This contest is fairly simple.
I have a quote prompt, and you will write a short story. No minimum or maximum word limit. However, I tend to have a short attention span, so if it must be long, make every word worth it.
Any genre is accepted, aside from fan fiction. There are some things I generally don't like to read, but if you keep it deep and reflect the quote, that shouldn't matter.
The quote is:
"There are good things and there are bad things, and occasionally there are immensely good things, or in that regard, occasionally unbelievable calamities visit upon us. Human memory is a miraculous thing, a pleasant thing and a terrible thing. For some reason, the worst things are the memories that get left behind."
~from 「魔之一週間」 (One Week of Evil Spirits) by Isshi, vocalist of Japanese band Kagrra; English translation by varpunen laulaa.
Rules:
1) Do NOT include the direct quote (or any part of it) in your story. Put the quote prompt and credit in your Author's Notes, as written above.
2) Do NOT include a picture with your story.
3) Make sure your font is readable on the background you chose.
4) Reserve if you want, but make sure you finish the story before the closing date.
5) Nothing to hurt my eyes. This includes:
-clashing font and backgrounds
-excess spelling and grammatical errors
-shift key abuse
Terms and Conditions:
~I reserve the right to add and/or update rules as I see fit.
~I will extend the contest closing date until I have 10 entries.
~Any reserves not finished a week after the contest's closure will be removed.
~I will post a comment on every story that is entered, after the contest closes, and may or may not include constructive criticism in my comment.
~If you have any questions or concerns about this contest or my rules, please post it as a comment on this page so others can see as well.
Suggestions and Brownie Points:
~Say a lot with few words. The more words in your story, the more chance of me losing attention or getting distracted. Unless you can REALLY draw me in.
~I like wordplay, imagery, and profound thoughts.
~I dislike swearing, religious writing, and self-harm.
~Astound me with your words! You have a better chance of winning if you give me something unlike anything I've ever read before.
For now, that is all. Remember:
~Read the rules carefully.
~This is a community site, so please comment on other entries--it's very encouraging to the writer!
~Have fun!
PS... If I get lots of amazing entries, I'll boost up the points for each of the trophies by at least 50, and possibly add some HMs in too.
Edit : In your author's notes, make sure you put the quote prompt along with credit to both the original writer and the translator. So far I've had to remind everyone, but it's already in Rule 1 so entrants should do it automatically.
I have a quote prompt, and you will write a short story. No minimum or maximum word limit. However, I tend to have a short attention span, so if it must be long, make every word worth it.
Any genre is accepted, aside from fan fiction. There are some things I generally don't like to read, but if you keep it deep and reflect the quote, that shouldn't matter.
The quote is:
"There are good things and there are bad things, and occasionally there are immensely good things, or in that regard, occasionally unbelievable calamities visit upon us. Human memory is a miraculous thing, a pleasant thing and a terrible thing. For some reason, the worst things are the memories that get left behind."
~from 「魔之一週間」 (One Week of Evil Spirits) by Isshi, vocalist of Japanese band Kagrra; English translation by varpunen laulaa.
Rules:
1) Do NOT include the direct quote (or any part of it) in your story. Put the quote prompt and credit in your Author's Notes, as written above.
2) Do NOT include a picture with your story.
3) Make sure your font is readable on the background you chose.
4) Reserve if you want, but make sure you finish the story before the closing date.
5) Nothing to hurt my eyes. This includes:
-clashing font and backgrounds
-excess spelling and grammatical errors
-shift key abuse
Terms and Conditions:
~I reserve the right to add and/or update rules as I see fit.
~I will extend the contest closing date until I have 10 entries.
~Any reserves not finished a week after the contest's closure will be removed.
~I will post a comment on every story that is entered, after the contest closes, and may or may not include constructive criticism in my comment.
~If you have any questions or concerns about this contest or my rules, please post it as a comment on this page so others can see as well.
Suggestions and Brownie Points:
~Say a lot with few words. The more words in your story, the more chance of me losing attention or getting distracted. Unless you can REALLY draw me in.
~I like wordplay, imagery, and profound thoughts.
~I dislike swearing, religious writing, and self-harm.
~Astound me with your words! You have a better chance of winning if you give me something unlike anything I've ever read before.
For now, that is all. Remember:
~Read the rules carefully.
~This is a community site, so please comment on other entries--it's very encouraging to the writer!
~Have fun!
PS... If I get lots of amazing entries, I'll boost up the points for each of the trophies by at least 50, and possibly add some HMs in too.
Edit : In your author's notes, make sure you put the quote prompt along with credit to both the original writer and the translator. So far I've had to remind everyone, but it's already in Rule 1 so entrants should do it automatically.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on August 31
- Rewards: Gold: 300, Silver: 200, Bronze: 100, Honorable mention: 2 people
- Final notes: Thanks to everyone who entered the contest and was patient with me as I constantly pushed the closing date. Well, it's over now and big congratulations to those winners! And to everyone, really, since every entry made me think and I'm glad I held out so long for this contest; the entries were great!
I really recommend that you read these and comment if you haven't done so already:
Gold - Not My Memories - Thinking outside of the box, to put it simply. The author has created a character who is atypical but at the same time realistic and believable. Very thought-provoking.
Silver - Childhood Memories - I wasn't expecting something like this from the prompt, but here's another example of thinking outside of the box. A chilling and painful read that really tugs on the heartstrings.
Bronze - Selective Memory - This gives an uncanny insight into the ways of the human mind. I was thinking along these lines when I read the quote I selected as prompt for this contest, and was pleased to see someone take it where I did, so succinctly. A very good read, although short. Every word has power.
Once again thanks to everybody, I hope you all enjoyed the contest and I'm glad you were inspired!
~VelvetWings
Contest Winners
-
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
How do we rememeber those we loved?• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
Sometimes childhood memories don't consist of parks and games and ice cream• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
If you walk roughly 3 kilometers through the narrow lanes of Moffats Basti, through unpaved lanes where children excrete on both sides, past Wahir’s old scrap parts shop, a public bathroom that stinks of shit and piss, manage• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
Terry Winchester knew she loved him, that boyishly handsome man from nearly five decades ago, but that part of her memory was failing fast.by Ghost of a Siren 900 words, 12 comments, on May 7 10:01 AM. In Contest, Memories, Sad
Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
by travis34dietC 400 words, 4 comments, on Jun 23 10:46 PM• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [8]
1 - 8 of 8
-
A short story I made up for a contest. Hope you like it!!!!!!
by Raining.Fire 300 words, 6 comments, on Jun 1 11:29 PM. In Contest, Fiction, First person, Love, Other, Short story• Commented on by judge. -
• Commented on by judge.
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
-
Interesting quote. Leaves it open for a lot of different stories. Sounds like a narrator at the beginning of a trippy Del Toro movie.
Hope you get some good reads.
Jack -
-
Thank you! I also agree that it's a really nice quote. It comes from a Japanese novella I'm reading, I just had to make a contest out of it because, like you said, it can inspire many different things. It was one of three powerful sentences in the story's prologue.
-
-
What is the name of the Japanese Novella that you are reading? I'm learning Japanese right now and I'm very interested in reading a book called Ichi Rittoru no Namida (One liter of tears)...I watched a japanese drama based off of the novel, and now I want to read it..
I love Japanese literature ^-^ -
-
It's called 「魔之一週間」 ("ma no isshuukan"/One Week of Evil Spirits) and it's really good. ^^; I've already finished it, but I left this contest up in the hopes that the words from the beginning can touch someone's heart.
Most of the stories I've been reading lately are Japanese, actually... basically random stories about daily life, but each holding an importan lesson or moral. It's nice ^^
-
-
I was lining up a really good entry but saw the no pre-writes and thought to myself, DAMN!
AWW Too Bad. Hope you get heaps of entries
Sammi
-
-
If it's a prewrite then it's not really inspired by the quote, so it's not really for the contest. Sorry!
BUT if you think it fits that well, you can give me a link or tell me the title and I'll read and comment it anyway. ^^ -
-
ok. My story is called Only Kill Her. Here is the link: http://storywrite.com/story/255856
Hope you enjoy it!!
Sammi
-
-
-
Am I in?
I think I entered it in the last moment. Not sure if I am in or not.... -
-
You're in.
-
Adding your comment:
1 - 12 of 12
