Posted: Jul 17, 08 8:18pm

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we honor those who threw themselves at a seemingly impossible writing task: Tell a good tale in 250 words or less.

Many rose to the occasion, and high we did fly. Tonight, we in TWG honor you.

As suggested in earlier discussions, we have many winners but none more than the TWG members who were given a taste of the wares of those who participated. For that, we thank you all. These results have been tabulated based on input from members and participants, and in small measure, the bias of the group administrator.

SO let's get started….

For BREAKOUT performance by stretching and growing and going for the gusto, eve123's Paper, sticks and string, a love story to which we can all relate.

In the WHAT WRITING IS ALL ABOUT category, powergirl's Dear Daddy shows us that if at first we don't express what we want, we edit and try again, with great success.

Baylus Brooks put us on notice in the LIFE SOMETIMES SUCKS category with Paul's life and its obituary of love life lived and lost.

The LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE category showcased TraumaGirl in one of her final efforts before her departure from TBD (say it ain't so?). She calmly puts us at ease with passing from life to the after world with Goodnight, Grandma.

In the category LESS IS MORE, we have two winners: MarkTrost's And Then Dissolve and CarolT's Carefree in Mexico. MT tossed out a few memorable sentences and set the world ablaze. CarolT took a shot of haiku and blended it with nice for a cool finish.

For ACTION/SUSPENSE, hands down: spiritedstrider's Escape. Makes you want to hold your breath while you read it.

Yours truly gets a nod for CREATIVE MYSTERY. A different take on getting away from a too familiar place.

In the BEHIND CLOSED DOORS category: perm 3800's Super. It gives us a boisterously original aural take on life in an apartment complex.

Westerly's Candy sweetened the pot in the SLICE OF LIFE category. Don't we all know those characters and situations she so greatly conveys?

JSutton's Possession of Heroin gets the Gordon in the PARENTAL ANGST category. A well crafted take on the hope and helplessness of being a parent.

Another crafty winner in the DON"T PLAY WITH FIRE category is DeeCross' Devil Is in the Details which takes us on a deliciously hellish ride out West.

A special award in the FUNNY FAKE category for flower3, who had us wondering if a tornado was about to hit.

AND now, the final three.

For taking us to the river and washing our sins and other parts, John Deisher's A River Named Maggie. A cold river it can be when described in such a sensitively sensual way. Wash me in the water and take home the Gordon for DESCRIPTIVE ACHIEVEMENT in a flash fiction format.

marilyndevine came out of nowhere with Danger sharing the world of silence with which she is all too familiar using great skill and grace. She gets the Gordon for INSPIRATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT in a flash fiction format.

Last but certainly not least, as chosen by her peers, Otter cuts us to the quick with Down the Drain, a breathtaking tale of loss and recovery. She takes the prestigious Gordon for BEST ACHIEVEMENT in a flash fiction format for 2008.

Again, here are the links to all participants; well done, congratulations to all.

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/200098/show powergirl

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/208101/show CarolT

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/197054/show MarkTrost

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/200470/show eve123

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/210286/show JSutton

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/199687/show lostmutt

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/197226/show Otter

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/212157/show Baylus Brooks

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/197969/show Westerly

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/200475/show spiritedstrider

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/200255/show TraumaGirl

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/208441/show flower3

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/197863/show perm3800

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/196788/show?startIndex=0 Jon Deisher

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/206219/show marilyndevine

http://www.tbd.com/group/1/discussion/197378/show DeeCross

The GORDON