Tell a story in 100 words or less!
Give me a description, a (brief!) adventure, a mystery, a romance...whatever you want, just do it in the shortest way possible.
I demand:
1. Proper grammar. In a story this short, there is no excuse for errors in grammar or punctuation. I'll forgive minor typos (I'm hardly a great speller myself), but anything more will force me to remove your story from the contest.
I'm not kidding.
I want:
2. A thoughtful title and author's note. If you don't care enough to title your story and tell me a bit about it, why should I care enough to read it? "Short Story" or "Contest Entry" do not count as thoughtful titles.
3. A killer opening and closing. Make me laugh, cry, scream, applaud, anything but sit there staring at the screen with a blank expression on my face.
Judging:
I will comment on all pieces, saying what I liked and what I didn't in each piece. Criticism may be harsh, so please let me know in the author's note if this bothers you, and I will tone it down.
While I'd love it if you shared some personal and touching story, please don't enter anything so personal that any criticism of the piece would be taken as an insult to yourself. You know what I'm talking about: we've all seen stories on here with "No grammar help on this, please, it's very personal" written in the "feedback" header. Go ahead and post that sort of thing, just don't enter it in this contest.
Enter as many times as you'd like.
A note on word count: we will be using the StoryWrite word counter, but since there is often a large diviation between the SW counter and, say, MS word, I will allow stories that SW says have up to 150 words. Please, though, don't abuse my lenience.
Any questions? Feel free to message me or post a comment.
Give me a description, a (brief!) adventure, a mystery, a romance...whatever you want, just do it in the shortest way possible.
I demand:
1. Proper grammar. In a story this short, there is no excuse for errors in grammar or punctuation. I'll forgive minor typos (I'm hardly a great speller myself), but anything more will force me to remove your story from the contest.
I'm not kidding.
I want:
2. A thoughtful title and author's note. If you don't care enough to title your story and tell me a bit about it, why should I care enough to read it? "Short Story" or "Contest Entry" do not count as thoughtful titles.
3. A killer opening and closing. Make me laugh, cry, scream, applaud, anything but sit there staring at the screen with a blank expression on my face.
Judging:
I will comment on all pieces, saying what I liked and what I didn't in each piece. Criticism may be harsh, so please let me know in the author's note if this bothers you, and I will tone it down.
While I'd love it if you shared some personal and touching story, please don't enter anything so personal that any criticism of the piece would be taken as an insult to yourself. You know what I'm talking about: we've all seen stories on here with "No grammar help on this, please, it's very personal" written in the "feedback" header. Go ahead and post that sort of thing, just don't enter it in this contest.
Enter as many times as you'd like.
A note on word count: we will be using the StoryWrite word counter, but since there is often a large diviation between the SW counter and, say, MS word, I will allow stories that SW says have up to 150 words. Please, though, don't abuse my lenience.
Any questions? Feel free to message me or post a comment.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on July 2, 2007
- Rewards: Gold: 125, Silver: 25, Bronze: 15
- Final notes: First of all, thanks for your patience with my slow judging. My computer has taken to rejecting Javascript. If you've entered or plan on entering other contests of mine, please be aware that this will probably be a pattern.
Wow! I have to say, this is the first contest I've ever judged where every single entry was brilliant, without exception. The winners were stories that really "fit" together, but truly, all of you were great. Thanks so much for the entries, and I hope to see you all in another contest soon!
Contest Winners
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Eating a bowl of alphabets cereal for breakfast is the highlight of my day. I confidently plunge the silver spoon into the milk and scoopby Blurith 100 words, 48 comments, on Jun 15 8:23 PM 2007. In , First person, Personal, Short story
Gold trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
Barefoot, I’ve memorized these floorboards a million times. Without my glasses, I’ve been guided by these walls endlessly. I know all the uby Athena of Starlite 100 words, 3 comments, on Jun 17 12:01 PM 2007. In , Life, Other, Personal, Weird
Silver trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
I never planned on being a killer. It was never really in me. When I was younger, about sixteen or so, I’d go hunting with my dad, I never shot the gun. He’d hound me about it, but I’d never pull that trigger. I guess everytby Mel-the-Believer 100 words, 12 comments, on Jun 15 11:40 PM 2007. In Dark, Death, Drama, Fiction, First person
Bronze trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Entries [18]
1 - 18 of 18
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"You can leave now, baby," Mother said, holding the knife next to Julian's eye. / The door was open and the sunlight streamed inside, gold• Commented on by judge.
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"I'm so sorry Ari..." Every day Arlene came to school with long sleeves to cover up all the bruises and cuts put there by her parents.• Commented on by judge.
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I watched my dear Freddy die in the winter of '72. / When the fire came, she crumbled beneath the leather binding in the shoe box below myby FRIENDSfanatic 100 words, 3 comments, on Jun 17 2:29 PM 2007• Commented on by judge.
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She walks through the doorway, her beautiful golden locks flowing behind her. I remain sitting at my desk, the others flocking to the spot• Commented on by judge.
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Lady watched the storm rage, violently tearing at trees, scattering branches and newly blossomed leaves into the tumultuous sky. Lady sat transfixed for a while, but a voice broke her trance. / “You know what you mustby EtherealButterfly 100 words, 39 comments, on Mar 6 7:49 AM 2007• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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The feeling crept over me, licking up the bubbling current of boiling blood. I didn't want it to stop, his luscious lips on mine. / "Sage," he said, his eyes glistening from the ecstasy of the moment. "I should go." Hby caitecola 100 words, 2 comments, on Jun 21 2:28 PM 2007• Commented on by judge.
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The story of one brave hero and the perils he faced in a grocery store.by tabbykat92 100 words, 3 comments, on May 10 3:03 PM 2007. In Humor• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Well. I don't know exactly.by always feel pretty 100 words, 13 comments, on Jun 23 12:21 PM 2007. In , Drama, Fiction, Inspirational, Life, Love, Personal, Romance, Short story, Teen• Commented on by judge.
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A tear slid down her face. The pillow absorbed it. / I outstretched my leg. It hit her foot. Our shared glance broke. / The ends of her• Commented on by judge.
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She seemed so out of place in the dingy city, like a red rose among weeds, springing up tall and graceful, and as she drew near to me, I coby Mr Typo 100 words, 4 comments, on Jun 26 2:26 PM 2007• Commented on by judge.
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When my head is nodding to what you say, please don’t take it as agreement. I'm only doing it to show that I've heard you. / For each unjuby eighteight 100 words, 2 comments, on Jun 28 3:08 PM 2007. In Dark, Death, First person, Short story• Commented on by judge.
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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I went 47 words over the 100 word limit; is that alright?
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That depends: does the storywrite word counter still say your story is under 150 words? If so, then that's absolutely fine.
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Well it says 147, so I guess I'm safe :-)
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100 words? x.x could we exceed even a bit?
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It's right there in the rules: as long as SW says it's under 150 words, it's fine. Just try to say at 100 or less.
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