My final #NotQuiteWritePrize stats for this round of judging: Favourite: 2 Yes: 6 Maybe+: 25 Maybe: 72 Maybe-: 43 No/DQ: 24 Now, we are getting to the pointy end of the stick! Time to pick the longlist!

#NotQuiteWritePrize Story #693719 is Favourite number 2. This one is all about voice and prose, filled with wonderfully original and evocative turns of phrase.

#NotQuiteWritePrize Congratulations, lucky (and very talented) author of #571677! You are my very first outright favourite this round. Masterful use of close third and single effect, well done.

#NotQuiteWritePrize story #560484 with a VERY attention-grabbing title. Will the story deliver?

Speaking of sexy things... To the author of story #523186, I sincerely apologise for reading a COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE meaning into the title of your story! It was, in fact, deeply heartfelt and emotional (and I need to get my mind out of the gutter).

Someone sneakily snuck a FLESH fiction entry into the #NotQuiteWritePrize (and I'm totally fine with it)

Entry 762677- A very uncomfortable response to the burning prompt. It's a yes from me! #NotQuiteWritePrize

It might be a sampling issue, but I feel that there is a definite uptick this round of characters named Ed and Amanda. While it does grab my attention, it also puts me slightly on edge. I think I still have PTSD after the infamous Johnson & Johnson incident! #NotQuiteWritePrize

One batch down: three maybe pluses and no yeses at this stage, but one very suspicious entry that's giving ChatGPT. I'm looking at you, Entry 973499 👀 #NotQuiteWritePrize

Entry 3144 - Only three stories in and already found a creative interpretation of 'passive voice' that never even occurred to me! @NotQuiteWritePrize

It's finally time for me to blow the dust off my social media accounts and join @AKScotland in the vague tweeting fun! Can't wait to get stuck into the judging.

We need 5 more attendees to make this viable, so please jump on board. If you can't make it, please consider sharing the original post with anyone who's interested in dipping a toe into the world/cult of flash fiction!

Let the games begin! #notquitewriteprize #longlist

I seem to be handing out a lot of "Maybe pluses" this round, which speaks to the overall high quality. But that means it's going to be a real battle for the longlist. 2 favourites so far! #notquitewriteprize

After a week of sporadic reading, I am finally able to devote an entire day to judging your #notquitewriteprize entries. One batch in and I'm already seeing some very creative takes on the anti-prompt. This was really a tough one!

My final stats at the end of the first round of judging: Favourite: 4 Yes: 13 Maybe+: 46 With the remaining being maybe or lower. Let the games begin! #NotQuiteWritePrize

Just read favourite #2. And I know for a fact that @akscotland.bsky.social rated this one a maybe. Looking forward to 'agreeing' on the long/shortlist this week 🥊🥊🥊 #NotQuiteWritePrize

I just read my first 'favourite' 👀 #NotQuiteWritePrize

Results after the first 3 batches (including one small batch): Yes 2 Maybe+ 12 Maybe 20 Maybe- 9 No 2 So far there are a lot of stories on the cusp of the long list, but only a few elevating above the pack! #NotQuiteWritePrize

The batch that began with dismemberment... ends with diarrhoea! 😂 #NotQuiteWritePrize

I've finally escaped my tech support cave and started judging your stories! I'm only in the first batch and already characters are threatening dismemberment of private parts. A taste of things to come? #NotQuiteWritePrize