Just about anything except fan fiction and poetry can be entered, so long as it is between 800 and 4000 words. It can be true or fiction. I tend to like character centered stories that bring insight to the reader through the judicious use of metaphor and imagery. Unfinished stories and chapters of longer works will be judged as if they were complete, because I am looking for complete stories, and it's too easy to excuse a subpar story by calling it a chapter in an unfinished novel. Stories will be judged without consideration to genre, So I don't care if the character does or doesn't have antennae growing out of her head; it's what's inside the head that I care about. Prewrites are allowed. I will comment on every story. The only hard and fast rules are:
1. Length between 800 and 4000 words.
2. No poetry
3. No fanfiction
1. Length between 800 and 4000 words.
2. No poetry
3. No fanfiction
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on May 23, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 300, Silver: 150, Bronze: 100, Honorable mention: 6 people
- Final notes: Wow, this was tough to judge! I enjoyed reading and commenting on each and every entry, and hope my comments were helpful. Judgment is subjective, and though I awarded only 9, at least 15 of these stories deserve a place in a published anthology. The shortest stories were in their own way as good as the longer ones, but perhaps not quite demanding enough on the writer and the reader. Also, I think perhaps the work of older writers may tend to me more original, if not quite as sylistically elegant and expressive, as the work of very young writers, though in any particular instance I cannot be sure of this. I have upped the point values for the three trophy winners and added an honorable mention category to recognize six other remarkable stories.
I am sad that most people at SW do not seem to make many substantial comments on the work of other writers. Showing interest in the work of others is in many endeavors a key to success that may open all kinds of unexpected doors, and I encourage everyone to take full advantage of this opportunity.
Contest Winners
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 166780, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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Born deformed, Lilith Abildgaard's actions set a horrifying precedence.by tallblondie 3800 words, 110 comments, on Mar 28 7:24 AM 2008. In Dark, Folklore, Horror, Mystery, Mythlegend
Silver trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
by RxxSpiritWolfxxJ 800 words, 57 comments, on Apr 19 12:52 PM 2008. In Family issues, Father and son, Life, Pain, Rejection, Young adult
Bronze trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
I don't know how long the phone had been ringing, but, annoyingly, it stopped as I reached out to scoop it up. It didn't help that it was s• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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Persephone couldn’t remember her last meal, her last morning with a routine, her last shower or even her last breath of fresh air. As farby Amb0r 2100 words, 26 comments, on May 3 6:49 PM 2007. In Crime, Love, Manipulation, Psychology
Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
BEN BORDEN / In the old days, when the house was young, her tenants were young, and come to think of it, the neighborhood was young. Change• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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Death doesn’t discriminate. Like the rain, its power can fall onto almost anyone. Anyone can give it and anyone can be a victim.
by ElfSong 2000 words, 15 comments, on Mar 17 2:00 AM 2008. In Crime, Dark, Depression, Family, Fiction, Mystery, Pain, Rain Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
As the fires burn, I dance. As the flames fly from wall to wall seeking out life, I twist and twirl. The smoke floods the barren room with• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Entries [25]
1 - 25 of 25
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by Taboo Pixie 2200 words, 2 comments, on Jan 27 12:06 PM 2008. In Depression, Love, Other, Young adult• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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It was the day of my ascent to adulthood.1 / I must say I really wasn't ready for it at all. I dressed in the long robe of my ancestors and• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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“Unfortunately a true story” A question we must ask ourselves, are we true even to our own selves?by Shah Z 1100 words, 10 comments, on Mar 25 5:37 AM 2008. In First person, Life, Narritive, Non-fiction, True story• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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1I awake to the movement in the bed as he tries to sit up on the side of the bed. I wait with halted breath to see if he can stand up by hiby skye01 2000 words, 25 comments, on Nov 26 6:40 PM 2006. In First person, Inspirational, Love, Spiritual• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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by secretladyspider 3800 words, 13 comments, on Apr 17 8:23 PM 2008. In Depression, Fiction, First person, Life, Love, Other, Romance, Sad, Teen, Young adult• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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WORLD WITHOUT MEN1 / By Robert Davidson2 / For thirty years now the world had been without any births of male children. Fby robert davidson 3200 words, 36 comments, on Mar 14 11:09 PM 2008. In Dark, Science fiction, Short story• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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And the tears streamed down his face while he held the letter in one hand, as his first day without her dawned in bitter, ironic beauty.by Paragonz Shadow 2500 words, 43 comments, on Jan 6 4:22 AM 2008. In Death, Depression, Romance, Third person• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Something terribly evil is plotting its robbery of Hectorville Bank, the richest bank in the world. This time, it happens to be a human.
by RegalTheft 1900 words, 10 comments, on Nov 29 9:38 PM 2007. In Fiction• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Though she is missing, it's as if she was standing next to me the whole time pleading for me to find her. I have looked all over, and you• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Space, Transit and Geezer are all living in 2047, New York City, when this happened...by TheDenzel 800 words, 3 comments, on May 19 7:45 PM 2008. In Fiction, Science fiction, Strange, Tragedy• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Fallen leaves from the canopy floated upon the balmy summer air and danced randomly about us. The sky and the sun peaked through the tree tops and blinked across his pale skin. I loved the way the wind played with the deep coby Kylaya Halon 1500 words, 2 comments, on Mar 22 12:44 AM 2008. In Death, Fiction, First person, Lost, Love• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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A young man walked down through the sand, every step graceful and even. The sun illuminated his golden hair as he made his way down to theby moonwriter 800 words, 28 comments, on Apr 15 4:56 PM 2008. In Fiction, Golden, Random, Third person, Vampires• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Comments
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Hum, hope you understand the story I entered
It's kinda aimed at people who understand computer games, I dunno about imagery, but it is character centered
Great to see some more machinists around! (even if you are retired) -
To Contest Entrants
22 entries so far with 3 days to go. Each and every entry is very good. I am enjoying reading these stories, although I am somewhat envious because my own writing does not look so good to me in comparison. It is not going to be easy to pick winners. The only way I'm going to be able to do this is to give extra weight to original expression. For each story I am asking, "Could any other known writer have written this particular story?" If the answer is "no," that story will be more likely to receive a trophy. -
Whoops, sorry I accidentally left the contest, but i joined agian xD
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