Short Story Contest #4

[Midnighters]

Great War Stories
Story must be between 1000 and 5000 words.
There is no real theme, it can be someone telling the story, or the story of the war itself.

• Stories must be related to a war that you have either made up, or have made from looking at a battle in the lore of any game or war..
• Stories must be between 1000 and 5000 words, exceptions may be made upon Judges consent.
• All work must be written by you, no plagiarism. This causes an instant disqualification.
• Entries must be English, you may have characters in your story speaking a different tongue of English.
• Must have one WIP 2 weeks after start of competition to prove it is your work.
  

• First Place: 40 reputation points and your entry on an award icon
  
• Second Place: 30 reputation points and an award icon
  
• Third Place: 15 reputation points and an award icon

• TBA
• TBA

If you would like to judge, post in this thread or PM Pyritie or Midnighters

Plot	How well did you make the plot? Was it easily followed? Did it make sense?	/10 Points
Characters	How creative were your characters? Did you use them regularly?	/10 Points
Structure	How well made was the structure of the story? Did you keep the flow going?	/10 Points
Flow	How well did you transition between scenes? Were there major jumps where you could not follow? Was it interesting and attention keeping?	/10 Points
Theme	What was the story based on? Was it interesting? Did you stick to what you picked?	/10 Points

​

• 75% of the winner shall be determined by the contest's appointed judge(s).
• 25% of the winner shall be determined by the results of a public poll.

• If you would like to enter, please make a post in this thread.

• The contest shall begin on April 20th and conclude on 11:59, 1st June 2010, GMT

 

[Traxamillion]

Now to defend my Crown.

 

[Pharaoh_]

It's too soon. Suddenly Short Story contests can't become that popular.
I like the idea though, a lot.
Support!

 

[The World Is Flat]

Wait, is this warcraft wars or no?
can it be my own universe?

 

[Panda]

Ill join if approves. √

 

[Pyritie]

I think 75% judging and 25% public poll might be better this time

 

[Panda]

Agreed.

 

[The World Is Flat]

I'm in guess... but its warcraft in space! and yes, moar of a judge poll... I'm acually going to finish this time.

 

[Pharaoh_]

Yeah, scratch that limitation of Warcraft environment; we already had that in the previous contest. Let this be free of universe's choice.

 

[The World Is Flat]

Oh yes, please please let this be a universe of free choice... Taht is oen rease i dislike the previous contest...

 

[Midnighters]

Okay, we will scratch the warcraft, and judging will be 75% judge.

 

[The World Is Flat]

Hurrah! Hurrah!

So technically could make 'tree' part 2? hehehehehehe...

 

[Panda]

I will write about a long lost panda in a war versus the rain forest.

 

[Midnighters]

Well, I will be entering this if it is approved.

 

[Ghoulrush]

Not sure why you changed "Flow" to "Scenes", Flow seems like the proper term for the description you gave.

Also, have you thought about adding "Theme" to the judging criteria? Right now, the judging includes topics that encompass structure, characterization, and coherency. However, the most important elements of a short story are the thoughts, feelings, and ideas it provokes by delivering solid messages through the story's themes.

A good theme is one that is powerful yet masterfully interwoven into the writing. It is one that is subconsciously present in the reader's mind, yet subtle enough to naturally express itself throughout the course of the entire story without being overstated.

(And when I say theme, I am not referring to the topic of the contest, which is war. I am referring to the overarching thoughts, feelings, and ideas which the story provokes through its description of the battle)

 

[Wolfe]

I'll certainly be joining. I could not join the last contest due to personal things, but I have a lot of time now.

 

[Fussiler1]

I'm totally in.
Imaginary battle, here I come.

 

[Ghoulrush]

In addition to possibly adding "Theme" to the judging criteria, I am also wondering if you would consider changing the word count limit from 5000 to 6000.

It seems like many contestants from the last contest had trouble formatting their stories in such a way that would still cohere to the word limit of 5000. Many contestants ended up going over the limit anyway, which sort of made things a little chaotic and made the official regulations and guidelines look partly illegitimate. Therefore, I think that it would be worth extending the word count by another thousand words in order to see whether or not it will have a positive effect on the resulting stories.

You could argue "Give an inch and they'll ask for a mile", saying that people will just try to make their stories longer and will still end up going over the limit. However, I believe that extending it to 6000 words would still have a positive effect on the literary quality of the entrees.

You might also say that people will not be willing to read a story that is 6000 words long. Well, if someone isn't willing to read something that is 6000 words long then they most likely aren't going to read a short story that is 5000 words long either. A short story is commonly referred to as anything under 7000 to 9000 words long. So if they are not willing to read a 6000 word short story, then they really shouldn't be voting in a short story contest.

 

[Billy the Cat]

On one side I would like to join this contest now that I'm less busy with college (for now) to see where I would get when trying to write a story. On the other side I'm afraid my English skills aren't good enough for a contest like this. ^^;
We'll see whether or not I will enter. If this gets approved that is.

 

[Midnighters]

It will stay at 5000 words, It is meant to be a challenge, and I want to see what can be done.

 

[Illidan_Hunter]

I'd like to join the contest too, if that is possible.

 

[Midnighters]

Okay, well, we have to wait and see if it is approved.

 

[The World Is Flat]

Lets hope it does. I have already done 2000 words...

 

[Pyritie]

Lets hope it does. I have already done 2000 words...

Well you're gonna have to start over because you can only start your entry when the contest starts.

 

[Etzer]

Yay, a new competition i can sign up to

 

[The World Is Flat]

Well darn, ok i'll start over...

 

[Linaze]

Already? In two (or so) months I support this being hosted, but now, so shortly after the last? No.

 

[Midnighters]

Why does everyone complain about such a short notice? Look at all the people on the site, not all the same people have to join, so stop with the "it's too soon" crap.

 

[Traxamillion]

I see both parts here. For one the last contest just ended and maybe should have soem leeway. On the other hand Modeling/Skinning Contests come one after the other.

 

[Midnighters]

See my point? It does not matter how long in between, it's not like I am wanting it to start the same day.

 

[Ghoulrush]

Personally, two months (or even one month) would be too long for me. Especially now that the topic of the contest has been announced and I am already thinking of ideas for a story.

 

[Midnighters]

As am I.

 

[The World Is Flat]

I Agree. Lets get it on.

 

[Dragonson]

I REFUSE to miss out on this one! >
I'm joining as soon as this starts/if this starts too.

 

[The World Is Flat]

Well i promie you that i will be claiming 1st place.

 

[Dragonson]

I promise you that i will be participating.
Nothing else. ^^

 

[Midnighters]

I promise you wont be TWIF, cause I plan on it

 

[Traxamillion]

Well i promie you that i will be claiming 1st place.

We will see.

 

[Dragonson]

I promise you that i'l promise you that we need to stop promising each other things 'cause all this promisin' is getting off-topic.
And THAT'S a promise!

Now, let's stop this. :S

 

[Traxamillion]

I promise you that i'l promise you that we need to stop promising each other things 'cause all this promisin' is getting off-topic.
And THAT'S a promise!

Now, let's stop this. :S

you promise?

 

[Dragonson]

i promise.

 

[Grey Nightmare]

Yes, was just querying about this, free choice! I'm in!

EDIT: Sorry just looked back at the theme.

By 'about a war' does this mean it has to revolve around/mention the war or does it actually have to (at least for some part) depict the war/battle?

To clarify (as the above isn't very clear): Could you write about two people discussing a war they had once taken part in (if I wanted to)?

EDIT2: Nevermind I missed the info under the title

 

[Fussiler1]

guys u cant win from me cuz i got dis 1337 spellingz

Anyways, good luck in getting ideas.

 

[Midnighters]

Yes, was just querying about this, free choice! I'm in!

EDIT: Sorry just looked back at the theme.

By 'about a war' does this mean it has to revolve around/mention the war or does it actually have to (at least for some part) depict the war/battle?

To clarify (as the above isn't very clear): Could you write about two people discussing a war they had once taken part in (if I wanted to)?

By about war, I mean a story about a war period, anything to do with a war, someone telling a story about one, two people talking about the past, a made up war, anything.

 

[The World Is Flat]

Well lets do it!!!! APROVEZORZ AND LETS GET BUCKIN'!

 

[Grey Nightmare]

By about war, I mean a story about a war period, anything to do with a war, someone telling a story about one, two people talking about the past, a made up war, anything.

I know, I realised, many apologies

 

[Midnighters]

It's fine, I am here to answer questions.

 

[Grey Nightmare]

It's fine, I am here to answer questions.

thanks dude, your ace.

 

[The World Is Flat]

Lol midnighters? ace? i dunno....

just kidding

 

[Midnighters]

TWIF, Stfu you.... lol