FLASH CHALLENGE: October '10

[kailhofer]

The "Classic Horror" Challenge:



It's October, and that always gets me thinking about horror stories. Personally, I like classic horror monsters like Zombies, Werewolves, and Vampires. That's not to say that you can't put a modern spin on them like in the movie Zombieland. I liked that a lot.

As a writer, I believe the classics are worthwhile skills to master. After all, modern horror is built on the foundations of classic monsters. However, a big problem with selling to modern horror markets is that they've seen so many attempts at classic horror that they're jaded. It takes a really unique approach to sell them on a classic tale.

Not me. I'll always love to read a good, old-fashioned horror story.

Tell me one.

I challenge you to craft a classic horror story with zombies, werewolves, or vampires, and also make it scary.



RULES



CHALLENGE REQUIREMENTS: (1) Your horror story must contain one of the following: zombies, werewolves, or vampires; (2) Try to make your story scary, if you have the ability; (3) No parodies or comedies, although a funny line or two should be ok; (4) One entry per author; and (5) This is a Rated 'PG-13' challenge. (Yes, I said PG-13. Basically, think, "Could I see this on CSI?" If so, it's ok.)

FORMATTING: 1,000 words or less, not counting title, byline, or "The End". Give your story a title and a byline. 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. You are responsible for doing your own formatting.

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 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. Characters, except as noted above, must be used in their original appearance only. 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 three 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 prior to 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.

DO NOT send a regular email to me.

CONTEST PROCEDURE: Stories will be posted "blind"--without the author's name on them. All the story titles are literally tossed into a hat 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. The winner is chosen based on total points scored. All entries are reposted in the Flash Archive with the author's byline included after the challenge is concluded.

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 may not let you send a PM.

DEADLINE: Stories should be in by 9 p.m. Central Standard Time (GMT-6), Saturday, October 23, 2010. The stories will then be posted for voting somewhere between 10 p.m. and late the next morning. Voting will close on Oct. 30, 2010 at 10 p.m., GMT-6. The winner will be announced on Halloween, Oct. 31.

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: Aphelion will not try to make a dime off you or your stories. Really. We want to see you succeed but nothing about that will line Aphelion's pockets. We love fiction and we love seeing authors get better to the point where people do pay them for their stories. That's why we're in this.

I'll try to do my best lawyer impersonation: By entering this or any 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.

[kailhofer]

I think I need to make it a rule.

Want to criticize or defend my choice of contest? Fine, but you have to do it in original verse.

[Lester Curtis]

Damn, this is almost a better crop of poetry than I usually see in the space reserved for it!

Mark, that was hilarious.

But as for me, alone but for my cat,
I find the horror genre only leaves me flat.
So I will now retire from this stage,
To struggle putting words on a separate page --
And that is that!

[Lester Curtis]

Sergio, it's good to hear you made it back okay and -- no surprise -- that you're busy again. Nicely done video, by the way.

A friend of mine took me to a Renaissance Festival in southern Ohio once, and it was a lot of fun . . . we saw a jousting match (one of the "royal" party even had a live hawk!) and a bunch of other little productions, and walked around drinking pints of ale and gnawing on turkey legs, and got to play at throwing knives and axes and spears and shooting arrows. I did all right with the knives; the arrows were all warped or missing flights and nobody could hit anything with them, and the spear . . . I seriously underestimated how far I could throw that thing. Great fun, though.

Rick -- twice is enough with that poem . . . actually, once was enough. I agree though, we should maybe have a full-on adult-rated competition sometime, just to see how wicked we can be and still have a plot and characterization -- the winner gets to sleep in the wet spot.

[Lester Curtis]

Wet spot? hell, do it on the couch and then go to bed!

Okay -- then the loser gets to clean the upholstery!

[Robert_Moriyama]

protein stains leather

Is that the first line of another poem?

[Lester Curtis]

Gentlemen, there are ladies present, probably, somewhere.

Don't worry, you're invited too -- it wouldn't be as much fun otherwise!

[kailhofer]

Mine is in after the normal 3 million revisions. Just wating on the Ice dome to pass judgement.

When it's from you, I don't even read it until it's revision 4 million, and at least two promised last ones.

[kailhofer]

"She says to throw us off the scent". Sacrificial Gambit anyone?

No, I'll certify that her story is in the running this time.

[kailhofer]

Sergio, I got your story but won't have time to read it until tomorrow.

Having to rebuild my email identity is really eating into the little bit of time I have per day. I had a great idea for a story on this one. Don't know if I'll have time to finish it or not.

Nate

[kailhofer]

Wisconsin Civil War Museum and Natural History Museum in Kenosha,

Wait. You were in Wisconsin and you didn't tell me?

[kailhofer]

Four stories in and accepted. Anyone still interested can send to me until 9 p.m. tonight.

[Lester Curtis]

I had a sudden quick visit from my muse, and just posted a story. Hadn't planned to, but this one wanted told.

Icy Dude, let me know if it passes!

[Lester Curtis]

as I plan to be also in Chicago for a scale model show and Michigan area next year while on holidays I think we'll have enough time to set everything well in advance...

Sounds like an excuse to start saving up for another road trip!

Back on topic -- Nate rejected my story; seems I wasn't traditional enough in my choice of evil critters. Oh well. I can throw it in the short story queue; I might even think about adding a little to it.

Now, I guess I should do my voting.

[Lester Curtis]

Votes are in . . .