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Contest October-November 2020 Short Story Contest, Entries Closed

Scalenex
Slann

Scalenex

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The theme for our 23rd seasonal short story contest is upon us. I thought I'd announce the theme a little early because as of yet, no one complains when I do. The clever theme this season provided by @Infinity Turtle is "A Place to Call Home"

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 words I choose to cut. Even prepositions are not safe...
-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 noon (US Central time) on November 1st, I'll probably be home all night but if the CCP virus is somehow cured by then I'm going to costume up and hit the bars...but I'm probably staying home.
-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 much 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:
Scalenex said:
The theme for our 23rd seasonal short story contest is upon us. I thought I'd announce the theme a little early because as of yet, no one complains when I do. The clever theme this season provided by @Infinity Turtle is "A Place to Call Home"

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 words I choose to cut. Even prepositions are not safe...
-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 October 31st, I'll probably be home all night but if the CCP virus is somehow cured by then I'm going to costume up and hit the bars...but I'm probably staying home.
-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 much 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!
Click to expand...

Great theme @Infinity Turtle

I've had an idea bouncing around in my head for ages, waiting for the right theme and I think this is the one...

[Cracks knuckles]

Time to put don my smoking jacket, light the pipe, pour a finger of the finest whiskey into a glass and assume the grandest expression of all-knowingness possible...

(Ahem)

Which means start typing on my tablet at night and while travelling... :oops:
 
I actually have started but haven't totally got the story straight(yet) ;)

Grrr, Imrahil
 
I have a start of something, but I am not sure it will hold as a story... So doubting myself already :confused:

Grrr, Imrahil
 
Lizards of Renown said:
Anyone else got the bit between their teeth? As reigning champion, does @Infinity Turtle have anything brewing? :D
Click to expand...

I don't think we've ever had someone win consecutive contests. I cannot speak for everyone but after I won, I usually skip the next contest (unless the turnout is unusually low) or I deliberately don't bring my A-game and write something experimental out of my comfort zone.

Apparently my A-game is tear jerkers. If I write something action based or comedy based or setting based I get compliments but I don't get a lot of votes. Everything contest I won or was the runner up for it was of the tear generating variety.

This contest theme leans itself to tear jerkers...

That said I've been listening to near constant Halloween music so maybe I'm not in the right frame of mind.
 
Lizards of Renown said:
does @Infinity Turtle have anything brewing?
Click to expand...

Scalenex said:
I don't think we've ever had someone win consecutive contests. I cannot speak for everyone but after I won, I usually skip the next contest (unless the turnout is unusually low) or I deliberately don't bring my A-game and write something experimental out of my comfort zone.
Click to expand...


Unfortunately I do have an idea... I hadn’t planned on entering this contest, but while trying to persuade someone else to write, I got an idea. I will write it I reckon, just not sure if I’ll enter it.

For once I don’t have any big assessments happening so I should be able to set some solid time aside for once. Most of my recent entries have all been quite last minute, so it’ll be nice to write something with time and energy to spare :p

Best of luck to all of you with this Comp!
 
Infinity Turtle said:
For once I don’t have any big assessments happening so I should be able to set some solid time aside for once. Most of my recent entries have all been quite last minute, so it’ll be nice to write something with time and energy to spare :p
Click to expand...

Looking at the results you achieve with last minute entries, i fear what you might do with more time at your disposal... ;)
 
Or perhapse the opposite will happen. To much time to edit and doubt your own work ;)

But seriously do enter your story

Grrr, Imrahil

PS: I got some lines done when stuck in Traffic yesterday :) I don't leave home without pen and paper for the upcoming month
 
Infinity Turtle said:
Unfortunately I do have an idea... I hadn’t planned on entering this contest, but while trying to persuade someone else to write, I got an idea. I will write it I reckon, just not sure if I’ll enter it.

For once I don’t have any big assessments happening so I should be able to set some solid time aside for once. Most of my recent entries have all been quite last minute, so it’ll be nice to write something with time and energy to spare :p

Best of luck to all of you with this Comp!
Click to expand...

Do it!!!!

This competition is only fun when there are high stakes and high standards to beat! :D To me, it helps people to bring their A-game when they know that they will have stiff competition and brings out the writer in them.

Good luck to everyone entering.
 
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