So, it’s fall again and the ‘Autumn’ Contest has returned (*insert maniacal laughter here*)! >=D
Fall is my favorite time of year, so I want stories with this season at their center. Last year I had five categories I’ll be carrying over; Horror, Fantasy/Supernatural, Romance, General, and Real Life.
The contest will be active until Thanksgiving Day, same as before. That should give people plenty of time to write up new stories (or, more than likely, promptly entering long-ago pre-written work). I’ll be sure to prolong the closing date at regular intervals, but if the deadline is approaching and people still want to enter, just let me know and I’ll keep that in mind.
Now, the Nitty-Gritty;
I want the fall season to be featured prominently in all entries. As I said, there are five different categories you may enter. This year, I’m encouraging people to enter multiple times, either once per category or just a few or only one, whatever.
The Katagrees:
Fall Horror—Write a work of horror fiction where the fall and its festivities, the most notable being Halloween, are essential parts of the story. Feel free to indulge in obscene gore-fests, suspenseful psychological horror, or subtle hints of the macabre in an otherwise mundane piece. (Note: PLEASE, no vampire stories. I don’t have any interest in reading about those brooding bloodsuckers. Werewolves, however, are most welcome. But if you call them ‘lycans,’ oh, woe be unto you…)
Fall Fantasy/Supernatural—Personally, I have the habit of being more open to the otherworldly in the fall. So, take advantage of this and write something where the make-believe crosses over into our world. Magic Realism (Wiki it) is a great example of the type of thing I’m looking for here. Otherwise, perhaps you might set a normal fantasy story in the fall, I suppose. Maybe a band of adventurers telling each other ghost stories or roaming through a cemetery or something (*looks hopefully at Effigy*).
Fall Romance—Not my favorite genre, I’ll admit, but so long as it’s set in autumn, feel free. Just, uh, try to avoid wish-fulfillment fantasies or melodrama, okay? I don’t want to read about some emotionally needy guy or girl obsessing over their love interest/significant other/lost love. Also, nothing with you meeting and hooking up with the Jonas Brothers, the Twilight cast, or whatever else seems to be the latest trend (NOTE: Unfortunately, a year later, the aforementioned pop references are still ENTIRELY relevant. The only one I might add now is the Joker and, really, I could’ve done that a year ago, too.).
Fall General—Any other stories you might write set in the fall.
Fall Real Life—Your own personal memories of past autumns.
A few things to consider emphasizing in your stories;
—The changes fall brings, such as to the weather, the landscape, and people’s moods, routines, and behavior.
—A forest or otherwise wooded area would be a treat. Especially one carpeted with fallen leaves. ^_^
—Perhaps focus on the return to school, depending on what you’re writing. Or maybe the advent of the harvest season.
—Featuring or at least mentioning Halloween somewhere in your story is a definite plus. Even moreso if you go into detail about its customs and all the memes and pop culture we associate with it.
As far as rules, there really aren't any, other than mind your spelling/grammar. Swearing, taboo topics, gore, all fine. No word limit, either. POINTS WILL GO UP.
Now… have at it! …Again! =D
Fall is my favorite time of year, so I want stories with this season at their center. Last year I had five categories I’ll be carrying over; Horror, Fantasy/Supernatural, Romance, General, and Real Life.
The contest will be active until Thanksgiving Day, same as before. That should give people plenty of time to write up new stories (or, more than likely, promptly entering long-ago pre-written work). I’ll be sure to prolong the closing date at regular intervals, but if the deadline is approaching and people still want to enter, just let me know and I’ll keep that in mind.
Now, the Nitty-Gritty;
I want the fall season to be featured prominently in all entries. As I said, there are five different categories you may enter. This year, I’m encouraging people to enter multiple times, either once per category or just a few or only one, whatever.
The Katagrees:
Fall Horror—Write a work of horror fiction where the fall and its festivities, the most notable being Halloween, are essential parts of the story. Feel free to indulge in obscene gore-fests, suspenseful psychological horror, or subtle hints of the macabre in an otherwise mundane piece. (Note: PLEASE, no vampire stories. I don’t have any interest in reading about those brooding bloodsuckers. Werewolves, however, are most welcome. But if you call them ‘lycans,’ oh, woe be unto you…)
Fall Fantasy/Supernatural—Personally, I have the habit of being more open to the otherworldly in the fall. So, take advantage of this and write something where the make-believe crosses over into our world. Magic Realism (Wiki it) is a great example of the type of thing I’m looking for here. Otherwise, perhaps you might set a normal fantasy story in the fall, I suppose. Maybe a band of adventurers telling each other ghost stories or roaming through a cemetery or something (*looks hopefully at Effigy*).
Fall Romance—Not my favorite genre, I’ll admit, but so long as it’s set in autumn, feel free. Just, uh, try to avoid wish-fulfillment fantasies or melodrama, okay? I don’t want to read about some emotionally needy guy or girl obsessing over their love interest/significant other/lost love. Also, nothing with you meeting and hooking up with the Jonas Brothers, the Twilight cast, or whatever else seems to be the latest trend (NOTE: Unfortunately, a year later, the aforementioned pop references are still ENTIRELY relevant. The only one I might add now is the Joker and, really, I could’ve done that a year ago, too.).
Fall General—Any other stories you might write set in the fall.
Fall Real Life—Your own personal memories of past autumns.
A few things to consider emphasizing in your stories;
—The changes fall brings, such as to the weather, the landscape, and people’s moods, routines, and behavior.
—A forest or otherwise wooded area would be a treat. Especially one carpeted with fallen leaves. ^_^
—Perhaps focus on the return to school, depending on what you’re writing. Or maybe the advent of the harvest season.
—Featuring or at least mentioning Halloween somewhere in your story is a definite plus. Even moreso if you go into detail about its customs and all the memes and pop culture we associate with it.
As far as rules, there really aren't any, other than mind your spelling/grammar. Swearing, taboo topics, gore, all fine. No word limit, either. POINTS WILL GO UP.
Now… have at it! …Again! =D
Closed for judging
- Closed for judging on November 27
- Rewards: Gold: 300, Silver: 200, Bronze: 100, Honorable mention: 5 people
Entries [8]
1 - 8 of 8
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Jenny wondered idly if the museum would be half so keen to preserve the fossilized footprint if they knew it was a fake. It wasn’t malicioby IrishYndina 4300 words, 17 comments, on Jul 7 6:29 AM. In Amber, Fantasy, Fiction, Magical realism• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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Manor’s Mansion1 / It was September in nineteen-fifty-two; school had just started up after the long summer holidays. Bob, Gary, and Chuck all graduated into grade eight. This made them seniors aby ablelaz 2600 words, 6 comments, on Feb 7 8:37 PM 2008• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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by Mistress Cheetah 100 words, 34 comments, on Sep 6 12:38 AM• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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We were excited! It was our very first house, sure it was old but it was solidly built and we were young. It had been built in 1902 so we had to do quite a bit of remodeling to make it decent. All through september we were teby MeKaBa 300 words, 6 comments, on Oct 23 2:03 PM• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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The true story of my Saturday night, into the early hours of Sunday.• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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Fall is beautiful. I'd say winter would be too, but it's a little too cold to enjoy. x___x
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Pretty much the whole end of the year kicks ass. Although, my concept of winter might be a little antiquated nowadays, what with my imagining snow on the ground...
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Fall, my favorite time of the year since I was born in Sept. Have some stuff already written but, tink I will write something new just for this.
I'll be back definitely. -
Are we allowed to enter poems?
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Sure, go for it.
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Open until Thanksgiving Day means I have time to write in between rehearsals and music lessons. I'm game! I always get bored sitting in the theatre waiting for my scene to come up; now I have something to brainstorm for!
Consider this contest bookmarked!
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Awesome! Nice to see my forward-thinking actually benefitted someone.
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bookmarked.
been in a writing stump, though. but, I'll try to get something new out for this contest.
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Marvelous. Good luck conquering that stump.
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