FALL 2014 SHORT STORY CONTEST

[Vancon]

But then the judges will know, thus making the whole concept void.

After the voting's over?

Sure, but there will always be that one asshole who says that it's them, but not really.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Could judge or enter. Whichever is lacking.

It's up to you. Do you want me to add you as a judge or hold off in case you decide you'd rather enter a story?

[The Armed Republic of Dutch Coolness]

I might enter.

[Conserative Morality]

Could judge or enter. Whichever is lacking.

It's up to you. Do you want me to add you as a judge or hold off in case you decide you'd rather enter a story?

Hold off, I suppose. It's been a while since I entered a story.

[Nazi Flower Power]

It's up to you. Do you want me to add you as a judge or hold off in case you decide you'd rather enter a story?

Hold off, I suppose. It's been a while since I entered a story.

OK. If you come up with a story, that's always welcome.

[Norstal]

I'll be a judge this time around.

Any reasons why I can't be judge now?

[Nazi Flower Power]

I'll be a judge this time around.

Any reasons why I can't be judge now?

I'll add you.

[The Nation of Ceneria]

Entering. Consider this a tag.

[Shaggai]

Alright, this time I know for a fact that I haven't previously posted excerpts of my story. So hopefully I'll be able to get an entry in.

[The Nation of Ceneria]

Oh, and if I can't conjure something up, I'd love to judge.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Oh, and if I can't conjure something up, I'd love to judge.

If you're planning on entering, I'll hold off adding you as a judge for now, same as CM.

[The Nation of Ceneria]

Oh, and if I can't conjure something up, I'd love to judge.

If you're planning on entering, I'll hold off adding you as a judge for now, same as CM.

Great. I am going to use one of my unfinished story ideas. Is the cap of 6,000 words immobile?

[Furry Alairia and Algeria]

I've already got the idea of my own in question. I'm limiting it to three numbers of genres. I'm wondering if the 6,000 word limit is a no-exceptions.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Is the cap of 6,000 words immobile?

Yes. Stories longer than that are too time-consuming for the judges.

[Furry Alairia and Algeria]

So how about if it doesn't go that far of 6,000. Like 6,0xx?

[The Nation of Ceneria]

Is the cap of 6,000 words immobile?

Yes. Stories longer than that are too time-consuming for the judges.

*insert frowny face here*
Alright then. I might have to trim some large portions of the story as it already covers the front and backs of four pages, in my tiny handwriting. That's probably about 5,000 words, and it's only half done.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Yes. Stories longer than that are too time-consuming for the judges.

*insert frowny face here*
Alright then. I might have to trim some large portions of the story as it already covers the front and backs of four pages, in my tiny handwriting. That's probably about 5,000 words, and it's only half done.

4 pages typed double spaced is about 1000 words, so you'd need to have really tiny handwriting to get 5000 words on 4 pages, even if you are writing the front and back.

[The Nation of Ceneria]

*insert frowny face here*
Alright then. I might have to trim some large portions of the story as it already covers the front and backs of four pages, in my tiny handwriting. That's probably about 5,000 words, and it's only half done.

4 pages typed double spaced is about 1000 words, so you'd need to have really tiny handwriting to get 5000 words on 4 pages, even if you are writing the front and back.

It is really tiny. 33 lines per side, around 18 words per line. That's nearly 5000. As I said, tiny. So, I hopefully won't be too far over the limit.

[Nazi Flower Power]

So how about if it doesn't go that far of 6,000. Like 6,0xx?

Different word count tools sometimes come up with different numbers. I am not sure where the variation comes from, if some count hyphenated words as one word and others count them as two or what. If I am settling an issue related to word count and one word processor says it's over, but another says it's under, we'll go with the lower one. If it still goes over 6000, then you need to cut something.

[Nazi Flower Power]

4 pages typed double spaced is about 1000 words, so you'd need to have really tiny handwriting to get 5000 words on 4 pages, even if you are writing the front and back.

It is really tiny. 33 lines per side, around 18 words per line. That's nearly 5000. As I said, tiny. So, I hopefully won't be too far over the limit.

I know how that is -- not the part about tiny handwriting, but the part about having a story that doesn't want to fit in the length that you are trying to fit it in. I had a story I started a couple years ago with the idea of entering it in one of these contests, but I realized there was no way it was going to be less than 10,000 words, and this was back when were still using a 5000 word maximum.

[Vancon]

So how about if it doesn't go that far of 6,000. Like 6,0xx?

Different word count tools sometimes come up with different numbers. I am not sure where the variation comes from, if some count hyphenated words as one word and others count them as two or what. If I am settling an issue related to word count and one word processor says it's over, but another says it's under, we'll go with the lower one. If it still goes over 6000, then you need to cut something.

A story doesn't need to be long to be good.

Also, NFP, are you planning on entering?

[Nazi Flower Power]

Different word count tools sometimes come up with different numbers. I am not sure where the variation comes from, if some count hyphenated words as one word and others count them as two or what. If I am settling an issue related to word count and one word processor says it's over, but another says it's under, we'll go with the lower one. If it still goes over 6000, then you need to cut something.

A story doesn't need to be long to be good.

Also, NFP, are you planning on entering?

I probably will.

[The New World Oceania]

So how about if it doesn't go that far of 6,000. Like 6,0xx?

Different word count tools sometimes come up with different numbers. I am not sure where the variation comes from, if some count hyphenated words as one word and others count them as two or what. If I am settling an issue related to word count and one word processor says it's over, but another says it's under, we'll go with the lower one. If it still goes over 6000, then you need to cut something.

If it's over 5,000 you really ought to think about cutting something. Longer short stories have their place, but I've never considered most A&F readers to have extensive attention spans.

Also, to the judges, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into and I wish you the best of luck. I graded a quarter last contest and posted one before collapsing into a fetal position of summer camp and summer homework.

[Furry Alairia and Algeria]

Oh, and a question about context. This doesn't concern my story, but for obvious reasons, how about stories that have cursing or situations that are over PG-13?
The story might have just a tiny bit of cursing.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Also, to the judges, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into and I wish you the best of luck. I graded a quarter last contest and posted one before collapsing into a fetal position of summer camp and summer homework.

I know how you feel. That is why I am not going to ever volunteer to judge again.