I have accumulated 2,304 points, and I think it’s about time I start using them. And though this is my debut contest, I am by no means a spring chicken (or summer chicken, as someone pointed out 
). 
Anyway, the contest:
Too often have I read stories with cliché plots, mediocre characters, or poor description.
Now, I simply ask for something unique in any genre that you wish. Give me all of your miscellaneous stories that don’t quite fit into any one genre, the ones that have an amazing ending, fluid description, and truly engaging characters. Never seen someone else with a plot quite like yours? Enter it. I want it.
Now, I realize that “unique” can be debated. I do not claim to be the decider of what “unique” is, nor do I have any sort of instrument to measure it with (though I may try). Nor am I sure if there even is an original plot left in this world that someone has never done before, for, as Jean de la Bruyère said, “Everything has been said, and we are more than seven thousand years of human thought too late.”
Prove him wrong.
I have two examples of my own that I would consider “original”. One is my “Society (As Shown by Katashi and his 41-Year-Old Internet ‘Friend’)” (http://storywrite.com/story/94819), about an internet pedophile, and another is “I Am My Own God” (http://storywrite.com/story/95811), which is about a family who essentially worships/reveres the comatose mother as a god.
RULES:
1. Don’t be cliché. That should be obvious by now.
2. Minimum of 500 words. Maximum of 10,000 words. But please don’t kill me with terribly long stories, people…
(Note: Only upon request MIGHT the limit be lengthened...It will NOT be shortened. I'm being way too nice...
)
3. Multiple entries ARE allowed. (However, I don’t want these multiple entries to be different chapters of the same story. If you have separate chapters of the same story, put them all together and enter it as one.)
4. Don’t bitch at me if I deem your story not unique enough. It’s merely my opinion, not God’s judgment. You’ll live.
5. Don't complain about me editing the crap out of your story. I do this. A lot. To everybody. Just let me do my thing and nobody'll get hurt. (Though I'm by no means the Perfect Grammar Fairy, so feel free to argue against my corrections.)
SUGGESTIONS:
1. I like characters that have depth. I want to know what has made them the way they are (their pasts, or some of the major events that shaped them). I want to know their fears (what do they fear so bad to make them do something?) and their dreams and motivations (there’s always a reason…). I have just read Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead, so I am in love with her amazing characterization. If you can give your characters their own personalities with the depth that she creates hers, you’re good to go.
2. I’m a sucker for LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender) fiction. If you can find a unique plot or situation with that theme, you might have a good chance of winning. But please don’t go overboard with the erotica. I like meaningful relationships a whole hell of a lot better.
3. I like darker themes as well. Not just cutting or depression (in fact, if you choose to involve this in any way in your story, do it very TASTEFULLY and with REASON, or not at all), but mental problems, conditions, etc. I find that a lot of my favorite characters in stories are not entirely sane. Also, psychiatric hospitals tend to have especially interesting people, which could lead to a unique plot or problem…
4. Got a story with a twist? Try that. And I don’t mean “oh-so-it-was-really-the-gardener’s-SON-who-killed-the-woman!!” Those are too typical. Have the plot go in a totally unpredicted direction. Put me in a situation I just barely might recognize, but then start going in a direction that I have never seen before so I can’t possibly predict the end.
5. I know that I cannot make it a requirement, but it would be nice - and also beneficial to yourself in more ways than one - if you would comment on the other entries. Plus, in a contest like this, there ought to be plenty of interesting stories, right?
With that said, GO!
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Updates:
I'm currently still reading, commenting, and judging entries. Originally the contest was set to end September 1st; the only reason it closed early was because I got so many entries! I hadn't planned on that happening so soon, but anyway, I'm hoping that I'll be caught up with reading the entries sometime around September 1st.
9-1-07
Alright, I've read and commented every single story. And now I have to decide on the trophies... Wow, this is going to be hard.
). Anyway, the contest:
Too often have I read stories with cliché plots, mediocre characters, or poor description.
Now, I simply ask for something unique in any genre that you wish. Give me all of your miscellaneous stories that don’t quite fit into any one genre, the ones that have an amazing ending, fluid description, and truly engaging characters. Never seen someone else with a plot quite like yours? Enter it. I want it.
Now, I realize that “unique” can be debated. I do not claim to be the decider of what “unique” is, nor do I have any sort of instrument to measure it with (though I may try). Nor am I sure if there even is an original plot left in this world that someone has never done before, for, as Jean de la Bruyère said, “Everything has been said, and we are more than seven thousand years of human thought too late.”
Prove him wrong.
I have two examples of my own that I would consider “original”. One is my “Society (As Shown by Katashi and his 41-Year-Old Internet ‘Friend’)” (http://storywrite.com/story/94819), about an internet pedophile, and another is “I Am My Own God” (http://storywrite.com/story/95811), which is about a family who essentially worships/reveres the comatose mother as a god.
RULES:
1. Don’t be cliché. That should be obvious by now.
2. Minimum of 500 words. Maximum of 10,000 words. But please don’t kill me with terribly long stories, people…
(Note: Only upon request MIGHT the limit be lengthened...It will NOT be shortened. I'm being way too nice...)3. Multiple entries ARE allowed. (However, I don’t want these multiple entries to be different chapters of the same story. If you have separate chapters of the same story, put them all together and enter it as one.)
4. Don’t bitch at me if I deem your story not unique enough. It’s merely my opinion, not God’s judgment. You’ll live.
5. Don't complain about me editing the crap out of your story. I do this. A lot. To everybody. Just let me do my thing and nobody'll get hurt.
(Though I'm by no means the Perfect Grammar Fairy, so feel free to argue against my corrections.)SUGGESTIONS:
1. I like characters that have depth. I want to know what has made them the way they are (their pasts, or some of the major events that shaped them). I want to know their fears (what do they fear so bad to make them do something?) and their dreams and motivations (there’s always a reason…). I have just read Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead, so I am in love with her amazing characterization. If you can give your characters their own personalities with the depth that she creates hers, you’re good to go.
2. I’m a sucker for LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender) fiction. If you can find a unique plot or situation with that theme, you might have a good chance of winning. But please don’t go overboard with the erotica. I like meaningful relationships a whole hell of a lot better.
3. I like darker themes as well. Not just cutting or depression (in fact, if you choose to involve this in any way in your story, do it very TASTEFULLY and with REASON, or not at all), but mental problems, conditions, etc. I find that a lot of my favorite characters in stories are not entirely sane. Also, psychiatric hospitals tend to have especially interesting people, which could lead to a unique plot or problem…
4. Got a story with a twist? Try that. And I don’t mean “oh-so-it-was-really-the-gardener’s-SON-who-killed-the-woman!!” Those are too typical. Have the plot go in a totally unpredicted direction. Put me in a situation I just barely might recognize, but then start going in a direction that I have never seen before so I can’t possibly predict the end.
5. I know that I cannot make it a requirement, but it would be nice - and also beneficial to yourself in more ways than one - if you would comment on the other entries. Plus, in a contest like this, there ought to be plenty of interesting stories, right?
With that said, GO!
---
Updates:
I'm currently still reading, commenting, and judging entries. Originally the contest was set to end September 1st; the only reason it closed early was because I got so many entries! I hadn't planned on that happening so soon, but anyway, I'm hoping that I'll be caught up with reading the entries sometime around September 1st.
9-1-07
Alright, I've read and commented every single story.
And now I have to decide on the trophies... Wow, this is going to be hard. Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on September 1, 2007
- Rewards: Gold: 600, Silver: 500, Bronze: 300, Honorable mention: 4 people
- Final notes: Okay. I have the results. I have spent 2,520 points (more than I expected! ) on this contest, as well as many, many hours of reading and critiquing. I hope that my critiques have benefited each of you as much as reading, enjoying, and thinking about your stories has benefited me.
Everyone did a fantastic job on the stories that they wrote. I am thrilled that I had so many entries, as well as so many WONDERFUL entries, in this contest. Your characters, ideas, plots, and details were superb. The creativity that each of you showed was awe-inspiring and definitely got my creative juices flowing.
The stories were all unique in their own way, so it was nearly impossible for me to compare them to each other. But I did my best in choosing the order of the winners.
I was delighted that these particular gems were shown to me:
1. Gold 1: The War-God’s Palace
2. Gold 2: Little Johnny Blue
3. Silver 1: Blood and Prayer
4. Silver 2: The Assignment
5. Bronze 1: The Odd Predicament of Mr. Michael Harris
6. Bronze 2: The Man Who Never Smiled
7. HM: Imagination’s Burial
8. HM: Blinded Complete & edited
9. HM: My Own Insanity: Four Steps to Falling in the Pit
10. HM: A Gackle is a Man’s Best Friend
As you can see, there are two stories for each of the trophies. I will be creating a new contest (as soon as I can, after I post these results) in which the three “Trophy 2” authors will be able to claim their trophies and points. I will IM each of these authors separately with more details, just in case they don’t see this message.
Yep, that’s about it. I hope you all enjoyed my contest, and I look forward to seeing more of your stories around Storywrite!
Contest Winners
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A professional is sent in, by the highest authority, to kill war. But the spirit of war, it seems, cannot eradicate itself.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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A brief moment in the life of a man who can not concentrate on anything.by Xineph 1100 words, 27 comments, on Mar 27 2:19 PM 2007. In Death, Fiction, First person, Life, Other, Pain, Short story
Bronze trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
by Andrew Timothy 600 words, 34 comments, on Aug 7 5:04 PM 2007. In Crime, Dark, Fantasy, Message, Sad, Third person
Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 98417, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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There was once a boy, who unknowingly volunteered to go insane with twenty-something other people. This was a student signing himself up for a class that involved many projects, papers, and a singularly liberal amount of readby Trinity Dragon 1200 words, 10 comments, on Apr 9 12:12 PM 2007. In Humor, Life, Other, Weird Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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It looked like a simple butcher knife. However, it was truly a gackle in disguise. / For five long years, David Markle lived alone on Terosby yoshi97 2100 words, 6 comments, on Aug 8 8:45 PM 2007. In Fantasy, Fiction, Science fiction, Short story, Third person, Weird Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Entries [24]
1 - 24 of 24
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• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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When light and dark combat in a single kiss who will win out?by EtherealButterfly 1000 words, 59 comments, on Mar 22 10:04 AM 2007. In Dark• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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by sly fox 1500 words, 44 comments, on Jun 15 3:33 PM 2007. In Dark, First person, Inspirational, Sad, Short story, Young adult• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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It was the crack of dawn. People were awoken from their dreams by the loud rhythmic drumbeats. They knew what it meant. The workers, who wo• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Mirror, Mirror
There is someone whom you are all familiar with. Everyone out there has come upon her and admired her at least once before. She is the person who, when you• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Had a stranger approached you from the streets and said, “Dolls can talk,” would you have believed him?• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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A brief insight into the life of a demented and prolific serial killer, and the mind of the man assigned to interview him.by Xineph 5900 words, 57 comments, on Mar 8 5:54 PM 2007. In Crime, Dark, Fiction, First person, Murder, Other, Short story• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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by KingPoe 1700 words, 9 comments, on Feb 17 11:07 PM 2007. In Dark, Death, Fiction, Mystery, Short story, Strange, Weird, Young adult• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Luke fell spellbound by this modest stranger, a girl too small for her wide, goldenrod eyes.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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“When a soldier gets to heaven, / To Saint Peter he will tell, / ‘Another soldier reporting sir… / I’ve served my time in Hell’” / - an old war slogan / A strong wind rounded in from the seaby KingPoe 2400 words, 16 comments, on Mar 16 9:08 PM 2007. In Action, Fiction, Sad, Short story, Third person, War• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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BODYBUILDER / By Robert Davidson / ‘Can I give you a hand with those boxes?’ / The upstairs flat had been let at last andby robert davidson 4600 words, 19 comments, on Oct 9 6:05 AM 2007. In Angst, Life, Love, Romance, Short story• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 8 of 8
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oooohhhh
I am DEFINITELY going to enter this. Unfortunately, I don't know if I can make the word limit! *Looks at currently written story with an evil grin and a pair of scissors*
Still, GREAT contest. And great examples. That comatose mother story is friggin brilliant. I love weird-god stories! -
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Yes, do enter!
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ummmm...i dunno if what i wanna enter is 'unique'...ummm...i guess i'll enter it and if u don't think it's unique u can delete it frm ur contest..
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It just so happens that last year I had an assignment in one of my classes that required us to write about someone with a psychological problem, or a developing problem. I think it might work for this contest.
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No, no. This is August. You are a SUMMER chicken.
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Actually, I prefer autumn, but I do see your point.
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Wow. I do believe I slipped my story in with just a minute or two to spare. I am amazed.
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Wha....
DX Gah! Stupid SW!
I set the contest to end on September 1st...hm...oh wait, maybe it closed because I set a 30-entry limit...Wow, that was fast...Maybe I'll change it to allow a few more...
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