Tale of the Week 18b - The Challenge: Vote

[molls]

The Challenge

Read the entries here.

Judge the stories most importantly on how well they respond to the Challenge task!

Here it is again:

Rule:
You have to stay close at what this picture shows you.
Take it's aura, it's expression, the colours, the mood etc, and write something about it.
No need for action paced or ultra funny stories this time!
Don't invent an epic battle on this picture, there is none!
Try to stay really close to the picture's content, however inventing few persons or a small history on this picture is certainly not wrong - but once again.

Stay really close to what you can see here otherwise your story won't count.
I will have a look and tell you if somethings off the limit.

------------------------------------------------


Every member is advised to give 3 votes.

Every voter is bound to vote at least for 1 tale, that is not his own entry.

Possible variations:

1) Vote for yourself + vote for 1 other story.
2) Vote for yourself + vote for 2 other stories.
3) Vote for 1 other story
4) Vote for 2 other stories
5) Vote for 3 other stories

[Kátz]

Voted, This one is very hard to choose. All are great!

[molls]

I hope you guys don't mind me inventing the "missing" titles
Sorry about the two times "memories" , I didn't see the title "Memories of Life" until I submitted the poll...

[Kallum]

voted

[Dead Sun]

V.O.T.E.D

[Theodotos I]

Voted. Nice to participate in a TOTW contest at long last.

[RVFVS]

Is mine the raider? If so Im suprised...I didnt think i was that good a writer actually I thought I would get no votes.

[King of Parliament]

I cant vote but if I could I would vote for Raider

EDIT: Speaking fo which why cant I vote?

[molls]

ok guys, here is my dreaded
Review!

Essence:

The first submission was the closest try at the picture.
Nothing fits the picture more, than the idea of a homecoming traveller.

You describe the colours, the area and the mood of the picture very well, moving and with MUCH detail. Great!
Highlight: "With a heavy heart, I ascended the small inclination."
"Smoke was rising from the house"
This shows how much you have looked into the picture.
Bravo Sir, you deserve my vote!



Liquid Reality:

Takes up the mood and describes death in general. You use the effects of the picture to show how this "final moment" would look like - good job!
However you do not mention any of the pictures content (the village etc) so all in all this story is a bit too far away for me.




Memories from Exeter:

The story is ok and you mentioned the hill!, field and house etc. of the picture!
However, most of you story goes a bit too far from the picture (the execution, the discovery of the murder).
A good first try in TotW!
Remember, if the Task is to stay close at the picture, you should do this .




The face of death:

Pics up the colours, effects and mood from the picture and uses them in a great , detailed and beautiful way to describe death.
A very good job in my opinion!




Lost Idyll:

A beautiful and moving story. The idea to tell it from the dog's point of view was brilliant! His mood in the end fits the picture perfectly.





Homecoming:

Your first TotW story - and a very good one.
A thrilling and exciting homecoming scenario, dealing with the village and picking up the mood/colours etc.
What was best: You left out the action - because it doesn't belong here!
Great!



A Christmas Night:

"Survived, covered with blood - returning once again covered with blood."
Nicely done!

But: Your story deals very little with what the picture shows - you merely mentioned some houses and the "night".
Remember to stay close to the rules given - Practice makes perfect!


Memories of Life:

Bravo Sensi!
The picture itself is indeed peaceful - and you had the great idea to actually make a "peaceful" story.
Nothing bad, no death, no pain, just a perfect life - That's rare in TotW!
Your story deals abstractly with the picture,but what you write and how you write it mirrors the picture perfectly in a different way.
That's the principle of TotW!

You deserve my vote.


The Raider:

The story is good, the mighty Viking slain by a plain peasant -
"powered up the hill towards the village" - yay for the detail!!
but also to you as it is your first try:

Your story is a bit too far away from the picture, remember to stay with the Rules given !


----------------------------

I do not cast a 3rd vote, because there are several stories that would deserve it.

Don't dispair, I'm honest and this is to help you guys.
I'm very happy about so many new writers and the rising interest in TotW.
Keep it on!

[Pontifex Maximus]

Dreaded?! I love your reviews, Molls!

I cant vote but if I could I would vote for Raider

EDIT: Speaking fo which why cant I vote?

you need to be a member for a week and have made 50 posts before you can. Also, you have to cast a vote for at least two entries, I would be happy to manually add them once you have made a decision.

[Sensi Karate]

Thanks Mollsomg for the vote. ^_^ I'd just like people to remember the rules of this picture. You were suppose to describle the feeling, aura, colour and mood about the picture, not about war. No offense to anyone, but only half actually followed this. I just advice everyone to read the rules when challenges, like this re-appear in the future.

~Sensi

[Theodotos I]

Thanks Mollsomg for the vote. ^_^ I'd just like people to remember the rules of this picture. You were suppose to describle the feeling, aura, colour and mood about the picture, not about war. No offense to anyone, but only half actually followed this. I just advice everyone to read the rules when challenges, like this re-appear in the future.

~Sensi

I agree, reading the rules was very important. I think what struck me about the picture was the utter feeling of desolation. There was nothing of life, nothing of normality there. Truly as though tragedy had struck. My interpretation, at any rate. . .

[Sensi Karate]

After a very extensive read of every tale written, I've come to vote. My first vote, of course, goes to me, since I'm a selfish.
My first second is for SunTzuman909 story called Essence. Like Mollsomg stated before, his story had excellent description and I felt as if I had been placed in that picture, following every step SunTzu said. Excellent work mate! I couldn't vote for a third person, since it was a tie between Pontifex and Theodotos stories. They are both excellent writers however I didn't feel anything which made me stick to reading it. Pontifex story was lovely, however it didn't follow the picture that well. Theodotos story was another great read, however I didn't feel connected to the story. Nontheless, everyone did an excellent job, and I think Mollsomg deserves Rep+ for trying to improve TOTW so well by doing this, and many other things. Rep+ to everyone who did this extra challenge as-well.

~Sensi

[Kátz]

Least you don't vote for yourself only!

[Juvenal]

I liked Homecoming, lots of interesting background information and an open ending.

A Christmas Night also caught my fancy because of the satisfying shape of the story, with the ending invoking the rest of the story in flashback.

Lost Idyll of course I love without condition, just as the protagonist loved his master.