I noticed that we used to have short story competitions here not so long ago now and was just wondering if they are going to start up again?

You could do either short story or fast fiction pieces. Just thought I would throw that out there and see what other people think.

~Torana

Sounds like a good idea I wouldn't mind a crack at it.

Sounds great to me. I don't really get very inspired to write poetry; I came here to improve my prose.

I think its a great idea, and I don't see any problem with it at all. Would it work in the same way as the poetry contest? With like a week (give or take) to write a story on a specific theme and then vote?

I could also see short story competitions with directed themes, like the recent Afterlife competition (which was over before I joined)

Well I think maybe fortnightly for the story ones, but really you would have to get suggestions on that from the members that write short stories here.
But yeah you would run it basically like the poetry contests, I think the old short story contest thread are still in the same forum as the poetry contests to give you an idea on how they should be done.

~Torana

Okies, how about if I add a poll to this about how long they should be left open?

I participated in a few, back when they were still done weekly, and wouldn't mind lending a hand that way.
They were weekly, and were limited to about 500-1025 words-ish.

I'm thinking maybe making it a nice round 2 weeks... with 10 days to write one and submit it and then 4 days to vote. What do people think to that? Went ahead and added a poll, so you can vote for how long you want :)

Well I think it is a great idea. ^ ^

It was set-up as a week both ways, back when I did it. A week to week to vote. Personally, I think the only change that should be made is that as soon voting begins, start another competition to go while the other is still being voted on.

Also, a member, who is still relativity active, was put in charge of them way back when, so we should probably talk to him.

Since Hulls raven has done the others Will Hulls raven be running this one too?

I don't know, we could wait for him to get back and ask him or I could run it until then? Who used to run them?

Shperical Time used to run them, but I think the best bet is to get them up and running and maybe ask a member in the forum to run them for if the mods don't have time.
But I would say to get them up and running if there is enough call for it and you can sort out who is going to continue running them at a later date possibly.

Yeah, that sounds fine to me :)

I'll leave this poll open for another day, just to see what people think about how long they should have and anything else they want to say and then i'll set it up provided there are no objections.

I'm thinking maybe making it a nice round 2 weeks... with 10 days to write one and submit it and then 4 days to vote. What do people think to that? Went ahead and added a poll, so you can vote for how long you want :)

Sounds just right to me. Enough time to develop an idea, write it, mull it over, revise it, and revise it again; but still short enough to keep the creative pressure on.

Two weeks is the best thought gives us ideas. You'll have to ask Hulls Raven when he gets back this is usually his field

I don't think he'd mind if we started without him, besides it was only yesterday you lot were complaining that he's the only one that does anything...

True enough. But in his credit we ask for things and he does get straight on the ball and sort the threads out. Its just strange his abscence has never been 6 days long.

Well I agree.

I also think its best we do a two weekly cycle because remember someone has to read the stories and write them its not like poetry 5 mins and finish stories take longer so i say we opt for a 14 day cycle.

I think that 2 weeks would be good, gives everyone a chance to join in that way.

No, bad reviewer, bad. No es chatspeek. lol.

I think its pretty clear that most of you want it to be two weeks, but is that two weeks to actually write and submit your story, or two weeks including voting? :)

2 weeks it is then.

I think that 2 weeks all up would be fine Kit.

Yes, a full 2 week cycle, so we don't have a creeping start/end day of the week. 10 days submission, 4 days voting. At least, that's what I would vote for.

Ok that's what we'll do :) I'm gonna have a look through the old posts for the rules we used to use and how we used to do it and will either post one up tonight or in the morning. If anyone has any other suggestions lemme no.

Now might be a good time to decide on a theme. Like returning from a long absence...

Yeah... I meant to ask about that? Do you guys pick a theme or do I? Any theme suggestions? :P

Spherical, if I recall, usually just asked people, or, like when eragon came out, took from pop-culture.

I have a half decent prompt/theme thing... what do people of think of this:


Write about somebody who has just been fired from their last job, and is at a low point in their life, finding new inspiration in an unlikely place or in the form of a new hobby.

Too specific/not specific enough?
Not a good theme?

It was usually pretty vague, which left room for plenty of interpretation.

Hulls raven was always the best person for picking themes.

You need to pick a theme that will entise members to write and want to write. Personally losing a job just doesn't do it for me. Plus Hulls Raven always asked people to pm him a theme if they had any ideas. and to be fair that has always worked for all of us.

Yeah i agree job loss is kinda weird for a theme. Like haunter said you need a theme that will want to make some one write a short story. Think about what Hulls Raven would have put. maybe look at some of the themes he's already done.

Didn't Raven always ask other members what they'd like. Usually Tornana was one to give him themes if memory serves me well on the poetry it would say courtousy of tornana if she'd added any ideas maybe ask her for a theme been a reviewer. Other than that yeah look on what Raven or Sperical have already done for a good theme.

Here they are:
Dreams
Last Moments alive
Homeless people
Angels
A soldiers return

A soldiers return thats a good theme.

I beleve Raven is a soldier that will explain that theme.

I agree a soldiers return is a good theme but then so is the dreams theme I can already get an idea from something Nightmarish shall we say

Id go with Dreams too.

Umm, we aren't limited to what has already been done here, guys. How about a new idea? Preferably, something vague.

Whatever

Umm, we aren't limited to what has already been done here, guys. How about a new idea? Preferably, something vague.

Eh No.

How about we stick with dreams thats a really good one and was very popular with the poetry contest.

Whatever

Ok, that's pretty vague...

Dreams is a damn good theme.

I agree dreams is a good theme and it leaves it open to whatever you want to write.

I'm sorry if it seems like i'm just coming in and changing everything, the job loss thing was just a suggestion I was mailed and it was the only one I got so I just assumed nobody else had a suggestion...coz I did say to lemme no if you had one. I'm not trying to take over anything Raven did, i'm just trying to keep things active in his absense.

So shall we keep the theme as "dreams"? Or is there anything to add or suggest from anyone?

I could set us up with another short story contest... but if I did it'd probably last a month or two, but there'd be a small cash prize.

I'll get on this soon. :P

I don't think that a new theme could hurt...

Dreams is good.
Lpspiders idea is far better makes the competition a little more worth while and helps give the inspiration some flow.

Actually the comp that would last a month or two would be better and people would write better for the competitions and the prize. :p

...We could do both.

You set up the competition and I'll be there. But I'd prefer about 14 days, to give people a chance to get prepared, write, and edit.

Lpspider I think you have made a wonderful suggestion with the forum having a shirt story competition that runs over a month.

I think if we ran both then it would keep everyone happy, one for a major competition and one for just a casual and fun competition just as an excercise like the poetry competitions.

Either way I think it that the members here that write short stories will just be happy to have competitions for them to be honest...

~Torana

Sorry if I seem pushy or annoying with this but I am just wondering when this will be starting up..

I've just been reading this thread and think its a very good idea. I also thought why not have the reviewers judge the short stories the ones that are writing for the cash prize. Since were reviewers I thought we'd be a good choice to offer a great deal of advice to the others.

About the weekly comp:

1. Do we want to do the short story competition, or not?
2. How long do we want it to be, words wise?
3. Do we really want to do dreams again? 'Cause if we do, I will post something barely considerably a dream.
4. I'd like to get this going Monday, if that's okay with you guys.

I think that there is enough members here that would like to see the short story competitions start back up. I think between 100 - 1500 words would be the best way to go with the word count.
Not so sure about the dreams theme, but there are a lot of themes out there to pick from so it shouldn't be too hard to come up with one for the short stories competitions.
I also think that starting them up on Monday would be a great idea.

~Torana

Okay, well here is what I envisioned.

A short story contest with a $25 prized that is based off of a picture that I select. The contest would run for 2 months and the word length would be between 500 and 3000 words. I would select the "top ten" entries and we'd have a public poll.

That's what I had planned. However, if the majority of you would prefer something else, that's fine too.

Well I think that sounds rather good to be honest. I think that selecting a picture for the entrants to write a short story about is a great idea personally.

I think that your idea is great and should definately be started up.
I think members are also interested in having a weekly or fortnightly one though. Is it possible to have both short story competitions running?

...I don't see why not.

I want to do them that's for sure!! But I'd like to see good topics to write about, that are both fun and all. Topics that that will bring out the good in everyone. Sorry I'm not being very clear does anyone know what I mean? LOL

Well, we do have the weekly poetry contest... so would you be interested in having the same thing, only for short stories?

I think that's the general consensus.

With it been weekly then the stories would have to be considerably shorter especially for a weekly voting sense because you don't get as long to vote and stories a far bigger than poems so might i suggest if we have a weekly short story contest we have a word max count of no more than 1500 words remember to get a far vote not everyones going to want to read anything bigger.

As for weekly themes thats the easy part it'd be like the poetry contest.
Someone picks a theme and thats it.

If your all interested something can be started by the end of this week.





~Raven.

I disagree with the 1,500 words thing.

I don't. For a weekly thing this is very long in itself. what about lower it to say 1000 words.

Well the old short story competitions were 500 to 1500, so maybe go with that. It doesn't mean everyone has to write something 1500 words.
But I guess being weekly maybe having 1000 words would be better, if only running for seven days that is, but if it went for longer than maybe it would be easier for some members to have the time to post something a bit longer, say around 1500 words.

I think anything upto 1500 is just right.
when will this start and what will the weekly winner achieve. who will run this also.

I think anything upto 1500 is just right.
when will this start and what will the weekly winner achieve. who will run this also.

Well, it will probably be run my myself or a moderator. The "prize" would simply be the satisfaction of winning and perhaps getting their story stickied on the top of the short story forum. I'm open to suggestions though ( (I just can't afford a weekly prize, that's all)

Which Moderator will be Running this contest.

Ferret Will be Running the Short Story Weekly Contest so all questions should be directed to him.




~Raven.

When will this contest be starting anyhow?

When will this contest be starting anyhow?

The weekly short story contest should start either this week or next.

The bigger, two-month contest will be run by me and will probably start sometime this week.

Thankyou for letting us all know and I look forward to them starting up and will try my hand at entering into the weekly one.

~Torana

In a few minutes...
It will run for one week, and voting will run for one week.
The theme will be dreams, which leave room for whatever you guys want, and all of this is will up for debate in the thread...

The 2 month short story contest can be found here (http://www.writingforums.org/showthread.php?p=42505#post42505).

Furthermore, the weekly short story contest can be found here (http://www.writingforums.org/showthread.php?p=42485#post42485).

Just a little reminder to ya'll. You asked for it and we gave - but there hasn't been a terrible amount of interest yet. Enter!