Contest April-May 2021 Short Story Contest Entry Thread, (Entries close on May 3rd))

[Scalenex]

The theme for our 26th seasonal short story contest is upon us. The theme is something that many individual writers have toyed with before but was never the official theme, the theme is "Fish Out of Water."

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 May 2nd 2021
-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!

 

[Lizards of Renown]

The theme for our 26th seasonal short story contest is upon us. The theme is something that many individual writers have toyed with before but was never the official theme, the theme is "Fish Out of Water."

Great theme.

-You must send your story via private message to Scalenex before noon (US Central time) on March 31st 2021

Wait, we have ONE WEEK to write our story?

 

[Imrahil]

The theme for our 26th seasonal short story contest is upon us. The theme is something that many individual writers have toyed with before but was never the official theme, the theme is "Fish Out of Water."

That calls for some fishy stories

Wait, we have ONE WEEK to write our story?

You better get to it then, lol

As we say in dutch: "Niet lullen, maar poetsen" which translates to "no talking, but go to work" (not translated literally)

Grrr, Imrahil

 

[Paradoxical Pacifism]

Great theme.



Wait, we have ONE WEEK to write our story?

LO short story speedrun %any (WR)

 

[Scolenex]

Wait, we have ONE WEEK to write our story?

Mark your calendars to tell your children and grandchildren later. On this day, Scalenex made a mistake.

 

[Scalenex]

Mark your calendars to tell your children and grandchildren later. On this day, Scalenex made a mistake.

It was NOT a mistake it was a harsh lesson.

@Scalenex : do you have got a Theme ready yet for the next Short Story contest?

Grrr, Imrahil

Wait, we have ONE WEEK to write our story?

You rush me, I rush you.


But due to popular demand, I have fixed my not a mistake and moved the contest to a more normal schedule.

 

[Carnikang]

I think a week would have been amusing to see what we got. Of course, that would also mean less entries as fewer would see.

The prompt is good.

 

[Lizards of Renown]

It was NOT a mistake it was a harsh lesson.





You rush me, I rush you.


But due to popular demand, I have fixed my not a mistake and moved the contest to a more normal schedule.

I think it's good that you are giving harsh life lessons to us budding authors.

It's actually a really good training exercise for when we are about to go broke and only have one week to come up with some kind of story that could sell to stave off starvation.

 

[Killer Angel]

Ohhh, interesting theme. Many potential but still unclear possibilities.

 

[Lizards of Renown]

I have an idea now and I'm mid writing it.

I figure that Scalenex will either love it or hate it deeply... It's quite a gamble, but like most of my short story ideas it just popped into my head and demanded to be written. So here we go

 

[The Great White Lizard]

The theme for our 26th seasonal short story contest is upon us. The theme is something that many individual writers have toyed with before but was never the official theme, the theme is "Fish Out of Water."

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 April 30th 2021
-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!

I read the title of this post and freaked out for a moment as I realized I had to write a short story in a day. Then I read the post and calmed down a bit. I like the prompt, should be interesting!

 

[Scalenex]

I read the title of this post and freaked out for a moment as I realized I had to write a short story in a day. Then I read the post and calmed down a bit. I like the prompt, should be interesting!

Mahrlect, I knew I made a typo in the OP, I didn't realize I made a typo in the headline.

Anyway I hope everyone is clear now and everyone likes the prompt.

I am probably not going to enter a contest myself because I am concerned I might accidentally win and have to name the next contest prompt, so I am counting on all of you to step up.

I'd like to see nine or more short stories.

 

[Imrahil]

I am probably not going to enter a contest myself because I am concerned I might accidentally win and have to name the next contest prompt, so I am counting on all of you to step up.

I dread the moment I have to come up with a theme myself, but on the other hand, winning is a nice appreciation of ones writing capabilities.

I'd like to see nine or more short stories.

Sir, Yes, Sir!

Grrr, Imrahil

 

[Lizards of Renown]

Mahrlect, I knew I made a typo in the OP, I didn't realize I made a typo in the headline.

Anyway I hope everyone is clear now and everyone likes the prompt.

I am probably not going to enter a contest myself because I am concerned I might accidentally win and have to name the next contest prompt, so I am counting on all of you to step up.

I'd like to see nine or more short stories.

Well, in case you're interested in my opinion I think you should enter. For me the contest is all about creativity and diversity. Your stories are always a key part of that.

(and your world building)

 

[Infinity Turtle]

Ahhh yes... my opportunity to write a Jeremy Wade fan fiction at last

 

[Imrahil]

I might have an idea for a story, but I am not sure I can pull it off.

Grrr, Imrahil

 

[Lizards of Renown]

I might have an idea for a story, but I am not sure I can pull it off.

Grrr, Imrahil

 

[Imrahil]

View attachment 89998

I will try my best

Grrr, Imrahil

 

[Lizards of Renown]

Okay, so I've finished the story... I don't really know how I feel about it... Going to do my edits and then just submit I think...

 

[Imrahil]

That's an early entry
Good work

Grrr, Imrahil