The story is to be posted in the comment section below, along with your twitter handle or email address, so I can contact you if you are the winner.
And what does the winner get? This purty badge for one. But I know you want more than just a badge and today we have something special for you.
Both Cara and Siobhan have books that they are promoting and have signed cover art to give away. Cara Michaels is offering a signed cover of Gaea's Chosen: Event Horizon and Siobhan Muir is giving away a signed cover of Queen Bitch of the Callowwood .
Both Cara and Siobhan will be at the Arizona Dreamin’ conference this weekend. If anyone is planning to attend, they definitely need to say hi.Or you can find them on the web at the following places.
Sorry for the delay in judging. I’ve been sick off and on the past few weeks and it hit again last night and then a migraine all day today, along with all the last day of school activities. I have the results though, so here goes!
Honorable Mentions:
@rastrohman: This murder story left me chuckling as the murderers realized their very worrisome plot hole.
@klingorengi I’ve always been a fan of myth and this story was a homerun.
@LupusAnthropos I liked the twist at the end of this one. A different kind of ghost story.
It’s time again for the 55 Word Challenge.For those that are uninitiated, the 55 Word Challenge is a contest to write a story in 55 words or less. Not an easy task, but fun and I have been blown away by some of the entries. See for yourself, all the past contests can be found here.
The challenge begins at noon Eastern time every Wednesday and ends at noon Thursday. The story is based on one of three photo prompts and can be written in any genre you choose. The story is to be posted in the comment section below, along with your twitter handle or email address, so I can contact you if you are the winner.
And what does the winner get? This purty badge for one. For two, a gift card for $5.00 from Amazon. (The prize will be rewarded within a week and sent to your email.)
Photo Prompts:
If anyone is interested in guest judging please let me know, also if you would like to donate a prize for next week’s contest, (or any other week,) let me know. This could be a copy of your book or anything else you want to offer.
Shameless Promo:
Hidden Secrets, Whispered Lies is free through tomorrow night. It is a book of dark poetry.
Lisa was correct when she said this was a difficult batch of stories to choose from. With a story of only 55 words, every word counts even more than with the “average” flash fiction story. So, that being said here are my picks:
Honorable Mentions:
Raymond C. Morris – This story had a very creepy post-apocalyptic feel to it. Wish you’d have had more room to flesh it out a bit.
Rebekah Postupak – This story appealed to the prompts on both a literal and figurative level. Not all monsters are imaginary is a good reminder here.
Afsaneh - This story mated with the photo prompt well. It would have had even more impact with less repetition of phrases. Again, in a 55-word story every word has to count.
Winner:
Ryan Strohman – Though several of the stories revolved around this photo, I felt yours had a very nice flow to it, combining longer and shorter phrases to set a pace for the read. I also liked the way it approached the prompt in both a literal and figurative level.
Here is Ryan's winning story!
Young love fades like a fleeting thought. Very few last to see even a dozen cycles of the moon. And yet this one was different. Together they stood, embracing, he resting his chin against her head, she pressing her cheek against his chest. So young, so in love, gone from this earth far too soon.
55 words @rastrohman
Ryan wins a $5.00 Gift Card from Amazon and a copy of Jeff's collection, A Cold And Dark Christmas. He also gets this cool winners badge to do with as he pleases.
Happy Hump Day and welcome back to the 55 Word Challenge.This week’s judge is my husband, @Klingorengi.(Yeah, I know, I know, he’s half Ferengi, but offering him a bribe will not influence the outcome. He has promised me to behave...as much as he can anyway. ) He also is a talented writer and blogs almost daily, so check out his blog here.
For those that are uninitiated, the 55 Word Challenge is a contest to write a story in 55 words or less. Not an easy task, but fun and I have been blown away by some of the entries. See for yourself, all the past contests can be found here.
The challenge begins at noon Eastern time every Wednesday and ends at noon Thursday. The story is based on one of three photo prompts and can be written in any genre you choose. The story is to be posted in the comment section below, along with your twitter handle or email address, so I can contact you if you are the winner.
And what does the winner get? This purty badge for one. For two, a gift card for $5.00 from Amazon. (The prize will be rewarded within a week and sent to your email.) There is also a third prize this week. Jeff's collection of stories, A Cold and Dark Christmas. Ok, it's not Christmas, but these stories are good all year long.
Photo Prompts:
If anyone is interested in guest judging please let me know, also if you would like to donate a prize for next week’s contest, (or any other week,) let me know. This could be a copy of your book or anything else you want to offer.
@J_M_Blackman did not have an easy job judging this week. A lot of great entries! I am so glad I didn’t have to make the decision.
Honorable Mentions:
@iwrites. His opening description snagged my attention immediately.
But the dark turn at the end really won me over. What a scary
snapshot.
@CaraMichaels. Her 55 was about the anticipation of the things that
would be done in the cover of night. I really wanted to know what was
next.
@DavidALudwig. Something bad was going to happen beyond these 55 words
and though I don't know what, the set up was fantastically foreboding.
Winner:
The overall winner is @zombiemechanics. This 55 made me come back
again and again. I got a great impression of this world where a
halfling plots a lord's death. Sign me up for the full read.
Thanks for letting me judge! Loved it!
Here is @Zombiemechanics winning story.
THERE AND BACK AGAIN
Ultimately, it was the halfling’s long view that made him so effective. Patience wasn’t preferred; it was essential.
No grand army, no epic battle. Six weeks of dark cavern’s descent and he crept—unnoticed—into the darkest dungeon of Lord Sauron’s summer castle.
From there, the diminutive assassin could poison the master’s wine…and wait.
55 words @zombiemechanics
What he won
This awesome badge to display proudly on his blog, (maybe he’ll get it tattooed on his arm.) And a $5.00 gift card to Amazon.com.Thank you to everyone that entered. Next week @Klingorengi will be judging, so check back for the fun.
Happy Hump Day and welcome back to the 55 Word Challenge. It’s been a busy week and I almost didn’t realize that Wednesday was here again. This week we have a guest judge, @J_M_Blackman.Jalisa won the contest last week and has decided to offer up a $5.00 Amazon gift card for this weeks winner. Jalisa Blackman is a Language Arts teacher by day (and night)/Author/ Represented by Gina Panettieri/ Endeavoring reviewer/Happy wife/F +SF Enthusiast/ Lover of dark humor + Batman. You can check out her blog here.
For those that are uninitiated, the 55 Word Challenge is a contest to write a story in 55 words or less. Not an easy task, but fun and I have been blown away by some of the entries. See for yourself, all the past contests can be found here.
The challenge begins at noon Eastern time every Wednesday and ends at noon Thursday. The story is based on one of three photo prompts and can be written in any genre you choose. The story is to be posted in the comment section below, along with your twitter handle or email address, so I can contact you if you are the winner.
And what does the winner get? This purty badge for one. For two, a gift card for $5.00 from Amazon. (The prize will be rewarded within a week and sent to your email.)
Photo Prompts:
If anyone is interested in guest judging please let me know, also if you would like to donate a prize for next week’s contest, (or any other week,) let me know. This could be a copy of your book or anything else you want to offer.
Shameless Promo:
Just released, Monsters! is free today only and Progeny is free today and tomorrow.
Monsters! is 13 stories about...monsters. Most of them are stories written during the A to Z Challenge, but some are older stories that fit the theme. You will find the dead in here as well as a few demons and spirit legends.
Progeny is a non-sparkly vampire story. Judith is a young girl who has spent the last few months on a ship, traveling to America. She and her family are settling in Georgia, but after landing, Judith wanders away from the docks and is attacked by a man in her father's employ. Running from her attacker she finds herself lost in a wilderness she is unfamilar with and being stalked by something not human.
Sorry for the delay in announcing the winners. I lay down for just a little bit and fell asleep.
There were some great entries this week and a lot of interesting takes on the prompts.
Honorable Mentions:
@WakefieldMahon He awed me with his story this week. I loved the mythological take on the two scenes.
@ChuckWesJ Great job turning this scene into something more sinister.
QML This one left me with a WTF feeling, lol. I wasn’t sure if he shoved the boy through and trapped him, or sent him on his way but I loved it.
And the WINNER is”
@J_M_Blackman who convinced me that it wasn’t a good thing to keep a god waiting.
"Spring's Maiden"
She followed the vulnerable amethyst trail down stone steps, careful of her boots, careless of her matching robe: perhaps the scent would linger, appease her lord.
It was not likely, of course, but when you kept a god waiting, it was best to be mollifying, to indulge.
Particularly since Hades was not known for patience.
Thank you everyone for entering. The winner gets this badge and a $5.00 Gift card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble.See you next week!
Happy Hump Day and welcome back to the 55 Word Challenge. For those that are uninitiated, the 55 Word Challenge is a contest to write a story in 55 words or less. Not an easy task, but fun and I have been blown away by some of the entries. See for yourself, all the past contests can be found here.
The challenge begins at noon Eastern time every Wednesday and ends at noon Thursday. The story is based on one of three photo prompts and can be written in any genre you choose. The story is to be posted in the comment section below, along with your twitter handle or email address, so I can contact you if you are the winner.
And what does the winner get? This purty badge for one. For two, a gift card for $5.00 from either Amazon or Barne&Noble. (The prize will be rewarded within a week and sent to your email.)
Photo Prompts
If anyone is interested in guest judging please let me know, also if you would like to donate a prize for next weeks contest, (or any other week,) let me know. This could be a copy of your book or anything else you want to offer.
55 words
@rastrohman