Contest October-November 2017 Short Story Contest Entry thread (new entries closed)

The theme for our 12th season short story contest provided by @Wolfwerty33 is an oldy but a goody: "The Rat and/or the Serpent." We just BARELY avoided using this theme for our 13th contest.

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 November 2nd.
-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. We have regular contests for visual art.
-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 at least a week before the deadline. 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 within a week of winning, 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!

 

I hope so...

I will certainly try to think about it.

 

I've got the idea!

there will be serpents, and rats.

 

@spawning of Bob would be my first pick, but lately he's missing.

I don't know if there is someone alse that can offer rewiews... in any case, i'm rushing (as much as i can with real life going on) to have the piece completed asap, before that "deadline before the deadline"

 

An advanced draft of my story has been completed! hopefully, it's just a matter to polish it and see if I can implement some details.

What about other partecipants?

 

I got assurances that people are writing are things, but you sent me the first draft. I'm not too worried. 2/3 of most entries usually come in the last week of the entry period.

 

I usually get a few entries on the last day, but I'm mildly concerned at the low number of entries I have so far. Get writing you lot! I'll try to help with editing as much as I can

 

Sad to hear. Let's hope in some late entries!

 

Due to a few stragglers, I am extending the deadline for entry by 48 hours to November 2nd

 

I am sufficiently satisfied by my piece.
And I will be even more when I'll win.

 

And we will be allies, yes-yes!

(Y'ttar wants to kill-kill me! I know it, yes-yes! Sneaky ratty will soon be dead-dead!)