FEBRUARY 2018 MICROSTORY CONTEST - COMMENTS ONLY

[C.]

This string is for comments only. Please refer to the story string for contest rules and requirements.

[Paula]

Just put up a story.

[Justin]

Good story Paula. Creepy! :)

[C.]

I'll say it's creepy. I have a bowl just like that and thought it was only for tossed salads.

-C

[Paula]

nice piece, C.--cool ending.

[Tom]

Welcome back, Paula. I've missed you. Great story. Well seasoned.

Yours was interesting and amusing, C. Great set-up and finale.

Mine's up.

[C.]

Thanks Paula and Tom!

I second the motion, Paula. It's great to see you back, stirring things up once again. : )

-C

[Chris]

Yikes, I struggled this month. I've done the "Judgement" theme quite a few times in my stories already, so I decided to go a different direction altogether. Hope you guys like it. :)

[Paula]

Tom and Justin, thank you so very much! C.--yes, thank you--and I agree that the characters, and their relationships, need more working out; this was all the time I could give this, this month, though--at least for the next couple of weeks, anyhow. Thank you all again!

[Justin]

Tom and Chris, excellent stories!!

[Chris]

Justin wrote: "Tom and Chris, excellent stories!!"

Thanks, Justin!

[Tom]

Thank you, Justin! And, Chris - loved it. Chronicles of Narnia all over again. Well done.

[Chris]

Thanks Tom! I appreciate it!

[C.]

Hi Paula, Tom, and Chris

Thank you for your patient and considerate responses to my recent critiques. It's maddening to weigh political correctness against candid criticism sometimes. What's better for me is not necessarily so helpful to my wonderfully talented brother and sister writers. And if a key element requires a bright searchlight, magnifying glass, and tweezers to find it on the first read, is it really there at all--or is it like the unheard tree falling in the forest?

So a big thank you for your patience with the C.

I greatly respect every contributor here for their commitment to quality science fiction story writing, their time and effort to contribute, and most of all, their talent.

-C.

[Chris]

C. wrote: "Hi Paula, Tom, and Chris

Thank you for your patient and considerate responses to my recent critiques. It's maddening to weigh political correctness against candid criticism sometimes. What's bette..."

I think every writer here offers there critiques with the best of intentions and I prefer to keep an open mind to all of them. Again, sometimes what I may think is clear, may not be to the reader and a critique is the only way to discover that. It's one of the things I love about this group and I think it only helps our skill to be able to receive a critique positively and learn from it.

:)

[Justin]

C. wrote: "Hi Paula, Tom, and Chris

Thank you for your patient and considerate responses to my recent critiques. It's maddening to weigh political correctness against candid criticism sometimes. What's bette..."

Whenever I put a story up C, you can give me both barrels, unvarnished, un-sanitized and insensitive... hey wait a minute... :)

If my stories are bad, I want to know it!

[C.]

Justin,

Yeah, I've done that. But what if the story is really good?

You might remember receiving the best, most complimentary review I ever did, for the best story I've seen so far on this board. I gave you both barrels that time too, but in a good way. Lol

-C

Ps. I was not drinking bourbon at the time.

[Justin]

That's true C. It is one of the most memorable reviews of any of my work - and I appreciated it very much in its honesty and sincerity.

I've been trying to reach the bar of that particular story ever since. I hope I haven't "peaked"!!!!!

[C.]

Justin,

Me too. That was a damn good review. : )

-C

[Justin]

Hey C, do you have any audio editions of your books? I know a guy... meaning me of course.

[C.]

Thanks Justin

I got some pals with a full-on 15,000 Sq. Ft. studio with sound booth and professional recording equipment and they do me favors.

So I have it covered, but thanks for thinking of me!

-C

[Justin]

Absolutely!

[C.]

Karl,

Funny story. Reminded me of SC Johnson Raid commercials.

-C

[Kalifer]

Loved your story Karl. My type of humor.

[Karl]

Thank you C and Kalifer. Great prompts this month. Lots of fun to write.

[Chris]

I had a little time, so posted a few reviews, such as they are. I'm not nearly as skilled a reviewer as some of you but I hope my impressions of your work are constructive and helpful.

:)

[C.]

Hi Chris,

Just read them. Very constructive, very helpful, much appreciated!

-C

[Kalifer]

Mine's up: "A Delicacy"

[Tom]

Good story, Kalifer.

[Jot]

Mine's up. Enjoy...

[C.]

Kalifer wrote: "Mine's up: "A Delicacy""

Fun story, Kalifer. Yummy little bites of goodness! : )

- C

[C.]

Great stories, Jot and Carrie.

Quite a crop of goodies this month.

-C

[Carrie]

I'm just damn excited to get on in this month.
I haven't contributed a story since June!

[Greg]

Story #50

I just realized (after a little math) that this is my fiftieth Microstory story I’ve posted. (It is the fifty-first story I’ve written, but I missed the deadline for one. Ironically, that story was about a “God Damn Time Machine.”)

It’s been a great adventure, getting me plenty of practice in the craft. It can be quite challenging to create a world, populate it with characters and take them on an adventure, all with less than 750 words.

I’d like to think I’m getting better at writing science fiction, but, at least, I have received feedback about other benefits: My emails (both business and personal) have gotten much shorter but more impactful and persuasive. The software documentation and business articles I written are tighter and cleaner and easier to read. Even presentations I give have improved (according to student surveys and Bosses’ comments).

(Hoisting up a mug of Romulan Ale) “Here’s to my next fifty stories. May you have as much fun reading them as I did crafting them.

[Justin]

Romulan Ale is illegal on Federation starships - and per Captain Kirk, "Romulan Ale never again to be served at diplomatic functions."

Congratulations on all of your stories Greg!

[C.]

Congrats, Greg!

Quite an accomplishment.

- C

[Jot]

Greg, you're 50th story has made it in before the deadline, which is end-of-day on the 22nd of each month. By the way, this is the 64th continuous month of the contest!!!

[Justin]

Wow, 64 months! That's outstanding!

Jot, have you gotten any sales figures on the 2017 edition of The Future is Short? Just curious.

[Chris]

Greg wrote: "Story #50

I just realized (after a little math) that this is my fiftieth Microstory story I’ve posted. (It is the fifty-first story I’ve written, but I missed the deadline for one. Ironically, tha..."

Cheers, Greg! ;)

[Chris]

I've posted a few more critiques. I mean only the best and hope they're constructive.

[Justin]

My story is up.

Good critiques Chris. Well thought out.

[Jot]

Thanks Justin, it has been a blast and definitely helped me to be a better writer. I think the critiques are a very welcome addition to help people understand better how their work is perceived.

Not sure about the sales figures. Would have to check with Carrol. I would assume the sales are small, because if one picks up, I think I would see the others as well. Books are a hard sell.

[C.]

Nice story, Justin!

Glad to see you're back to authoring.

-C

[Justin]

Thanks C! Voiceover has not completely consumed every last minute of my time. Just most of it! I've actually been working on this for the past three weeks in fits and starts. I even wrote an outline and everything!

Thanks again!

[G.C.]

Mine's up. I'll try to do some critiques over the next several days. I was planning on writing "The DownRange Part II" but ended up with something completely different.

[Paula]

Doing birthday things today. Shall do some critiques, vote, over the next 2-3 days. Good stories this month, people!

[Jot]

Happy Birthday Paula!

[C.]

Critiques during the voting. . . bad idea methinks.

[C.]

Happy birthday ms. P

[Chris]

Happy Birthday Paula!