1. Stories must be 1000 words or less--no exceptions. I will check this on MSword. If your story is too long, I may email you to say so--it is your job to make sure--but it won't count as an entry until it is !000 words or less.

2. Stories are to be emailed to me as .rtf files. Please don't post anywhere on Hatrack that you have sent it to me, as I am likely to post your thirteen lines shortly after recieving it. If I feel you have endangered the anonymous nature of the competition, I may disqualify you.

3. I will keep people aware of how many entries I have recieved.

4. There will be a period of one month to write your story and email it to me.

5. Email Format is as follows:

Competition Entrant Number --

Story Title --(If you want it bold then format it as such.)

First 13 --(I will post first 13 lines for initial judging.)

Then include the WHOLE of the main story (including a repeat of the first 13). This is because I will have to do a lot of cutting and pasting.

If you fail to email in the correct format, you will simply recieve a reply along the lines of '...read the rules and do it properly--your entry ISN'T ENTERED UNTIL IT'S DONE CORRECTLY...'

6. Voting will initially be on the first 13. Each entrant will be able to select the ONE intro they think creates the greatest desire to read on. This vote will count as a single point (1) towards its final score.

Participants will have a few days (specified later) to identify the best intro. Anyone who fails to vote will simply be removed from the competition. I will consider reasons--given in advance--if people feel they can't vote during the specified period.

7. When the votes for the intros are in I will circulate all the stories as a single .rtf (email me if this is a problem). You will be required to write a brief paragraph (see usual intro competition crits) on each story. It needn't be much. Format as follows:

Crits for Entrant: (Your Competition Number)

Story Title:

Entry Number:

Crit:

Story Title:

Entry Number:

Crit:

ect, etc.

at the end, you must vote: 1st (5 points), 2nd (4 points), 3rd (3 points). I will not post votes as I don't wish people to be influenced by others voting.

I will post your crits for you at the close of the competition.

Failure to vote or crit withing the timeframes identified, will simply lead to your disqualifcation

8. To participate you must first email me and request a competition number. Please mention this in all other communications.

9. You must use TWO of the following prompts in more than a passing fashion:

A situation where the reader is aware of danger to the protaganist--but they are unaware of it. Jepoardy.

A last chance to change, or forever stay the same.

Flint/obsidian blade.

Ruby eyes.

Never-ending jungle.

Death by the omission of violence.

The Corn Dance

Fused to the rock

Freefall.

Discussions on this thread only.

First contact me for you Competition Entrant Number. then we can get some idea of numbers.

quote:

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A situation where the reader is aware of danger to the protaganist--but they are unaware of it. Jepoardy.

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quote:

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Death by the omission of violence.

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All people have to do is:

1) Get a competition entrant number.

2) Write a story (send it to me using above format).

3) Vote for best intro (send vote to me).

4) Read and comment (crits aren't required, but a general comment is) on the stories and vote (send comments and votes to me).

5) Stick to dates and emailing formats or risk disqualification. It's a free service, so make my life easy!

'MrsBrown
Yes--'they' means the protag.

As far as the prompts go, interpret away--I encourage that. I try and keep them purposefully vague and open to any genre.

As far as votes going to someone else, I don't think that would work. Apart from complicating it further, people would have to email their votes...their email address or entrant number (which would be on thier story) would give away who wrote what.

Also I will know who wrote what--someone has to--and people may feel that that will influence my voting.

Let me think further.

Non-voting tips the competition in the favour of the non-voter, hence why they get disqualified.

No, if I enter, then I will vote.

You have about two weeks and three days to complete your stories, although I would appreciate people sending them earlier--I prefer not getting all of them on the 30th September.

Don't forget:

a) 1000 words or less...no exceptions. MSword is the final arbiter.

b) Send to me as an rtf. file:

Entrant Number:

Title

First 13:

Entire Story (including a the first 13 again)

The above format lets me quickly post your first 13 on Hatrack and then post your main story on the round robin of stories without me having to measure it for 17 entrants. It also means any errors in measuring the first 13 remain YOURS, and if KDW cuts you, you can't complain.

-indented paragraphs.

-no extra lines between paragraphs.

-courier 12 pt.

-double-spaced.

Entries as rtf. files as follows:

Entrant Number:

Title:

First 13:

The story: (including the original 1st 13)

2 weeks (Alhtough I doubt there will be 20 entries--more like 12-16. YOu only have to comment, not crit. And vote, obviously.

Incorrectly formatted entries will be refused. If you can't be bothered to read the thread and follow the simple rules, why should I be bothered to accept it?

I would like entries before the last day, as I have to do stuff to them (record them on spreadsheets, post them, transfer story to round robin with all the other stories)--so send them when they are ready, not at the last minute.

Will it need to be in a .rtf or in the body of the e-mail?

Will the format be as follows, exactly as I have typed here?

Crits for Entrant: 112 (If my number was 112)

Story Title: Rambo

Entry Number: 107

Crit: I thought this was blah blah (A short paragraph)

Story Title: Freedom

Entry Number: 105

Crit: I thought this was blah blah

And so on.

One more question. When we vote on the best intro, I think on the 30th, do we send that in the body of the e-mail?

Best intro: 130

Thanks

You will have about 3 days to decide which of the first 13s is the best (makes you want to read the story most) you will email (in the body of the email) the following:

My Entrant Number:

Best 13 lines Title:

Best 13 Line Entrant Number:

You can't vote for your own.

When that deadline is up I will circulate two rtf. files to each eligible applicant (has entered, has sent in story, has voted on 1st 13 within time frame.).

The first .rtf file will contain all the stories together with the entrant number and titles of each story.

The second .rtf file will contain the format for commenting on each story. Essentially you will just need to put in your own Entrant Number at the top, find the section on the story you want to comment on and enter your comment.

At the bottom there will be a section for you to vote.

You will have to complete all sections or it won't count and return to me within the voting period.

I will then post results.

Regarding voting on the 13 lines intros, you have one vote to cast and that should be cast on the basis of the intro that pulls you to continue reading the most. That is the only criteria.

That said you may find it off-putting (dilutes the hook) to read stuff that is phrased badly, has bad grammar etc.

quote:

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EP Kaplan
Member posted September 30, 2009 05:56 PM

Bam. Finished editing after class, just fired it off.

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Sorry, but that is a clear breach of the rules, I quote:

quote:

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2. Stories are to be emailed to me as .rtf files. Please don't post anywhere on Hatrack that you have sent it to me, as I am likely to post your thirteen lines shortly after recieving it. If I feel you have endangered the anonymous nature of the competition, I may disqualify you.

---

Since you posted and sent this in the last hour before I close the competition and, with only 15 mins to go before the deadline, everyone will know that the final entry is yours. It's unavoidable.

If your entry had been sent to me a week ago I could have warned you and posted it after I'd recieved a few others--essentially camoflaging it. I can't do that now.

Sorry, but the rules were clear and I have to be fair to others who have stuck to the rules.

I think you have effectively eliminated yourself from the competition, which is a shame as you have probably put in a fair bit of work. I can only suggest you submit somewhere and get it published.

I'll define the voting: This is the only guidance you now need follow, so please read before voting:

1. Your vote for the best 13 lines has to reach me by no later than 3rd October Greenwich Meantime (72 hours from now).

2. If you haven't voted by then, you are out of the competition, your story will be removed and will not be circulated and you will not get to read the stories as nothing will be sent to you.

3. Copy and paste this into an email:

My Entrant Number is:

My vote is for story (entrant number) entitled (title).

4. Once you have voted I will circulate the stories to you with the comment form. Simply complete the comment form and sent it back to me by or on the 14th October GMT. At one minute past midnight voting will close. Late voters will be disqualified--and votes their story got will bump down.

Under each intro I will post comments about the story as I recieve them. Please ensure in your comments that you don't make comments about which ones you voted for, just keep the comments to how you felt about that individual story--do your comparisons in private and obviously I will tally the votes.

The excel spreadsheet I am using for this competition will for the sake of transparency be available for you after the results have been declared. You can see who voted for what.

Questions?

[This message has been edited by skadder (edited September 30, 2009).]

I will forward the original to you again--please tell me if you still don't recieve it.

Perhaps it went into your spam as I didn't reply to your email, but in fact sent you a brand new one.

Send them in when done.

I like this format. You've done a great job with this.