Hosted by the Crime Writers Writing Hole:
What: A short piece of fiction, limit 25,000 words, in the crime/mystery/thriller genre. (In response to a comment seen below, the suggested minimum word count is 2000, and the bare miminum hovers around 1700. Most submissions will probably be between 3500 and 10000 words but if you are one of those people who can't shut up on paper, (like me) then please adhere to the maximum limit) Must be in first person the whole way through, only one character speaking. Here's the catch-the character speaking has to be one of the villains, or badguys, or whatever you want to call him/her. It has to be titled, have a beginning middle and end, and follow Freytag's pyramid, at least roughly. IN THE TITLE WINDOW, MAKE SURE TO WRITE CWWH CONTEST-YOUR TITLE.
Who: YOU! Post to as many groups as you like but IT MUST BE POSTED TO THE CRIME WRITERS GROUP.
How: Entries will be judged on CREATIVITY/UNIQUENESS, CHARACTER (the one you're writing from the POV of; believability, etc.), PROSE/STYLE, and COMMENTS. Only comments posted after the deadline will be considered, and only one comment per user, in order to ensure fairness.
Why: Just because. It's fun to write, read, and vote.
When: This is the new deadline. Originally it was Dec. 25, then Feb. 19. Entry deadline is now Aug. 3. Voting (which is really comments and me reading and whatnot) ends Aug. 31. Winners will be notified in September as well as announced.
Where: The Crime Writers Writing Hole
Oh yeah, and make the font readable. Goes without saying. Any other questions, comment here. One other thing to note: only the first fifty or so entries will be accepted.
AND as of APR. 20, there is no prize being offered except getting to see lots of author's critique's on your work who write in the same genre. Get outside your comfort zone a little. In the near future, a material prize may be announced; however it is unlikely.
Update: Now there is one entry to this contest so far. If you want to be considered, please post away. The deadline has been changed, allowing for candidates focused on the Crime FC contest to enter.
For Help with Plot, Character, Voice: Feel free to post a public comment or send a private mesage. Please put my name in the message so I know it is not a mass email. Thank you.
to groups: !!! They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha Ha Ho Ho He He Post Anything Group !!!, *~* We won't tell you what you can & can't post here, if you don't tell us what we can & can't post on Gather (unless you run Gather). Now, let's all write our lil hearts out and/or have some fun! ~*~, A Place for Opinions, All Posts Welcome!!!, Any Article, Image, Poem, Story or First Chapters Reject, Authors' Meeting Place, Bartok Fans, Creativity, ESCAPE FROM BOREDOM!, Fiction Addiction, Gather Essentials: Writing, Go ahead ~ POST, POST, POST !, Nonconformists, None of Us Are Utilitarians But We'll Debate Ethics With You Anyways, Poetically Incorrect, Poets and Writers, Red Serenity-Pasta Lovers Unite, SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY, TELL A JOKE, READ A JOKE!, The Book Nook, The Crime Writers Writing Hole, The FC Fan Club, The Reader's Lounge, Writers Get Noticed, Writing because we can tags: short fiction, crime contest, cwwh, ylanne sorrows, crime, flash fiction fiction, short story, contest, writer, crime writers, crime fiction, author, writing, writing contest
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Comments: 27
other kinds like that they give me nightdreams
very bad ones.
Just Me
Barbie
Try to reedit rules. Thanks
what's the prize?
So consider having fun writing, writing in areas and ways you haven't before, and receiving honest critiques from writers and readers your prize unless/until an even better prize can be announced.
Thanks, Ylanne
Okay, I think I get it. I'm sending this link to a newly formed crime writers' group called "The Criminal Element" to see if some of us would like to participate.
I know you've answered this, but just so I understand: the total maximum of the story is going to be in one posting; it can be up to 25,000.
The entry deadline is now Feb. 18 and the winner will be announced in April. And this is just for comments and bragging rights. Sounds like fun. (btw, you pronounce your name "Elaine"? --Laz
As for "colorful language" words such as h*** and d*** are probably okay, and others, such as b****, s***, and f*** generally are not. As long as these words are between 1 and 5 % of dialogue, it should be okay, but try to keep it PG 13.
You didn't ask, but for nudity, brief or mild nudity is okay. If there is a rape scene, keep it to a minimum, without nasty details, and if there is a sex scene ... ditto. Hope this helps! If you need clarification on anything I said, you can reply or drop me a message, with my name in the subject line.
-Ylanne
P.S. Thanks for your interest.
But, I'm looking forward to judging...if we're the judges that is...and if no one minds my critiques.
Good luck everyone!
I,too, am "coming off" NaNoWriMo so this will give me a chance to see what I can do.
I would like to say sorry for taking a while to get to your article. I have been away from gather for a while and I am finally getting to the 3000 plus emails I have awaiting me on here to go through. so I am starting from the most recent received to the first I ever received.... So now I am finally able to read your piece. Thank you for sending me the link to this article.
Now second thing:
Hopefully everyone had fun while they were plsaying this contest... Good luck to everyone...
Thanks,