LAST CHANCE TO COMMENT! Which story is YOUR favourite?

Please note: The Judges may disagree with you – but their decision is final.

To those who didn’t make the final 5: You are all WINNERS! Your writing is of great quality and I hope you will continue to develop the craft.

THE CRITERIA:

The Judges were looking for a masterful use of language within the constraints of the Megasaga form.

The Judges were looking for a plot, insofar as possible within 100 words.

The Judges wanted to FEEL the writer’s emotions, to get a powerful glimpse into an event, an idea, an opinion even.

Above all, this has all to be achieved within 100 words including the title.

While the opinions of those who commented on the stories were certainly taken on board, in the end the Judges’ decisions are final.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT ON THE FINALISTS!

TWO MORE DAYS!

To those who made the final 5: WELL DONE! These are the stories the judges (5 of them, all devoted readers and writers) felt had the most BITE.

SO HERE THEY ARE, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, THE FINAL FIVE:

Echoes of colour

Dusk had settled in him, in his bones and his soul, the painted sky flooded from his beautiful mind, darkness settling in, clouding his vision. So I loved him vivaciously and painted my own canvas, with the colours of his soul, hoping he would see just how beautiful he was and learn to love again. It wasn’t easy, with my own tattered heart, sometimes my sky faded too but there was one thing that brought us back, the love we both held for the night, the moon, the stars. It was there, that our Cosmic love bloomed.

Lorna Malan

Judges’ comments:

While this is not strictly a story, in that it has a beginning, middle and end, the use of language to paint a picture of perfect love is original and very affecting.

Son

From the gate he could see the windows were open. The radio was playing. He breathed deeply and opened the lock, swung it open. Ran down the driveway. The front door was locked. “Mom,” he screamed. “Mama!” Again, “Mommy?“ The back door was open. His heart, his mind exploding. There she was. Lying on the linoleum kitchen floor. Eyes open. Gone. She had always said, “Son, when you find a departed Soul and their body’s eyes are open, lightly touch them, ease them.” He wept and easing the eyes closed he said, “Light may your journey be my Mommy.”

Renos Spanoudes

Judges’ comments:

The situation, the language and the emotional shock at the end makes this feel absolutely real. A great use of sentence structure to convey intense emotion.

Nightmare

Diabolical darkness fills the air. A murder of crows spiralling in the

air, eagerly waiting. In the distance, I feel the presence of evil. The air

started to reek of death. I want to turn and flee but my body objects.

Drawing near, I can see the demonic black stallion. Body full of unending

bleeding scars. Bloodred eyes staring into my soul, draining the life out

of me. I break free and flee, my heart racing.

Tripped over my own feet.

Suddenly …

Everything is gone.

Eternally plummeting.

Breathless.

I jump up.

Awoken with anxiety.

Fetching a deep sigh.

J Vox Woefski

Judges’ comments:

The Judges loved the clever way the sensation of falling is conveyed by the layout. The descriptive language is very powerful, and so well expressed in the context of fantasy writing.

PRANESH

Once in your life, you may meet a soul so precious that you start believing in good hearts again. Such a soul was HE that he loved without inhibition and was himself, owing no explanation to the world. A rare, beautiful human being that when in his presence I only felt peace and joy .I know that in this lifetime I’ll never come close to a selfless being like this again or anyone who could love or move my spirit the way he did. RIP my awesome best friend in the universe, my voice of reason, my high counsel…

Chantel Naidu

Judges’ comments:

The judges bent a rule, which I am not happy about but their word is law. This story is 99 words, and a true Megasaga is 100. KB stated that he would accept the ellipsis as a word, which would make the story qualify. They loved the powerful use of language, the general quality of the writing and the very sad conclusion.

Widow’s Peek

The winter sky is a widow’s sky, bedarkened and weeping. I began to hammer on, taking each bend like a child playing a video game, as the giant drops hit my windshield, sounding like the buzzing of angry bees.

I picture her waiting for me. Just a few more miles, I say to myself , as I take a sharp turn. Then, BOOM! It was all over. This widow sky cursed my wife to be a widow.

The darkness took over my mind and body… Goodbye My Love!

I was startlingly awoken by my dogs barking.

It was all a dream!

PAVLOVA MAHARAJ

Judges’ comments:

While the “dream” conclusion has been used many times, the Judges nevertheless felt that it came as a surprise, and the use of descriptive language is so masterly, it is forgivable!

WELL DONE FINALISTS!

THE FINAL OVERALL WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE LAST DAY OF APRIL! AND THE £100 PRIZE WILL BE WINGING ITS WAY…