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Contest January-February 2019 Short Story Contest

Discussion in 'Fluff and Stories' started by Scalenex, Dec 26, 2018.

  1. Scalenex
    Slann

    Scalenex Keeper of the Indexes Staff Member

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    This marks our fifth year of continuous seasonal short story contests!

    The theme for our 17th seasonal short story contest provided by @thedarkfourth "Glyph Forty-Three on Plaque Twelve of the Third Chamber of the Sacred Archives of Oyxl" If that's a little too specific, you can use the slightly broader theme "Interpretations of Prophecy."


    The Rules
    -We would like you to try to keep your story between 500 and 2000 words. I am requiring that entries do not exceed 2400 words. This is counting title, poems, quotes, any add-ons. If I get a submission that exceeds 2400 words, I will trim it till it meets the limit, and you may not like what I choose to cut.
    -Your name must appear nowhere with the story. There is no point in having an anonymous competition based on skill if we know whose entry is whose.
    -You must send your story via private message to Scalenex before midnight (US Central time) on January 31st.
    -The story must be new. No dragging up a story you wrote months or years ago.
    -No plagiarism. This means no stealing a story verbatim. You are free to use characters or settings from other works including other writer's fluff pieces and past short story contest entries.
    -The story must involve Lizardmen (or Seraphon or Salamanders or Saurian Ancients), at least a little
    -The story must stick roughly within the theme, at least a little.
    -No comics or illustrations. This is a short story contest. Visuals are limited to fonts and text colors.
    -Only one entry allowed per person.

    I will do my best to providing proofreading and general advise to writers who ask for it though real life is full of many challenges for me right now. If you wish me to provide a detailed edit, please try to get your draft to me as muc before the deadline as possible. You are welcome, nay encouraged, to ask anyone else you wish for help or advice.

    Once again, the winner of this contest has the honor of choosing the next contest theme if they so choose. This time because I do not want to be saddled with coming up with a last minute topic. If the winner does not give me a topic, I will pass this burden honor on to the runner-up.

    If you want to talk about the theme or your eagerness to write or read something. Please do so below!
     
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2018
  2. thedarkfourth
    Kroxigor

    thedarkfourth Well-Known Member

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    "slightly"
     
  3. Paradoxical Pacifism
    Skink Chief

    Paradoxical Pacifism Well-Known Member

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    Nice and fun theme this is. I already have a vague idea as to what I should write.
     
  4. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    I sense funny stories incoming… :D

    nice theme!
     
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  5. Lord Agragax of Lunaxoatl
    Slann

    Lord Agragax of Lunaxoatl Eleventh Spawning

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    Somebody’s woken up the author in me too early *yawn*. It’s not January yet!

    Anyway, now that I’ve got that over with, an intriguing theme that as far as I can tell will result in a lot of rather samey stories if you ask me...but then my challenge will be to stick out from that big cluster! ;)

    Unfortunately I have a ridiculous amount of University work to do despite it being the Christmas holidays - a coursework to do by the 7th of January when I go back and revision for exams that are to be a couple of weeks after that. What with my mental author having hibernated since the previous contest and this daft amount of work to do, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to enter this time. I’ll have a go at drafting something but I may have to sit it out this time - just thought I’d give you lot a heads-up in advance.
     
  6. WhenTheSkinksMarch
    Saurus

    WhenTheSkinksMarch Active Member

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    *Crawls out of cave* Sssssssstoooooorrrrryyyyyyy!!!!!

    In all seriousness I am way too inactive on this forum, but I will always try and get a submission in. I am interested to see how the next round comes out, with this double themed prompt.
     
  7. spawning of Bob
    Skar-Veteran

    spawning of Bob Well-Known Member

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    I have an elaborate plot idea, but no way I can do it in the word limit. I'll write the sucker anyway, but it might be the side show to the story comp main act.
     
  8. Lord Agragax of Lunaxoatl
    Slann

    Lord Agragax of Lunaxoatl Eleventh Spawning

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    The story of every contest I’ve been in so far :p

    I just write the whole story out and then if it ends up over I prune it to get it just under the word limit.
     
  9. spawning of Bob
    Skar-Veteran

    spawning of Bob Well-Known Member

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    1031 words already, and the characters haven't even got off the couch yet :(

    I'm going to need a back up idea for the comp for sure.
     
  10. Y'ttar Scaletail
    Troglodon

    Y'ttar Scaletail Well-Known Member

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    Oh...I guess I should plan something :p
     
  11. spawning of Bob
    Skar-Veteran

    spawning of Bob Well-Known Member

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    More than 2200 words in, and the body count just clicked to one. No Scalenex Cup for me :(
     
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  12. spawning of Bob
    Skar-Veteran

    spawning of Bob Well-Known Member

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    3100 words and no one else died

    Edit: 4000 and only the second victim, and he was only slightly mutilated :(

    Edit 2: well and truly in the climactic scene (4428 words), and one of the protagonists is a little bit hurt! Scaly Cup here we come!
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2019
  13. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    you're too nice...
     
  14. Paradoxical Pacifism
    Skink Chief

    Paradoxical Pacifism Well-Known Member

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    Is it okay to exceed 4000?

    Also, scalenex, something is wrong with this contest's description in lustriapedia :p

     
  15. Scalenex
    Slann

    Scalenex Keeper of the Indexes Staff Member

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    Most submissions come in the last few days before the deadline, but I'm mildly concerned that I haven't gotten a message about the contest yet.

    I hope you are working on your brilliant drafts.
     
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  16. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    I give up.
    Too much things going on…. mostly family & job. And the very little remaining time it's for game and casual posts here. Sorry @Scalenex :(
     
  17. Paradoxical Pacifism
    Skink Chief

    Paradoxical Pacifism Well-Known Member

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    Still thinking on it...
     
  18. King Dust
    Saurus

    King Dust Well-Known Member

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    I've got an outline, plus 300 words down. Having fun with this theme!
     
  19. WhenTheSkinksMarch
    Saurus

    WhenTheSkinksMarch Active Member

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    I have an outline and 0 words.... I should probably fix that shouldn't I?
     
  20. Scalenex
    Slann

    Scalenex Keeper of the Indexes Staff Member

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    That's better than I. I have a broad concept in my brain and nothing written down. Implementation is where all the work is on any project.

    Also, I fixed the error in the Lustriapedia @Paradoxical Pacifism...where I would be without you pointing out errors in my indexes...
     

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