May Story Contest: Rebirth

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BC Story Contest

Sponsored by Asche

That the Merry Month of May not pass without a story contest, I am hereby sponsoring a Story Contest. The theme:

Rebirth

Here in the northern part of the northern hemisphere, it's spring. Flowers are blooming, trees are starting to sprout leaves, the days are longer and warmer.

It's time for stories about lives coming back to life, too. Stories about despair being replaced by hope, however fragile. People having experiences that give them the idea that life is worth living after all. Doors seemingly padlocked shut opening, even if only a crack.

The rules are similar to Melanie's February mini-contest:

  • Be posted to the site for the first time between May 1 and May 28. (I take forever to write stories, so I'm giving other people time, too.)
  • Be a single, complete post: no serials, multi-chapter stories, etc. No word limit, though.
  • Stand on its own. If it references characters from another series/story, they must be explained enough to make the entry work without having read the source story.

You can put "Rebirth:" in the title, though Erin has promised to add a contest category at some point.

Judging will be based on Kudo counts, since I have no clue about judging.

The prize is a 3-month Hatbox subscription. (Someone else, maybe Erin, will have to figure out the details about how this works, since I've never had a subscription myself.)

Edited to add:

Erin has added a contest tag for this contest. Be sure to tag your story with it, so we won't overlook it.

Comments

Are you a DC fan?

"DC: Rebirth" also begins next month. If this isn't related, then it's a funny coincidence.

What's "DC"?

What is "DC"? (Other than "direct current," I mean.)

DC Comics

They're the American comic book publisher responsible for Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and many other popular characters. "Rebirth" is their attempt to find a successful approach for their storytelling universe.

Probably Not a Coincidence

Daphne Xu's picture

Even if they're unrelated, it's probably not coincidence. May is commonly viewed as the month of rebirth.

I might manage a story, but the way I've been writing these days, fat chance of that.

-- Daphne Xu

I am still busy and still

I am still busy and still struggling with rsi. I have a couple stories I'd like to write, and the first part of the first story would fit.

If I get it done in time, can I submit something that should work as a stand-alone story, even if I plan to rework it into part of a longer story?

As long as it works as a stand-alone

Turning a singleton story into a longer work is an old and established tradition in literature, so I'd say it's not a problem.

What matters is that the story works without having to read another story first, and reaches a satisfactory conclusion without having to read a sequel. (So no cliff-hangers.)

Thanks. Having some other

Thanks. Having some other trouble, so I may not make the deadline, but I have added a bit. I hope to get the first short story done in the next couple months.

Multiple stories?

Ragtime Rachel's picture

In the (however unlikely) event I have more than one idea I want to use, am I allowed to submit more than one story?

Livin' A Ragtime Life,
aufder.jpg

Rachel

The more, the merrier

Since the point of a contest is to get lots of good stories, I'd say yes. If you manage to write two, or three, or a dozen new stories, so much the better.

Hmm, I've had a serial idea

thliwent's picture

Hmm, I've had a serial idea on this theme running in my head for a while, maybe I can find a way to compress it down...

I have a couple of questions

bobbie-c's picture

Hi.

I have a couple of questions, if that's okay -

I have a story that I might be able to complete soon, and am thinking of joining this contest. But I fear that my legendary slow pace in writing might mean it might be a photo-finish to the the posting deadline. So, here are my two questions:

one - If I post before midnight, May 28th EST, does that mean my story still qualifies?

two - If I do post at such a late date, how long will the period to accumulate kudos be? If the time's too short, then I might as well not enter as I won't have enough time to have a fighting chance to win.

I guess that's it.

Thank you for organizing this contest.

 

To read my old Working Girl Blogs, click this link -
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/19261/working-girl-blogs
To read all of my blogs, click this link -
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/blog/bobbie-c
To read my stories in BCTS, click this link -
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/14775/roberta-j-cabot
To see my profile and know more about me, click this link -
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/user/bobbie-c

Hadn't really thought about that

I haven't thought about stories that get submitted close to the deadline. Maybe one of the more experienced contest organizers can suggest something?

Again, the goal is to get lots of good stories, so IMHO any change to the rules that promotes that is a good thing.

My experience

erin's picture

My experience is that a week or so is enough time for most all the kudos a solo story is going to get. Call it ten days. So if counting the kudos after ten days is good, then that is probably what should happen.

Hugs,
Erin

= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.

I'll take that as an official addendum to the rules then.

bobbie-c's picture

Thanks, Erin.

I'll take that as an official new rule for the contest then - that the kudos count will be done ten days after May 28, i.e. end of June 7, 2016.

(Please do correct me if my assumption is wrong.)

Now, I might have a fighting chance to win. lol - haven't been too lucky with BCTS contests, y'know.

Again, thank you for organizing this contest.

 

To read my old Working Girl Blogs, click this link -
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/19261/working-girl-blogs
To read all of my blogs, click this link -
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/blog/bobbie-c
To read my stories in BCTS, click this link -
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/14775/roberta-j-cabot
To see my profile and know more about me, click this link -
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/user/bobbie-c