FLASH CHALLENGE: May '12

[kailhofer]

The "Murder Most Foul" Challenge:



There's another $20 up for grabs this month, so I added some extra difficulty. I'll explain later, below...


Crime fiction--and in particular the murder mystery--is a basic staple in books, movies, and television. From Doyle's novels about Sherlock Holmes, to ABC's television drama Castle, to even Sean Connery in the SF movie Outland, audiences love to see a murder solved. (If Outland is too old for your recollection, try the more recent films Minority Report or Will Smith in I, Robot.) It should stand to reason that mass market appeal means an opportunity.

As writers we should know how to write for this market so we can potentially get paid from another source. Step one is, of course, figuring out how to do that, and that's really the goal this month for all of us as we grow and gain experience.

I've mentioned those Speculative Fiction movies for a purpose: murder mysteries can be SF, too, and that's what will be required in this challenge. Most of you should feel comfortable in SF. However, your murder mystery will need to be a flash story, where there's little to no room, so that's where the extra level of difficulty comes in. You're skilled writers, but this is an area we've never tried here.

Here are a few short cuts I think you'll need to complete things: first; the murder already happened. Second, the individual murdered was Skekko, a somewhat disreputable, but well-connected, merchant from an alien birdlike species. She had many enemies here on Earth, where she lived. Third, your main character, a human detective, knew Skekko and her habits well from previous arrests and attempted convictions.

(The obvious joke is why didn't I call it Murder Most Fowl instead, but let's not go there, ok?)

About the money, Michele Dutcher, who won the $20 U.S. cash prize for last month's challenge, is daring you to "bring it" by offering up her winnings to the person who wins the vote this time. She doesn't think you can beat her, and she's putting her money where her mouth is. Take away the prize, payable via Paypal direct from Michele, by winning this challenge... if you can.



REQUIREMENTS: (1) Your Speculative Fiction murder mystery must put a human detective on track to try and solve the murder a birdlike alien. The details are described in the "short cuts" paragraph above; (2) Parody pieces and comedies will not be accepted this time. Some comedic elements are ok, but that's the limit; (3) You must have at least two characters that "talk" to each other in some fashion. (4) 1,000 words or less, not counting title, byline, or "The End"; (5) The characters, setting, and story must be fictional and not previously published, even in these challenges; (6) One entry per author; (7) Give your story a title and a byline; and (8) Keep it clean. Rated 'PG-13'. (Basically, think, "Could I see this on CSI?" That 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-less 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), Monday, May 28, 2012. The stories will then be posted for voting at 10 p.m. Voting will close on Sunday, June 3 at approximately 9 p.m., GMT-6.

VOTING: Stories are rated on a scale of 0-10 in whole numbers in 6 different categories by filling in scores in a form that is posted by me immediately following the post containing the stories for this challenge. Voters copy and paste the form into a PM and send it to me for tallying. One vote per user (that is, per ip address), and authors may not vote for their own story.

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 decides the winner, this put the stories that weren't voted on at a disadvantage. Should this happen again, the skipped stories will be given marks equaling whatever the story's average is at the time of contest close. IF YOU WISH TO SCORE A ZERO FOR A STORY, YOU MUST ENTER A ZERO IN THAT POSITION ON THE VOTING FORM. A challenge entrant who does not vote for the other stories will receive a 10% deduction 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.

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.

Any monies paid to the winner do not in any way transfer ownership of the winning story. The story belongs solely to the author and Aphelion: The Webzine of Science Fiction and Fantasy retains rights to use the story as listed above. Transfer of funds is the responsibility of Michele Dutcher. Last she told me, she wanted to do a Paypal transfer. We're not involved, so leave both me and Aphelion out of that.

[Megawatts]

Looks like a gooood one! This time, I'm agong to get one in. Had some complications from my operation, but finally, recovery is now on the fast-track.


I rather have a broken arm than abdominal surgery!!!

[Robert_Moriyama]

Sounds interesting.

I might just take a shot at it.

Besides, how many opportunities will there be for taking Michele's money?

Better watch it, Lady. That avatar comes dangerously close to being dressed in a hoodie. . . .

Bill

Good new,bad news. Good news: It's not a hoodie. Bad news: IT'S NOT AN OUTFIT. It's debbilhide.

[Lester Curtis]

Sounds interesting.

I might just take a shot at it.

Besides, how many opportunities will there be for taking Michele's money?

Better watch it, Lady. That avatar comes dangerously close to being dressed in a hoodie. . . .

Bill

Good new,bad news. Good news: It's not a hoodie. Bad news: IT'S NOT AN OUTFIT. It's debbilhide.

Really?! And all this time I thought it was Naugahyde . . .

[Robert_Moriyama]

Sounds interesting.

I might just take a shot at it.

Besides, how many opportunities will there be for taking Michele's money?

Better watch it, Lady. That avatar comes dangerously close to being dressed in a hoodie. . . .

Bill

Good new,bad news. Good news: It's not a hoodie. Bad news: IT'S NOT AN OUTFIT. It's debbilhide.

Really?! And all this time I thought it was Naugahyde . . .

Definition of Naugahyde:

1) Evil alter-ego of NaugaJekyll
2) What the Naugasentry says when it sees Naugahunters approaching

[kailhofer]

That's 4 accepted so far, and some pretty good ones in there, too.

Come out, come out, wherever you are!

[Lester Curtis]

Well, I just sent an entry, at the last possible moment. Hope the Gnome gets it in time. And okays it.

. . . unless I got the time zones wrong . . .

. . . and, I just noticed I'm a day earlier than I thought I was. Wow. Glad I wasn't late.