We've got results! Thanks to all who wrote this week, we had some amazing stories. If you missed any of them, go check them out here. Back? Good. Let's read what the judge had to say:
For my first time judging, you all didn’t make my job an
easy one. Each and every one had something in it that made me want to HM it. I
had a rollicking good time reading, thank you. Several of these went in a
wonderfully unexpected direction: what is initially assumed to be
"inopportune" ends up opening up unforeseen opportunities. A life
lesson, here.
"An Egretful Morning" by Denise Callaway—A great
start to the entries. First impression: I loved that you managed to get four
elements in the very first paragraph. Then, the narrator’s fine observations of
the activity of the hedgehog engaged me. The real impact of this story came in
the second reading, after reading that last line. Suddenly the fun observations
have gravity: her careful focus on the creature is a distraction from a lonely
life. This one left me with a melancholy smile.
"The Wisdom of Spindles the Hedgehog" by
@hollygeely—This one gave my favorite use of the inversion of
"inopportune" into unexpected opportunity. The voice of this one
grabbed me right away and the avalanche of unfortunate events kept me
enthusiastically engaged—the MC’s attitude, though hilariously wry, manages to
remain optimistic. I loved the repetition of the universal laws, especially as
it culminated in the universe having the MC’s back. I laughed out loud over the
postal worker’s diplomacy.
"Promises Broken, Promises Kept" by Tamara
Shoemaker—Wow, what lush language. I’ll admit, romance is not usually my thing,
but I’d have to be a chunk of wood not to recognize the fine craftsmanship
here. I like how it’s never really clear if its romantic fantasy or a romance
adorned in fantasy’s finery (with names like Oberon and Diggory, I wondered if
what we might have here is a battle between faerie and wizard?) "… My name
spoken to the tempo if the trail of kisses he attached to my jawline"
"emotions tossed like loose banners in a brisk wind". Oh, sweet
alliteration! The contrast in conceits used for Oberon (nature imagery) versus
those used with Diggory (martial) reveal the vastly different approaches she’s
taken with the two relationships. The allusion to the Rock of Cashel struck me,
with its reference to conversion and triumph over evil)
Untitled by Geoff Le Pard—Brilliant opening with an concrete
encounter with a superhero, which drew me right into your delightfully novel
concept. I adore the MC’s perspective on the various heroes, her complaints.
The tone is such that I feel like I’m chatting with her over the laundry
counter. So many hilarious lines, my favorite being, "So they can be saved
by a hunky piece of the supernatural"
"The Artist within Us All" by @stellakateT—That
first paragraph says so much about the Ian character that by the time we hit
the end, I’m ready to see the MC go all Hirst on him. My favorite: "He did
a good mouth to mouth when I finally let him into the flat". I loved the
development of the MC’s voice. She starts out resigned to Ian’s narcissism,
even over the lack of invitations to join him in his travels. And then he brings up Destiny. Camel’s back broken.
"Longing" by Casey Rose—What is it about the image
of a walnut that puts me immediately into fantasy mode? I love how the MC
relishes every sense—and the reason for it comes clear in the end. Of course a
will-o-the-wisp would savor material joys. Even before I realized who she was,
I sympathized with her. So, what seems like a simple life of gratitude at the
beginning takes on new dimensions. I loved the idea that she wanted to work
through all the teas and that she also fell in love with books. Resounding
line: "let myself believe that "adventure" could melt into
"permanence.""
"She/He" by Michael Seese—I didn’t appreciate the
pacing and structure of this one until I went back and read it again. The voice
here seems to start off light and humorous. I chuckled over the flirting teapot
and the personification of Earl Grey—and it distracted me from the crucial line
(turning off the flame to the exclusion of the gas). I liked the contrast of
making time stand still with time stopping cold. The list at first reading
seems quaint, but on second reading reads like the con-side of a someone
weighing the pros and cons of living.
Loved the use of butterfly net and spiral. Then the shift:
"it" becomes "him". The repetition of the second paragraph
is stunned me. Now we know why the timing of the infant is
"inopportune" (and, yet, quite possibly his salvation).
"Real Estate Blues" by Emily Karn—Inopportune
indeed! I loved the manifestation of the crazy neighbors and the happy spin the
MC attempted to put on each of them. Such a playful use of the
special-challenge elements, the whimsy only heightened by the concrete
descriptions of the teapot, the trundling hedgehog, the contrail above the
road, etc. I giggled all the way through (and I would only too happily go live
in that neighborhood).
"Hello, Mother" by Di Eats the Elephant—I love how
the whole story is a single moment in suspension, a mother seeing her estranged
son on her doorstep and trying to postpone the actual greeting so she can savor
just seeing him again, and not "ruining the moment". With what? The
reality is never made concrete, and in that way, the reader remains suspended
in the mother’s memories, where he still thinks of her has the best mommy in
the world, still calls her mommy, and shares pancake breakfast. I like the
parallel with a drought-struck summer. Such a beautiful, heart-rending idea for
a story.
"Waiting to be King" by Charles W Short—What a far
out (literally far out) take on the prompt! One of the things I adore about
science fiction is the way it can be used to hold up a futuristic mirror to
today’s reality even as it reanimates an ancient story. The level of honor and
restraint shown by the Davidicus stands in start contrast to the behavior of
various warring factions in this world, making me long for such leadership (as
I’m sure many ancient Israelites felt about David replacing Saul). I like how
you set up our expectations that there might be a battle (despite the allusion
to the biblical story), that the Saularian flagship might attack, and then the
shrewdness shown by the Davidicus in avoiding conflict while besting the
opponent anyway.
"Perfect Timing" by @postupak—I got my partner to
cut and paste all the entries so I could do it blind, but I knew this was
Rebekah’s as soon as "it" was revealed—though I should have guessed
sooner at the hilarity of everything coming before it. I liked the
unconventional voice, her memory sliding around to a more lovely past You
successfully made it so I was right with the MC over the gorram toothpick-chewing!
I love how your MC turns "inopportune" around into the perfect
opportunity.
Honorable Mentions:
"Longing" Casey Rose—for the
lovely and seamless use of the prompts
"Perfect Timing"
Rebekah—for hilarity
Runner Up: @hollygeely for "The
Wisdom of Spindles the Hedgehog"—for the ever-optimistic voice of Harry
despite the avalanche of seemingly horrendous luck.
Special Challenge Champion: Tamara Shoemaker for
"Promises Broken, Promises Kept" for the sublimely poetic use of the
prompts, teasing the line between romance and fantasy.
Grand Champion: Michael Seese for "She/He" for the
economical and poignant growth of a tragic character who finds a reason to turn
off the gas.
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