FLASH "SPEED" CHALLENGE: Sept '11

[kailhofer]

Speed Writing Challenge:



Usually, I throw out an idea planned to make you think and twist ideas around for a few days until it works for you. I'm changing it up this time. Let's try a challenge based on how fast you can write!

Below will be a prompt, a very general one. Use it to inspire you in whatever direction it takes you. You have 2 hours (on your honor) to write all you can about that prompt as you see it, but the 1,000 word limit still applies.




























Your prompt is:

Dark Matter



REQUIREMENTS: (1) You get 2 hours from the time you read the prompt to write your story, as much as you can. Send it as is at the end of the 2 hours. That you can't go back and polish it is a part of the challenge; (2) 1,000 words or less, not counting title, byline, or "The End"; (3) The characters, setting, and story must be fictional and not previously published, even in these challenges; (4) One entry per author; (5) Give your story a title and a byline; and (6) Keep it clean. Rated 'PG-13'. (Basically, think, "Could I see this on CSI?", which allows a lot, really.)

CHARACTERS & SETTING: No copyrighted characters or settings, or references thereto. Famous, non-copyrighted fictional characters like Santa Claus, or religious figures such as the Devil, named angels such as Gabriel, or gods like Thor, etc. as supporting characters at best and at my discretion. The Wicked Witch and Dracula may be in the public domain, but don't expect me to allow them. No person that was ever a "real life" human being may be used as a character, but can be referred to, as in "President Kennedy had declared it would be so." Except as noted above under non-copyrighted fictional persons, character names may not be copied from fiction or real life, even if changed, i.e. Char-les Darween. All non-copyrighted settings are ok. Famous, unique sites like Stonehenge may be used over and again. No fan fiction or sequels, so don't bother putting your story in the Land of Oz or that great place you thought up two challenges ago.

DISQUALIFICATIONS/REFUSALS: If, in my judgment, any requirement or rule is missed, I won't post the story for voting, but authors are free to resubmit with changes until the deadline. Should a story be initially accepted and posted in the challenge, but then later judged by me to be in violation, the story may be disqualified and removed from contention at any time before contest end. Authors who feel a story may be in violation should send me a PM and state their case.

HOW TO ENTER: Stories must be sent by PRIVATE MESSAGE, and NOT posted into a thread. Just click the 'PM' button at the bottom of this post and paste your story in the message. You are responsible for doing your own formatting, and leave an extra line between paragraphs, just like when you see them in the 'zine. I will allow different colors, but not changed fonts or sizes, artwork, or any other embedded or external links.

DO NOT send a regular email to me.

Stories will be posted "blind"--without the author's name on them. All the story titles are literally tossed into a pith helmet and chosen at in random order. When the poll closes after the voting week, I'll post a list of the stories and who wrote them. All entries will then be reposted in the Flash Archive with the author's byline.

Entries from new authors are strongly encouraged. C'mon. Give it a try!

NOTE: ONLY REGISTERED MEMBERS who have posted at least one message may submit a story. Without that one post, the system will not let you send a PM.

DEADLINE: Stories should be in by 9 p.m. Central Standard Time (GMT-6), Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011. The stories will then be posted for voting by 10 p.m. Voting will close on Sunday, Oct. 2 at approximately 9 p.m., GMT-6.

NEW! VOTING: This challenge will also use the new, trial voting system. Voters will be provided a list of the stories that are entered in the challenge. Voters will rank the entries from best to worst and send the ranked list to me via PM. A point will be awarded to each story for whatever position they are given. The winning story will be the one which received the fewest points.

For example, three stories are entered, (called A, B, & C for this example) and are ranked by a voter. That voter gives story A 1st place, Story C second place, and story B last place. A gets 1 point. C gets 2 points. B gets 3 points. The next voters will do likewise. The lowest total score wins.

Every effort will be made to keep the voting fair. In the past, some voters have abstained from voting for some of the stories while voting for the others. Since total points scored decided the winner, this put the stories that weren't voted on at a disadvantage. Therefore “skipped” stories will be given marks equaling whatever the story's average is at the time of contest close. A challenge entrant who does not vote for the other stories will receive a 30% increase in their own score at the time of contest close, and the other stories will be given marks equaling whatever their story's average is at the time of contest close. Authors may not rank their own story.

If more than two stories are tied at the end of voting, there will be a succession of one-day runoff votes until a single winner is chosen or the number of winners is reduced to two.

WHAT YOU WIN: Writers get improved short fiction skills, increasing their chances in the marketplace, without the lengthy investment in time a longer story would take. That, as well as bragging rights and pride--there is stiff competition each month amongst some great stories.

LEGAL STUFF: I'll try to do my best lawyer impersonation: By entering this challenge you are technically granting Aphelion: The Webzine of Science Fiction and Fantasy perpetual electronic rights only to post and archive your challenge entry. Aphelion would rather not lay any claim on them at all, but by posting them on a public site, they'd legally count as being published no matter what.

Ok. A real lawyer would have been less interesting. I tried.

[Lester Curtis]

I wasn't able to participate -- my internet went out somewhen between Thursday night and Friday morning -- just got it running again within the last hour.

Not sure if I would have been up to this -- looking at the topic, I think I'd have spent the two hours staring at it.

Oh, well.