APRIL - 2020 - MICROSTORY CONTEST (COMMENTS ONLY)

[Tom]

Interesting story, J.J. Great atmosphere, and very well researched. Heavy on the science, but you kept the dialogue engaging.

[Paula]

Oh, very pleased to see your work again, J.J.!

[Paula]

Mine's posted.

[Jot]

Sweet! Happy you're officially back, Paula

[J.J.]

Jot wrote: "Lovely to have you back, J.J."

Thanks Jot, good to join in - thought I'd put in something inspired by all the ... amazing cures for coronavirus that are out there.

Hope everyone's keeping safe wherever you are.

[J.J.]

Tom wrote: "Interesting story, J.J. Great atmosphere, and very well researched. Heavy on the science, but you kept the dialogue engaging."

Thanks, Tom - yes, I think we're all living science now ... and didn't want to make the cheesecake side too heavy. :)

[J.J.]

Paula wrote: "Oh, very pleased to see your work again, J.J.!"

:) Thanks Paula, looking forward to reading yours.

[Andy]

Have posted a story.

Hard science fiction throughout ... maybe ...

[C.]

Great stories this month! Paula and Andy--awesome!

[Jot]

I've got a lot of reading to do. Looking forward to it.

[Justin]

My story is up! Whew!!! After a week's vacation Boeing recalled us back to work. I'm still working remotely at this point. We'll see how long it lasts now that they are putting voluntary layoffs - and most likely involuntary layoffs after that, into effect.

Fantastic stories everyone! I'm so glad you were all able to use this month's prompt to good effect.

Paula, nice to see an entry from you!!!

[Jeremy McLain]

Hi all,

Found this collection of stories and contest (submit the missing story) mainly focusing on telepresence/robots.

Between 2,500 - 3,500 words

May 8, 2020 at 5:00pm Pacific Time

“Avatars Inc will select one winning story to receive a prize package including a new iMac Pro and more.”

https://avatars.inc


Jeremy

[Paula]

Justin wrote: "My story is up! Whew!!! After a week's vacation Boeing recalled us back to work. I'm still working remotely at this point. We'll see how long it lasts now that they are putting voluntary layoffs - ..."

Justin, I hope you will be able to keep working remotely.

[Paula]

I am hoping to do (very brief) critiques of everyone's stories this month, but right now I just want to express my joy and wonder at Marianne's story this month. Very rarely, reading a tale or watching a film, I'll have this running monologue happen--"Oh wow--incredible --actually wonderful--a masterpiece--no, seriously, a masterpiece--hope [she] keeps it going--wow, wonderful, yes!" This was my reaction to your story, Marianne.

[Justin]

Paula wrote: "Justin wrote: "My story is up! Whew!!! After a week's vacation Boeing recalled us back to work. I'm still working remotely at this point. We'll see how long it lasts now that they are putting volun..."

Thanks Paula! As do I! One day at a time... which is how it works even when there isn't a pandemic!

[Jot]

Good to hear you're back working Justin. Hope we can get those planes flying again soon.

[Jot]

Still hoping to make it to Seattle in August.

[C.]

Great to hear you're back in the saddle, Justin!

Best of luck with the 737 software rewrite. Maybe next month I'll write about the annoying new flight control system AI Boeing rolls out in 2025.
: )

-C

[Marianne]

Thanks, Paula. Like everything, it grew organically :)

[Tom]

Justin wrote: "My story is up! Whew!!! After a week's vacation Boeing recalled us back to work. I'm still working remotely at this point. We'll see how long it lasts now that they are putting voluntary layoffs - ..."

Good story, Justin. Good theme, and we're seeing the return of several long-missed favorite contributors this month.

Best wishes, Justin.

[Tom]

Paula wrote: "I am hoping to do (very brief) critiques of everyone's stories this month, but right now I just want to express my joy and wonder at Marianne's story this month. Very rarely, reading a tale or watc..."

Don't hold back, Paula.

'Seriously--'very glad you're back, and I hope you find the time to review.

[Andy]

Well, I've really enjoyed reading all the stories this month, without exception. Very diverse in approach and the quality of the writing very good indeed.

Looking forward to other people's feedback on all the stories too.

[Andy]

Meanwhile I hope everyone is holding up well during this period of isolation. I'm writing in the conservatory here, looking out over a lake (a real one, not a family member ...).
I can spy on the neighbours from here - coots, mallards and swans mostly, and there are wood pigeons and magpies building nests in the trees. The magpies swoop down to the guttering of the conservatory every now and then to gather clumps of moss and fly back to the nest. Nice to see some folk still working, and cleaning out the gutters for me too.
The house martins should be back from Africa and setting up home in the eaves soon, the one time of year they land. Soon they'll be flying low over the lake, scooping up insects as they fly.
Hopefully we'll all be flying out and about too before long. In the meantime, keep safe everyone.

[Tom]

Andy wrote: "Meanwhile I hope everyone is holding up well during this period of isolation. I'm writing in the conservatory here, looking out over a lake (a real one, not a family member ...).
I can spy on the ..."

You too, Andy.

[Justin]

Jot wrote: "Still hoping to make it to Seattle in August."

Thanks Jot. Hopefully we'll be able to get together then!

[Justin]

C. wrote: "Great to hear you're back in the saddle, Justin!

Best of luck with the 737 software rewrite. Maybe next month I'll write about the annoying new flight control system AI Boeing rolls out in 2025.
..."

Thanks C. Good to be paid again. I'm not on the 737 program, I'm at the Everett Delivery Center, which delivers all of our widebody aircraft. That mess is someone else's problem!!!

[Justin]

Tom wrote: "Justin wrote: "My story is up! Whew!!! After a week's vacation Boeing recalled us back to work. I'm still working remotely at this point. We'll see how long it lasts now that they are putting volun..."

Thanks Tom, much appreciated! I'm glad this month brought out so many contributors!

[Jot]

Still waiting on Kalifer's and J.J.'s vote, even though, the ship has sailed. We have a clear winner. One of the biggest landslides I have even seen.

[Greg]

I'm also working remotely. The program I'm using has an option to use a green screen. After ordering 12 yards of the proper shade online, I set up a green background in my living room and superimposed a view of the cupola on the ISS as my background for meetings.

I may put on my NASA flight suit for the next one.

[Jot]

Sounds awesome, Greg. If NASA ever needs some software work, let me know, though I've love to take a flight to space :)

[Kalifer]

I really hate stories with Unicorns in them but this fits so well in the dream state of this 10-year-old girl in suspended animation that I put aside my prejudice. I had no idea what was going on until the pleasant surprise ending. Really good storytelling.

[C.]

My reviews are up. Enjoy!

[Marianne]

Thanks, Kalifer. One of my stress busters is playing with online ponies, so I tapped into my inner kid ;)