June Prose Competition Information

[Mordecai]

What is the Prose Competition?

Thank you to @Dusky


@Dusky):[/b] By its literal definition, a "prompt" is something which brings about something else. In this context, a "prompt" is something which an entrant is meant to use as inspiration for their entry. So, using that image as a prompt means looking at it, getting an idea from it, and using that idea. There's nothing that says the idea has to exactly mirror some or all elements of the picture; the only thing that is truly necessary is that we can see, within your work, how it may have come from the picture.


Update

Due to some confusion and the sheer amount of interest we've had, we have decided to make a separate entry thread Here! Please submit all of your entries to that thread instead of this one. If you have already posted your entry here, don't worry.... it has been received and you do not need to repost it unless you would like to!

​

 

[DrTrollinski]

I really hate to sound like an idiot, but I don't understand the prompt at all. Could someone explain?

 

[Dagfinn]

I really hate to sound like an idiot, but I don't understand the prompt at all. Could someone explain?

I've seen this idea submitted before


The very basic idea is that there are liquid emotions in a bottle, usually to drink to change how you feel


I suppose kind of like a drug


You could interpret it differently if you like, that's just how I understand it to be.

 

[Mordecai]

I really hate to sound like an idiot, but I don't understand the prompt at all. Could someone explain?

So, the image on the right side of the prompt (inside the spoiler tag) shows medicinal vials of different emotions: love, happiness, joy. Use that image to inspire a story that is 750-1,000 words long. It can be taken literately, like doctors injecting patients with emotions, or figuratively, like people faking their emotions to fit the situation that they are in. Those are just two very broad examples, but there are endless possibilities. Does that answer your question at all?

 

[DrTrollinski]

So, the image on the right side of the prompt (inside the spoiler tag) shows medicinal vials of different emotions: love, happiness, joy. Use that image to inspire a story that is 750-1,000 words long. It can be taken literately, like doctors injecting patients with emotions, or figuratively, like people faking their emotions to fit the situation that they are in. Those are just two very broad examples, but there are endless possibilities. Does that answer your question at all?

Ohhhh... Okay, that makes more sense. Thank you both for your answers

 

[grey987]

Man, I am really excited for this. Time to get my writing skills on ( )

 

[The Creator Prime]

As per my previous experience with prose they tend to be sentences- what I would assume you guys want is for us to write a short story with only proses, or?

 

[Hux]

Do we have to incorperate all elements given to us? Otherwise this is a great idea for everyone to practice their writing skills!

 

[Mordecai]

As per my previous experience with prose they tend to be sentences- what I would assume you guys want is for us to write a short story with only proses, or?

So long as it is between 750 and 1,000 words, it can be written in any style you'd like: novel prose, script, epic poem, etc.

Do we have to incorperate all elements given to us? Otherwise this is a great idea for everyone to practice their writing skills!

Nope! If you only one to pull one element from the image prompt, that is fine, as well.

 

[The Creator Prime]

So long as it is between 750 and 1,000 words, it can be written in any style you'd like: novel prose, script, epic poem, etc.
Nope! If you only one to pull one element from the image prompt, that is fine, as well.

I'll get on it then.

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

Following the start of the competition, you will post your entries (one per participant) into this thread or in a private conversation to @Mordecai. At the end of the month (June 30th and 11:59 PM CST), no more entries will be accepted. The judges will then review the entries and vote on the winner.

Wouldn't it be more fair if everyone's submissions were sent to Mordecai exclusively, who would then let the judges read the stories without disclosing which story belongs to which author? You know, to guarantee they are completely unbiased and objective *woof*

 

[Auren]

@Mordecai Can I post it in the prose section and link it here or in PM?


EDIT: OR, if I post it on wattpad or somewhere else and link it in PMs, would that be alright?


 


[QUOTE="Wolf Rawrrr]Wouldn't it be more fair if everyone's submissions were sent to Mordecai exclusively, who would then let the judges read the stories without disclosing which story belongs to which author? You know, to guarantee they are completely unbiased and objective *woof*

[/QUOTE]
I agree with this too xD

 

[Mordecai]

@Mordecai Can I post it in the prose section and link it here or in PM?
 



I agree with this too xD

Let me talk with the other judges and see what they have to say. (: It's great feedback and an interesting point. Thanks for bringing it up!


@Auren - You may certainly do that! Just make sure to link me in PM or in this thread somehow so it doesn't get lost.

 

[zCrookedz]

when can we begin submitting our stories?

 

[The Creator Prime]

when can we begin submitting our stories?

That's mentioned in the post.

 

[Heartbreakvibes]

niiiiiiiice im excited!!

 

[zCrookedz]

That's mentioned in the post.

As helpful as that is, all i see is that it ends on June 3oth.

 

[Mordecai]

"Following the start of the competition, you will post your entries (one per participant) into this thread or in a private conversation to @Mordecai."


(: You can post whenever, @zCrookedz


It's a bit unclear. I'll fix it.

 

[Absurdisan]

This is going to be fun on a bun! I looked forward to reading people's entries (if they are posted here instead of messaged to Mordy).

 

[Hux]

I agree with Wolf that the submissions should be private. @Mordecai could posted them publically after the competition with the user's consent.

 

[Spazzycat101]

Aww... Only a thousand words?


Hmm....


Can we write extra portions that are optional to read but help clarify things if they're too foggy for lack of detail? Or no?

 

[SkyGinge]

@SpazztastiCat101 : You are free to continue your story outside of the competiton, and outside of this thread; I already know of somebody who's planning to enter in a prologue-like post for this and then continue the story afterwards. If it's for the purpose of clarification however... bear into account that we'd only judge from the 1000 words and hence we wouldn't judge from the clarification, rendering it useless imo. But don't worry; you'll find that 1000 words, should you use them wisely, should be fine

 

[Hux]

@Wolf Rawrrr @Auren @Hux : We've discussed the suggestion and have decided against implementing it. We feel like, whilst in theory it would reduce bias, we are capable of judging in an unbiased manner. The idea of the competition is also so that everybody gets to enjoy and share their writing should they so choose (and for those who don't want it public, the option to PM Morde is available), promoting creativity and the like, and don't want the competition to turn into a hush-hush kind of thing. It was a very good suggestion however, and thanks for raising it!

I have to disagree with that. I'm not trying to say the judges are going to be extremely biased. But everyone does has some form of bias regardless of how objective they are. People like certain adjectives, adverbs, names, and nouns on a subconscience level. Reducing the amount of bias where we can would the most fair thing we can do. You may know some users that you personally like, and while I don't doubt you'll try to reduce bias it will still have some sway no matter how minor it is. Also the writings can be posted publically after the competition so everyone could read each others work.

 

[Spazzycat101]

@SpazztastiCat101 : You are free to continue your story outside of the competiton, and outside of this thread; I already know of somebody who's planning to enter in a prologue-like post for this and then continue the story afterwards. If it's for the purpose of clarification however... bear into account that we'd only judge from the 1000 words and hence we wouldn't judge from the clarification, rendering it useless imo. But don't worry; you'll find that 1000 words, should you use them wisely, should be fine

Thanks. I was just wondering, because I've read many a book that is unbelievably cryptict within the first thousand words and more.


Also, does it have to directly relate to the prompt/picture or can it just be a more distant branch, somewhat like the game "Iassociate"?


EDIT: Please excuse typos here. >.<

 

[Elle Joyner]

If you're worried we can't be objective with our judging, you don't have to apply. But ultimately, this is a fun competition and I assure you, we're all quite capable of being fair and balanced.