For the Long Haul...

PLEASE NOTE: This contest is closed at 20 entries - if you enter in the 'last' entry spot, I WILL remove your entry. This is to keep this contest open while I read and judge the entries offline. For those that are waiting for a result - thank you for your patience.

Do your writing endeavours tend to exceed most contests' maximum word limit?

Are you a writer of longer short stories, where you spend time developing your characters and describing the setting?

Do you prefer writing stories with rich characters and indepth plot?

Do you write long stories, but can't find someone who is willing to spend the time reading and reviewing your story?

 

If you answered 'yes' to most of these questions, then this contest will interest you.

 

For the Long Haul is an 'Anything Goes' contest for those members of Storywrite that have long short stories and completed novellas in the range of 5 000 - 35 000 words.

 

There are, however, some restrictions:

*

Absolutely NO:

Vampires

Werewolves

Graphic Erotica

Homosexual relationships of any kind

Fan Fiction

Angsty emo Protagonists/Antagonists

Promotion of themes in violation of site policy, such as suicide, crimes against minors, and drug use

*

NO excessive inclusion of:

Sensual Erotica

Drug References

Swearing

Unusual sexual preferences

Supernatural

Self-harm

Cliches

Randomness

*

I will accept anything in the following genres (or mix of genres), as long as they follow the above list. Anything marked with an asterick are personal favourites (be warned though - you will have to impress me - I will be more critical of these genres):

Horror/Chiller/Dark*

Romance

Crime/Mystery*

Fantasy

Action/Adventure*

Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction

Post-Apocalyptic*

Historical

Steam punk and other post-modern genres

Suspense/Thriller*

Humour/Comedy*

Tragedy/Drama

Mainstream Fiction

 

RULES:

 1. By entering this contest you accept that you agree to, and are bound by, all the rules and guidelines of this contest.

2. Stories must abide by the restrictions set out above. A story found to contain an element listed as not permitted will be DQ'd without warning. Writers whose stories contain any element deemed by me as being 'in excess' will be warned and given an opportunity to either remove their entry or replace it with another.

3. Two entries are permitted per member. If two entries are made, one MUST be a recently posted story (new write or story posted any time after 1st January 2009). The other can be an older story.

4. Stories must be complete. Story must also be categorised appropriately.

5. Must be a story. Poems, rants, sermons, vignettes, scripts or anything else not resembling a story are not permitted.

6. Story MUST contain at least 5000 words and no more than 35000 words.

7. The story MUST contain at least one developed character, a discernable plot, and consist of a beginning, middle and an end.

8. Adequate spelling, grammar and punctuation standards must be adhered to. If I feel like I need to correct something every second line, I will likely remove your story from the contest.

9. No clashing backgrounds and font colours. Be nice to me.

10. Story entry must contain the entire story, not just the first chapter or prologue.

 

Each story will receive an indepth critique addressing such things as style, grammar, plot, character development, believeability, predictability and overall entertainment value.

 

Stories will be judged on originality of concept, how well this concept was presented, writing style, creativity, as well as my enjoyment of the story.

Enter this contest

  • This is not an anonymous contest - the editors will be able to see your name.
  • Closes in 6 days, or after 3 more entries
  • Up to 2 entries are allowed per person.
  • Rewards - Gold: 400, Silver: 250, Bronze: 100
  • Enter a pre-written story
  • Enter a new story

Entries [18]

1 - 18 of 18

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Comments

1 - 13 of 13

  • His.Golden.Eyes
    March 15
    Edit | Reply
    I might enter this later if i write a huge story.


  • tonialoise
    March 15
    Edit | Reply
    I'm actually surprised I only have short story that is above the minimum limit, and I thought I wrote long. I guess that's what I get for trying to learn to write shorter. I hope it fits for you too and is not too "supernatural" in nature.

    I have another that isn't completed yet, that maybe be over the min, hopefully I'll have that done before the contest is over.


    • tallblondie gold member
      March 15
      Edit | Reply
      Like all my contests, this one will stay open for at least a month.

  • slashinguk
    March 15
    Edit | Reply

    Brave

    This is a brave contest to run! You're going to have a lot of reading to do. Still, thanks for doing it. If this site has a flaw, it's that the rewards for commenting on huge stories with full comments are no better than those for shorter ones. Good luck with this contest.

    • tallblondie gold member
      March 15
      Edit | Reply
      *shrugs* probably about the same amount of work as the two Novels and Chaptered Works contests I ran last year - and that had two-part entries (a synopsis plus sample chapter) and a thorough critique. This time, I've limited the entries (quantity and genre), and I'll likely get a mix of stories with different lengths.

      I really don't mind. I tend to get a lot of comments on my stories, and the contests I run are my way of paying back into the Storywrite community. Plus it is not often you see contests aimed specifically at those that write longer stories.

      • slashinguk
        March 15
        Edit | Reply
        Ahhh - I probably entered the same story in the Chaptered Works contest, but didn't notice because it wasn't the full-story version. Hopefully it won't be too boring to read some of it again .

        • tallblondie gold member
          March 15
          Edit | Reply
          I remember the story - and I recall that I liked the chapter you submitted, so I won't mind reading the entire story.


  • Tricia3 gold member
    March 15
    Edit | Reply
    I'll go through my stories and make sure it fits and you have not commented on it before.
    All my stories are newer than Jan 1. I didn't join SW until Jan 10
    Thank you for offering this contest and for letting me know.
    Trish


  • LiveLoveJabberwocky
    March 16
    Edit | Reply
    I entered one story, and I'm working on another for another contest that's over the limit so I'll enter that when it's done


  • Drac
    March 16
    Edit | Reply
    I think the no excess of the supernatural really bumped any of my longer stories out of this contest Bah, they're probably just too short/long or not ready yet anyway

    But cool contest

    • tallblondie gold member
      March 16
      Edit | Reply
      Enter one anyway - I don't mind some supernatural (it is dark fantasy afterall) - it is just some types of supernatural I find can be done 'over the top'.

  • Eternally Fallen
    April 7
    Edit | Reply

    I'm liking the sound of this!

    You're on! I have recently been greatly inspired to write a story, which I believe should fit into your requirements. And I write fast, so your days until this ends is plenty of time.


  • Doom Bunny
    April 9
    Edit | Reply
    How big is it?

1 - 13 of 13