Welcome to the FAST, FRESH AND FANTASTIC FLASH FICTION CONTEST - the story writing contest with a fresh twist.
Love writing something new? Love being challenged, but bored with the regular prompts? This may just be the contest you've been looking for. I am looking for fantastic new writes from all genres. If this interests you, please read the following carefully.
Requirements:
1. Flash fiction can be about anything. It must however, have a discernable subject/character, a beginning, middle and end.
2. Good flash fiction has a ‘hook’ – an opening sentence that grabs the reader’s attention. Another characteristic found in flash fiction is the ‘twist’ – an abrupt change in the story.
3. No ‘regular’ genres – please mix it up and think outside of the square. Be original. Be unpredictable. Write a story outside of your comfort zone.
4. Please pay particular attention to rule #8.
5. If entering an 'adult' story please make sure it is categorized appropriately.
How this contest will work:
There will only be 10 spots in this contest. But – WAIT – before you rush off and enter anything to snap up a place – you MUST read the following:
1. All entries MUST be a completed story. ‘Reserve’ entries and those stories that are unfinished or unedited will be automatically DQ’d. No excuses. No complaints.
2. All stories MUST be proofread. Any entry with more than three instances of spelling/grammar/punctuation errors will be DQ’d.
3. Stories that bore me or have no plot or sense will be DQ’d.
4. Any story that has been DQ’d can be re-entered providing that the reasons they were disqualified are rectified.
5. I will check every entry. If your story remains in the contest, it means you have earned a spot. However, a new story can challenge your position - if of the same genre. I would encourage those entrants to make continual improvements to keep their place.
6. Don’t give up hope if the contest fills and closes. At the end of every day, I will assess both the approved entries and the new ones. After I DQ, I will re-open the contest.
7. No more than two instances of a particular genre shall be represented in the final list of 10. I'm looking for a bit of everything from all genres.
8. The contest will close when I have all 10 contenders. They will represent the best of the best. I will judge on originality, writing skill and style as well as overall readability.
9. First place will get the 500 points. The rest shall be awarded honourable mentions – you will have earned it.
Rules
1. Original stories only – NO poetry, fan fiction, rants, essays, sermons, scripts or anything else that does not resemble a story.
2. Stories must contain at least 250 words and no more than 750 words. A leeway of 50 words will be allowed, but no more.
3. New stories only – NO PREWRITES.
4. Proper grammar, correct spelling and use of punctuation are required.
5. NO netspeak, stickycaps, or colloquialisms please.
6. Please keep swearing to a minimum.
7. Stories that discriminate against any group or person are NOT accepted. Neither will stories that contravene Storywrite site policy.
8. In the author notes of your entry, please list five NEW vocabulary words that you would like to implement in your writing. Provide their definitions plus a sample sentence of their use in context. If you wish, you may use these words in the story itself. If you choose to do this instead, please just list the words and their definitions in the author notes.
9. By entering a story, you acknowledge that you have read and understand ALL the rules of this contest.
10. Entries not complying with the Rules will be automatically DQ’d.
The main prize for this may be increased, and if I think the difference between first and second is close, I will also add a silver trophy with significant points value.
So - what are you waiting for? Get that brain into gear... and write something!!
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on September 3, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 1000, Silver: 500, Bronze: 250, Honorable mention: 7 people
- Final notes: Thank you all for the great entries! Quite a few were powerfully written and proved to be rather entertaining reads. Decided to increase the rewards - gold, silver and bronze were all awarded significant points.
Congratualtions to everyone!
In order of placement:
[1] Blue Five
[2] Of Booze and Morons
[3] The Birth of Light in a World of Infinite Darkness
[4] The Residue of Joy
[5] The Gypsy Village
[6] Legacy
[7] Why I don't trust fairy stories
[8] Flee
[9] Writer's Block
[10] Dumb Luck
Contest Winners
-
by Nocturne 800 words, 4 comments, on Aug 18 5:33 PM 2008. In First person, Humor, Society, Spiritual, Young adult
Gold trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 188214, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 199726, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
-
A 1960's Volkswagon van painted orange and converted into a mini-bus bumped along the half-paved road through the gypsy village, along the route across the border from Hungary to Romania. 1 / At• Commented on by judge. [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 192972, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
-
My bum was sore.1 / There are clever people, doctors, anatomists, surgeons, folk of that ilk, who will tell you if you ask them, that the gby daftweejimmy 800 words, 19 comments, on Jun 20 4:35 AM 2008. In Mildly humorous
Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
I pushed away from the computer and went to refill my coffee cup. My hands trembled as I tore open another pink packet of artificial sweetener and I swore that I’d buy decaf the next time I went shopping. Fortified, I settledby flwriter 300 words, 5 comments, on Jun 17 2:23 PM 2008. In Contest, Flash fiction, Humor Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
How do you meet a friend's morose and suicidal outlook? To respond in a Polyannaish style would surely seem ridiculous to that individual, would it not? Your words of "Everything will turn out right, just wait and see," would• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Entries [10]
Add a comment
Comments
-
Tough contest.
I don't think you'll get ten. -
Yeah... good luck. I think I agree with Andy. But if you get them all, you'll be doin' well.
Would like to enter, but, as usual, don't have time. -
wowie
-
What's rule 8 about
What is the meaning of "five NEW vocabulary words"?
Is that five words I've never used before or five words nobody has ever used before? Or am I missing the meaning altogether? -
-
Five words you haven't used before.
-
-
I'll enter as soon as I get an idea.
-
-
I shall eagerly await your entry...
-
-
huh.
interesting . . . very interesting. -
Well. I shall attempt this as soon as I figure out how to write something worthwile.
Adding your comment:
