Could have sworn I voted already, but not seeing it in the comments so... I’m voting for The Day I Burned because it has incredible visuals and intensity while looking at death through a less traditionally religious lens.
I enjoyed all the stories a great deal, thanks to Storyletter for hosting and thanks to all the writers for sharing.
My vote is for Raising Rocabarra by Dan Blakely. He manages to craft a deep world dripping with mystery all the while following a character whose intentions I found cleverly kept in the dark till the end. Though I'm not sure I'm following the 'good guy', haha.
I enjoyed reading all the stories so thanks for pulling them together and good job everyone. But a few days later, it is The Day I Burned that stuck with me. The umbilical cord having a role in death, as in birth, closing the cycle of life. And flying along tethered behind the ambulance - it reminded me of the flying dreams I had as a kid, where I wanted to soar, but wasn't really in control and couldn't get more than a few feet off the ground. Lovely view of death, the biggest unknown of all.
Of the three I read all the way through, I vote for "The Day I Burned" by Shaina Reed because of that last description of the astral body bursting into flame. I'd never seen that before.
I echo J.M. Elliott on the toughness of the decision! it's wonderful that we have this space in which to support each other, for verily, the improbability of making a living through writing fiction stories in 2023- we are like travelers stranded in a life boat on the open ocean, trying to get to the moon.
The cause might be lost, but it is glorious nonetheless.
I have chosen The Day I Burned by Shaina Read; I was intrigued by its narrative voice and blend of the physical and metaphysical in approaching a topic that has been 'done to death' (har har), perhaps in a new way. Not that I am an expert on the literature of the great beyond but that's my vote.
Thanks for hosting this epic little prompt-fest, Winston- I am sure a lot of people enjoyed it and confident there will be many more and different such opportunities ahead. Keep writing, everyone!
It's so hard to choose just one! I enjoyed all the stories, they were all done so well, and they were all so incredibly different! I have a few favs, but I think for this I have to cast my vote for Raising Rocabarra. Something about the mysterious setting, the unknown quest, the foreboding, and the way the story revealed itself as if walking in a narrow pool of torchlight really exemplified a sense of exploring the unknown. Even the end, though it explains the immediate goal of the protagonist, manages to raise new questions. Plus, it's just fun.
Thank you for the vote! That was the feel I was going for and like I said in another comment, the story kind of unfolded for me as I wrote it. Now I need to find out this name of this mysterious daughter of Rocabarra.
My vote is also for The Day I Burned. I liked how she was still tethered to life and part of me wanted the doctor to do something to save her but then the story closed out a different way. Nicely done.
I also vote for The Canyon by Victor Sandiego. The journey upriver in a canyon is paced perfectly both metaphorically and literally. The silence of the man interwoven with the challenging changing landscape creates a mood that leads one to contemplation. This adds impact to the words he speaks at the end. Very well done.
I’m voting for The Day I Burned by Shaina Read. Why? I really felt shivers as she took the reader thru the final resolution of hers and by implication how our own separation fm life may linger. Admittedly during transportation to the hospital, I was thinking about how the corded connection wud make the adjustment if the ambulance passed under an overpass, but never mind, we got to the hospital!
The fact that the painted skull, a gift fm her dad, was given to him by the thoughtful first responder was closure in a heart-warming way.
This is such a difficult vote! All the stories were wonderful, but The Canyon has my vote. I felt like I was there, drinking coffee, forging past snake ridden rocks, peering at the stars at night. Beautifully written.
Could have sworn I voted already, but not seeing it in the comments so... I’m voting for The Day I Burned because it has incredible visuals and intensity while looking at death through a less traditionally religious lens.
I enjoyed all the stories a great deal, thanks to Storyletter for hosting and thanks to all the writers for sharing.
My vote is for Raising Rocabarra by Dan Blakely. He manages to craft a deep world dripping with mystery all the while following a character whose intentions I found cleverly kept in the dark till the end. Though I'm not sure I'm following the 'good guy', haha.
Thanks for the vote! She kept herself hidden from me too - I still don't know her name. 😃
Some characters are stubborn like that! Haha.
Thanks, Redd. Vote tallied!
I enjoyed reading all the stories so thanks for pulling them together and good job everyone. But a few days later, it is The Day I Burned that stuck with me. The umbilical cord having a role in death, as in birth, closing the cycle of life. And flying along tethered behind the ambulance - it reminded me of the flying dreams I had as a kid, where I wanted to soar, but wasn't really in control and couldn't get more than a few feet off the ground. Lovely view of death, the biggest unknown of all.
Vote tallied! Thank you for your detailed comment, Beverley.
Of the three I read all the way through, I vote for "The Day I Burned" by Shaina Reed because of that last description of the astral body bursting into flame. I'd never seen that before.
I also liked the skull.
Thanks for reading, Randall. Vote tallied.
I echo J.M. Elliott on the toughness of the decision! it's wonderful that we have this space in which to support each other, for verily, the improbability of making a living through writing fiction stories in 2023- we are like travelers stranded in a life boat on the open ocean, trying to get to the moon.
The cause might be lost, but it is glorious nonetheless.
I have chosen The Day I Burned by Shaina Read; I was intrigued by its narrative voice and blend of the physical and metaphysical in approaching a topic that has been 'done to death' (har har), perhaps in a new way. Not that I am an expert on the literature of the great beyond but that's my vote.
Thanks for hosting this epic little prompt-fest, Winston- I am sure a lot of people enjoyed it and confident there will be many more and different such opportunities ahead. Keep writing, everyone!
Thanks for this write-up, Chris. Votes tallied.
It's so hard to choose just one! I enjoyed all the stories, they were all done so well, and they were all so incredibly different! I have a few favs, but I think for this I have to cast my vote for Raising Rocabarra. Something about the mysterious setting, the unknown quest, the foreboding, and the way the story revealed itself as if walking in a narrow pool of torchlight really exemplified a sense of exploring the unknown. Even the end, though it explains the immediate goal of the protagonist, manages to raise new questions. Plus, it's just fun.
Thank you for the vote! That was the feel I was going for and like I said in another comment, the story kind of unfolded for me as I wrote it. Now I need to find out this name of this mysterious daughter of Rocabarra.
Vote tallied. Thank you, J!
My vote is also for The Day I Burned. I liked how she was still tethered to life and part of me wanted the doctor to do something to save her but then the story closed out a different way. Nicely done.
Thanks, Dan! Votes tallied.
My vote is also for The Day I Burned. The ending was beautiful and bittersweet.
Votes tallied. Thank you :)
I also vote for The Canyon by Victor Sandiego. The journey upriver in a canyon is paced perfectly both metaphorically and literally. The silence of the man interwoven with the challenging changing landscape creates a mood that leads one to contemplation. This adds impact to the words he speaks at the end. Very well done.
Thank you, Jeanne. Vote accepted. :)
I’m voting for The Day I Burned by Shaina Read. Why? I really felt shivers as she took the reader thru the final resolution of hers and by implication how our own separation fm life may linger. Admittedly during transportation to the hospital, I was thinking about how the corded connection wud make the adjustment if the ambulance passed under an overpass, but never mind, we got to the hospital!
The fact that the painted skull, a gift fm her dad, was given to him by the thoughtful first responder was closure in a heart-warming way.
Thank you so much for the detailed comment, David. Your vote has been accepted!
Nice. Flash fiction for the weekend. Excellent.
This is such a difficult vote! All the stories were wonderful, but The Canyon has my vote. I felt like I was there, drinking coffee, forging past snake ridden rocks, peering at the stars at night. Beautifully written.
Thank you, Shaina! Vote tallied.
Dangit, I missed this!
That's okay, Sujan! Voting has just begun and the next one will be coming this summer! Thanks for your interest. :)
Ok, great, will keep my eyes peeled for that one! Cheers!