In writing we often neglect several of the senses and depend mostly on sight and sound. Well, let's concentrate on the sense of smell. Now I don't simply want some vignette about all the different smells you can fit into one scene, nor for your story to concentrate around smells like in a kitchen.♦
What I want is for Fragrances to be the inspiration of your piece. Fragrances are fascinating because they often trigger memories. For example if I smell Old Spice I think of my Dad and I become happy with the memories of my childhood. So I want you to find a fragrance that will create emotion. Write me a STORY where the scent is the inspiration. It must be obvious what fragrance has brought it about and be a part of the story.
It doesn't have to be the character having a memory, it could be a story about that memory being created. It could have nothing to do with that and just a moment in which a fragrance has significance to the character. Or where it creates a special moment. Use the fragrance to bring the story to life.
They can be strong smells, sweet smells, every day smells, a faint smell that someone follows, just no gross smells please.
- Your fragrance does not have to be the center of the piece, but it must be more than a short reference. Give it meaning! It should be mentioned in your story, not AN.
-If that wasn't clear enough the scent MUST BE PART OF THE PLOT OR OVERALL THEME.
- There can be more than one fragrance, but don't smell up the place with too many.
- I REALLY REALLY don't want bathroom smells. Keep away from death and decay if you can too please. Keep it pleasant people.
- Erotica is fine as long as it's not the whole story. Kudos to you if you work fragrances into a Romantic Interlude.
- You took English classes for a reason. Don't make me red-mark your work please, it will lower your grade.
- Please write a full story; beginning, middle, and end (if you really must put a chapter it better stand alone or be the first chapter).
- New works will be given a little more leeway.
- No real word limit but try to keep it not much more than 5k.
What I want is for Fragrances to be the inspiration of your piece. Fragrances are fascinating because they often trigger memories. For example if I smell Old Spice I think of my Dad and I become happy with the memories of my childhood. So I want you to find a fragrance that will create emotion. Write me a STORY where the scent is the inspiration. It must be obvious what fragrance has brought it about and be a part of the story.
It doesn't have to be the character having a memory, it could be a story about that memory being created. It could have nothing to do with that and just a moment in which a fragrance has significance to the character. Or where it creates a special moment. Use the fragrance to bring the story to life.
They can be strong smells, sweet smells, every day smells, a faint smell that someone follows, just no gross smells please.
- Your fragrance does not have to be the center of the piece, but it must be more than a short reference. Give it meaning! It should be mentioned in your story, not AN.
-If that wasn't clear enough the scent MUST BE PART OF THE PLOT OR OVERALL THEME.
- There can be more than one fragrance, but don't smell up the place with too many.
- I REALLY REALLY don't want bathroom smells. Keep away from death and decay if you can too please. Keep it pleasant people.
- Erotica is fine as long as it's not the whole story. Kudos to you if you work fragrances into a Romantic Interlude.
- You took English classes for a reason. Don't make me red-mark your work please, it will lower your grade.
- Please write a full story; beginning, middle, and end (if you really must put a chapter it better stand alone or be the first chapter).
- New works will be given a little more leeway.
- No real word limit but try to keep it not much more than 5k.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on June 14
- Rewards: Gold: 250, Silver: 175, Bronze: 80, Honorable mention: 5 people
- Final notes: Thank you all for entering and big applause to those of you who worked your fragrances throughout your plot. It's not an easy thing to do and I received some entries that used their scents in a most unique way. The winners all incorporated their aromas into their characters lives creating an overall theme to their story.
Leo's Echo used fragrance in a natural (nothing more natural than carnal phermones) and yet unique way.
Surf Rider touched upon my heart with the lemony clear smell of memories (I'm going to make me some lemonade this afternoon )
Sportsman's brought sharp scent of nostalgia.
You all did well, keep writing, and savor the sweet smell of success!
Contest Winners
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She was seven, he was eleven, and his grin was lit with mischief. They looked like brother and sister, but their blood was more diluted than that. He held up the green bottle and passed it over.1• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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A trip back in time some fifty odd years...calculated to appeal to all your senses. A memorable journey back.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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by First-Mate 500 words, 6 comments, on Jun 3 7:20 AM. In <600 words fantasy, Adult fiction, Life, Writer's block overcome, Writing
Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 288060, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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I didn't know why I was here. I knew that if I had come here, I was going to die. And yet, the aroma of blood attracted me here.by Duality. 400 words, 19 comments, on May 22 2:28 PM. In Dark, Death, First person, Horror, Inspirational, Teen Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [8]
1 - 8 of 8
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She sat with her friend under the blooming apple tree, cradled by satin pink blossoms and smooth apple flesh. The two girls were perched onby Olinda 1600 words, 21 comments, on May 22 6:38 PM• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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You are lying in a bed of darkness and there are ominous clouds swirling about above you. You hear the thunder, but see no light.by angellove 1300 words, 1 comment, on Sep 4 6:23 PM 2008. In Death, Dream, Life, Scene, Science fiction, Supernatural, Vision
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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can i add a poem that has nothing to do with a smell?
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it's a contest about smells, if it doesn't have anything to do with a smell how does it fit?
I changed the contest description a little to hopefully make it more clear.
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Hmm.
Most of my stories, which mention a scent, focus on only one scent and one time. I've only got one, I think that falls into the description of this contest, and it's not one of my best stories
. I also don't think I'll have time to write one, though I find this contest interesting. I may be able to adapt an existing story, but you don't want anything dark, and the majority of my stuff is.
Oh well, I'll give it some thought.
Andy
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There can be multiple scents or just one, but like I said more than a mere mention of it.
Though if you have one you think might fit, try it, you never know.
I don't want the scent to be based on gross stuff, I didn't say the story couldn't be dark. 
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OMG! cool y'know Tonia, this reminds me of a story one of my friends wrote and post it here. The male protagonist is one tought dude and he smells like maple syrup XD and the female protagonist smells like cookies being bake with a little smells of flowers besides it XD i love this kind of stuff X3
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hehe that sounds good, see if he will enter it.
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