Contest Lustria-Online Short Story Contest April-May 2015 Contest

Lustria-Online Short Story Contest April-May 2015 Contest

We are going to try to steal the Under-Empire’s idea and do some periodic short story contests. Ideally every three months. There is no tangible prize apart from bragging rights.

I have volunteered to come with the theme and to collect entries. Once the deadline is past, I will post the stories on a thread with a poll. The stories will be called “Story 1”, “Story 2”, etc on the poll. Your poll number is determined by the order of submission. It is recommended but not required that you include a header with a story title. There will be a month to vote before the poll is closed.

It would probably be a good idea to PM the entry to yourself to check to make sure all the formatting tags look alright and to see what readers will see.

The theme for our second contest is Chameleons!

-Must be between 500 and 2500 words, enforced by the honor system, we are not going to word count your stories or toss out anyone's work.
-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 Arli by April 30th.
-There is a max of 15 entries
-The story must be new. No dragging up a story you wrote months or years ago.
-No plagiarism.
-The story must involve Lizardmen to some extant
-The story must stick roughly within the theme.
-Up to two entries are allowed per person.

 

Yes, that's what we mean by headers. Looks like you are off to a good start on your riveting story, it just needs a few hundred more words.

On a related note, if anyone would like me to proofread their piece before submitting it to Arli, you can PM me your story and I'll look it over, make some suggestions and send it back to you. Just try to get to me a week before the actual contest deadline.

 

Fooling fools? Do not buy into Bob's redundant redundancy. I came up with my own concept this morning so I can write something without stealing anyone's ideas, or gently lampooning Bob's narrative style.

 

Okay guys. We have 2 entries so far. The clock is running down. You have until the 30th to get those stories in!

 

2 Weeks to go and the entries are coming in!

This is good, but I think now is a good time to make sure that we have all checked the updated comp rules. I include the following ineligible entry to demonstrate some of the pitfalls.


Short Story Title: Scalenex.
(By Scalenex)

Scene: A rocky waste. Soldiers from the Empire have surrounded and disarmed a group a large force of chameleon skinks of Lustria.

Elector Count of the Empire: Have we a count of prisoners?

Soldier: We haven't made the final count, sir.

Elector Count: shakes his head. Addresses the prisoners. I bring a message from my master, Karl Franz, Commander of the Empire. By command of His Most Merciful Excellency your lives are to be spared.

Slaves you were and slaves you remain, But the terrible penalty of crucifiixion has been set aside on the single condition that you identify the body or the living lizard called Scalenex.
The prisoners keep their heads down. Scalenex is about to speak when-

Prisoner 1: Jumps up. I'm Scalenex!
Other prisoners and soldiers react with surprise.

Prisoners 2, 3 and 4: Stand up. I'm Scalenex!

All Prisoners rise and chant I'm Scalenex! I'm Scalenex! I'm Scalenex!


Scene: An Imperial fortified camp

Imperial Merchant: Forgive me for being one of the last to congratulate you, Your Nobility. There's an ugly rumour going round the camp that the prisoners are to be crucifiied.

Elector Count: That is true.

Imperial Merchant: Perhaps this is the moment to remind Your Highness that yesterday you promised me I could be the agent in their auctioning.

Elector Count: Last night you promised Scalenex to me! Where is he? In return, I promised you the sale of the survivors.

Imperial Merchant: So, I tell you who Scalenex is and you will spare the others?

Elector Count: Actually no. I'm going to kill everyone, including you, because I am Scalenex!
Roll Credits


I would like to point out a few problems which make this unfair for other entrants.

Obviously, the story is too short, it doesn't really follow the theme, barely mentions lizardmen, is not an anonymous work, but the major problem is that this work, supposedly by Scalenex is a blatant piece of plagiarism. Partially because of this, but mostly because I am Scalenex.

 

Ok guys! We are in the home stretch. We have 5 stories submitted so far. Lets got those fingers going on the keyboards!!!!!f