This contest is for everyone who has never won a medal, and wants to. The idea of this contest is to reward a writer for making an effort to improve on something they've written, as well as reward those reviewers who do spend time to think up thoughtful reviews which are both useful and meaningful.
How this contest will work:
This contest consists of two groups of competitors; writers and reviewers. Both are eligible for an award in this contest; Gold will be awarded to the best story, and Silver to the best reviewer.AS AT 21/4 - GOLD AND SILVER WILL GO TO STORIES, HONORABLE MENTIONS WILL GO TO REVIEWERS, PLUS I WILL GIFT THE WINNING REVIEWER WITH 150 POINTS.
Once a story is entered, competing reviewers are to submit, via the usual means, a comment. All comments should be submitted with the aim to improve the story. I want a thought-provoked, from the heart, honest-to-God review with the aim to help the writers each of the stories within this contest to improve.
Those who have submitted a story will be able to 'improve' their stories by making the changes suggested by the reviewers.
The most improved and well-written story will win. The most meaningful and useful critique will also win.
Rules:
1. Only one story per entrant please, any genre and rating allowed. No poetry, this is a story writing contest.
2. a. Those that are submitting stories; prewrites only, I want stories that you have written previously that you feel you need improvement on. Please do not change your stories 'for the worse' just to enter. If they are appear as though you have done so, you will be DQ. So I know you have read and understand this, please insert "I want to improve my...(give me a reason why)" in your author notes
b. Those who wish to compete as a reviewer; please submit a blank entry with your user name (so I can identify you when I award the prize) in the author notes, and a summary "I am a reviewer".
3. No sticky caps, atrocious spelling, or non-existant punctuation. I want good stories that can be made great. Not stuff I can't read. Stories with any of the preceding will be DQ
4. Please make mprovements only after I view and comment on your initial 'original' story - otherwise how will I tell the difference...
5. No blatant racism, minority bashing, religion bashing or other disrespect will be tolerated either in the stories nor the reviews. Reviewers who are competing, that do so, or are cruel or insensitive, will be DQ
6. Story entries from those without medals only. I realise I can't check, but if I find out afterwards that you flagrantly disregarded this rule, the Mods will be notified.
7. No excessive swearing.
If I see some really stunning stuff, points will go up - I hope that is incentive enough to enter.
That is all. Have fun!
How this contest will work:
This contest consists of two groups of competitors; writers and reviewers. Both are eligible for an award in this contest; Gold will be awarded to the best story, and Silver to the best reviewer.AS AT 21/4 - GOLD AND SILVER WILL GO TO STORIES, HONORABLE MENTIONS WILL GO TO REVIEWERS, PLUS I WILL GIFT THE WINNING REVIEWER WITH 150 POINTS.
Once a story is entered, competing reviewers are to submit, via the usual means, a comment. All comments should be submitted with the aim to improve the story. I want a thought-provoked, from the heart, honest-to-God review with the aim to help the writers each of the stories within this contest to improve.
Those who have submitted a story will be able to 'improve' their stories by making the changes suggested by the reviewers.
The most improved and well-written story will win. The most meaningful and useful critique will also win.
Rules:
1. Only one story per entrant please, any genre and rating allowed. No poetry, this is a story writing contest.
2. a. Those that are submitting stories; prewrites only, I want stories that you have written previously that you feel you need improvement on. Please do not change your stories 'for the worse' just to enter. If they are appear as though you have done so, you will be DQ. So I know you have read and understand this, please insert "I want to improve my...(give me a reason why)" in your author notes
b. Those who wish to compete as a reviewer; please submit a blank entry with your user name (so I can identify you when I award the prize) in the author notes, and a summary "I am a reviewer".
3. No sticky caps, atrocious spelling, or non-existant punctuation. I want good stories that can be made great. Not stuff I can't read. Stories with any of the preceding will be DQ
4. Please make mprovements only after I view and comment on your initial 'original' story - otherwise how will I tell the difference...
5. No blatant racism, minority bashing, religion bashing or other disrespect will be tolerated either in the stories nor the reviews. Reviewers who are competing, that do so, or are cruel or insensitive, will be DQ
6. Story entries from those without medals only. I realise I can't check, but if I find out afterwards that you flagrantly disregarded this rule, the Mods will be notified.
7. No excessive swearing.
If I see some really stunning stuff, points will go up - I hope that is incentive enough to enter.
That is all. Have fun!
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on June 4, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 250, Silver: 150, Bronze: 50, Honorable mention: 6 people
- Final notes: Thank you to everyone for entering.
I realise that I left this contest to run for a lot longer than usual, but I did want to give everybody plenty of time to polish their stories.
I awarded places based on the extent of improvement made, as well as the author's acceptance of suggestions made by reviewers.
Congratulations to the best reviewer - Mephitic ID Synergy.
Contest Winners
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Diary Entry, February 18th.1 / Dreadfully sorry I haven’t written you these past few days, diary, but things have just been too hectic. 2 /by RxxSpiritWolfxxJ 1900 words, 7 comments, on Feb 18 5:37 PM 2008. In First person, Humor, Life, Personal
Gold trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Overland to Sanctuary1 / My journey was long, tiring and at times frightening. How can I write on paper the haunting memories, the dreadfuby Padmakumari 1900 words, 2 comments, on Mar 24 8:44 AM 2008. In Dark, Depression, Inspirational
Silver trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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by Tiger-Lily 5200 words, 47 comments, on Aug 3 5:53 PM. In Fiction, First person, Horror, Romance, Vampires, Young adult
Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Everyday I watch her, she’s beautiful. Every freckle, every smile, every curl. The way she walks the way she talks. Every breath she takes,by Crying Angel Eyes 3400 words, 16 comments, on Apr 16 6:35 PM 2008. In Love, Romance, Tragety Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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First page to the series of my thoughts I've typed in this site. Read the story and find how insanely lovely my thoughts are XDby Thousand 1200 words, 19 comments, on Mar 9 11:59 AM 2008. In First person, Humor, Life, Love, Other, Romance, Teen, Unfini Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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I am entering as a reviewer.• Commented on by judge. [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 150886, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 152306, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [20]
1 - 20 of 20
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by Jane24by7 900 words, 3 comments, on Oct 13 5:08 AM 2007. In Family, Hope, Pain, Romance, Sad, Short story, Young adult• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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As I sit here meditating on the blessing of the privilege of being a student of The Word & the imminent coming of our King I am amazed as Iby Kathleen a Nazarene 1100 words, 3 comments, on Mar 9 5:38 PM 2008. In Biblical, Cultural, Education, First person, Inspirational, Rea• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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As Reynaldo’s eyes come upon the straight, supple line, and the smart curve of the letter “a,” he flushes with excitement; he wants to read• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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by ForestFaery 6600 words, 9 comments, on Dec 14 2:40 PM 2007. In Adult, First person, Love, Other, Romance• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Ten Wings: A Guardians of Ga’Hoole Story1 / Digger the Burrowing Owl’s eyelids fluttered open. He arose from her bed and into the air. He f• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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by tricia 400 words, 1 comment, on Mar 31 11:01 PM 2008. In Starting idea, Third person, Unfinished, Vampire• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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1 / Once there was an immensely creepy house across the street from me. On one scary night, I wanted to go in so bad, but I was immensely scared. So I called up Kaceylane and Emily to see if theyby SGoalie96 400 words, 5 comments, on Mar 10 7:54 PM 2008• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Leaves of silver, leaves of gold…remember the stories you have been told. In the winter the leaves become nothing but bones of what they ha• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Comments
1 - 11 of 11
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This is a really cool idea......I may enter as a reviewer
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Thanks,
I'm going to need at least one reviewer per story entry, so if you know anyone else that might be interested, please let them know.
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This is a really cool contest
I will probably come back soon, as a reviewer
Awesome idea!
xoxox
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Tay -
Do you mean no medals from storywrite? I have medals from allpoetry, but nor from storywrite.
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Only no medals from storywrite. I'm not concerned about anything received from allpoetry, as I'm only accepting stories for this contest.
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Register as a Reviewer!
Inviting all reviewers - now offering a prize of 150 points for best reviewer. -
If you don't like the suggestions in the review, do you still have to make the changes? I'm all for improvement, I just don't think all advice is good advice.
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Completely up to you. The reviewers who are registered as required to give a critique, and most of those will be for things like grammatical errors, sentence structure, plot, flow etc that help improve the story, as well as a writer's own learning experience.
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Can you submit a story AND review?
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Yes, that's fine. But I will a entry with your user name (so I know who you are), and an author's note saying that you are a reveiwer. As a reviewer you can submit at least one indepth critique with the aim of improving the writer's story. Only rule...you can't critique your own...
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I left the site, but I remembered this contest and though about the guy who gave me a review. I thought it would be unfair for him, especially after such a great review. I hope it doesn't hurt his chances, here's his comment. His id is Mephitic ID Synergy:
I think this is pretty incredible, but at the same time I think it ought to be better. By itself, I can't quite accept that accidentally setting fire to his childhood home forced Marion into a life spent in mental institutions. I get some *vague* hint from the part where they're making brittle that Marion might have some mental handicap, but it doesn't really come through on the whole. If he did have a mental handicap, that could lend an entirely different dimension to your story. I suggest that you see if you can find Lars Gustaffson's "Stories of Happy People" at your library and read "Sometimes Greatness Strikes in Unexpected Places." It is a wonderful example of how to tell a story about a mentally handicapped person. I don't want to step on your toes creatively, and I really don't know if you intend for your character to be mentally handicapped, but I think you might consider what it would add/subtract for your story.
Personally, I didn't really find the transitions to be a problem. Your prose was really engaging. I don't know why, but the detail about the Power Ranger's Sheets struck me and really dragged me evocatively into the story. Strange little details like that from our childhoods always carry great power, and I'm sure I have some of my own if I were to think of them.
I was honestly hoping that the cooking bit would be related thematically and not in a cause-effect plot sense. It was a little disappointing that it became the suggested causal source of all Marion's troubles. I think it would be better if the cooking scene were illustrative of problems in Marion's way of interacting in the world (although I don't want to say problem so much as I want to say feature). An example from Gustaffson's story, if you read it, would be the shed, or the workshop, or especially the birds that take off, that the principle character sees as being part of the fabric of the world tearing loose. I really just love that story, so you should read it. I'm pitching it hard. If you have read it... read it again!
This shows definite potential. This story would be one that I would at least have something good to say about if it popped up in my workshops at university -- although there you might get a diatribe because it is so much easier to analyze things on paper for me.
I'm not sure I understand the horizon thing in the end, but it certainly is beautiful, by the way.
Mike
It was the best comment I've recieved on the site, and it was bothering me so bad I jumped out of the shower real quick to post this and make sure he got his review in the contest. Please exuse my leaving, and again, hope this doesn't hurt him in the contest.
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